Institutio Oratoria

With regard to my statement that the manner in which the accuser stated his charges was of importance, I would point out in this connexion that if he has spoken but feebly, we may repeat his actual words; while, if he has used bitter and violent language, we may restate the facts in milder terms, as Cicero does in the pro Cornelio, where he says,

He put his hand to the tablet containing the law

[*](cp. IV. iv. 8. ) :

and we may do this in such a way as to defend our client; for instance, if our client is addicted to luxury, we may say,

He has been charged with living in a somewhat too liberal style.

So, too, we may call a mean man thrifty and a slanderous tongue free. [*](cp. iv. ii. 77 )

But we must never under any circumstances repeat our opponent's charges together with their proofs, nor emphasise any of his points by amplifying them, unless we do so with a view to making light of them, as for instance in the following passage [*](pro. Mur. ix. 21. ) :

You have been with the army, he says, and have not set foot in the forum for so many years, and do you now on returning after so long an interval seek to compete for a post of high dignity with those who have made the forum their home?