Plutarch's Romane Questions · Plutarch
107.
_What is the reason that the Romans call those who act comedies and other theatricall plaies_, Histriones? IS it for that cause, which as _Claudius Rufus_ hath left in writing? for he reporteth that many yeeres ago, and namely, in those daies when _Cajus Sulpitius_ and _Licinius Stolo_ were Consuls, there raigned a great pestilence at _Rome_, such a mortalitie as comsumed all the stage plaiers indifferently one with another. Whereupon at their instant praier and request, there repaired out of _Tuscane_ to _Rome_, many excellent and singular actours in this kinde: among whom, he who was of greatest reputation, and had caried the name longest in all theaters, for his rare gift and dexteritie that way, was called _Hister_; of whose name all other afterwards were tearmed _Histriones_.
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