Nero

​Musonius But he, Menecrates, has a voice that is neither wonderful nor, on the other hand, ridiculous, for nature has tuned him blamelessly and moderately. He speaks with a naturally hollow and deep tone, because his throat is set deep, and his throat being so constructed, the melodies sound in a buzzing way; yet the pitches of the sounds smooth this over. Since indeed he does not trust in himself, but relies on the kindness of variations, easily guiding melody-making, well-ordered lyre-playing, and walking, standing, and moving at the right moment, and matching his gestures to the melodies—with the sole shame being that a king should seem to perfect these things. But if he should imitate his betters, oh what a laugh! How completely he falls out of favor with the spectators, even though ten thousand fears hang over anyone who might laugh at him; for he nods more than is proper, compressing his breath, and stands on the tips of his feet, bending backward like those on the wheel, and being naturally red-faced, he blushes even more as his face swells, while his breath is short and surely insufficient. Menecrates And how do his competitors yield to him in the contest, Musonius? For surely they gratify him by art. Musonius By art, indeed, like those who wrestle underneath; but remember, Menecrates, the tragic actor, how he died at the Isthmus; for there are dangers even in the arts, if those who practice them exert themselves too much. Menecrates And what is this, Musonius? For I have utterly never heard of this story. Musonius Listen then to a story that is indeed strange, yet enacted before the eyes of the Greeks. For though there was a law established at the Isthmus that neither comedy nor tragedy should be contested, Nero decided to conquer tragic actors, and indeed many entered this contest, but an Epirote, who had the best voice and was famous and admired for it, fashioned himself with a more brilliant voice than usual and desired the crown, declaring he would not yield until Nero should give him ten talents for the victory. But Nero grew wild and acted like a madman, for indeed he was listening under the stage during the very contest; and when the Greeks shouted in applause for the Epirote, he sent his secretary, ordering him to yield to him; but when the man raised his voice even higher and competed in a popular manner, Nero sent onto the stage his own actors, as if they had some business with the matter. For indeed they held double-leaved ivory tablets and held them out like daggers, and having pinned the Epirote against the nearby column, they broke his throat by striking it with the edges of the tablets. Menecrates And did he win the tragedy, Musonius, after committing such an abominable outrage before the eyes of the Greeks? Musonius These things are mere child’s play for a youth who killed his mother; if he killed a tragic actor by cutting off his voice, why should one wonder? For indeed he even set out to block up the Pythian chasm from which the divine voices breathed, so that not even Apollo might have a voice, even though the Pythian god had classed him among the likes of Orestes and Alcmaeon, to whom matricide also gave some repute of glory since they avenged their fathers; but since he could in no way say whom he had avenged, he thought he had been insulted by the god, though hearing words gentler than the truth. But, in the midst of our talk, what is this approaching ship? It seems to bring some good news; for they have crowned their heads, like an auspicious chorus, and someone from the prow stretches out his hand, bidding us to take heart and rejoice, and shouts, if my ears do not deceive me, that Nero is gone! Menecrates Yes, he is shouting indeed, Musonius, and more clearly too, as he touches land. Well done, O gods! Musonius But let us not exult over him; for they say one must not boast over the fallen.