98 THE Ar.F. OF PERICLKS. 



scenery, the music, the actors altogether surpassed any thing of the kind 

 which appeared before or since. 



Comedy, which yet existed in its old form or was in its transition 

 state, flourished under the inspiration of Aristophanes. Tragedy was 

 dignified and elevating ; comedy, descending to personalities, to low and 

 vulgar abuse, according to the whim or passion of the writer, was re- 

 ceived by the populace with unmeasured applause. It fell in naturally 

 with the democratic spirit of the Athenians to hear their best men, their 

 most distinguished generals, statesmen, and philosophers brought down 

 to the level of their vulgar slang, and covered with the ridicule of their 

 dirty jokes. This is human nature. If men cannot elevate themselves 

 to the dignity and importance of those by whom they are surrounded, 

 ihey obtain equal honor by bringing them down to tiieir own level. In 

 either case, there is at least theoretic equality. The degree of licen- 

 tiousness to which this form of amusement was carried may be inferred 

 fi"om the fact, that the names of real personages were mentioned, and 

 their characters held up to ridicule, and that Socrates himself, perhaps 

 the most perfect model of heathen morals, did not escape. If we throw 

 ourselves back in imagination to the time referred to, and imagine com- 

 ic poets at liberty to ridicule on the stage before the great-vulgar any 

 and every description of cliaracter, we will be able to form some con- 

 ception of the degree of liberty enjoyed at Athens in the age of Pericles. 

 We will see a degree of licentiousness not to be found any where else, 

 either in ancient or modern times, and will be led to wonder, how in 

 such a state of things, prosperity smiled upon them at home and abroad. 

 The mischievous tendency of this freedom was seen and felt ere long 

 by the Athenians themselves, and they hastened by law to arrest the fa- 

 tal evil. For the worst form of licentiousness is that of the tongue, 

 against which there appears to be no adequate remedy, except banish- 

 ment or death. The licentiousness of the ancient comedy is principally 

 due to Pericles, who, courting the favor of the people, not only secured 

 for each an appropriation of two oboli a day, but perfect freedom of 

 representation in addition, until the licentiousness of the stage was di- 

 rected against himself personally. 



Another cause of the dangerous liberty of the comedy may be found 

 in the turbulence of the times, when the refined sentiments of Menan- 

 der could not be relished. The luxury and ease necessary to appreciate 

 such beauties yielded to the dangers and doubts of a protracted war 

 abroad, and turbulence and pestilence at home. The excitement produ- 

 ced by such causes created a demand for something more gross and 

 palpable. 



