[1638.] The sentences in which asyndeton occurs are commonly such as might be connected by words meaning and or but; less often by words meaning as, for, &c. Asyndeton is especially common:
[1639.] (a.) In animated narration of events happening at the same moment, in description, and in climaxes. Also in mention of colleagues in office, and in many set phrases and formulas: as,
vēnī, vīdī, vīcī, Caesar in Suet. Iul. 37, came, saw, overcame. nostrī celeriter ad arma concurrunt, vāllum cōnscendunt, 5, 39, 3, our men rush speedily to arms, clamber up the palisade. huic s. c. intercessit C. Caelius, C. Pānsa, tribūnī pl., Fam. 8, 8, 7, this decree of the senate was objected to by Caelius and Pansa, tribunes of the commons. hī ferre agere plēbem, L. 3, 37, 7, there were these people worrying and harrying the commons ([1535]).
[1640.] (b.) In contrasts or antitheses: as,
opīniōnis commenta dēlet diēs, nātūrae iūdicia cōnfirmat, DN. 2, 5, the fictions of speculation are swept away by time, but the judgements of nature are confirmed. Particularly when either member is positive, the other negative: vincere scīs, Hannibal, victōriā ūtī nescīs, L. 22, 51, 4, you know how to conquer, Hannibal, but not how to use victory, says Maharbal after Cannae, 216 B.C.
[1641.] Asyndeton is very common with two or more imperatives: as, ēgredere ex urbe, Catilīna, līberā rem pūblicam metū, in exsilium proficīscere, C. 1, 20, go forth from Rome, Catiline, relieve the commonwealth from its fear, depart into exile. Particularly when the first is age, come on, mark me, or ī, go ([1572]). But from Horace on, ī nunc, go to now, is followed by et with a second imperative in derisive orders. In old Latin, the imperatives may be joined by et or even atque.
[1642.] Asyndeton is also common with parentheses. These often take the place of a modern foot-note: as, lēgātus capite vēlātō fīlō (lānae vēlāmen est) ‘audī, Iuppiter,’ inquit, L. 1, 32, 6, the envoy with his head covered with a ‘filum’ (that is to say a wrap of wool) says ‘bow down thine ear, Jupiter.’ Parentheses however are often introduced, from Terence on by nam, and from Sallust and Cicero on, by et, neque, autem, enim, &c.