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[55] Similar jests may be produced by the addition or removal of the aspirate, or by splitting up a word or joining it to another: the effect is generally poor, but the practice is occasionally permissible. Jests drawn from names are of the same type. Cicero introduces a number of such jests against Verres, but always as quotations [p. 469] from others. On one occasion he says that he would sweep1 everything away, for his name was Verres; on another, that he had given more trouble to Hercules, whose temple he had pillaged, than was given by the Erymanthine “boar”; on another, that he was a bad “priest” who had left so worthless a pig behind him.2 For Verres' predecessor was named Sacerdos.

1 verres is also the second pers. sing. of the future of verro.

2 verres means a boar and hero suggests a pig that should have been killed as a victim. For these jests see Verr. II. xxi. 62, IV. xliii. 95, I. xlvi. 121 respectively. Compare also IV. xxiv. 53 and xxv. 57.

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