[16]
As far as possible he will deliver
only what he has written, and, if circumstances
permit, only what he has, as Demosthenes says,1
carved into shape. Such a practice is possible in
first hearings and also in subsequent hearings such as
are granted in the public courts after an interval of
several days. On the other hand, when we have to
reply on the spot, it is impossible to prepare everything: in fact for the less ready type of speaker, it
may, in the event of his opponents putting forward
arguments quite other than those which they were
expected to advance, be a positive drawback to have
[p. 447]
written anything.
1 This passage is our sole authority for the saying.
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