The Maiden's Walk

Cecilia Metela

Escuché a Lucio Flaco, sumo sacerdote de Marte, relatar la siguiente historia: La hija de Metelo, Cecilia, deseosa de concertar el matrimonio para la hija de su hermana, fue, según la antigua costumbre, a una pequeña capilla para recibir un presagio. Pasó un largo rato mientras la doncella permanecía de pie y Cecilia sentada en una silla sin decir palabra. Finalmente, la primera, cansada, le dijo a su tía: "Déjame sentarme un rato en tu silla". "Claro, hija mía", respondió Cecilia, "puedes ocupar mi lugar". Y esto fue un presagio de lo que sucedió, pues al poco tiempo Cecilia murió y la joven se casó con el marido de su tía.

Marco Tulio Cicerón. De Divinatione, I, 46. link.

Caecilia Metella

I heard Lucius Flaccus,⁠ the high priest of Mars, relate the following story: Metellus' daughter, Caecilia, who was desirous of arranging a marriage for her sister's daughter, went, according to the ancient custom, to a small chapel to receive an omen. A long time passed while the maiden stood and Caecilia was seated on a chair without any word being spoken. Finally, the former grew weary and said to her aunt: 'Let me sit awhile on your chair.' 'Certainly, my child,' said Caecilia, 'you may have my place.' And this was an omen of what came to pass, for in a short time Caecilia died and the girl married her aunt's husband.

Marcus Tullius Cicero. De Divinatione, I, 46. link.

Spartans

When Timotheus was competing at the Carneian Festival, one of the Ephors took a knife, and asked him on which side he should cut out the superfluous strings beyond the usual seven.

Plutarch, Customs of the Spartans, 17. link.

Ecprepes, an Ephor, cut out with an adze two of the nine strings of Phrynis the musician, saying, "Do not murder music."

Plutarch, Sayings of Spartans. link.

Terpander

If anyone presumed to transgress in any way the rules of the good old music, they would not permit this; but even Terpander, one of the oldest and the best harp-player of his time as well as a devoted admirer of the deeds of heroes, the Ephors none the less fined, and carried away his instrument and nailed it to a wall because he put in just one extra string for the sake of the variety in the notes; for they approved only the simpler melodies.

Plutarch's, Customs of the Spartans (Instituta Laconica), 17. link

Marcus Porcius

In the time of the consul Marcus Porcius, a great musician came from Greece to Rome, who was very skilled at playing and very smooth in singing, and as he added a new string to the instrument with which he played, which the other instruments of Rome did not have, the instrument was publicly burned and the master banished.

Marco Porcio

En los tiempos que era el cónsul Marco Porcio vino un gran músico desde Grecia a Roma, el cual era muy primoroso en el tañer y muy suave en el cantar, y como añadiese ·de nuevo una cuerda al instrumento con que tañía, la cual no tenían los otros instrumentos de Roma, fue el instrumento públicamente quemado y el maestro desterrado.