L’Orateur Passage 208

itaque postea quam est nata haec vel circumscriptio vel comprehensio vel continuatio vel ambitus, si ita licet dicere, nemo, qui aliquo esset in numero, scripsit orationem generis eius quod esset ad delectationem comparatum remotumque a iudiciis forensique certamine, quin redigeret omnis fere in quadrum numerumque sententias. Nam cum is est auditor qui non vereatur ne compositae orationis insidiis sua fides attemptetur, gratiam quoque habet oratori voluptati aurium servienti.

Consequently, after this circumscription, comprehension, continuation, or circuit, if the expression is permissible, had arisen, no writer of any standing composed discourse designed for pleasure and removed from judicial and forensic conflict without reducing almost every thought to regular form and rhythm. For when the listener does not fear that the snares of carefully arranged speech will assault his judgment, he is even grateful to the orator for serving the pleasure of his ears.

Ainsi, après la naissance de ce que l’on peut appeler circonscription, période, continuité ou circuit, aucun écrivain de quelque renom n’a composé un discours appartenant au genre destiné au plaisir et éloigné des jugements et des combats du forum sans ramener presque toutes ses pensées à l’équilibre et au rythme. Lorsque l’auditeur ne craint pas que les artifices d’un discours composé ne surprennent sa bonne foi, il sait gré à l’orateur de servir le plaisir de ses oreilles.