Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword
- Introduction
- I CHORICIUS, PRELIMINARY TALKS
- II CHORICIUS, DECLAMATIONS
- 2 Declamation 1 [X]:
- 3 Declamation 2 [XII]:
- 4 Declamation 3 [XIV]:
- 5 Declamation 4 [XVII]:
- 6 Declamation 5 [XX]:
- 7 Declamation 6 [XXIII]:
- 8 Declamation 7 [XXVI]:
- 9
- 10 Declamation 9 [XXXV]:
- 11 Declamation 10 [XXXVIII]:
- 12 Declamation 11 [XL]:
- 13 Declamation 12 [XLII]:
- Epilogue: The fortune and reception of Choricius and of his works
- Bibliography
- Index
2 - Declamation 1 [X]: <Polydamas>
from II - CHORICIUS, DECLAMATIONS
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 January 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Foreword
- Introduction
- I CHORICIUS, PRELIMINARY TALKS
- II CHORICIUS, DECLAMATIONS
- 2 Declamation 1 [X]:
- 3 Declamation 2 [XII]:
- 4 Declamation 3 [XIV]:
- 5 Declamation 4 [XVII]:
- 6 Declamation 5 [XX]:
- 7 Declamation 6 [XXIII]:
- 8 Declamation 7 [XXVI]:
- 9 Declamation 8 [XXIX]:
- 10 Declamation 9 [XXXV]:
- 11 Declamation 10 [XXXVIII]:
- 12 Declamation 11 [XL]:
- 13 Declamation 12 [XLII]:
- Epilogue: The fortune and reception of Choricius and of his works
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
[THEME]
After Hector's death, Achilles, having fallen in love with Polyxena, sends an embassy to the Trojans, promising alliance in return for the marriage. The Trojans deliberate; Polydamas recommends acceptance, Priam opposes. We take the part of Polydamas.
EXPLANATORY COMMENT
[1] There is a skill of speech even among barbarians. Education is not the effect of place, but the successful outcome of nature and exercise. [2] Polydamas will stand up and remind the Trojans of the advice he gave them recently about not being overconfident in facing Achilles. He will point out that they suffered from not taking his advice, so to make them readier to do so now. [3] Likewise Demosthenes, seeking to persuade his own people to admit Philip to the Amphictyony, demonstrates that their failure to listen to him on earlier occasions proved the beginning of great disasters. [4] Demosthenes, however, enjoying the immunities of democratic freedom of speech, could be severe in his reproaches, whereas Polydamas will attribute the consequences of Hector's aggressiveness to fortune, because it is improper to speak ill of the departed and, in any case, offensive to revile Hector in Priam's presence <and> before a Trojan audience. [5] He will conceal the actions that show Achilles' savagery – the insults to Hector's body at Patroclus' tomb and the slaughter of the captives at the funeral – but will bring into the foreground circumstances that display his strength and will show him to be great and terrible, though without depriving Hector of his proper praise.
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- Information
- Rhetorical Exercises from Late AntiquityA Translation of Choricius of Gaza's Preliminary Talks and Declamations, pp. 61 - 73Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009