His power over them seemed like the fascination of
a bird by a snake. Of course, he couldn't do this with able
Judges, although all Judges who listened to him would, I think,
agree that he was as persuasive a reasoner as ever lived.
But with inferior magistrates and juries, however intelligent,
however determined they were in a made-up opinion, however
on their guard against the charmer, he was almost irresistible.
There are very few important cases recorded that Choate lost.
Non supplex, sed magister aut dominus videretur esse judicum.
Choate's method was pure persuasion. He never appealed to
base motives, nor tried to awake coarse prejudices or stormy
passions. He indulged in no invective. His wit and sarcasm
and ridicule amused the victim almost as much as it amused
the bystander. He had the suaviloquentia which Cicero attributes
to Cornelius. There was never a harsh note in his speech.
Latrantur enim jam quidam oratores, non loquuntur.
When he was confronted with some general rule, or some plain
fact, he had a marvellous art of subtle distinction.
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