Aristophanes

“ Let us go into the meadows, that are sprinkled with roses, to form, according to our rites, the graceful choirs, over which the blessed Fates preside. 'Tis for us alone that the sun doth shine; his glorious rays illumine the Initiate, who have led the pious life, that is equally dear to strangers and citizens.
Dionysus
Come now! how should we knock at this door? How do the dwellers in these parts knock?
Xanthias
Lose no time and attack the door with vigour, if you have the courage of Heracles as well as his costume.
Dionysus
Ho! there! Slave! ”

“ Heracles
But he is dead. [13]
Dionysus
There is no human power can prevent my going to him.
Heracles
To the bottom of Hades?
Dionysus
Aye, and further than the bottom, an it need.
Heracles
And what do you want with him?
Dionysus
I want a master poet; "some are dead and gone, and others are good for nothing." [14]
Heracles
Is Iophon [15] dead then?
Dionysus
He is the only good one left me, and even of him I don't know quite what to think.
Heracles
Then there's Sophocles, who is greater than Euripides; if you must absolutely bring someone back from Hades, why not make him live again? ”

“ Dionysus
Why, wretched man, he's addressing the dead, whom to call thrice even is not sufficient.
Æschylus
And you, how do you form your prologues?
Euripides
I am going to tell you, and if you find a repetition, an idle word or inappropriate, let me be scouted!
Dionysus
Come, speak; 'tis my turn to listen. Let us hear the beauty of your prologues,
Euripides
"Oedipus was a fortunate man at first ..."
Æschylus
Not at all; he was destined to misfortune before he even existed, since Apollo predicted he would kill his father before ever he was born. How can one say he was fortunate at first? ”

“ I am the delight of Apollo, the god of the lyre, because I make the rushes, which are used for the bridge of the lyre, grow in my marshes. Brekekekex, coax, coax.
Dionysus
I have got blisters and my behind is all of a sweat; by dint of constant movement, it will soon be saying....
Frogs
Brekekekex, coax, coax.
Dionysus
Come, race of croakers, be quiet.
Frogs
Not we; we shall only cry the louder. On fine sunny days, it pleases us to hop through galingale and sedge and to sing while we swim; and when Zeus is pouring down his rain, we join our lively voices to the rustle of the drops. ”

“ Euripides
I hate the citizen who is slow to serve his country, quick to involve it in the greatest troubles, ever alert to his own interests, and a bungler where those of the State are at stake.
Dionysus
That's good, by Posidon! And you, what is your opinion?
Æschylus
A lion's whelp should not be reared within the city. No doubt that's best; but if the lion has been reared, one must submit to his ways.
Dionysus
Zeus, the Deliverer! this puzzles me greatly. The one is clever, the other clear and precise. Now each of you tell me your idea of the best way to save the State. ”

“ Dionysus
Curb yourself, noble Æschylus, and as for you, my poor Euripides, be prudent, protect yourself from this hailstorm, or he may easily in his rage hit you full in the temple with some terrible word, that would let out your Telephus. [87] Come, Æschylus, no flying into a temper! discuss the question coolly; poets must not revile each other like market wenches. Why, you shout at the very outset and burst out like a pine that catches fire in the forest. ”

“ The meadow sparkles with a thousand fires; the aged shake off the weight of cares and years; they have once more found limbs of steel, wherewith to take part in thy sacred measures; and do thou, blessed deity, lead the dances of youth upon this dewy carpet of flowers with a torch in thine hand.
Silence, make way for our choirs, you profane and impure souls, who have neither been present at the festivals of the noble Muses, nor ever footed a dance in their honour, and who are not initiated into the mysterious language of the dithyrambs of the voracious Cratinus ”

“ You hear him, illustrious Achilles, [104] and what are you going to reply? Only take care that your rage does not lead you astray, for he has handled you brutally. My noble friend, don't get carried away; furl all your sails, except the top-gallants, so that your ship may only advance slowly, until you feel yourself driven forward by a soft and favourable wind. Come then, you who were the first of the Greeks to construct imposing monuments of words and to raise the old tragedy above childish trifling, open a free course to the torrent of your words. ”

“ Oh, venerated Dionysus, who hast created such soft melodies for this festival, come to accompany us to the goddess, show that you can traverse a long journey without wearying. [50] Dionysus, the king of the dance, guide my steps. 'Tis thou who, to raise a laugh and for the sake of economy, [51] hast torn our sandals and our garments; let us bound, let us dance at our pleasure, for we have nothing to spoil. Dionysus, king of the dance, guide my steps. ”

“ Æschylus
This contest rouses my gall; my heart is boiling over with wrath. Am I bound to dispute with this fellow? But I will not let him think me unarmed and helpless. So, answer me! what is it in a poet one admires?
Euripides
Wise counsels, which make the citizens better.
Æschylus
And if you have failed in this duty, if out of honest and pure-minded men you have made rogues, what punishment do you think is your meet?
Dionysus
Death. I will reply for him. ”

“ Dionysus
That's true; the crimes you imputed to the wives of others, you suffered from in turn.
Euripides
But, cursed man, what harm have my Sthenoboeas done to Athens?
Æschylus
You are the cause of honest wives of honest citizens drinking hemlock, so greatly have your Bellerophons made them blush. [111]
Euripides
Why, did I invent the story of Phædra?
Æschylus
No, the story is true enough; but the poet should hide what is vile and not produce nor represent it on the stage. The schoolmaster teaches little children and the poet men of riper age. We must only display what is good. ”

“ The God Dionysus, patron of the Drama, is dissatisfied with the condition of the Art of Tragedy at Athens, and resolves to descend to Hades in order to bring back again to earth one of the old tragedians—Euripides, he thinks, for choice. Dressing himself up, lion's skin and club complete, as Heracles, who has performed the same perilous journey before, and accompanied by his slave Xanthias (a sort of classical Sancho Panza) with the baggage, he starts on the fearful expedition. ”

“ No, you babbler, no, 'tis not the same thing, and the verse is excellent.
Dionysus
Indeed! then prove it.
Æschylus
To come is the act of a citizen who has suffered no misfortune; but the exile both comes and returns.
Dionysus
Excellent! by Apollo! What do you say to that, Euripides?
Euripides
I say that Orestes did not return to his country, for he came there secretly, without the consent of those in power.
Dionysus
Very good indeed! by Hermes! only I have not a notion what it is you mean.
Euripides
Go on.
Dionysus
Come, be quick, Æschylus, continue; and you look out for the faults. ”

“ Furthermore, that there be not a single citizen in Athens who is deprived of his rights; otherwise would it not be shameful to see slaves become masters and treated as honourably as Platæans, because they helped in a single naval fight? [75] Not that I censure this step, for, on the contrary I approve it; 'tis the sole thing you have done that is sensible. But those citizens, both they and their fathers, have so often fought with you and are allied to you by ties of blood, so ought you not to listen to their prayers and pardon them their single fault? ”

“ Demeter, who presidest over the pure mysteries, help us and protect thy choruses; far from all danger, may I continually yield myself to sports and dancing, mingle laughter with seriousness, as is fitting at thy festivals, and as the reward for my biting sarcasms may I wreathe my head with the triumphal fillets. ”

“ We shall see the ingenious architect of style defending himself against immense periods. Then, the close hairs of his thick mane all a-bristle, the giant will knit his terrible brow; he will pull out verses as solidly bolted together as the framework of a ship and will hurl them forth with a roar, while the pretty speaker with the supple and sharpened tongue, who weighs each syllable and submits everything to the lash of his envy, will cut this grand style to mincemeat and reduce to ruins this edifice erected by one good sturdy puff of breath. ”

“ Xanthias
What! has not Sophocles also claimed the chair then?
Æacus
No, no! he embraced Æschylus and shook his hand, when he came down; he could have taken the seat, for Æschylus vacated it for him; but according to Clidemides, [78] he prefers to act as his second; if Æschylus triumphs, he will stay modestly where he is, but if not, he has declared that he will contest the prize with Euripides.
Xanthias
When is the contest to begin?
Æacus
Directly! the battle royal is to take place on this very spot. Poetry is to be weighed in the scales.
Xanthias
What? How can tragedy be weighed? ”

“ At the gate of the Ceramicus the spectators started beating his belly, sides, flanks and thighs; these slaps knocked so much wind out of him that it extinguished his torch and he hurried away.
Chorus
'Tis a serious issue and an important debate; the fight is proceeding hotly and its decision will be difficult; for, as violently as the one attacks, as cleverly and as subtly does the other reply. But don't keep always to the same ground; you are not at the end of your specious artifices. Make use of every trick you have, no matter whether it be old or new! ”

“ If we know them to be well-born, sober, brave, honest, adepts in the exercises of the gymnasium and in the liberal arts, they are the butts of our contumely and we have only a use for the petty rubbish, consisting of strangers, slaves and low-born folk not worth a whit more, mushrooms of yesterday, whom formerly Athens would not have even wanted as scapegoats. ”

“ I have often noticed that there are good and honest citizens in Athens, who are as old gold is to new money. The ancient coins are excellent in point of standard; they are assuredly the best of all moneys; they alone are well struck and give a pure ring; everywhere they obtain currency, both in Greece and in strange lands; yet we make no use of them and prefer those bad copper pieces quite recently issued and so wretchedly struck. Exactly in the same way do we deal with our citizens. ”

“ Dionysus
"Why shameful, if the spectators do not think so?" [154]
Euripides
Cruel wretch, will you leave me pitilessly among the dead?
Dionysus
"Who knows if living be not dying, [155] if breathing be not feasting, if sleep be not a fleece?" [156]
Pluto
Enter my halls. Come, Dionysus.
Dionysus
What shall we do there?
Pluto
I want to entertain my guests before they leave.
Dionysus
Well said, by Zeus; 'tis the very thing to please me best.
Chorus
Blessed the man who has perfected wisdom! Everything is happiness for him. Behold Æschylus ”

“ Brekekekex, coax, coax.
Dionysus
May you perish with your coax, your endless coax!
Frogs
And why change it, you great fool? I am beloved by the Muses with the melodious lyre, by the goat-footed Pan, who draws soft tones out of his reed ”

“ Handmaidens, kindle the lamp, draw up the dew of the rivers in your vases and make the water hot; I wish to purify myself of this dream sent me by the gods. Oh! king of the ocean, that's right, that's right! ”