Page:Outlines of European History.djvu/240

 192 Outlines of European History Education and thought ; the Sophists Oratory and prose and doubts which the citizen has never been able to banish from his mind since he heard them. In their pictures of men, too, they are nearly always very dark and gloomy and discouraging. The citizen determines that he will use all the influence he has to prevent the plays of Euripides from winning the prize, which the State grants to the most successful among the competing play writers each spring. When the Athenian citi- zen turns homeward from the theater, he and his neigh- bor perhaps discuss, as they walk, how they shall edu- cate their sons. There are the old subjects which have always been taught: read- ing and writing, the study of the old poets, music and dancing, and the athletic ex- ercises at the 'gymnasium. But their sons are not satis- fied with these ; they want tuition money to hear the lectures and the instruction of private teachers, a class. of new and clever-witted lecturers, who wander from city to city, and whom the people call " Sophists." The Sophists are far worse than' Euripides ; they doubt everything^ and make all conclusions impossible. Yes, to be sure, but they are wonderful speakers, much better than Herodotus when he recites his historical tales in the market place. And they teach a young man such readiness in speech that he can carry the people with him in the Assembly. They have indeed created a new art, the art of oratory and of writing prose, and no young man can do without it Fig. 95- Portrait of Euripides The name of the poet (p. 191) is engraved in Greek letters along the lower edge of the bust