/lit/ - Literature

I can't remember if it was here, but a couple or so months ago I remember reading someone saying something about a modern (~18th century I believe) figure who had a school exam in Greek and started writing in one dialect/voice but changed it midway through and still aced it. does anyone know this anectode and the figure himself?

at any rate I'm curious how many of you care about having that sort of ability or the ability to be able to recite hundreds of lines of classical poetry from memory. I think it would be fun, but I also think it could be a good way to help cement your knowledge of the material (in the case of remembering poetry) and of the language in general (in the case of being able to write proficiently).