AEACUS. No, no! he embraced Aeschylus and shook his hand, when he came down; he could have taken the seat, for Aeschylus vacated it for him; but according to Clidemides,[459] he prefers to act as his second; if Aeschylus triumphs, he will stay modestly where he is, but if not, he has declared that he will contest the prize with Euripides. XANTHIAS. When is the contest to begin? AEACUS. Directly! the battle royal is to take place on this very spot. Poetry is to be weighed in the scales. XANTHIAS. What? How can tragedy be weighed? AEACUS. They will bring rulers and compasses to measure the words, and those forms which are used for moulding bricks, also diameter measures and wedges, for Euripides says he wishes to torture every verse of his rival's tragedies. XANTHIAS. If I mistake not, Aeschylus must be in a rage. AEACUS. With lowered head he glares fiercely like a bull. XANTHIAS. And who will be the judge? AEACUS. The choice was difficult; it was seen that there was a dearth of able men. Aeschylus took exception to the Athenians ... XANTHIAS. No doubt he thought there were too many thieves among them. AEACUS. ... and moreover believed them too light-minded to judge of a poet's merits. Finally they fell back upon your master, because he understands tragic poetry.[460] But let us go in; when the masters are busy, we must look out for blows! CHORUS. Ah! what fearful wrath will be surging in his heart! what a roar there'll be when he sees the babbler who challenges him sharpening his teeth! how savagely his eyes will roll! What a battle of words like plumed helmets and waving crests hurling themselves against fragile outbursts and wretched parings! We shall see the ingenious architect of style defending himself against immense periods. Then, the close hairs of his thick mane all a-bristle, the giant will knit his terrible brow; he will pull out verses as solidly bolted together as the framework of a ship and will hurl them forth with a roar, while the pretty speaker with the supple and sharpened tongue, who weighs each syllable and submits everything to the lash of his envy, will cut this grand style to mincemeat and reduce to ruins this edifice erected by one good sturdy puff of breath.[461] EURIPIDES (_to Dionysus_). Your advice is in vain, I shall not vacate the chair, for I contend I am superior to him. DIONYSUS. Aeschylus, why do you keep silent? You understand what he says. EURIPIDES. He is going to stand on his dignity first; 'tis a trick he never failed to use in his tragedies. DIONYSUS. My dear fellow, a little less arrogance, please. EURIPIDES. Oh! I know him for many a day. I have long had a thorough hold of his ferocious heroes, for his high-flown language and of the monstrous blustering words which his great, gaping mouth hurls forth thick and close without curb or measure.