Abstract

In hisLife of AugustusSuetonius records that just before his death the emperor requested that his appearance be made right, and that he then spoke some lines of Greek verse:petito speculo capillum sibi comi ac malas labantes corrigi praecepit et admissos amicos percontatus, ecquid iis uideretur mimum uitae commode transegisse, adiecit et clausulam:ἐπεὶ δὲ πάνυ καλῶς πέπαισται, δότε κρότονκαὶ πάντες ἡμᾶς μετὰ χαρᾶς προπέμψατε(Suet.Div. Aug.99)Asking for a mirror, he ordered that his hair be done and that his drooping jaws be set straight. And having summoned his friends, he asked whether he seemed to them to have played life's farce adequately and added this ending:Since my part has been well played, give me applauseAnd all of you dismiss us with a kind farewell.

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