click to read pdf file - The Preterist Archive

EVENTS IN THE VILLA POLLUX 115
more voluptuous impersonations followed ;
for when another
and less known actor named Hylas painted blue, and dragging
a fish's tail behind him had acted the part of the seagod
Glaucus, to rest the two chief performers, then Paris set
forth the story of Ariadne and Bacchus ;
and Aliturus sank
to yet lower depths in dancing the favourite pantomime of
Leda.
Such were among the amusements of Nero's evenings, and
part of the pleasure consisted in knowing that he and his
guests were enjoying at their leisure a near view of the
unequalled genius which enraptured the shouting myriads of
Koine when witnessed from a distance after long hours of
waiting to secure a place. Further, they had the advantage
of watching the speaking faces of the miinists, which in the
theatre were hidden by a mask. It is needless to add that
Nero rewarded with immense donations the artists whose skill
he so passionately admired. And yet for Paris it had been
happier if, instead of dazzling the multitude, he had remained
the humble slave of Domitia. For in later days Nero, envying
him the tumults of applause he won, tried to emulate his
skill. Paris did his best to teach him, but the attempt was
hopeless. Nothing could then make the obese form of the
Emperor graceful, or his thin legs agile. And since he could
not rival him, he made the poor wretch pay the penalty by
putting him to death.
But no such dread foreboding was in the happy actor's
mind as he witnessed the spell which he cast over the minds
of his audience and audience it
might fitly be called, for the
actor had spoken to them in the eloquence of rhythmic gesture.
The conversation turned naturally on the art of dancing.
'
Paris,' said Petronius, whose aesthetic sympathies had been
intensely gratified,
I know not whether you missed the usual
'
accompaniments of pipes and flutes, and still more the
thundering reverberations of applause from the enraptured
myriads, but I never heard you to greater advantage.'
'
Heard me ? Saw me, you mean,' said Paris, with a
pleasant
smile.
'No
'
!' said Petronius, we have heard, not seen, you. You
have not spoken a word, but your feet and your hands have
surpassed the eloquence even of lips "tinct with Hyblean
honeycombs." '