Institutio Oratoria

I have already said more than was necessary on the subject of figures. But there will still be some who think that the following (which they call ἀνθυποφορὰ is a figure: Incredibile est, quod dico, sed verum: [*](What I say is incredible, but true.ἀνθυποφορὰ = answer to imaginary objection. ) they say the same of Aliquis hoc semel tubit, neno bis, ego ter [*]( Some have endured this once, while no one has endured it twice, but I have endured it thrice. διέξοδος = going through in detail. ) (which they style διέξοδος ), and of Longius evects sum, sed redeo ad propositumr, [*](I have made a long digression, but now return to the point.ἄφοδος strictly = departure, referring to the digression, rather than the return to the point. ) which they call

There are some figures of speech which differ little from figures of thought, as for example that of hesitation. For when we hesitate over a thing, it belongs to the former class, whereas when we hesitate over a word, it must be assigned to the latter, as for instance if we say,

I do not know whether to call this wickedness or folly.