LABERIUS, DECIMUS

born c. 105 BC died 43 BC Roman knight with a caustic wit who was one of the two leading writers of mimes. In 46 or 45 BC he was compelled by Julius Caesar to accept the challenge of his rival, Publilius Syrus, and appear in one of his own mimes; the dignified prologue that he pronounced on this degradation has survived. Caesar awarded the prize to Publilius but restored Laberius to his equestrian rank, which he had forfeited by appearing as a mime. The titles of about 42 of his mimes have been preserved, with fragments.