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Not like a king, but like an actor, he exchanged his showy robe of state for a dark cloak, and in secret stole away.

—PLUTARCH, Life of Demetrius

When the Macedonians deserted him,

and made it clear that it was Pyrrhus they preferred

King Demetrius (who had a noble

soul) did not—so they said—

behave at all like a king. He went

and cast off his golden clothes,

and flung off his shoes

of richest purple. In simple clothes

he dressed himself quickly and left:

doing just as an actor does

who, when the performance is over,

changes his attire and departs.

[1900; 1906]