refers his readers who may wish to carry their studies further, to "Hermogines among the Grekes, or els Tully or Trapesonce among the Latines."[1] The Trapesonce or Trapezuntius referred to was a typical rhetorician of the Renaissance period. Born in Crete in 1396, he taught Greek at Venice, and philosophy and belles-lettres at Rome. On account of an attack of his on Quintilian he was involved n various literary quarrels with Valla, Poggio, and other scholars. He made numerous translations from the Greek into Latin. He died at Rome in 1486. His Rhetoric, the first edition of which appeared at Venice circa 1470, is a paraphrase from Hermogenes. His work, transmitting that of his original, was widely circulated and exercised a great influence throughout Europe during the succeeding century. His divisions and order of treatment in a general way are those of Cox and of course of Cox's original, Melanchthon. Orations are of three sorts: Judicial, referring to the Past, Delibertive, to the Future, and Demonstrative, to the Present. The chief parts of an Oration are the Exordium, Narratio, and Contentio, whereunder are discussed Confirmatio and Confutatio, "Quot sint Status" (the "States" of Cox), and de Propositione et Divisione. In the last Book (Book V) is comprehended a discussion "de Elocutione," wherein the different qualities and kinds of style are considered, a part included by Melanchthon but omitted by Cox for reasons hinted at in his Dedicatory Epistle.[2] As in Cox's Rhetoric
- ↑ See the "Conclusion" of Cox's Rhetoric, infra, p. 88.
- ↑ Other rhetorical treatises much in vogue, but not leading directly to Cox which may be mentioned, are:(a) Priscianus Grammaticus, De praexercitamentis Rhetorica ex Hermogene translatis (circa 1475)—A short elementary handbook treating of various topics such as "De Narratione," "De Usu," "De Refutatione," "De Descriptione," etc.(b) Guliemus Fichetus, Rhetorica (Paris 1471).—By a famous doctor of the Sorbonne. Cites frequently Cicero, Quintilian, Origen, etc. Follows the division of Judicial, Deliberative, and emonstrative, with the subdivisions of Trapezuntius. In manner largely scholastic, putting emphasis mainly upon definitions. Book III, "de Elocutione."(c) Guillermi Tardivi [Guillaume Tardif] Rhetorice Artis ac Oratoria Facultatis Compendium (Paris, circa 1475)—An attempt to present a digest of the Rhetorics of Cicero and Quintilian. The Divisions: Inventio, Dispositio, Elocutio, Memoria, Pronunciatio.(d) Oratoria Artis Epitoma Jacobi Publicii Florentini. Venetiis 1485.- Refers to Cicero, Quintilian, Cyril, etc., as authorities. "Civilium questionum genera tria sunt. Concionale: Sermocinatiuum: & Forense." Treats briefly of Invention,
