Eclogæ Aristophanicæ, selections from The clouds (The birds) with notes by C.C. Felton, ed. by T.K. Arnold, Part 2

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Page 101 - Twas thine own genius gave the final blow, And helped to plant the wound that laid thee low : So the struck eagle, stretched upon the plain, No more through rolling clouds to soar again, Viewed his own feather on the fatal dart, And...
Page 101 - That eagle's fate and mine are one, Which, on the shaft that made him die, Espied a feather of his own, Wherewith he wont to soar so high.
Page 115 - Tarsus, bound for the isles Of Javan or Gadire With all her bravery on, and tackle trim, Sails fill'd, and streamers waving, Courted by all the winds that hold them play...
Page 120 - in the time of Aristophanes and Demosthenes, designated a person of a peculiar class, not capable of being described by any single word in our language, but well understood and appreciated by an Athenian. He had not much in common with our sycophant, but was a happy compound of the common barretor, informer, pettifogger, busybody, rogue, liar, and slanderer.
Page 115 - But who is this? what thing of sea or land — Female of sex it seems — That so bedecked, ornate, and gay, Comes this way sailing Like a stately ship Of Tarsus, bound for the isles Of Javan or Gadire, With all her bravery on, and tackle trim, Sails filled, and streamers waving...
Page 120 - It was the policy of the legislature to encourage the detection of crime, and a reward (such as half the penalty) was frequently given to the successful accuser. Such a power, with such a temptation, was likely to be abused, unless checked by the force of public opinion, or the vigilance of the judicial tribunals. Unfortunately, the character of the Athenian democracy, and the temper of the judges, furnished additional incentives to the informer. Eminent statesmen, orators, generals, magistrates,...
Page v - ... the character and habits of the birds are exactly and curiously adapted to the parts they perform in the comedy, showing Aristophanes to have been a careful observer of nature as well as a consummate poet Great care has been taken to illustrate the political illusion*, and the application of judicial expressions, in the course of the piece The satire of the birds is more playful, comprehensive and genial than that of any other of the poet's comedies. The spirit of parody and burlesque, which...
Page vii - Pisthetaerus, a shrewd old fellow, proposes a scheme to improve it, and make them a far more powerful and considerable nation. Scene 4. Epops is struck with the project, and calls up his consort, the nightingale, to summon all his people together with her voice. They sing a fine ode : the birds come flying down, at first one by one, and perch here and there about the scene ; and at last the chorus in a whole body, come hopping, and fluttering, and twittering in.

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