ARGUMENT. For the date and other particulars relative to the performance of this Comedy I give the words of Clinton, in the Fast. Hell. p. 69, 2nd edit. Aristophanes Σφήκες, Arg. Vesp. εδιδάχθη επί άρχοντος 'Αμυνίου (sic) διά Φιλωνίδου-είς Λήναια. (Αnthesterion, or Feb. Β. C. 422, ΟΙ. iii. 89,) και ενίκα πρώτος Φιλωνίδης [δεύτερος].........Προάγωνί: Λεύκων Πρέσβεσι τρίτος (sic legendum e cod. Rav.) Ed. Ald. et Kuster. Birwvidns zpoάγων, Γλαύκων πρεσβεσι τρίτος. Cod. Brunckii Φιλωνίδης ... προάγων, Γλευκείς Πρεσβείς τρεις ............ Cod. Ravenn. Φιλωνίδης προάγωνα Λευκών πρέσβεσι Γ. The name of Leucon was corrupted, because the first letter of IIpoαγωνι adhered to the following word, ΠΡΟΑΓΩΝΙΛΕΥΚΩΝ; hence the corruption of the word into ΓΛΕΥΚΩΝ and ΓΛΑΥΚΩΝ. Leucon, the comic poet, is acknowledged by various testimonies: Athen. viii. p. 343 c.; Phot. Lex. v. Τίβισι; Ηesych. v. Παάπις; and flourished in those times. Vide Suid. Λεύκων. Ρhilonides, therefore, obtained the prize with the Epînes of Aristophanes; as he obtained the first with the Βάτραχοι (Φιλωνίδης επεγράφη και ενίκα) in Β. C. 405, ΟΙ. iv. 93.» In the Wasps, as in the two preceding Comedies, a knowledge of the jurisprudence of Athens is absolutely necessary and indispensable. This Drama is a continued satire on that litigious spirit so prevalent in every rank at the time of its representation. The plot is soon told. Philocteon (i. e. a partizan of Cleon) is represented as a bigotted devotee to that malady most incident to his countrymen. Bdelycleon, his son (i. e. an opposer of Cleon) endeavours to persuade him, by every means in his power, to change his present mode of life for one of a more noble cast. Every thing fails. At last, he proposes to convert his own house into a court of justice, and to remunerate Philocleon for his absence from the public suits. This succeeds, and the theft of a Sicilian cheese, by a house dog, soon gives the old gentleman a means of exercising his old craft as dicast. By an inadvertency he acquits the defendant-απατηθείς άκων την αποδικάζουσαν pépei ysñpov. The Parabasis follows. Afterwards Philocleon is brought forward in a different point of view, to use Mr. Mitchell's words, as, “ The dicast turned gentleman;” or, as the Greek has it, ο δε γέρων προς αυλόν και όρχησιν τρέπεται, και γελωτοποιει το δράμα. The translation is from the text of Brunck. 1-13] THE WASPS. SOCIAS, XANTHIAS. Sos.—You there, what are you about, ill-starred Xanthias ? XAN.-I am learning to do away with the watch of the night. sos.—Some mighty evil then is the debt your sides incur. Do you not know what a beast it is which we have in keeping ? XAN.— I know, but I am desirous of indulging in a morning's' nap. sos.- Do you then hazard the attempt, since even now upon my pupils certain sweet drops are falling ? XAN.-Assuredly you are beside yourself-or is it, tell me, that you are following the sleep of the Corybantes ?? sos.—Not so, but a species of Sabazian : sleep it is which possesses me, XAN.—You then tend the same Sabazius with me: for against me also but just now a certain Mede, a nodding sleep, upon my eye-brows* has made his incursions. And in truth even now I saw a wondrous vision. 1 Gr. årouepunpioai; vide Eur. (ut aiunt) Rhes. v. 550. θέλγει δ' όμματος έδραν βλεφάροις πρός άούς. . 2 Vide Mitchell, vol. ii. p. 172. 3 Sabazius is the Phrygian name for Bacchus. The root of it is said to be “ Sebs,” a Persian word, which signifies “ omnia viriditate induens.” Mount Diudymis was the fertile nurse of the superstitious rites which deluged Greece and Italy. Horace couples Sabazius and the Corybantes, Od. i. xvi. 7: “ Non Liber æquè, non acuta Sic geminant Corybantes æra.” 4 Vide Matth. G. G. § 394. sos. And I too, verily such a one as I never beheld before. But do you say on first. XAN.-Methought I saw an eagle, passing large, pounce down into the forum, snatch up in its talons a brazen shield, and bear it aloft in the sky. After that methought that Cleonymus' was the man that cast it away. sos.-Cleonymus differs then in no wise from a puzzle.2— "How, tell me," every one asking at his guests, will require, "happens it that the same beast on the earth, and in the sky, nay, also even in the sea, has cast away his shield?" XAN.-Wo's me! What evil in the world will happen to me, who have seen such a vision as this? sos.-Give it no thought, for nothing of import will ensue, by the gods there will not. XAN. And yet 'tis passing strange that a man should cast away his arms. But, in your turn, tell yours. sos.-But it is of great import: for it relates to the whole vessel of the state. XAN.-I entreat you speak quickly the keel of the matter. sos.-There appeared to me, about the first sleep, in the Pnyx, nine sitting together for the assembly, with staffs and cloaks. Afterwards to these nine, methought a voracious grampus was haranguing with the tones of a scorched sow. XAN.-Faugh! V. sos. What means this? 'Cleonymus frequently falls under the lash of comic satire. Vide Nub. 352, Κλεώνυμον τὸν ῥίψασπιν. Pac. 446-673. 2 Vide Athen. lib. x. 448 c. ὁ μὲν Σολεὺς Κλέαρχος οὕτως ὁρίζεται, “ Γρῖφος πρόβλημα ἐπιπαιστικὸν, προστακτικὸν τοῦ διὰ Ζητήσεως εὐρεῖν τῷ διανοία τὸ προβληθέν, τιμῆς ἢ ἐπιζημίου χάριν ἐιρημένον.” 3 Similar to this is Falstaff's alarm, Merry wives of Windsor: "They are the fairies: he, that speaks to them, shall die: I'll wink and couch: no man their works must eye.”—Act v. sc. v. 4 Poinsinet's translation is good, "Dis-nous seulement ce qui ménace le fond-de-cale; je le tiens quitte du reste." Upon which he has this note, " Le fond-de-cale étoit volontiers le poste des esclaves."--Vol. iii. p. 132. 5" Balana Britannica."-Juv. Sat. 6 So I translate it. The place where they scorched or scalded hogs was called εvorça; vide Equit. v. 1236. |