SI THE IMPROVEMENT Of THE MIND. IV. This person is succeeded by one, or perhaps two or several more, who paraphrase on the same subject, and argue on the same side of the question ; they confirmwhat the first has spoken, and urge new reasons to enfore the same ; then those who are of a different opinion, stand up and make their several speeches in a succession, opposing the cause which others have maintained, giving their reasons against it, and endeavouring to refute the arguments whereby the first speakers have sup- ported it. V. After this, one and another rises up to make their relies to vindicate or to condemn, to establish or to confute what has been offered before on each side of the question ; till at last, ac- cording to the rules, orders, and customs of the court or assem- bly, the controversy is decided, either by a single judge or the suffrage of the assembly. VI. Where the question or matter in debate consists of se- veral parts, after it is once opened by the first or second speaker, sometimes those who follow take each of them a particular part of the debate, according to their inclination or their prior agree- ment, and apply themselves to argue upon that single point only, that so the whole complexion of the debate may not be thrown into confusion by the variety of subjects, if every speaker should handle all the subjects of debate. VII. Before the final sentence or determination is given, it is usual to have the reasons and arguments which have been offered on both sides, summed up and represented in a more compendious manner ; and this is done either by the appointed judge of thecourt, or the chairman, or some noted person in the assembly, that so judgment may proceed upon the fullest survey of the whole subject, that as far as possible in human affairs no- thing may be done contrary to truth or justice. VIII. As this is a practice in which multitudes of gentle- men, besides those of the learned professions, may be engaged at least in their maturer years of life, so it would be a very proper and useful thing to introduce this custom into our aca- demies, viz. to propose cases, and let the students debate them in a forensic manner in the presence of their tutors. There was something of this kind practised by the Roman youth in their schools, in order to train them up for orators, both in theforum anti in the senate. Perhaps Juvenal gives some hints of it when he says, et not Consilium deditnus Syllae, priealus ut altum Dormiret Where with men-boys I strove to get renown, Advising Sylla to a private gown, That he mightsleep the sounder. Sat. 1.
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