Cruel wretch, will you leave me
pitilessly
among the dead?
Aristophanes
"[534] .
.
.
But I choose Aeschylus.
EURIPIDES. What have you done, you wretch?
DIONYSUS. I? I have decided that Aeschylus is the victor. What then?
EURIPIDES. And you dare to look me in the face after such a shameful
deed?
DIONYSUS. "Why shameful, if the spectators do not think so? "[535]
EURIPIDES.
Cruel wretch, will you leave me pitilessly among the dead?
DIONYSUS. "Who knows if living be not dying,[536] if breathing be not
feasting, if sleep be not a fleece? "[537]
PLUTO. Enter my halls. Come, Dionysus.
DIONYSUS. What shall we do there?
PLUTO. I want to entertain my guests before they leave.
DIONYSUS. Well said, by Zeus; 'tis the very thing to please me best.
CHORUS. Blessed the man who has perfected wisdom! Everything is happiness
for him. Behold Aeschylus; thanks to the talent, to the cleverness he has
shown, he returns to his country; and his fellow-citizens, his relations,
his friends will all hail his return with joy.
EURIPIDES. What have you done, you wretch?
DIONYSUS. I? I have decided that Aeschylus is the victor. What then?
EURIPIDES. And you dare to look me in the face after such a shameful
deed?
DIONYSUS. "Why shameful, if the spectators do not think so? "[535]
EURIPIDES.
Cruel wretch, will you leave me pitilessly among the dead?
DIONYSUS. "Who knows if living be not dying,[536] if breathing be not
feasting, if sleep be not a fleece? "[537]
PLUTO. Enter my halls. Come, Dionysus.
DIONYSUS. What shall we do there?
PLUTO. I want to entertain my guests before they leave.
DIONYSUS. Well said, by Zeus; 'tis the very thing to please me best.
CHORUS. Blessed the man who has perfected wisdom! Everything is happiness
for him. Behold Aeschylus; thanks to the talent, to the cleverness he has
shown, he returns to his country; and his fellow-citizens, his relations,
his friends will all hail his return with joy.
