PERORATION, in rhetoric, the epilogue or last part of an oration, wherein what the orator had insisted on through his whole discourse is urged afresh with greater vehemence and passion. The peroration consists of two parts. 1. Recapitulation; wherein the substance of what was diffused throughout the whole speech is collected briefly and cursorily, and summed up with new force and weight. 2. The moving the passions; which is so peculiar to the peroration, that the masters of the art call this part fides affectuum. The passions to be raised are various, according to the various kinds of oration. In a panegyric, love, admiration, emulation, joy, &c. In an invective, hatred, contempt, &c. In a deliberation, hope, confidence, or fear. The qualities required in the peroration are, that it be very vehement and passionate, and that it be short; because, as Cicero observes, tears soon dry up.