C. P. Four: two of them relate to explaining any subject,—namely, relation and confirmation; two to exciting the minds of the hearers,—the opening and the peroration.
C. F. What? Has the manner of inquiry any divisions?
C. P. It is divided into the infinite, which I term consultation; and the definite, which I call the cause.
II. C. F. Since, then, the first business of the orator is discovery, what is he to look for?
C. P. He is to seek to find out how to inspire those men whom he is desirous to persuade, with belief in his words; and how to affect their minds with such and such feelings.
C. F. By what means is belief produced?
C. P. By arguments, which are derived from topics either existing in the subject itself, or assumed.
C. F. What do you mean by topics?
C. P. Things in which arguments are concealed.
C. F. What is an argument?