1And since the power of speech is great, and it is of two kinds, one of formal debate, the other of conversation, let debate be assigned to disputes in the law courts, assemblies and senate, and let conversation have its place in social circles, discussions and meetings of friends, and let it attend dinner parties too. 1There are rules of the rhetoricians for debate, none for conversation, although I rather think there could be some for this too. 1But teachers are found where there are learners eager to study, whereas there is no one who studies this, while everything is crowded with the throng of rhetoricians; 1yet the rules that concern words and sentences will apply to conversation as well.
133But since we have the voice as the herald of speech, and in the voice we look for two things, that it be clear and that it be pleasant, both must certainly be sought from nature, but practice will improve the one, and imitation of those who speak precisely and smoothly the other. 133There was nothing about the Catuli to make you think that they used an exquisite literary judgement, although they were men of letters; 133but so were others; 133these, however, were thought to use the Latin language best; 133their tone was pleasant, their letters neither over-articulated nor slurred, so that their speech was neither indistinct nor affected, their voice without strain, neither faint nor sing-song.
133The speech of Lucius Crassus was richer and no less witty, but the reputation of the Catuli for speaking well was no less. 133In wit and humour, indeed, Caesar, the brother of the elder Catulus, surpassed everyone, so that even in that forensic style of speaking he defeated the formal pleading of others with his conversational manner. 133In all these matters, therefore, we must take pains, if in every matter we are seeking what is fitting. 134Let this conversation, then, in which the Socratics most excel, be gentle and not at all dogmatic, and let there be charm in it; 134nor indeed should it shut others out, as if it had entered into its own property, but it should think that, as in other things, so in general conversation, taking turns is not unfair; 134and let it see above all what subjects it is speaking about; 134if serious ones, let it apply seriousness, if humorous, charm; 134and above all let it take care that the conversation does not reveal some fault in the character; 134this usually happens most of all when people speak of the absent deliberately, for the sake of disparaging them, either in ridicule or in earnest, abusively and insultingly.
135Conversations are generally held either about domestic affairs or about public affairs or about the study of the arts and learning. 135Pains must therefore be taken that, even if the talk has begun to stray to other topics, it is recalled to these, but according to who is present; 135for we do not all take pleasure in the same things, nor at every time, nor in the same way. 135We must also observe how far the conversation gives pleasure, and, as there was a reason for beginning, so let there be a limit for ending.