Page:Chaos, a vision of eternity.djvu/19

Rh of the actors and fulfils all of the functions of the early Greek drama.

In answer to the possible objection that the want of action might militate against the use of the dramatic form in the following poem, it may be observed that the Persians of Æschylus is practically a narrative. Attossa asks for news of Xerxes. The messenger complies, describing the Battle of Salamis. The chorus intervenes with running comment. The ghost of Darius is introduced; pats himself on the back, and condemns Xerxes. The latter enters and bemoans his fate. The chorus concludes with Strophe and Anti-Strophe and the drama closes with a procession in which actors and chorus march out wailing and rending their robes. Not a change in scene; not a single action.