Philip Melanchthon's oration on the topic that the arts of speaking are necessary for every kind of studies (or, praise of eloquence)

Just as Hesiod grieves that the mortals ignore how much comfort the mallow and asphodel can bring to human affairs [Works and Days 41], as if they were worthless herbs, we, too, are mourning – not for the first time – that the young ignore how much importance the arts of speaking have in preparing a perfect education. These do not promise as a pretence anything of that kind which the masses applaud, and furthermore, in their usefulness they easily surpass all human affairs. For there is nothing anywhere, in the entire totality of things, which yields greater comfort for mortals than that kind of art. But, since the young ignore their value, it happens that to most they seem mean and are judged least worthy of devoting one's energies to. It is excellent to be called a philosopher, wonderful to listen to a lawyer and these days nothing is more worthy of applause to the masses than a theological title; but the arts of speaking are not paid any regard, like those of the Megarites.

For this reason, it seems appropriate to demonstrate on this occasion which facts should most commend their study to us. Here I wish for the word-power of Pericles, while I exert myself to call back to the right path the foolish young, who partly spurn elegant philology out of error – because they consider it unnecessary for achieving the other disciplines – and partly flee it out of sloth.