Even the funeral oration strictly so
called was generally entrusted to a humanist, who delivered it in
church, clothed in a secular dress; nor was it only princes, but
officials, or persons otherwise distinguished, to whom this honour was
paid. This was also the case with the speeches delivered at weddings or
betrothals, with the difference that they seem to have been made in the
palace, instead of in church, like that of Filelfo at the betrothal of
Anna Sforza to Alfonso of Este in the castle of Milan. It is still
possible that the ceremony may have taken place in the chapel of the
castle. Private families of distinction no doubt also employed such
wedding orators as one of the luxuries of high life. At Ferrara,
Guarino was requested on these occasions to send some one or other of
his pupils. The clergy performed only the purely religious ceremonies
at weddings and funerals.
The academical speeches, both those made at the installation of a new
teacher and at the opening of a new course of lectures were delivered
by the professor himself, and treated as occasions of great rhetorical
display. The ordinary university lectures also usually had an
oratorical character.
With regard to forensic eloquence, the quality of the audience
determined the form of speech. In case of need it was enriched with all
sorts of philosophical and antiquarian learning.
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