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pardon at your hands to win。
Give your brethren back their franchise。
Sin and shame it were that slaves；
Who have once with stern devotion
fought your battle on the waves；
Should be straightway lords and masters；
yea Plataeans fully blown…
Not that this deserves our censure；
there I praise you； there alone
Has the city； in her anguish；
policy and wisdom shown…
Nay but these； of old accustomed
on our ships to fight and win；
（They； their fathers too before them）；
these our very kith and kin；
You should likewise； when they ask you；
pardon for their single sin。
O by nature best and wisest；
O relax your jealous ire；
Let us all the world as kinsfolk
and as citizens acquire；
All who on our ships will battle
well and bravely by our side。
If we cocker up our city；
narrowing her with senseless pride；
Now when she is rocked and reeling
in the cradles of the sea；
Here again will after ages deem we acted brainlessly。
And O if I'm able to scan
the habits and life of a man
Who shall rue his iniquities soon！
not long shall that little baboon；
That Cleigenes shifty and small；
the wickedest bathman of all
Who are lords of the earth…which is brought
from the isle of Cimolus； and wrought
With nitre and lye into soap…
Not long shall he vex us； I hope。
And this the unlucky one knows；
Yet ventures a peace to oppose；
And being addicted to blows
he carries a stick as he goes；
Lest while he is tipsy and reeling；
some robber his cloak should be stealing。
Often has it crossed my fancy；
that the city loves to deal
With the very best and noblest
members of her commonweal；
just as with our ancient coinage；
and the newly…minted gold。
Yea for these； our sterling pieces；
all of pure Athenian mould；
All of perfect die and metal；
all the fairest of the fair；
All of workmanship unequalled；
proved and valued everywhere
Both amongst our own Hellenes
and Barbarians far away；
These we use not： but the worthles
pinchbeck coins of yesterday；
Vilest die and basest metal；
now we always use instead。
Even so； our sterling townsmen；
nobly born and nobly bred；
Men of worth and rank and mettle；
men of honourable fame；
Trained in every liberal science；
choral dance and manly game；
These we treat with scorn and insult；
but the strangers newliest come；
Worthless sons of worthless fathers；
pinchbeck townsmen； yellowy scum；
Whom in earlier days the city
hardly would have stooped to use
Even for her scapegoat victims；
these for every task we choose。
O unwise and foolish people；
yet to mend your ways begin；
Use again the good and useful：
so hereafter； if ye win
'Twill be due to this your wisdom：
if ye fall； at least 'twill be
Not a fall that brings dishonour；
falling from a worthy tree。
Enter AEACUS； XANTHIAS and two attendants。
AEACUS
By Zeus the Saviour； quite the gentleman
Your master is。
XANTHIAS
Gentleman？ I believe you。
He's all for wine and women； is my master。
AEACUS
But not to have flogged you； when the truth came out
That you； the slave； were passing off as master！
XANTHIAS
He'd get the worst of that。
AEACUS
Bravo！ that's spoken
Like a true slave： that's what I love myself。
XANTHIAS
You love it； do you？
AEACUS
Love it？ I'm entranced
When I can curse my lord behind his back。
XANTHIAS
How about grumbling； when you have felt the stick；
And scurry out of doors？
AEACUS
That's jolly too。
XANTHIAS
How about prying？
AEACUS
That beats everything；
XANTHIAS
Great Kin…god Zeus！ And what of overhearing
Your master's secrets？
AEACUS
What？ I'm mad with joy。
XANTHIAS
And blabbing them abroad？
AEACUS
O heaven and earth！
When I do that； I can't contain myself。
XANTHIAS
Phoebus Apollo！ clap your hand in mine；
Kiss and be kissed： and prithee tell me this；
Tell me by Zeus； our rascaldom's own god；
What's all that noise within？ What means this hubbub
And row？
AEACUS
That's Aeschylus and Euripides。
XANTHIAS
Eh？
AEACUS
Wonderful； wonderful things are going on。
The dead are rioting； taking different sides。
XANTHIAS
Why； what's the matter？
AEACUS
There's a custom here
With all the crafts； the good and noble crafts；
That the chief master of art in each
Shall have his dinner in the assembly hall；
And sit by Pluto's side。
XANTHIAS
I understand。
AEACUS
Until another comes； more wise than he
In the same art： then must the first give way。
XANTHIAS
And how has this disturbed our Aeschylus？
AEACUS
'Twas he that occupied the tragic chair；
As； in his craft； the noblest。
XANTHIAS
Who does now？
AEACUS
But when Euripides came down； he kept
Flourishing off before the highwaymen；
Thieves； burglars； parricides…these form our mob
In Hades…till with listening to his twists
And turns； and pleas and counterpleas； they went
Mad on the man； and hailed him first and wisest：
Elate with this； he claimed the tragic chair
Where Aeschylus was seated。
XANTHIAS
Wasn't he pelted？
AEACUS
Not he： the populace clamoured out to try
Which of the twain was wiser in his art。
XANTHIAS
You mean the rascals？
AEACUS
Aye； as high as heaven！
XANTHIAS
But were there none to side with Aeschylus？
AEACUS
Scanty and sparse the good； （regards the
audience） the same as here。
XANTHIAS
And what does Pluto now propose to do？
AEACUS
He means to hold a tournament； and bring
Their tragedies to the proof。
XANTHIAS
But Sophocles；
How came not he to claim the tragic chair？
AEACUS
Claim it？ Not he！ When he came down； he kissed
With reverence Aeschylus； and clasped his hand；
And yielded willingly the chair to him。
But now he's going； says Cleidemides；
To sit third…man： and then if Aeschylus win；
He'll stay content： if not； for his art's sake；
He'll fight to the death against Euripides。
XANTHIAS
Will it come off？
AEACUS
O yes； by Zeus； directly。
And then； I hear； will wonderful things be done；
The art poetic will be weighed in scales。
XANTHIAS
What I weigh out tragedy； like butcher's meat？
AEACUS
Levels they'll bring； and measuring…tapes for words；
And moulded oblongs；
XANTHIAS
Is it bricks they are ma