cynics:musonius_of_babylon
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====== Musonius of Babylon ====== | ====== Musonius of Babylon ====== | ||
- | ===== Pseudo-Lucian, | + | ===== Pseudo-Lucian, |
< | < | ||
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// | // | ||
- | MENECRATES And MUSONIUS. | + | MENECRATES And **MUSONIUS**. |
MENECRATES. Was not that cutting away of the Isthmus, which Nero, they say, certainly intended, a design truly Grecian? | MENECRATES. Was not that cutting away of the Isthmus, which Nero, they say, certainly intended, a design truly Grecian? | ||
- | MUSONIUS. He had still greater things in agitation, Menecrates, I assure you; he was for shortening the sailors voyage, by cutting through about twenty stadia. | + | **MUSONIUS**. He had still greater things in agitation, Menecrates, I assure you; he was for shortening the sailors voyage, by cutting through about twenty stadia. |
- | MENECRATES. This would have been very advantageous to the commerce both of the maritime and inland cities: the latter, you know, have always plenty, when the former are taken care of. Pray, Musonius, if you have no particular business, give us an account of this expedition, which we all wish to hear, | + | MENECRATES. This would have been very advantageous to the commerce both of the maritime and inland cities: the latter, you know, have always plenty, when the former are taken care of. Pray, **Musonius**, if you have no particular business, give us an account of this expedition, which we all wish to hear, |
- | MUSONIUS. That I will with all my heart; nor know I how I can better make you amends, for coming to a school so disagreeable as this. | + | **MUSONIUS**. That I will with all my heart; nor know I how I can better make you amends, for coming to a school so disagreeable as this. |
Know then, that the love of poetry carried Nero into Greece, who was already firmly persuaded that the Muses could not sing sweeter than himself; his ambition was to be crowned for his verses at the Olympic games, the greatest and most honourable feat of renown; as to the Pythian, he thought they more properly belonged to himself than to Apollo, who, in singing and playing on the harp, was by no means able to contend with him. The Isthmus was not amongst those schemes which he had premeditated, | Know then, that the love of poetry carried Nero into Greece, who was already firmly persuaded that the Muses could not sing sweeter than himself; his ambition was to be crowned for his verses at the Olympic games, the greatest and most honourable feat of renown; as to the Pythian, he thought they more properly belonged to himself than to Apollo, who, in singing and playing on the harp, was by no means able to contend with him. The Isthmus was not amongst those schemes which he had premeditated, | ||
- | MENECRATES. But pray, Musonius, so furiously fond as he is of music, and of appearing at the Pythian and Olympian games, what sort of a voice has he? For of those who heard him at Lemnos, some admired, and some laughed at him. | + | MENECRATES. But pray, **Musonius**, so furiously fond as he is of music, and of appearing at the Pythian and Olympian games, what sort of a voice has he? For of those who heard him at Lemnos, some admired, and some laughed at him. |
- | MUSONIUS. His voice, to say the truth, is neither admirable, nor contemptible, | + | **MUSONIUS**. His voice, to say the truth, is neither admirable, nor contemptible, |
MENECRATES. But how do those behave who contend with him, do they always acknowledge his superiority in the art, and yield to him? | MENECRATES. But how do those behave who contend with him, do they always acknowledge his superiority in the art, and yield to him? | ||
- | MUSONIUS. Just as they do in wrestling; you remember the tragedian that periled at the Isthmian games; a musician who opposed him would be in equal danger. | + | **MUSONIUS**. Just as they do in wrestling; you remember the tragedian that periled at the Isthmian games; a musician who opposed him would be in equal danger. |
MENECRATES. How was that? for I never heard the story. | MENECRATES. How was that? for I never heard the story. | ||
- | MUSONIUS. It is almost incredible: but all Greece was witness to it. | + | **MUSONIUS**. It is almost incredible: but all Greece was witness to it. |
There is a law forbidding tragedy or comedy to be exhibited at the Isthmian games; Nero, notwithstanding, | There is a law forbidding tragedy or comedy to be exhibited at the Isthmian games; Nero, notwithstanding, | ||
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MENECRATES. By such a horrid act, committed in the eyes of all Greece, did he then gain the prize? | MENECRATES. By such a horrid act, committed in the eyes of all Greece, did he then gain the prize? | ||
- | MUSONIUS. This was a mere trifle, for a young man who slew his own mother: what wonder was it that he should take away the life of a tragic player, who attempted to silence the Pythian oracle, and stop the mouth of Apollo himself! though the Pythian placed him amongst the Orestes' | + | **MUSONIUS**. This was a mere trifle, for a young man who slew his own mother: what wonder was it that he should take away the life of a tragic player, who attempted to silence the Pythian oracle, and stop the mouth of Apollo himself! though the Pythian placed him amongst the Orestes' |
But what ship is this coming in? It seems to bring some good news; the men have garlands on their heads, which is a happy omen. Somebody stretches out his hands from the deck, bids us be of good cheer, and if I am not mistaken, says, Nero is dead. | But what ship is this coming in? It seems to bring some good news; the men have garlands on their heads, which is a happy omen. Somebody stretches out his hands from the deck, bids us be of good cheer, and if I am not mistaken, says, Nero is dead. | ||
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MENECRATES. It is so; I hear him plainer as he comes towards the shore. | MENECRATES. It is so; I hear him plainer as he comes towards the shore. | ||
- | MUSONIUS. Thanks to the gods! a happy event. | + | **MUSONIUS**. Thanks to the gods! a happy event. |
MENECRATES. No more of that: speak not evil, as the proverb says, of the dead. | MENECRATES. No more of that: speak not evil, as the proverb says, of the dead. |
cynics/musonius_of_babylon.1339259142.txt.gz · Last modified: 2014/01/14 22:46 (external edit)