“Observe then, and mark, what our citizens were, When first from my care they were trusted to you; Not scoundrel informers, or paltry buffoons, Evading the services due to the State; But with hearts all on fire, for adventure and war, Distinguished for hardiness, stature, and strength, Breathing forth nothing but lances and darts, Arms, and equipment, and battle array, Bucklers, and shields, and habergeons, and hauberks, Helmets, and plumes, and heroic attire. EURIPIDES “But how did you manage to make ’em so manly? What was the method, the means that you took? DIONYSUS “Speak, Æschylus, speak, and behave yourself better, And don’t, in your rage, stand so silent and stern. [Illustration: Plate 56.--Red-figured Vase; and Pyxis] ÆSCHYLUS “A drama, brimful with heroical spirit. EURIPIDES “What did you call it? ÆSCHYLUS “‘The Chiefs against Thebes,’ That inspired each spectator with martial ambition, Courage, and ardour, and prowess, and pride. DIONYSUS “But you did very wrong to encourage the Thebans. Indeed you deserve to be punished, you do, For the Thebans are grown to be capital soldiers. You’ve done us a mischief by that very thing. ÆSCHYLUS “The fault was your own, if you took other courses; The lesson I taught was directed to you; Then I gave you the glorious theme of ‘The Persians,’ Replete with sublime patriotical strains, The record and example of noble achievement, The delight of the city, the pride of the stage. DIONYSUS “I rejoiced, I confess, when the tidings were carried To old King Darius, so long dead and buried, And the chorus in concert kept wringing their hands, Weeping and wailing, and crying, Alas! ÆSCHYLUS “Such is the duty, the task of a poet, Fulfilling in honour his office and trust. Look to traditional history, look To antiquity, primitive, early, remote: See there what a blessing illustrious poets Conferr’d on mankind, in the centuries past. Orpheus instructed mankind in religion, Reclaimed them from bloodshed and barbarous rites; Musæus delivered the doctrine of medicine, And warnings prophetic for ages to come. Next came old Hesiod, teaching us husbandry, Ploughing, and sowing, and rural affairs, Rural economy, rural astronomy, Homely morality, labour and thrift: Homer himself, our adorable Homer, What was his title to praise and renown? What but the worth of the lessons he taught us, Discipline, arms, and endurance of war?”