Book 9
2.57
There is also another kind of figure, which is not aposiopesis, since that involves leaving a sentence unfinished, but consists in bringing our words to a close before the natural point for their conclusion. The following is an example pro Lig. iii. 9. : I am pressing my point too far; the young man appears to be moved ; or A free quotation from Verr. v. xliv. 116 Why should I say more? you heard the young man tell the story himself. The imitation of other persons' characteristics,
2.58
which is styled ἠθοποιί͂α or, as some prefer μίμησις may be counted among the devices which serve to excite the gentler emotions. For it consists mainly in banter, though it may be concerned either with words or deeds. If concerned with the latter, it closely resembles ὑποτύπωσις while the following passage from Terence Eun. I. ii. 75. will illustrate it as applied to words: I didn't see your drift. 'A little girl was stolen from this place; my mother brought her up as her own daughter. She was known as my sister. I want to get her away to restore her to her relations.'
