Cornelius Tacitus
A Dialogue Concerning Oratory, or the Causes of Corrupt Eloquence
The Works of Cornelius Tacitus, Volume 8 (of 8); With an Essay on His Life and Genius, Notes, Supplements
"A Dialogue Concerning Oratory, or the Causes of Corrupt Eloquence" by Tacitus is a dialogue published around 102 AD. Set in the 70s AD, four historical figures debate a provocative question: why has Roman oratory declined from its former glory? They examine education, rhetoric, and culture before reaching a startling conclusion about the relationship between eloquence and political freedom. The work suggests that great oratory flourished in the chaos of the Republic but became obsolete under the Empire's orderly peace.