Athens.[1] While Aristophanes assails Euripides as the representative of this "young Athens," with the utmost keenness of sarcasm,—other critics also concur in designating him as having vulgarized the mythical heroes, and transformed them into mere characters of common life,—loquacious, subtle, and savoring of the market-place.[2] In some of his plays, sceptical expressions and sentiments were introduced, derived from his philosophical studies, sometimes confounding two or three distinct gods into one, sometimes translating the personal Zeus into a substantial Æther with determinate attributes. He put into the mouths of some of his unprincipled dramatic characters, apologetic speeches which were denounced as ostentatious sophistry, and as setting out a triumphant case for the criminal.[3] His thoughts, his words, and the rhythm of his choric songs, were all accused of being deficient in dignity and elevation. The mean attire and miserable attitude
- ↑ See Valckenaer, Diatribe in Euripid. Fragm. capp. 5 and 6.
The fourth and fifth lectures among the Dramatisclie Vorlesungen of August Wilhelm Schlegel depict both justly and eloquently the difference between Æschylus, Sophoklês and Euripidês, especially on this point of the gradual sinking of the mythical colossus into an ordinary man; about Euripidês especially in lecture 5, vol.i. p. 206, ed. Heidelberg 1809.
- ↑ Aristot. Poetic, c. 46. (
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The Ranæ and Acharneis of Aristophanês exhibit fully the reproaches urged against Euripidês: the language put into the mouth of Euripidês in the former play (vv. 935-977) illustrates specially the point here laid down. Plutarch (De Gloriâ Atheniens. c. 5) contrasts (
Greek characters). Sophoklês either adhered to the old mythes or introduced alterations into them in a spirit comformable to their original character, while Euripidês refined upon them. The comment of Dêmêtrius Phalereus connects (Greek characters) expressly with the maintenance of the dignity of the
tales. (Greek characters) (c.38).
- ↑ Aristophan. Kan. 770, 887, 1066.
Euripidês says to Æschylus, in regard to the language employed by both of them,— (
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Æschylus replies,—
(Greek characters)
