Quintilian-style argument about audiences

Letters of Pliny primary

Pliny defends using fuller, not overly concise, speech in court, comparing Greek and Roman exemplars, discussing how oratory works on audiences, and ending by asking Cornelius Tacitus to state reasons either way.

XIV -- TO CORNELIUS TACITUS I HAVE frequent debates with a certain acquaintance of mine, a man of skill and learning, who admires nothing so much in the eloquence of the bar as conciseness. I agree with him, that where the case will admit of this precision, it may with propriety be adopted; but insist that, to leave out what is material to be mentioned,--or only briefly and cursorily to touch upon those points which…