Neque enim hoc colligi desideramus, disertiores esse antiquos, quod apud me quidem in confesso est, sed causas exquirimus quas te solitum tractare paulo ante <dixisti> plane mitior et eloquentiae temporum nostrorum minus iratus, antequam te Aper offenderet maiores tuos lacessendo.
We do not want you to lead up to the conclusion that the ancients excelled us in eloquence. I regard that as an established fact. What we are asking for is the reasons of the decline. You said a little while ago that this forms a frequent subject of consideration with you: that was when you were in a distinctly milder frame of mind, and not so greatly incensed against contemporary eloquence'in fact, before Aper gave you a shock by his attack on your ancestors.
final_alignments\Tacitus_Dialogus.json