Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/136

112 But while, with reference to his own fame and the lasting benefits which he might have conferred on the world, we lament his want of literary discipline, it is ''et gravis, et vehemens esset oratio: dein, cum otiosus stihum prehenderat, motusque omnis animi, taruquam ventus, hominem defecerat, flacessebat orativ: quod iis, qui imatius dicendi consectantur genus, accidere non solet, propterea quod prudenta nunguam deficit oratorem, qua ille utens, eodem modo possit et dicere et scribere; ardor animi non semper adest, isque cum consedit, omnis illa vis et quasi flamma oratoris extinguitur. Hanc igitur ob causam, videtur Lælii mens spirare etium in scriptis, Galbæ autem, vis occidisse.''”, xxiv.93. There seems to have been a strong resemblance between the structure of Galba’s eloquence and character, and those of Mr. Henry. In their habits however, there was this striking difference; that Galba’s preparation for speaking was always most elaborate; Mr. Henry’s, generally, none at all. On this head, of Galba’s anxious preparation, Cicero gives us a very interesting anecdote. Lælius, it seems, was engaged in a great cause, in which he spoke with the peculiar elegance which always distinguished him; but not having succeeded in convincing his judges, the case was adjourned to another day, and a new argument was called for. Lælius again appeared, and surpassed his former exertions, but with the same result, of another adjournment and a call for re-argument. His clients attended him to his house on the rising of the court, expressed their gratitude in the strongest terms, and begged that he would not permit himself to be wearied into a desertion of them. To this Lælius answered, that what he had done for the support of the cause, had, indeed, been diligently and accurately performed; but he was satisfied that that cause could be better defended by the more bold and vehement eloquence of Galba. Galba was accordingly applied to; but was, at first, startled at the idea of succeeding such an orator as Lælius, in any cause: more especially, on the short time for preparation that was then allowed him. He yielded, however, to their importunities; and employed the whole of the intermediate day and the morning of that in which the court was to sit, in studying and annotating, with the help of his amanuenses. When the hour of court arrived, his clients called for him, and Galba came out, “with that complexion and those eyes,” says Cicero, “which would have led you to suppose that he had been engaged in pleading a cause, and not in studying it.” Whence it appears that Galba was not less vehement and inflamed in meditating, than in the act of delivering a speech. His success was proportioned to his preparation. “In the midst of the greatest expectation, surrounded by a vast concourse of hearers, before Lælius himself, he plead the cause with so much force and so much power, that no part of his speech passed without applause, and his clients were discharged, with the approbation of every one.” What an impression does this give us of the magnanimity of Lælius, as well as the abilities of Galba! Mr. Henry would not have taken the trouble of Galba’s preparation; but he would have gained the cause, if human abilties could have gained it.