LXVII. But those sentiments which are delivered in short clauses, or members, ought to sound very harmoniously, as in a speech of mine you will find:—
"Domus tibi deerat? at habebas. Pecunia superabat? at egebas."
These four clauses are as concise as can be; but then come the two following sentences uttered in members:—
"Incurristi amens in columnas: in alienos insanus insanîsti."
After these clauses everything is sustained by a longer class of sentences, as if they were erected on these as their pedestal:—
"Depressam, caecam, jacentem domum pluris, quam te, et quam fortunas tuas, aestimâsti."
It is ended with a dichoreus; but the next sentence terminates with a double spondee. For in those feet which speakers should use at times like little daggers, the very brevity makes the feet more free. For we often must use them separately, often two together, and a part of a foot may be added to each foot, but not often in combinations of more than three. But an oration when delivered in brief clauses and members, is very forcible in serious causes, especially when you are accusing or refuting an accusation, as in my second Cornelian speech:—
"O callidos homines! O rem excogitatam! O ingenia metuenda!"
Hitherto this is spoken in members. After that we spoke in short clauses. Then again in members:—
"Testes dare volumus."