Ye deities of the nether world, grant a pleasant journey to the
poet who is leaving us to return to the light of day; grant likewise wise
and healthy thoughts to our city.
poet who is leaving us to return to the light of day; grant likewise wise
and healthy thoughts to our city.
Aristophanes
To
pass an idle life reeling off grandiloquent speeches and foolish
quibbles, is the part of a madman.
PLUTO. Farewell, Aeschylus! Go back to earth and may your noble precepts
both save our city[538] and cure the mad; there are such, a many of them!
Carry this rope from me to Cleophon, this one to Myrmex and Nichomachus,
the public receivers, and this other one to Archenomous. [539] Bid them
come here at once and without delay; if not, by Apollo, I will brand them
with the hot iron. [540] I will make one bundle of them and
Adimantus,[541] the son of Leucolophus,[542] and despatch the lot into
hell with all possible speed.
AESCHYLUS. I will do your bidding, and do you make Sophocles occupy my
seat. Let him take and keep it for me, against I should ever return here.
In fact I award him the second place among the tragic poets. As for this
impostor, watch that he never usurps my throne, even should he be placed
there in spite of himself.
PLUTO (_to the Chorus of the Initiate_). Escort him with your sacred
torches, singing to him as you go his own hymns and choruses.
CHORUS.
Ye deities of the nether world, grant a pleasant journey to the
poet who is leaving us to return to the light of day; grant likewise wise
and healthy thoughts to our city. Put an end to the fearful calamities
that overwhelm us, to the awful clatter of arms. As for Cleophon and the
likes of him, let them go, an it please them, and fight in their own
land. [543]
* * * * *
FINIS OF "THE FROGS"
* * * * *
Footnotes:
[382] These were comic poets contemporary with Aristophanes. Phrynichus,
the best known, gained the second prize with his 'Muses' when the present
comedy was put upon the stage. Amipsias had gained the first prize over
our author's first edition of 'The Clouds' and again over his 'Birds. '
Aristophanes is ridiculing vulgar and coarse jests, which, however, he
does not always avoid himself.
[383] Instead of the expected "son of Zeus," he calls himself the "son of
a wine-jar. "
[384] At the sea-fight at Arginusae the slaves who had distinguished
themselves by their bravery were presented with their freedom. This
battle had taken place only a few months before the production of 'The
Frogs. ' Had Xanthias been one of these slaves he could then have treated
his master as he says, for he would have been his equal.
[385] The door of the Temple of Heracles, situated in the deme of Melite,
close to Athens. This temple contained a very remarkable statue of the
god, the work of Eleas, the master of Phidias.
[386] A fabulous monster, half man and half horse.
[387] So also, in 'The Thesmophoriazusae,' Agathon is described as
wearing a saffron robe, which was a mark of effeminacy.
[388] A woman's foot-gear.
pass an idle life reeling off grandiloquent speeches and foolish
quibbles, is the part of a madman.
PLUTO. Farewell, Aeschylus! Go back to earth and may your noble precepts
both save our city[538] and cure the mad; there are such, a many of them!
Carry this rope from me to Cleophon, this one to Myrmex and Nichomachus,
the public receivers, and this other one to Archenomous. [539] Bid them
come here at once and without delay; if not, by Apollo, I will brand them
with the hot iron. [540] I will make one bundle of them and
Adimantus,[541] the son of Leucolophus,[542] and despatch the lot into
hell with all possible speed.
AESCHYLUS. I will do your bidding, and do you make Sophocles occupy my
seat. Let him take and keep it for me, against I should ever return here.
In fact I award him the second place among the tragic poets. As for this
impostor, watch that he never usurps my throne, even should he be placed
there in spite of himself.
PLUTO (_to the Chorus of the Initiate_). Escort him with your sacred
torches, singing to him as you go his own hymns and choruses.
CHORUS.
Ye deities of the nether world, grant a pleasant journey to the
poet who is leaving us to return to the light of day; grant likewise wise
and healthy thoughts to our city. Put an end to the fearful calamities
that overwhelm us, to the awful clatter of arms. As for Cleophon and the
likes of him, let them go, an it please them, and fight in their own
land. [543]
* * * * *
FINIS OF "THE FROGS"
* * * * *
Footnotes:
[382] These were comic poets contemporary with Aristophanes. Phrynichus,
the best known, gained the second prize with his 'Muses' when the present
comedy was put upon the stage. Amipsias had gained the first prize over
our author's first edition of 'The Clouds' and again over his 'Birds. '
Aristophanes is ridiculing vulgar and coarse jests, which, however, he
does not always avoid himself.
[383] Instead of the expected "son of Zeus," he calls himself the "son of
a wine-jar. "
[384] At the sea-fight at Arginusae the slaves who had distinguished
themselves by their bravery were presented with their freedom. This
battle had taken place only a few months before the production of 'The
Frogs. ' Had Xanthias been one of these slaves he could then have treated
his master as he says, for he would have been his equal.
[385] The door of the Temple of Heracles, situated in the deme of Melite,
close to Athens. This temple contained a very remarkable statue of the
god, the work of Eleas, the master of Phidias.
[386] A fabulous monster, half man and half horse.
[387] So also, in 'The Thesmophoriazusae,' Agathon is described as
wearing a saffron robe, which was a mark of effeminacy.
[388] A woman's foot-gear.
