1711 No. 28 2 Apr. , ⁋1 I will not say that a monkey is a better man than some of the opera heroes; but certainly he is a better representative of a man.
1855 W. B. Wood v. 113 As the representative of opera heroes..he had no superior.
2000 D. Smith tr. F. Nietzsche 104 The eternally virtuous opera hero, the eternally flute-playing or singing shepherd.., must in the end always rediscover himself.