VII.
tb. THE FROGS.

._: This play was exhibited at the Lenzean festival in 405 B.C. Its
main purpose may be described as critical, ze, it is intended to satirize
the dramatic art, the style, and the morality of Euripides. This poet,
as well as his great rival Sophocles, had died in the preceding year;
and Bacchus, finding Athens without-any tolerable tragedian at all, —
Aristophanes is willing to concede that there might be worse poets
even than Euripides, — proposes to make a journey to the regions of
the dead to bring him back, :

ONcE upon a time two travellers, a master and his
slave, might have been seen making their way across
the market-place of Thebes. The master was attired
in the saffron-coloured robe commonly worn at the
festivals of Bacchus, and had on his legs the buskins
used by the actors in tragedy to give them additional
height; but these garments contrasted oddly enough
with the lion’s skin which was wrapped round his
shoulders and the heavy club which he carried in his
hand. This was, in fact, Bacchus. We shall soon
learn why he had thus disguised himself, and what
he had come for. Behind him came his slave Xan-
thias, riding on a donkey, and carrying on his shoul-
ders a heavy knapsack, which contained his master’s
luggage.’ This burden seemed to distress the poor
fellow very much, and he grumbled greatly at its

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