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for searching only. CICERO: TOPICr4 135 So far as delight is concerned, Rosaline finds the perfect orator in Berowne.
Baron they call him; but a merrier man, Within the limit of becoming mirth, I never spent an hour's talk withal: His eye begets occasion for his wit:
For every object that the one loth catch The other turns to a mirth moving jest, Which his fair tongue, conceit's expositor, Delivers in such apt and gracious words That aged ears play truant at his tales And younger hearings are quite ravished; So sweet and voluble is his discourse.41
We may put this speech upon the background of Wilson's statement for the second duty of an orator, that of delighting, the first being to teach, the third to persuade.
The next part that he hath to play, is to there his geastes, and to make them take pleasure, with hearing of thiriges wittely deuised, and pleasauntly set foorth. Therefore euery Orator should earnestly labour to file his tongue, that his words may slide with ease, and that in his deliuerance he may have such grace, as the sound of a Lute, or any such Instrument cloth giue. Then his sentences must be wet framed, and his words aptly vsed, through the whole discourse of his Oration.
Thirdly, such quicknesse of witte must bee shewed, and such pleasaunt sawes so well applied, that the eares may finde much delite, whereof I will speake largely, when I shall intreate of mouing laughter ... now I need not to tell that scurrilitie, or ale-house iesting, would bee thought odious, or grosse mirth would be deemed madnesse.02
Berowne observes Wilson's limitation on mirth, "Within the limit of becoming mirth." His speeches conform to Wilson's demand by being "wittely deuised, and pleasauntly set foorth." Berowne's "wit" turns everything he sees "to a mirth-moving jest." Berowne has also learned "to file his tongue." Rosalind praises the delivery of "his fair tongue." Wilson wants "his words aptly vsed." Berowne uses "apt and gracious words."9s Wilson says that from this quick wit and pleasant saws, "the eares may finde much delite." Berowne's wit and mirth are such
91 Loae's Labor's Lost, II, 1, 66-76.
" Wilson, Rhetarique (:goy), pp. 3-4.
In all the play
There is not one word apt, one player fitted.
Midsummer Night's Dream, V, t, 64-65.
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