Whenever, therefore, there comes to light some signal service in undergoing or sharing the dangers of a friend, who does not proclaim it with the loudest praise?

Whenever, therefore, there comes to light some signal service in undergoing or sharing the dangers of a friend, who does not proclaim it with the loudest praise?

What shouts recently rang through the entire theater during the performance of the new play, written by my guest and friend, Marcus Pacuvius at the scene where, the king being ignorant which of the two was Orestes, Pylades, who wished to be put to death instead of his friend, declared, “I am Orestes,” while Orestes continued steadfastly to assert, as was the fact, “I am Orestes!” M. Tullius Cicero. Laelius on Friendship. Section 24.

Note: Hmmm...I wonder if Howard Fast had read this bit of Cicero before writing the scene in "Spartacus" where all of the rebels proclaimed themselves to be Spartacus!

Image: Silver cup with repoussé depicting Orestes, Iphigenia and Pylades on the island of Sminthe, maybe illustrating a lost play by Sophocles, Roman 25 BCE - 25 CE, at the British Museum.