Page:Frogs (Murray 1912).djvu/40

32 Of the dulness and the fear

Left by many a circling year:

Let thy red light guide the dances

Where thy banded youth advances

To be merry by the blossoms of the mere!

[All the has now entered.

Hush, oh hush! for our song begins. Let every one stand aside

Who owns an intellect muddled with sins, or in arts like these untried:

If the mystic rites of the Muses true he has never seen nor sung:

If he never the magical music knew of Cratînus the Bull-eater's tongue:

If he likes in a comedy nothing but riot and meaningless harlequinade:

Or in matters of politics cannot keep quiet and see that cabals be allayed,

But blows up spite and keeps it alight to serve his personal ends:

Or being in power at a critical hour, accepts little gifts from his friends:

Or goes selling a ship, or betraying a fort, or takes to the trade of a smuggler,

Attempting again, in Thorycion's sort,—that pestilent revenue-juggler,—

From Aegina before us to stock Epidaurus with tar and canvas and hide,

Or tries to persuade some friend in the trade for the enemy's ships to provide: