Source edition
Lucian, Vol. 6. Kilburn, Kenneth, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1959 (unrenewed copyright).
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a short prose piece that addresses the quest for fame and the question of who constitutes the true audience for an artist. The narrative begins with the young aulos player Harmonides asking his master, Timotheus, how he can achieve renown throughout all of Greece. Timotheus advises him that instead of trying to please the general public, he should perform for a select few of the most influential and discerning individuals, as their approval is the quickest path to genuine fame. Unfortunately, Harmonides dies during his very first competition and is unable to put this advice into practice. The author then applies this anecdote to his own situation, comparing the intellectual audience before him to the elite judges mentioned by Timotheus. Ultimately, he commends his own work to their judgment, seeking their refined evaluation.