And if we ourselves were not able to arrive at these advantages, nor even taste them with our
 senses, still we ought to admire them, even when we saw them in others. Who of us was of so
 ignorant and brutal a disposition as not lately to be grieved at the death of Roscius? who,
 though he was an old man when he died, yet on account of the excellence and beauty of his art,
 appeared to be one who on every account ought not to have died. Therefore, had he by the
 gestures of his body gained so much of our affections, and shall we disregard the incredible
 movements of the mind, and the rapid operations of genius? How often have I seen this man.
 Archias, O judges,—(for I will take advantage of your kindness, since you listen to me so
 attentively while speaking in this unusual manner,)—how often have I seen him, when he had not
 written a single word, repeat extempore a great number of admirable verses on the very events
 which were passing at the moment! How often have I seen him
 go back, and describe the same thing over again with an entire change of language and ideas! And
 what he wrote with care and with much thought that I have seen admired to such a degree, as to
 equal the credit of even the writings of the ancients. Should not I, then, love this man? should
 I not admire him? should not I think it my duty to defend him in every possible way? And,
 indeed, we have constantly heard from men of the greatest eminence and learning, that the study
 of other sciences was made up of learning, and rules, and regular method; but that a poet was
 such by the unassisted work of nature, and was moved by the vigour of his own mind, and was
 inspired, as it were, by some divine wrath. Wherefore rightly does our own great Ennius call
 poets holy; because they seem to be recommended to us by some especial gift, as it were, and
 liberality of the gods.