es
from the sequel. The Athenians were so vitiated by the OLD and MIDDLE
comedy that the NEW was disagreeable to them, so that it rose to no
estimation in the world till it was transferred to Rome.

To his poignant wit, and poisonous malignity, Aristophanes joined great
intrepidity of spirit. By the indefatigable exercise of his talents he
proceeded, unrestrained by fear, unchecked by conscience, inaccessible
to shame or pity, and alike regardless of the anger of foes and the
feelings of friends, giving to the middle comedy still more force and
acumen than ever belonged to the old. He cajoled the multitude by a
plausible affectation of a violent love for Athens, and an inveterate
hatred to all on whom he chose to fix the odium of wishing to enslave
her. Though he was a Rhodian by birth, he had the address to persuade
the Athenian multitude that he was a native of Athens. Wit of a much
more obtuse quality than his could not fail of winning the hearts of
such a people, if it were employed as his was in calumniating men of
wisdom, virtue and dignity.

An instance of his intrepidity is worth relating. The very first man he
attacked was a man of vast power in Athens, named CLEO: for the purpose
of exposing this man he wrote his comedy of the EQUITES. He could not,
however prevail upon any of the actors to incur the danger of
personating Cleo, so much were they intimidated by the man's power,
wealth and influence. He therefore resolutely determined to play the
character himself; which he did with such diabolical ability that the
Athenian multitude compelled the object of his defamation to reward him
with no less a sum than five talents; cast flowers upon his head;
carried him through the streets, shouting applause, and made a decree
that he should be honoured with a crown of the sacred olive in the
citadel, as a distinction of the highest kind that could be shown to a
citizen.

The greatest admirer of this mischievous man was Madame Dacier, who
translated from the Greek, and read over no less than two hundred times
his comedy of _The Clouds_. A partiality which no doubt will be allowed
to reflect much credit on that lady's taste, moral as well as critical,
especially when it is considered that it was by that comedy the death of
Socrates was accomplished. Socrates had expressed his disapprobation of
the licentiousness of the comic poets, in their conduct as well as
writings. This exasperated Aristophanes, who, to accomplish