Institutio Oratoria

For these numeri, as he himself expressly asserts, are identical with rhythm, and he is followed in this by Virgil, who writes,

1. Numeros memini, si verba tenerem

Ecl. ix. 45. [*](I have the numbers, could I but find the words. In this case the nearest translation of numeri would be tune. But, strictly speaking, it refers to the rhythm of the tune. )

and Horace, who says,

1. Numerisquefertur
2. Lege solutis.

Odes. IV. ii. 11. [*](And sweeps along in numbers free from laws.)

Among others they attack Cicero's [*](Or. lxx. 234. ) statement that the thunderbolts of Demosthenes would not have such force but for the rhythm with which they are whirled and sped upon their way. If by rhythmis contorta he really means what his critics assert, I do not agree with him. For rhythms have, as I have said, no fixed limit or variety of structure, but run on with the

same rise and fall till they reach their end, and the style of oratory will not stoop to be measured by the beat of the foot or the fingers.