THE FROGS. 187 -

“4%, “Ah! that was the difficulty. Good judges
are scarce. You know that Aéschylus did not get on
altogether well, even with the Athenians. However,
they handed over the matter to your master. It was
in his line, they thought. But we had better go in,
or we shall catch it.”

The two rival poets now appeared.

“T am not going to give up my claim to. the
seat,” said Euripides, “so you may spare your
advice.” ;

Bac. “You hear what he says, Aéschylus?. Why
don’t you speak?”

Eur. “Oh! that’s his solemn way that we used
to have in his tragedies.”

Bac. “Come, come, Euripides, be moderate.”

Eur. “1 know the man, with all his savage crew
Of heroes, and his rude, unbridled tongue,
And all his overbearing pomp of words.”
Aeschylus. “Son of the garden-goddess,! sayest thou thus?
Gleaner of gossip, with thy beggar train
And rags ill-patched together! Think not, knave,
To escape unpunished.” .
Bac. “Wold, Aischylus, nor vex thy noble soul
With rage beyond all measure.”
Asch. “Tl not hold,
Till I have shown how poor a thing he is,
This maker of lame beggars.”

1 An allusion to the pursuits of Euripides’s mother, who was said to
have sold vegetables.