Kitap 4
pr.73
On the other hand it is at times possible to give the force of an exordium to other portions of the speech. For instance we may ask the judges in the course of our statement of the facts or of our arguments to give us their best attention and good-will, a proceeding which Prodicus recommended as a means of wakening them when they begin to nod. A good example is the following: Cic. pro Var. fr. 8.
pr.74
Gaius Varenus, he who was killed by the slaves of Ancharius—I beg you, gentlemen, to give me your best attention at this point. Further if the case involves a number of different matters, each section must be prefaced with a short introduction, such as Listen now to what follows, or I now pass to the next point. Even in the proof there are many passages which perform the same function as an exordium, such as the passage in the pro Cluentio xlii. 117. where Cicero introduces an attack on the censors and in the pro Murena iii. 7. when he apologises to Servius. But the practice is too common to need illustration.
pr.76
However on all occasions when we have employed the exordium, whether we intend to pass to the statement of facts or direct to the proof, our intention should be mentioned at the conclusion of the introduction, with the result that the transition to what follows will be smooth and easy.
