Institutio Oratoria

or

I might say, etc.

[*](pro Cael. xxii. 53. ) Such kinds of irony may even be sustained at times through whole sections of our argument, as, for instance, where Cicero [*](pro Cluent. lx. 166. ) says,

If I were to plead on this point as though there were some real charge to refute, I should speak at greater length.

It is also irony when we assume the tone of command or concession, as in Virgil's [*](Aen. iv. 381. Dido to Aeneas. She continues by praying for his destruution. )

1. Go!
2. Follow the winds to Italy;

or when we concede to our opponents qualities which we are unwilling that they should seem to possess. This is specially effective when we possess these qualities and they do not, as in the following passage, [*](Aen. xi. 383. Turnus addresses Drances, who has been attacking him as the cause of the war and bidding him fight himself, if he would win Lavinia for his bride. )

1. Brand me as coward, Drances, since thy sword
2. Has slain such hosts of Trojans.

A like result is produced by reversing this method when we pretend to own to faults which are not ours or which even recoil upon the heads of our opponents, as for example,

1. 'Twas I that led the Dardan gallant on
2. To storm the bridal bed of Sparta's queen!

Aen. x. 92. Juno ironically pretends to have brought about the rape of Helen, which was in reality the work of Venus.

Further, this device of saying the opposite of what

we desire to imply is not merely restricted to persons, but may be extended to things, witness the whole of the exordium of the pro Ligario and disparaging phrases such as

Forsooth,

ye great gods!

or

1. Fit task, I ween, for gods!

Aen. iv,. 379. Dido mocks the excuse of Aeneas that he had received the direct command of heaven to leave Carthage.

Another example is provided by the following passage from the pro Oppio,

What wondrous love! what extraordinary benevolence!

Akin to irony also are the following figures, which have a strong family resemblance: confession of a kind that can do our case no harm, such as the following [*](pro Lig. i. 2. ) :

You have now, Tubero, the advantage most desired by an accuser: the accused confesses his guilt

; secondly, concession, when we pretend to admit something actually unfavourable to ourselves by way of showing our confidence in our cause, as in the following passage [*](Verr. v. xliv. 117 ) :

The commander of a ship from a distinguished city paid down a sum of money to rid himself of the fear of a scourging which hung over his head; it shows Verres' humanity

; or again, in the pro Cluentio, [*](pro Cluet. ii. 5. ) where Cicero is speaking of the prejudice aroused against his client,

Let it prevail in the public assembly, but be silent in the courts of law

; thirdly, agreement, as when Cicero, [*]( pro Cluent. xxiii. 63. ) in the same speech, agrees that the jury was bribed.