1827.] Historical and Literary. 597 



Is soft, and delicate, and mine'd so finely, 

 That, on my life, they'll ne'er discover you. 



Ag. Euripides ! 



^Eur. Whatis't? 



Ag. 'Twas you that sung, 

 " Thou deem'st life to be precious cans't thou not 

 Believe thy father deems it precious, too ?" 



Eur. The verse is mine what then ? 



Ag. Why never dream, 

 That we shall volunteer to bear for you 

 Your adverse fortune we were mad indeed, 

 And worse than mad, to think on't Firmly then 

 Resolve to meet the fate you cannot shun. 



Agatho, having thus refused, Mnesilochus, fired with a generous indig- 

 nation at his treachery towards Euripides, offers to go in his stead. Euri- 

 pides bids him strip. Mnesilochus strips willingly; hut when Euripides 

 proposes to shave him, and borrows a razor for that purpose from Agatho, 

 lie makes a very strenuous effort to retract his offer. Euripides will not 

 let him but forthwith shaves one side of his face, in spite of his many 

 cries and struggles. Mnesilochus attempts to run away. Euripides 

 threatens to knock him down if he does riot immediately stop both his 

 bawling and his running. The wretch is frightened, and submits to have 

 the other side of his face shaved, but not without exclaiming long and 

 loudly against his unhappy destiny. The dialogue then continues : 



Eur. Tush, man, ne'er fret yourself for such a loss, 

 But see how spruce, and trim, and brave you look. 

 Say shall I bring a mirror ? 



Mn. If you please. 



Eur. Why, there it is, then dost thou see thyself? 



Mn. By Jove, not I 'tis Cleisthenes I see. 



Eur. Rise up, and let me singe these hairs away. 



Mn. Alas ! Alas ! he'll scald me like a pig. 



Mnesilochus, being thus shaved, is sent into the assembly of women. 

 When he has taken his seat among them, and has begun to congratulate 

 himself upon the success of his stratagem, and is listening with silent satis- 

 faction to the smart tales which they are telling of each other, under the 

 idea that no male is present, the chorus starts up, and bids them cease 

 their chattering for a woman " fiery red with speed," is approaching the 

 place of their meeting; whereupon Cleisthenes immediately makes his 

 appearance, and thus addresses them : 



" Dear dames of Athens, sisters of my soul, 



How fondly I adore you, let my cheeks, 



My beardless cheeks, proclaim you know I love 



To ape the woman, and I madly dote 



On all your quaint devices. I have tidings, 



Tidings which near affect you shall I tell them ? 



Chor. Speak out, my boy for boy I needs must call thee, 

 Whilst thus thy chin is cheated of its beard. 



He then informs the women of the trick which Euripides has put upon 

 them through the agency of some paltry scoundrel, who has submitted to 

 be shaved, and then come among them as a spy. Mnesilochus boldly 

 affirms that the story of Cleisthenes is incredible : 



Say can you credit such a tale as this 

 When told by such a thing ? Lives there a man, 

 So lost to all the feelings of a man, 

 As would for any bribe that wealth could give, 



