Page:History of the Literature of Ancient Greece (Müller) 2ed.djvu/488

466 to democratic sentiments (01. 78, 3. b.c. 466), and by the complicated transactions which sprung up from the renewal of private claims long suppressed by the tyrants. At this time Corax, who had been highly esteemed by the tyrant Hiero, came forward in a conspicuous manner, both as a public orator and as a pleader in the law courts ; his great practice led him to consider more accurately the principles of his art ; and at last it occurred to him to -write a book on the subject; this book, like the innumerable treatises which succeeded it, was called, " the art of rhetoric," or simply , " the art." Although this work might have been very circumscribed in its plan, and not very comprehensive in its treatment of the subject, it is nevertheless worthy of notice as the first of its kind, not only among the Greeks, but perhaps also in the whole world. For this of Corax was not merely the first attempt at a theory of rhetoric, but also the first theoretical book on any branch of art; and it is highly remarkable that while ancient poetry was transmitted through so many generations by nothing but practice and oral instruction, its younger sister began at once with establishing itself in the form of a theory, and as such communicating itself to all who were desirous of learning its principles. All that we know of this t£%v7) is that it laid down a regular form and regular divisions for the oration ; above all, it was to begin with a distinct prooemium, calculated to put the hearers in a favourable train, and to conciliate their good will at the very opening of the speech.

§ 4. Tisias was first a pupil and afterwards a rival of Corax ; he was also know 7 n not only as an orator, but also as the author of a Gorgias, again, was the pupil of Tisias, and followed closely in his steps : according to one account, Tisias was a colleague of Gorgias in the embassy from Leontini mentioned above, though the pupil was at that time infinitely more celebrated than his master. With Gorgias this artificial rhetoric obtained more fame and glory than fell to the share