[84]
There remains the prettiest of all forms of humour,
namely the jest which depends for success on deceiving anticipations1 or taking another's words in a
sense other than he intended. The unexpected
element may be employed by the attacking party,
as in the example cited by Cicero,2 “What does this
man lack save wealth and—virtue?” or in the
remark of Afer, “For pleading causes he is most
admirably—dressed.” Or it may be employed to
meet a statement made by another, as it was by
Cicero3 on hearing a false report of Vatinius' death:
he had met one of the latter's freedmen and asked
him, “Is all well?” The freedman answered,“All is
well.” To which Cicero replied,“Is he dead, then?”
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