DIONYSUS. Continue, Aeschylus, and you, Euripides, spy out the faults as
he proceeds.
AESCHYLUS. "Be my deliverer, assist me, I pray thee. I come, I return to
this land."
EURIPIDES. Our clever Aeschylus says the very same thing twice over.
AESCHYLUS. How twice over?
EURIPIDES. Examine your expressions, for I am going to show you the
repetition. "I come, I return to this land." But I _come_ is the same
thing as I _return._
DIONYSUS. Undoubtedly. 'Tis as though I said to my neighbour, "Lend me
either your kneading-trough or your trough to knead in."
AESCHYLUS. No, you babbler, no, 'tis not the same thing, and the verse is
excellent.
DIONYSUS. Indeed! then prove it.
AESCHYLUS. To come is the act of a citizen who has suffered no
misfortune; but the exile both comes and returns.
DIONYSUS. Excellent! by Apollo! What do you say to that, Euripides?
EURIPIDES. I say that Orestes did not return to his country, for he came
there secretly, without the consent of those in power.
DIONYSUS. Very good indeed! by Hermes! only I have not a notion what it
is you mean.
EURIPIDES. Go on.
DIONYSUS. Come, be quick, Aeschylus, continue; and you look out for the
faults.
AESCHYLUS. "At the foot of this tomb I invoke my father and beseech him
to hearken to me and to hear."
EURIPIDES. Again a repetition, to hearken and to hear are obviously the
same thing.
DIONYSUS. Why, wretched man, he's addressing the dead, whom to call
thrice even is not sufficient.
AESCHYLUS. And you, how do you form your prologues?
EURIPIDES. I am going to tell you, and if you find a repetition, an idle
word or inappropriate, let me be scouted!
DIONYSUS. Come, speak; 'tis my turn to listen. Let us hear the beauty of
your prologues,