Quintilian's Institutes of Oratory

Index to Book 7

Introduction

Arrangement necessary to be studied, § 1-3. But no general rules can be given with respect to it, 4.

Chapter 1

Definition of arrangement, § 1. Must be varied according to the nature of causes 2, 3. How Quintilian used to study and contemplate causes 4-9. The best order for arguments, 10-12. How we may reply to a single accusation, 13-15. Or to several, 16-18. How we may omit or neglect some points, 19-22. Further remarks on the consideration of a cause, 23-25. We must proceed by degrees to the most important points, 26-28. Quintilian used to increase the points in his own favor by division, 29-33. Invention assisted by division, 31-36. Which party should speak first, is not a matter for great consideration, 37-39. How the more intrinsic points in a cause are to be discovered is shown by a subject for declamation in the schools, 40-64.

Chapter 2

Conjecture relates to fact and intention, and to three divisions of time, § 1-6. The question may regard the fact and the agent at the same time, or the fact only, or the agent only, 7-10. Concerning both together, 11-15. Concerning the fact only, 16, 17. Concerning the agent; anticategoria, 18-21. Comparison managed in several ways, 22-24. Conjecture sometimes twofold, 25-27. Proof from persons, 28-34. From motives and causes, 35-41. Intentions, opportunities, place, time, 42, 43. Consideration whether the accused had the power to do the act with which he is charged, 44, 45. Whether he did it, 46-49. Other considerations in different causes, 50-53. Error carried from the schools into the forum, 54-57.

Chapter 3

Of definition; it has something in common with conjecture and quality, § 1, 2. Various reasons why it is used, 3-7. Three species of it, 8-11. Other diversities, more suited to philosophical discussions than to the business of the orator, 12-16. We must beware of defining too subtilely, 17, 18. Method in definition, 19-22. How a definition is overthrown, 23-27. A general definition may be adapted to our own cause, 28-34. Some concluding remarks, 35, 36.

Chapter 4

The consideration of quality may have regard to more points than one in any matter, § 1-3. The strongest kind of defense is when the accused says that they deed laid to his charge was blameless, 4-6.4-6. We may defend an act by extrinsic aids, 7-12. Another mode of proceeding is to transfer the guilt to another, 13, 14. We may consider whether the weight of the charge can be extenuated, 15-16. Deprecation, 17-20. Questions about rewards, 21-23. Considerations of quality admit the highest efforts of the orator, 24. Causes which Virginius puts under this head, 25-31. Other species of causes, 32-34.

Chapter 5

Questions as to legality of proceedings, § 1-4. As to particular points of law, 5, 6.

Chapter 6

Questions about writing, and the intention of the writer, either regard both these points, or one only, § 1-4. Arguments against the letter in writings, 5-8. In favor of it, 9-11. General questions under this head, 12.

Chapter 7

Of contradictory laws, § 1-6. Right is either admitted or doubtful, 7-9. Contradictory points in the same law, 10.

Chapter 8

Of syllogism; intimately connected with definition, § 1, 2. Determines by inference what is uncertain in the letter of any writing, 3-6. Or even what is not expressed in the writing, 7.

Chapter 9

Ambiguity in words, § 1-3. Words divided. Compounded, 5, 6. Ambiguity of words in connection with one another, 7-13. Some remarks on ambiguity, 14, 15.

Chapter 10

Affinity between different states, § 1-4. Some precepts with regard to causes can be given only when the causes themselves are stated, 5-7. Impossible to give instruction on every particular point, 8, 9. Many things the student must teach himself, and must depend for success on his own efforts, 10-17.


Lee Honeycutt (honeycuttlee@gmail.com) Last modified:5/21/2004