person
Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus
Cincinnatus
also: Цинцинат, Цинциннат
Legendary Roman statesman and farmer-general of the 5th century BC, twice called from his plow to serve as dictator and twice returning to his farm afterward rather than keep power; proverbial type of rustic simplicity and disdain for glory. Invoked here by Chekhov, opposite the luxury-loving Potemkin, to cast himself as content with hay and fishing over theatrical applause.
Reading notes
- A Fragment §1 Cincinnatus
Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, the legendary Roman statesman twice called from his plow to serve as dictator and twice returning to his farm; proverbial type of the great man content with rustic retirement. Kozerogov's self-comparison is deflating: unlike Cincinnatus, who left power for the plow, Kozerogov left a modest civil-service post to play at farming while still expecting to be addressed by his old title.
- To I. L. Leontyev, 18 February 1889. Moscow. §6 but a Cincinnatus.
Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, proverbial type of the ruler who preferred farm life to power; invoked opposite Potemkin as the figure Chekhov claims for himself here.