Rosciusn.

1600 S. Nicholson Acolastus his After-witte sig. C3 Through thee each murthring Roscius is appointed, To act strang scenes of death on Gods annointed.

1647 R. Herrick Good Friday in Noble Numbers 74 Thou art that Roscius, and that markt-out man, That must this day act the Tragedian.

a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1662 (1955) III. 338 His best [painting] in my opinion is Lacy the famous Rossius or Comedian, whom he has painted in three dresses.

1749 W. R. Chetwood Gen. Hist. Stage 155 Mr. George Powel, a reputable Actor, with many Excellencies, gave out that he would perform the Part of Sir John Falstaff in the Manner of that very excellent English Roscius, Mr. Betterton.

1763 J. Boswell Jrnl. 21 Jan. in London Jrnl. (1950) 163 I was sitting with the great Roscius of the age [sc. Garrick].

1793 W. B. Stevens Jrnl. 13 May (1965) 82 The little Roscius of a Baronet tortures his Crura Podilla into Harlequin Agility.

1804 Caledonian Mercury 25 June 1/1 Theatre Royal. The Public are most respectfully informed, that the Young Gentleman Who..drew such crowded and overflowing houses as to acquire the appellation of the Young Roscius.., is engaged at this Theatre.

1826 W. Hazlitt in New Monthly Mag. 16 38 Of our party only two persons present had seen the British Roscius [sc. Garrick].

1888 R. Kipling Soldiers Three 58 Captain dear,..the gallery have enjoyed the performinces av a Roshus.

1944 Times 7 Oct. 5/4 The young Roscius of the films, unable to arrest the gliding years and so no longer able to play his old parts, must perforce retire for a season.

1958 C. Oman David Garrick xiv. 372 The Garricks set out for home next day... John O'Keefe, the Dublin playwright, saw Roscius for the last time ‘walking very quick (his way)’ up and down the Adelphi terrace.

1999 Afr. Amer. Rev. (Nexis) 33 347 In those days it was customary to hail a talented young performer as a ‘Roscius’, a name alluding to the great Roman actor Quintus Roscius Gallus.