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…the face you could not see…
An empty show of tragic woe；
who uttered not one thing。
DIONYSUS
'Tis true。
EURIPIDES
Then in the Chorus came； and rattled off a string
four continuous lyric odes：
the mourner never stirred。
DIONYSUS
I liked it too。 I sometimes think
that I those mutes preferred
To all your chatterers now…a…days。
EURIPIDES
Because； if you must know；
You were an ass。
DIONYSUS
An ass； no doubt；
what made him do it though？
EURIPIDES
That was his quackery； don't you see；
to set the audience guessing
When Niobe would speak； meanwhile；
the drama was progressing。
DIONYSUS
The rascal； how he took me in！
'Twas shameful； was it not？
（To AESCHYLUS） What makes you stamp and fidget so？
EURIPIDES
He's catching it so hot。
So when he had humbugged thus awhile；
and now his wretched play
Was halfway through； a dozen words；
great wild…bull words； he'd say；
Fierce Bugaboos； with bristling crests；
and shaggy eyebrows too；
Which not a soul could understand。
AESCHYLUS
O heavens！
DIONYSUS
Be quiet； do。
EURIPIDES
But not one single word was clear。
DIONYSUS
St！ don't your teeth be gnashing。
EURIPIDES
'Twas all Scamanders； moated camps；
and griffin…eagles flashing
In burnished copper on the shields；
chivalric…precipice…high
Expressions； hard to comprehend。
DIONYSUS
Aye； by the Powers； and
Full many a sleepless night have spent
in anxious thought； because
I'd find the tawny cock…horse out；
what sort of bird it was！
AESCHYLUS
It was a sign； you stupid dolt；
engraved the ships upon。
DIONYSUS
Eryxis I supposed it was；
Philoxenus's son。
EURIPIDES
Now really should a cock be brought
into a tragic play？
AESCHYLUS
You enemy gods and men；
what was your practice； pray？
EURIPIDES
No cock…horse in my plays； by Zeus；
no goat…stag there you'll see；
Such figures as are blazoned forth
in Median tapestry。
When first I took the art from you；
bloated and swoln； poor thing；
With turgid gasconading words
and heavy dieting；
First I reduced and toned her down；
and made her slim and neat
With wordlets and with exercise
and poultices of beet；
And next a dose of chatterjuice；
distilled from books； I gave her；
And monodies she took； with sharp
Cephisophon for flavour。
I never used haphazard words；
or plunged abruptly in；
Who entered first explained at large
the drama's origin
And source。
AESCHYLUS
Its source； I really trust；
was better than your own。
EURIPIDES
Then from the very opening lines
no idleness was shown；
The mistress talked with all her might；
the servant talked as much；
The master talked； the maiden talked；
the beldame talked。
An outrage was not death your due？
EURIPIDES
No； by Apollo； no：
That was my democratic way。
DIONYSUS
Ah； let that topic go。
Your record is not there； my friend；
particularly good。
EURIPIDES
Then next I taught all these to speak。
AESCHYLUS
You did so； and I would
That ere such mischief you had wrought；
your very rungs had split。
EURIPIDES
Canons of verse I introduced；
and neatly chiselled wit；
To look； to scan： to plot； to plan：
to twist； to turn； to woo：
On all to spy； in all to pry。
AESCHYLUS
You did： I say so too。
EURIPIDES
I showed them scenes of common life；
the things we know and see；
Where any blunder would at once
by all detected be。
I never blustered on； or took
their breath and wits away
By Cycnuses or Memnons clad
in terrible array；
With bells upon their horses' heads；
the audience to dismay。
Look at his pupils； look at mine：
and there the contrast view。
Uncouth Megaenetus is his；
and rough Phormisius too；
Great long…beard…lance…and…trumpet…men；
flesh…tearers with the pine：
But natty smart Theramenes；
and Cleitophon are mine。
DIONYSUS
Theramenes？ a clever man
and wonderfully sly：
Immerse him in a flood of ills；
he'll soon be high and dry；
〃A Kian with a kappa； sir；
not Chian with a chi。〃
EURIPIDES
I taught them all these knowing ways
By chopping logic in my plays；
And making all my speakers try
To reason out the How and Why。
So now the people trace the springs；
The sources and the roots of things；
And manage all their households to
Far better than they used to do；
Scanning and searching 〃What's amiss？〃
And； 〃Why was that？〃 And； 〃How is this？〃
DIONYSUS
Ay； truly； never now a man
Comes home； but he begins to scan；
And to his household loudly cries；
〃Why； where's my pitcher？ What's the matter？
'Tis dead and my last year's platter。
Who gnawed these olives？ Bless the sprat；
Who nibbled off the head of that？
And where's the garlic vanished； pray；
I purchased only yesterday？〃
…Whereas； of old； our stupid youths
Would sit； with open mouths and eyes；
Like any dull…brained Mammacouths。
CHORUS
〃All this thou beholdest； Achilles our boldest。〃
And what wilt thou reply？ Draw tight the rein
Lest that fiery soul of thine
Whirl thee out of the listed plain；
Past the olives； and o'er the line。
Dire and grievous the charge he brings。
See thou answer him； noble heart；
Not with passionate bickerings。
Shape thy course with a sailor's art；
Reef the canvas； shorten the sails；
Shift them edgewise to shun the gales。
When the breezes are soft and low；
Then； well under control； you'll go
Quick and quicker to strike the foe。
O first of all the Hellenic bards
high loftily…towering verse to rear；
And tragic phrase from the dust to raise；
pour forth thy fountain with right good cheer。
AESCHYLUS
My wrath is hot at this vile mischance；
and my spirit revolts at the thought that
Must bandy words with a fellow like him：
but lest he should vaunt that I can't reply…
Come； tell me what are the points for which
a noble poet our praise obtains。
EURIPIDES
For his ready wit； and his counsels sage；
and because the citizen folk he trains
To be better townsmen and worthier men。
AESCHYLUS
If then you have done the very reverse；
Found noble…hearted and virtuous men；
and altered them； each and all； for the worse；
Pray what is the meed you deserve to get？
DIONYSUS
Nay； ask not him。 He deserves to die。
AE