And you, how do you form your
prologues?
Aristophanes
DIONYSUS. Very good indeed! by Hermes! only I have not a notion what it
is you mean.
EURIPIDES. Go on.
DIONYSUS. Come, be quick, Aeschylus, continue; and you look out for the
faults.
AESCHYLUS. "At the foot of this tomb I invoke my father and beseech him
to hearken to me and to hear. "
EURIPIDES. Again a repetition, to hearken and to hear are obviously the
same thing.
DIONYSUS. Why, wretched man, he's addressing the dead, whom to call
thrice even is not sufficient.
AESCHYLUS.
And you, how do you form your prologues?
EURIPIDES. I am going to tell you, and if you find a repetition, an idle
word or inappropriate, let me be scouted!
DIONYSUS. Come, speak; 'tis my turn to listen. Let us hear the beauty of
your prologues,
EURIPIDES. "Oedipus was a fortunate man at first . . . "
AESCHYLUS. Not at all; he was destined to misfortune before he even
existed, since Apollo predicted he would kill his father before ever he
was born. How can one say he was fortunate at first?
EURIPIDES. ". . .
