HARVARD UKRAINIAN STUDIES - See also - Harvard University

474 DAVID A. FRICKdispute; and that in which we set forth in a methodical way the matterswhich we intend to discuss (De inventione I xxii 31).Smotryc'kyj's partitio is about one page in length, from 7r to 7v[23-24] ("Ale poniewaz. . .Boga zywego"), and it is of the second sort.Here, first of all, is posed the main question that will be debated in theconfirmatio:.. . whence come such great increases in bad morals among my sons? For what reasonhas such an unmitigated hatred toward their mother overcome the children? 37In other words, the case will turn on the question of who or what is responsiblefor the state of affairs described in the narratio. While this is the onlypoint of debate in the speech, the partitio nonetheless presents an outline ofwhat will come: the Mother-Church states that it is necessary to answer thisquestion before she decides whether to curse her children and yield them upto their Father's judgment or to approach some of their leaders once againand seek a reconciliation. 38 This, as we shall see, is the problem raised atthe end of the peroratio. (The Church decides in favor of the second alternative,and chapter 2 of Threnos presents the Mother's final admonition toher sons.)The purpose of the confirmatio is to lend credit, authority, and support tothe case through the use of arguments. 39 Smotryc'kyj's confirmatio is thecenterpiece of chapter 1; it extends from 7v to 17r [24-33] ("Niechze wnievkorzoney zlosci ich przyczyne weyzrze. ..na wieki krolowacbedziecie"). Here he employs a type of argumentation treated by Cicerounder the heading of enumeratio: "Enumeration is a form of argument inwhich several possibilities are stated, and when all but one have beendisproved, this one is demonstrated irrefutably." 40The argument of the confirmatio can be presented in the followingquestion-and-answer outline form:37Smotryc'kyj, Threnos, p. 7r [23]: "... skad tak wielkie ztych obyczaiow przysady w syniechsie moich nayduia; Dla ktorey przyczyny tak nievsmierzona naprzeciw Rodzicielkinienawisc, dzieci opanowala?"38Smotryc'kyj, Threnos, p. 7r [23]: ".. .o tym zaiste godzi mi si? pomyslic pierwey nizlilub owszeki si? ich wyrzekszy Macierzyriskz) bolesci^ w serdecznym zalu zieta, w gorzkosciserca mego przeklne, y Oycowskiemu karaniu wydam: lub tez ieszcze raz do niektorychprzednieyszych... zst^pie, y o nawroceniu z nimi rozmowie. ..."3 ' Cicero, De inventione (I xxiv 34): "Confirmatio est per quam argumentando nostraecausae fidem et auctoritatem et firmamentum adiungit oratio."40Cicero, De inventione (I xxix 45): "Enumeratio est in qua pluribus rebus expositis etceteris infirmatis una reliqua necessario confirmatur."