Kitap 9
2.59
We may, however, imitate our own words and deeds in a similar fashion by relating some act or statement, though in such cases the speaker more frequently does so to assert his point than for the sake of banter, as, for example, in the following, Div. in Caec. ii. 4. Cicero ironically suggested to the Sicilians that Caecilius should undertake their case. He was a bogus accuser put forward by Verres himself, whose quaest or he had been in Sicily. I said that they had Quintus Caecilius to conduct the prosecution. There are other devices also which are agreeable in themselves and serve not a little to commend our case both by the introduction of variety and by their intrinsic naturalness, since by giving our speech an appearance of simplicity and spontaneity they make the judges more ready to accept our statements without suspicion.
2.60
Thus we may feign repentance for what we have said, as in the pro Caelio, xv. 35. where Cicero says, But why did I introduce so respectable a character? Or we may use some common phrase, such as, I didn't mean to say that. Verr. IV. xx. 43. Or we may pretend that we are searching for what we should say, as in the phrases, What else is there? or Have I left anything out? Or we may pretend to discover something suggested by the context, as when Cicero pro Cluent. lxi. 169. says, One more charge, too, of this sort still remains for me to deal with, or One thing suggests another.
