GREEK LITERARY CRITICISM I. ARISTOPHANES A Contest for the Throne of Tragedy FROGS 756-1533. (Dionysus' slave Xanthias is conversing with Aeacus, the porter of Hades.) Xanthias. What is that noise . . . those shouts and quarrelling. Inside? Aeacus. That? Aeschylus and Euripides! Aeacus. Yes; there's a big business just astir, Aeacus. There's a law established here Concerning all the large and liberal arts, Which grants the foremost master in each art Free entertainment at the Central Hearth, And also a special throne in Pluto's row. Xanthias. Oh, now I understand! Aeacus. To hold until There comes one greater; then he must make way. Xanthias. But how has this affected Aeschylus ? Aeacus. Aeschylus held the throne of tragedy, As greatest Xanthias. Held it? Why, who holds it now? Aeacus. Well, when Euripides came down, he gave Footpads, cut-purses, burglars, father-beaters, -Of whom we have numbers here; and when they heard The neat retorts, the fencing, and the twists, They all went mad and thought him something splendid. And he, growing proud, laid hands upon the throne Where Aeschylus sat. Xanthias. And wasn't pelted off? Aeacus. Not he. The whole folk clamoured for a trial Aeacus. Exactly;-loud as trumpets. Xanthias. And were there none to fight for Aeschylus ? Aeacus. Goodness is scarce, you know. [Indicating the audience] The same as here! Xanthias. And what does Pluto mean to do about it? Aeacus. Why, hold a trial and contest on the spot To test their skill for certain Xanthias [reflecting]. But, I say, Sophocles surely must have claimed the throne? If Aeschylus wins the day, he'll rest content: Xanthias. It is to be, then? Aeacus. Certainly, quite soon. Just where you stand we'll have the shock of war. Xanthias. Poor thing, A lamb set in the meat-scale and found wanting! Aeacus. They'll bring straight-edges out, and cubit-rules, And folded cube-frames Xanthias. Is it bricks they want? Aeacus. And mitre-squares and wedges! Line by line Euripides will test all tragedies! Xanthias. That must make Aeschylus angry, I should think? Aeacus. Well, he did stoop and glower like a mad bull. Aeacus. That was a difficulty. Both found an utter dearth of proper critics; For Aeschylus objected to the Athenians . Xanthias. Perhaps he thought the jail-folk rather many? Aeacus. And all the world beside, he thought mere dirt At seeing what kind of thing a poet was. So, in the end, they fixed upon your master But come in; when the master's face looks grave [They go into the house. Chorus. [The song is a parody of the metre and style of Aeschylus.] Eftsoons shall dire anger interne be the Thunderer's portion, When his foe's glib tusk fresh whetted for blood he descries; Then fell shall his heart be, and mad; and a pallid distortion Descend as a cloud on his eyes. Yea, words with plumes wild on the wind and with helmets a-glancing, With axles a-splinter and marble a-shiver, eftsoons Shall bleed, as a man meets the shock of a Thoughtbuilder's prancing Stanzas of dusky dragoons. |