Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Thomas Berger, and the Online Distributed

Proofreading Team.

The Athenian Society

ARISTOPHANES

THE ELEVEN COMEDIES

Now For The First Time Literally And Completely Translated From The Greek
Tongue Into English

With Translator's Foreword An Introduction To Each Comedy And Elucidatory
Notes

The Second Of Two Volumes

* * * * *

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME

THE WASPS
Introduction
Text And Notes

THE BIRDS
Introduction
Text And Notes

THE FROGS
Introduction
Text And Notes

THE THESMOPHORIAZUSAE
Introduction
Text And Notes

THE ECCLESIAZUSAE
Introduction
Text And Notes

PLUTUS
Introduction
Text And Notes

INDEX

THE WASPS

INTRODUCTION

"This Comedy, which was produced by its Author the year after theperformance of 'The Clouds,' may be taken as in some sort a companionpicture to that piece. Here the satire is directed against the passion ofthe Athenians for the excitement of the law-courts, as in the former itsobject was the new philosophy. And as the younger generation—the modernschool of thought—were there the subjects of the caricature, so here theolder citizens, who took their seats in court as jurymen day by day, tothe neglect of their private affairs and the encouragement of a litigiousdisposition, appear in their turn in the mirror which the satirist holdsup."

There are only two characters of any importance to the action—Philocleon('friend of Cleon') and his son Bdelycleon ('enemy of Cleon'). The plotis soon told. Philocleon is a bigoted devotee of the malady oflitigiousness so typical of his countrymen and an enthusiastic attendantat the Courts in his capacity of 'dicast' or juryman. Bdelycleonendeavours to persuade his father by every means in his power to changethis unsatisfactory manner of life for something nobler and moreprofitable; but all in vain. As a last resource he keeps his father aprisoner indoors, so that he cannot attend the tribunals.

The old man tries to escape, and these attempts are conceived in thewildest vein of extravaganza. He endeavours to get out by the chimney,pretending he is "only the smoke"; and all hands rush to clap a cover onthe chimney-top, and a big stone on that. He slips through a hole in thetiles, and sits on the roof, pretending to be "only a sparrow"; and theyhave to set a net to catch him. Then the Chorus of Wasps, representingPhilocleon''s fellow 'dicasts,' appear on the scene to rescue him. Abattle royale takes place on the stage; the Wasps, with their formidablestings, trying to storm the house, while the son and his retainers defendtheir position with desperate courage. Finally the assailants arerepulsed, and father and son agree upon a compromise. Bdelycleonpromises, on condition that his father gives up attending the publictrails, to set up a mock tribunal for him in his own house.

Presently the theft of a Sicilian cheese by the house-dog Labes gives theold fellow an opportunity of exercising his judicial functions. Labes isduly arraigned and witnesses examines. But alas! Philocleon inadvertentlycasts his vote for the defendant's acq