XVIII
On the Rhetorical Question, and Imaginary Colloquies.
In the next place, how are we to treat all the machinery of feigned conversations and questionings ? Does it not by its very nature quicken the language into far more life and energy? For example, "What! will ye run about asking one another, Is there any news ? Why, what news could there be more novel than this, of a Macedonian vanquishing Hellas? Is Philip dead ? No, by heaven, but he is sick. What difference will it make to you ? seeing that, if anything happened to him, ye will make yourselves another Philip." And again, "Let us sail for Macedonia. Prithee where shall we come to anchor? Why, the war itself will find out the rotten points in Philip's dominions.
Longinus On the sublime By Longinus, translated by William Rhys Roberts pages 75-76.
On the Rhetorical Question, and Imaginary Colloquies.
In the next place, how are we to treat all the machinery of feigned conversations and questionings ? Does it not by its very nature quicken the language into far more life and energy? For example, "What! will ye run about asking one another, Is there any news ? Why, what news could there be more novel than this, of a Macedonian vanquishing Hellas? Is Philip dead ? No, by heaven, but he is sick. What difference will it make to you ? seeing that, if anything happened to him, ye will make yourselves another Philip." And again, "Let us sail for Macedonia. Prithee where shall we come to anchor? Why, the war itself will find out the rotten points in Philip's dominions.
Longinus On the sublime By Longinus, translated by William Rhys Roberts pages 75-76.
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