Book 9
2.34
But we may introduce not only imaginary sayings, but imaginary writings as well, as is done by Asinius in his defence of Liburnia: Let my mother, who was the object of my love and my delight, who lived for me and gave me life twice in one day The speech being lost, the allusion in bis — dedit is unintelligible. (and so on) inherit nought of my property. This is in itself a figure, and is doubly so whenever, as in the present case, it imitates a document produced by the opposing party.
2.35
For a will had been read out by the prosecution, in the following form: Let Publius Novanius Gallio, to whom as my benefactor I will and owe all that is good, as a testimony to the great affection which he has borne me (then follow other details) be my heir. In this case the figure borders on parody, a name drawn from songs sung in imitation of others, but employed by an abuse of language to designate imitation in verse or prose.
2.36
Again, we often personify the abstract, as Virgil Aen. iv. 174. does with Fame, or as Xenophon Mem. ii. 1. records that Prodicus did with Virtue and Pleasure, or as Ennius does when, in one of his satires, he represents Life and Death contending with one another. We may also introduce some imaginary person without identifying him, as we do in the phrases, At this point some one will interpose, or, Some one will say.
