La lacuna del Dialogus de oratoribus di Tacito

Abstract

The lacuna at the beginning of chap. 35 is probably relatively short (approx. 113 lines). It contained a speech of Secundus (approx. 75 lines) and the beginning of Maternus’ speech (approx. 25 lines). Secundus seems to have discussed the causes of the decline of oratory, imputing this decline particularly to schools and teachers, and first of all to the habit of teachers to flatter the ambitions of parents.