Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition/Æsop, Clodius

​Æsop, Clodius, a celebrated actor, who flourished about the 670th year of Rome. He and Roscius were contemporaries, and the best performers who ever appeared upon the Roman stage; the former excelling in tragedy, the latter in comedy. Cicero was on the intimate terms with both actors, and put himself under their direction to perfect his action. Æsop performed many friendly services to Cicero, especially during the period of his banishment. He appears to have spared no pains to improve himself in his art, and to have always studied his part with the greatest care. On the stage his declamation was emphatic and his action vehement, and he became entirely absorbed in his part. Plutarch mentions it as reported of him, that while he was representing Atreus deliberating how he should revenge himself on Thyestes, he forgot himself so far in the heat of action that with his truncheon he struck and killed one of the servants crossing the stage. His age and the time of his death are uncertain; but he made his last appearance on the stage in B.C. 55, at the dedication of Pompey's threatre, on which occasion his voice failed him. Æsop lived in a somewhat expensive manner; but he nevertheless contrived to leave an ample fortune to his spendthrift son. This is the son of Æsop mentioned by Horace (Sat. iii. 3, 239) as taking a pearl from the eardrop of Cæcilia Metella, and dissolving it in vinegar, that he might have the satisfaction of swallowing eight thousand pounds' worth at a draught.