35 
to overthrow the city’s worship and its respect for divine authority, 
but he took a strange course to counteract the tragedian’s in- 
fluence ; his representation of Dionysus was not likely to raise 
the god in the respect of the audience. 
‘We can summarize the position in the words of Mitchell —‘‘ To 
bring the mighty dead before his countrymen, as the living offered 
no attractions for that purpose,—to contrast past and present 
dramatic schools in the persons of Aischylus and Euripides,—to 
dispel prejudices and misconceptions, and to settle finally in the 
minds of his countrymen where in such productions they might 
look not only for the soundest intellectual enjoyment, but also 
for the best guides in political and religious knowledge, were 
evidently among the primary objects which gave birth to the 
comedy known to us by the title of the Frogs.” 
The lecturer then read several scenes of the play, the 
descent into Hades, the meeting with Hercules, and the advice 
received from him, the bargaining with the corpse, the dispute 
with Charon, and the crossing of the Styx, the terror of Dionysus 
after the passage, the abusive language of Aacus, the kind 
invitation from Persephone, and the assault by the two innkeepers. 
Some portions of the dispute between Aischylus and Euripides 
were also given, and the concluding part of the trial, where 
Dionysus, unwilling to offend either aspirant, offers to take the 
one who can give the best advice to the state. Now there was 
living at this time a distinguished Athenian, who had been 
banished for supposed complicity in mutilating the public statues 
of Hermes, who had deserted to his country’s enemies, and had 
aided them in their attacks on Athens, who had then joined his 
countrymen and won several victories, and sailing to the port of 
Athens had been welcomed with enthusiasm and appointed 
commander-in-chief: but in two years his popularity waned, and 
he was dismissed ; unsteadiness of character had hindered his 
success, but his opponents were forced to confess that there was 
no cleverer man at that time than Alcibiades. ‘First, then,” 
says the god, ‘“‘ what opinion do you hold about Alcibiades, for 
our city is in straits?” ‘* What does the city think ?” asks Pluto. 
“Tt longs for him, but hates him, yet wishes to have him: but 
let us hear what you two poets think.” 
Euripides—I hate a statesman, summoned by his state, 
Who’s slow to aid, but swift in doing harm, 
Who helps himself, but leaves his land forlorn. 
Dionysus—Good ; but, Aischylus, what do you think ? 
&schylus—Let not the city rear a lion’s whelp, 
But if ’tis reared, ’tis best to humour it. 
Dionysus—Good for both, its hard to decide, for that sentiment is wise, and 
this other wise. I must choose the one who takes my fancy. 
Euripides—Remember, you swore by the Gods to take me hence, choose 
your friends. 
