ECLOGA ARISTOPHANICÆ, PART II. FROM THE BIRDS. WITH ENGLISH NOTES, AND A METRICAL TABLE, BY C. C. FELTON, A.M. ELIOT PROFESSOR OF GREEK LITERATURE IN THE UNIVERSITY AT CAMBRIDGE, U.S. EDITED BY THE REV. THOMAS KERCHEVER ARNOLD, M.A. RECTOR OF LYNDON, AND LATE FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. LONDON: FRANCIS & JOHN RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE. [After what I have said in the Preface to the "Clouds," I need not prefix any remarks to the present volume. Professor Felton's Preface, and the admirable account of the plot by Gray, the poet, will give the pupil all the information he can require. T. K. A.] REFERENCES TO GRAMMARS. The grammatical references are: 1) to the Editor's larger Greek Grammar. 3) to Mr. Jelf's Kühner (with § prefixed). PREFACE. (By Professor Felton.) THE Birds of Aristophanes has always been regarded as one of his most delightful pieces. Like the Clouds, it is comparatively free from the objectionable licence of thought and language, which deforms several of his plays to such a degree that they cannot be used in schools or colleges. It is true there are some passages in this play also too freely executed; but it has been decided, on mature reflection, to let them stand, so as to offer the drama entire, on the principles which guided my decision in editing the Clouds. The text of this edition is reprinted from the Poetæ Scenici of Dindorf. In the preparation of the notes I have used Commentaries of Christian Daniel Beck, together with the notes and Scholia edited by Invernizius ; the notes of Bothe, to whose valuable edition I am under great obligations; and the brief, but excellent, annotations of Blaydes. Credit is always given for what has been taken from the labours of these distinguished scholars. In addition to the critical apparatus just mentioned, I have endeavoured to explain from other sources a branch of the subject, to which less attention has heretofore been given ;-I mean the natural history of the birds, which are prominent and entertaining figures among the persons of the play. I have carefully examined Aristotle's History of Animals, from which I have drawn illustrative descriptions. But it is well known that a considerable portion of the birds of Aristophanes are not mentioned in Aristotle's work, and some of them are thought to be unknown. The natural history of Greece has been almost entirely neglected since the researches of the philosopher of Stagira; and here is an opportunity for a naturalist, who is at the same time a good classical scholar, to make valuable contributions both to science and philology. I suspected that the poet's selection of birds was not made at random, but that, in every instance, they were chosen with a special meaning, and to effect a particular purpose in point of art. In considering the play from this point of view, I have been much indebted to my friend and colleague, Professor Agassiz, of whose profound and comprehensive knowledge of ornithology I have been permitted to avail myself in attempting to determine the species of some of the birds supposed to be unknown; and I have come to the conclusion, that, in all cases, 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 most careful observer, as well as a consummate poet. I have also used with profit a little work, entitled "Beitrage zur Ornithologie Griechenlands, von Heinrich Graf von der Mühle," or, Contributions to the Ornithology of Greece, by Henry, Count von der Mühle; a work of interest and importance, though written without any reference to the classical bearings of the subject. Great care has been taken to illustrate the political allusions, and the application of judicial expressions, in the course of the piece. For this purpose, the excellent writings of Hermann, Smith, and Boeckh have been freely cited. St. John's admirable work on the Manners and Customs of the Hellenes has also been consulted. It is probably impossible, at present, to feel the full force of the wit and gaiety of Aristophanes, much of which turned upon temporary and local relations. Still a careful study of contemporary history, political and judicial institutions, popular prejudices and delusions, and especially such remains of dramatic and lyrical poetry as have come down to us, will make all the material points of the comedy of Aristophanes sufficiently clear. The playful satire of the Birds is more comprehensive and genial than that of any other of the poet's comedies. The spirit of parody and burlesque, which is a general trait of the Aristophanic drama, here displays itself most freely and amusingly. Even the solemn genius of Pindar does not escape entirely the poet's whimsical perversions. The dithyrambic poets in general are unsparingly ridiculed; the philosophers and men of science are not allowed to pass untouched; while profligates of every class and description are here, as well as in the Clouds, held up to scorn and contempt. Much discussion has been held upon the specific object the poet aimed at in his plan. Some have endeavoured to show that the main drift of the piece was to expose the folly of the Athenians in their dreams of universal empire, at the time of the Sicilian Expedition; and they have fancied they could identify, not only the leading parties in the Peloponnesian War, but particular characters in the history of the times. This is pressing matters of fact too far in judging of a poetical work. No doubt Aristophanes sought to lay the foundation of all his pieces in the actual life, public and private, of his age. But his genius could not so completely bind itself to the prosaic realities around him, as these critics would have us believe. His Pegasus trod the firm earth, but never bowed his neck to the yoke. Some of the leading ideas were unquestionably suggested by the popular madness which the versatile and profligate genius of Alcibiades had done so much to kindle; but the groundwork only of the play was laid in these political passions and events. That established, the poet gave free scope to his brilliant fancy, boundless wit, and unsurpassed powers of invention, and produced a poem, not only fitted to amuse and delight his countrymen, but to interest the lovers of literature in future ages, by the richest union of sportive satire and creative imagination that the comic theatre of Athens ever witnessed. The following Argument is somewhat condensed from the works of the poet Gray. It is prefixed to the spirited translation of the Rev. Henry Francis Cary. CAMBRIDGE, November 6, 1849. C. C. F. |