Leonardo Bruni, de Studiis et Litteris IX:
“It will also be useful to the reader if she reads aloud. For, there are not only in poetry, but also in prose, certain rhythms and sounds measured and understood by the sense of the ear, as well as certain inflections and gradations, such that the voice is lowered, and then raised; there are also cola, commata, and periods stitched together with a marvelous harmony, which will appear in every excellent writer. When reading aloud, then, she will comprehend all of these things better, and she will fill her ears with a certain harmony, which she will perceive and imitate when writing later. It will also follow from this habit of reading aloud that she will bring out words at their proper time, and will not hasten through them when delay is needed, nor will she delay when haste is required.”
Quin etiam contenta interdum voce legere iuvabit. Sunt enim non in versu modo, sed etiam soluta in oratione numeri quidam et veluti concentus aurium sensu dimensi et cogniti flexionesque et gradus aliqui, ut modo se demittat vox, modo attollat, colaque et commata et periodi miri concinnitate inter se connexa, quae in optimo quoque scriptore maxime apparent. Ea igitur, cum alte legeret, manifestius deprehendet replebitque aures veluti harmonia quadam, quam et sentiet postea scribens et imitabitur. Illud praeterea ex hac lectione consequetur, ut verba suo tempore proferat neve properet, cum immorandum sit, neve immoretur, cum properandum.
See also: Don’t Bother Me, I’m Reading!
