MNESILOCHUS. When you are staging Satyrs, call me; I will do my best to help you from behind with standing tool. AGATHON. Besides, it is bad taste for a poet to be coarse and hairy. Look at the famous Ibycus, at Anacreon of Teos, and at Alcaeus,[557] who handled music so well; they wore headbands and found pleasure in the lascivious dances of Ionia. And have you not heard what a dandy Phrynichus was[558] and how careful in his dress? For this reason his pieces were also beautiful, for the works of a poet are copied from himself. MNESILOCHUS. Ah! so it is for this reason that Philocles, who is so hideous, writes hideous pieces; Xenocles, who is malicious, malicious ones, and Theognis,[559] who is cold, such cold ones? AGATHON. Yes, necessarily and unavoidably; and 'tis because I knew this that I have so well cared for my person. MNESILOCHUS. How, in the gods' name? EURIPIDES. Come, leave off badgering him; I was just the same at his age, when I began to write. MNESILOCHUS. At! then, by Zeus! I don't envy you your fine manners. EURIPIDES (_to Agathon_). But listen to the cause that brings me here. AGATHON. Say on. EURIPIDES. Agathon, wise is he who can compress many thoughts into few words.[560] Struck by a most cruel misfortune, I come to you as a suppliant. AGATHON. What are you asking? EURIPIDES. The women purpose killing me to-day during the Thesmophoria, because I have dared to speak ill of them. AGATHON. And what can I do for you in the matter? EURIPIDES. Everything. Mingle secretly with the women by making yourself pass as one of themselves; then do you plead my cause with your own lips, and I am saved. You, and you alone, are capable of speaking of me worthily. AGATHON. But why not go and defend yourself? EURIPIDES. 'Tis impossible. First of all, I am known; further, I have white hair and a long beard; whereas you, you are good-looking, charming, and are close-shaven; you are fair, delicate, and have a woman's voice. AGATHON. Euripides! EURIPIDES. Well? AGATHON. Have you not said in one of your pieces, "You love to see the light, and don't you believe your father loves it too?"[561] EURIPIDES. Yes. AGATHON. Then never you think I am going to expose myself in your stead; 'twould be madness. 'Tis for you to submit to the fate that overtakes you; one must not try to trick misfortune, but resign oneself to it with good grace. MNESILOCHUS. This is why you, you wretch, offer your posterior with a good grace to lovers, not in words, but in actual fact. EURIPIDES. But what prevents your going there? AGATHON. I should run more risk than you would. EURIPIDES. Why? AGATHON. Why? I should look as if I were wanting to trespass on secret nightly pleasures of the women and to ravish their Aphrodité.[562] MNESILOCHUS. Of wanting to ravish indeed! you mean wanting to be ravished--in the rearward mode. Ah! great gods! a fine excuse truly! EURIPIDES. Well then, do you agree? AGATHON. Don't count upon it.