Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Roman Virtues

1 comment:

  1. Which reminded me of this passage from Plutarch:

    "Once when I was lecturing at Rome, Rusticus ... was one of my hearers; and while I was going on, a soldier came in and brought him a letter from the Emperor. And when every one was silent, and I stopped in order to let him read the letter, he declined to do so, and put it aside until I had finished and the audience withdrew; an example of serious and dignified behavior which excited much admiration."

    There was, unfortunately, a down-side to "exciting admiration," as Plutarch tell us that sometime later the Emperor, "out of jealousy of his reputation", had the Noble Roman put to death.

    ReplyDelete