CHAPTER IX.

OF THE COLOURS OF HONOURABLE AND DISHONOURABLE.

In a demonstrative oration, the subject whereof is _praise_ or _dispraise_, the proofs are to be drawn from the elements of _honourable_ and _dishonourable_.

In this place we anticipate the second way of getting _belief_; which is from the _manners_ of the speaker. For _praise_, whether it come in as the principal business, or upon the by, depends still upon the same _principles_; which are these:

_Honourable_, is that which we love for itself, and is withal laudable; and that _good_, which pleaseth us only because it is good; and virtue.

_Virtue_ is the faculty of getting and preserving that which is good; and the faculty of doing many and great things well.

The kinds of it are these:

1. _Justice_, which is a virtue whereby every man obtains what by law is his.

2. _Fortitude_, which is a virtue by which a man carries himself honourably and according to the laws, in time of danger.

3. _Temperance_, which is a virtue whereby a man governs himself in matter of pleasure according to the law.

4. _Liberality_, which is a virtue by which we benefit others in matter of money.

5. _Magnanimity_, which is a virtue by which a man is apt to do great benefits.

6. _Magnificence_, which is a virtue by which a man is apt to be at great cost.

7. _Prudence_, which is an _intellectual_ virtue, by which a man is able to deliberate well concerning any good leading to felicity.

And _honourable_ are the causes and effects of things honourable. And the works of virtue. And the signs of virtue. And those actions the reward whereof is _honour_. And the reward whereof is rather _honour_ than _money_. And that which we do not for our sakes. And what we do for our country’s good, neglecting our own. And those things are _honourable_ which, good of themselves, are not so to the owner. And those things which happen to the dead, rather than to the living. And what we do for other men, especially for benefactors. And bestowing of benefits. And the contrary of those things we are ashamed of. And those things which men strive for earnestly, but without fear of adversary.

And of the more _honourable_ and better men, the virtues are more _honourable_. And more _honourable_ are the virtues that tend to other men’s benefit, than those which tend to one’s own.

And _honourable_ are those things which are just. And revenge is _honourable_. And victory. And honour. And monuments. And those things which happen not to the living. And things that excel. And what none can do but we. And possessions we reap no profit by. And those things which are _had in honour_, particularly in several places. And the signs of praise. And to have nothing of the servile, mercenary, or mechanic.

And that which _seems_ honourable; namely, such as follow: Vices confining upon virtue. And the extremes of virtues. And what the auditors _think_ honourable. And that which is in estimation. And that which is done according to custom.

Besides, in a _demonstrative_ oration, the orator must show that he whom he praiseth, did what he praiseth unconstrainedly and willingly. And he does so, who does the same often.

_Praise_ is speech, declaring the magnitude of a virtue, action, or work. But to praise the work from the virtue of the worker, is a circular proof.

_To magnify_ and _to praise_, differ in themselves as _felicity_ and _virtue_. For praise declares a man’s _virtue_; and _magnifying_ declares his _felicity_.

Praise is a kind of inverted precept. For to say, “_Do it because it is good_,” is a precept; but to say, “_He is good because he did it_,” is praise. An orator in _praising_, must also use the forms of _amplification_; such as these: He was the first that did it. The only man that did it. The special man that did it. He did it with disadvantage of time. He did it with little help. He was the cause that the law ordained rewards and honours for such actions.

Further, he that will _praise_ a man, must compare him with others, and his actions with the actions of others, especially with such as are renowned.

And _amplification_ is more proper to a _demonstrative_ oration, than to any other. For here the actions are confessed; and the orator’s part is only this, to contribute unto them magnitude and lustre.

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