But I did not always indulge myself in this excessive ardour of expression, or speak every thing in the same manner: for even that youthful redundance which was so visible in the defence of _Roscius_, had many passages which were plain and simple, and some which were, tolerably humourous. But the Orations in defence of _Habitus_, and _Cornelius_, and indeed many others; (for no single Orator, even among the peaceful and speculative Athenians, has composed such a number as I have;)--these, I say, have all that variety which I so much approve. For have _Homer_ and _Ennius_, and the rest of the Poets, but especially the tragic writers, not expressed themselves at all times with the same elevation, but frequently varied their manner, and sometimes lowered it to the style of conversation; and shall I oblige myself never to descend from that highest energy of language? Bit why do I mention the Poets whose talents are divine! The very actors on the stage, who have most excelled in their profession, have not only succeeded in very different characters, though still in the same province; but a comedian has often acted tragedies, and a tragedian comedies so as to give us universal satisfaction. Wherefore, then, should not _I_ also exert my efforts? But when I say _myself_, my worthy Brutus I mean _you_: for as to _me_, I have already done all, I was capable of doing. Would _you_, then, plead every cause in the same manner? Or is there any sort of causes which your genius would decline? Or even in the same cause, would you always express yourself in the same strain, and without any variety? Your favourite _Demosthenes_, whose brazen statue I lately beheld among your own, and your family images, when I had the pleasure to visit you at Tusculanum,--Demosthenes, I say, was nothing inferior to _Lysias_ in simplicity; to _Hyperides_ in smartness and poignancy, or to _Aeschines_ in the smoothness and splendor of his language. There are many of his Orations which are entirely of the close and simple character, as that against _Lepsines_; many which are all nervous, and striking, as those against _Philip_; and many which are of a mixed character, as that against _Aeschines_, concerning the false embassy, and another against the same person in defence of _Ctesiphon_. At other times he strikes into the _mean_ at his pleasure, and quitting the nervous character, descends to this with all the ease imaginable. But he raises the acclamations of his audience, and his Oratory is then most weighty and powerful, when he applies himself to the _nervous_.