Thursday, April 17, 2014

Acta est Fabula! Plaudite! - the Play is Over! Applaud!

Acta est fabula, plaudite!The play is over, applaud!(Reportedly, the Emperor Augustus' last words, but delivered in Greek)
Suetonius,
Divus Augustus 99.1


 These "famous last words" of Caesar Augustus show perhaps a window into his psyche. He had "played a role" his whole life, on behalf of the vision for Rome's future that he and his allies supported. And at the end of his life he can take off the mask and be, like all mortals, ready to face his demise. At any rate, he played his role well.

Francois Rabelais spoke similarly from
his death bed:

Je m'en vais chercher un grand peut-être; tirez le rideau, la farce est jouée.
"I am going to seek a grand perhaps. Draw the curtain, the farce is played.


To learn more about Latin, visit the Latin resources page on my website.

I have a collection of other Latin quotes there that you can explore. 


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