Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/204

 196 ALEXANDER. At his return out of Egypt into Phoenicia, he sacrificed and made solemn processions, to which were added shows of lyric dances and tragedies, remarkable not merely for the splendor of the equipage and decorations, but for the competition among those who exhibited them. For the kings of Cyprus were here the exhibitors,* just in the same manner as at Athens those who are chosen by lot out of the tribes. And, indeed, they showed the greatest emulation to outvie each other; especially Nicocreon, king of Salamis, and Pasicrates of Soli, who furnished the chorus, and defrayed the expenses of the two most cele- brated actors, Athenodorus and Thessalus, the former per- forming for Pasicrates, and the latter for Nicocreon. Thessalus was most favored by Alexander, though it did not appear till Athenodorus was declared victor by the plurality of votes. For then at his going away, he said the judges deserved to be commended for what they had done, but that he would willingly have lost part of his kingdom, rather than to have seen Thessalus overcome. However, when he understood Athenodorus was fined by the Athenians for being absent at the festivals of Bac- chus, though he refused his request that he would write a letter in his behalf, he gave him a sufficient sum to satisfy the penalty. Another time, when Lycon of Scarphia happened to act with great applause in the theatre, and in a verse which he introduced into the comic part which he was acting, begged for a present of ten talents, he laughed and gave him the money. Darius wrote him a letter, and sent friends to intercede with him, requesting him to accept as a ransom of his cap- masters ; the chorus or musical part citizen. It was regarded as an op- being always regarded as the basis portunity for displaying muuifi- of the play. To pay the expenses cence, and there was accordingly of a dramatic exhibition at the fes- much competition, tivals, was one of the public du-
 * In Greek, choragi or chorus- ties expected of every wealthier