On Political Discourse is a rhetorical handbook in two books, transmitted with the works of the orator Aelius Aristides and under his name; the ascription is doubtful, and the work is not one of his speeches. It is a treatise on prose style, which it divides into properties, showing how thought, figure and diction produce each, with examples quoted from classical authors.
The first book treats political discourse, the style of the orator in public life. It names its properties at the outset, among them solemnity, weight, amplitude, credibility, force, sweetness, clarity and brevity, and takes each in turn, drawing its models chiefly from Demosthenes, above all the speeches against Aristocrates and against Meidias. It ends with prose retellings of passages of Homer, among them Chryses' appeal to Apollo and Odysseus' escape from the Cyclops under the ram. The second book, On Plain Discourse, sets the plain style against the political in thought, handling, diction, figure and rhythm. Its examples come chiefly from Xenophon, with some from Plato and comedy; it also treats narrative, myth and beauty in speech, and closes on how to order a history, a set of precepts or a memoir.
Aristides the Orator On Political Discourse: summary and contents (PDF)
Aristides the Orator On Political Discourse: summary and contents (Markdown)
Contents
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Περὶ πολιτικοῦ λόγου On Political Discourse
The properties of political style are named at the start of this handbook, among them solemnity, weight, amplitude, credibility, force, sweetness, clarity and brevity, and each is then treated in turn. For each the author shows how thought, figure and diction produce it, citing Demosthenes, especially the speeches against Aristocrates and Meidias, as the model. The book ends with prose retellings of passages from Homer, among them Chryses' petition to Apollo and Odysseus escaping the Cyclops under the ram.
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Περὶ ἀφελοῦς λόγου On Plain Discourse
The plain style, set against the political oratory of the first book, is distinguished here in thought, handling, diction, figure and rhythm. Its examples come chiefly from Xenophon, who with Plato and comedy supplies sweetness of diction, and it commends the Socratic habit of drawing something useful from everything. Narrative, myth and beauty in speech are also treated, and the book ends on how to order a history, a set of precepts or a memoir.