Page:History of Greece Vol VI.djvu/509

 PUBLIC ACCUSATIONS AT ATHENS. 457 ^nd from his position, both inferior and hostile to the Athenian knights, or aristocracy, who overshadowed him by their family importance. But in what proportion of cases his accusations were just or calumnious, the real question upon which a candid judgment turns, we have no means of deciding, either in his case or that of Cato. " To lash the wicked (observes Aristophanes himself ') is not only no blame, but is even a matter of honor to the good." It has not been common to allow to Kleon the benefit of this observation, though he is much more entitled to it than Aristophanes. For the attacks of a poetical libeller admit neither of defence nor retaliation ; whereas a prosecutor before the dikastery found his opponent prepared to reply or even to retort, and was obliged to specify his charge, as well as to furnish proof of it ; so that there was a fair chance for the in- nocent man not to be confounded with the guilty. The quarrel of Kleon with Aristophanes is said to have arisen out of an accusation which he brought against that poet 2 in the Senate of Five Hundred, on the subject of his second comedy, the " Babylonians," exhibited B.C. 426, at the festival of the urban Dionysia in the month of March. At that season many strangers were present at Athens, and especially many visitors and deputies from the subject-allies, who were bringing their annual tribute: and as the "Babylonians," (now lost,) like so many other productions of Aristophanes, was full of slashing ridicule, not only against individual citizens but against the func- tionaries and institutions of the city, 3 Kleon instituted a complaint against it in the senate, as an exposure dangerous to the public 1 Aristophan. Eqnit. 1271 : Aoidopijaai rovf novr/pavi;, ovdev ear 1 faifydovov, 'A/U,ci rifj.7) rolfft xpilG T0 i<;> bang ev Tioyi^erai. 1 It appears that the complaint was made ostensibly against Kalistratua, in -whose name the poet brought out the "Babylonians," (Schol. ad Arist, Veso. 1284,) and who was of course the responsible party, though the real author was doubtless perfectly well known. The Knights was the first play brought out by the poet in his own name. 3 See Acharn. 377, with the Scholia, and the anonyiaous biography of Aristophanes. Both Meineke (Aristoph. Fragm. Comic. Gr. vol. ii, p. 966) and Eanke (Coramentat. de Aristoph. Vita, p. cccxxx) try to divine the plot of the "Babylonians ;" but there is no sufficient information to assist them.