are always musical if they be true, and the curses of enemies harsh if they be meant ; descriptive imitation of them must be a mixture of these, a melody." "What will you say then," said Euripides, "of that eloquent narrative which we heard read by Herodotus at the games? Was it a history, or was it not?" "I did not hear it," replied Socrates; "but if you found yourself drawn by it into a sympathy with the nations and the persons which it describes; and perceived always, that no private loves and wills operated to move them, but certain moral and universal causes, able to move whole nations at once-such as a contest for a territory, an inherited feud, the glory of a race, the power of one over many, of many over one; I say, if you found these in the books of Herodotus, and withal saw them picture-like, his narrative might be called a history. To prevent Diotima no longer, I will add but this word, that if any one should relate a history of a war of his own city against another, from the heart, as it was carried on in anger and in honor, and should so depict for us the action by holding up the chief actors to our view, as to give a continuity and wholeness to it, through the continuance of the anger that began it, producing a series of actions, purposed alike by that anger, he would have given us an epical or Homerical history. And now, Euripides, we owe a penalty for the breaking of our vow, to what power I know not, unless to Diotima." "Let us interrupt her no more," said Euripides. "Pardon me, friends," said she, "if I add a word to Socrates' definition of an epical history, in favor of those who contend that the essence of poetry is in passion and not in meditation; confirming Socrates' opinion against me, that I am no historian. I will give you Pythagoras's opinion of the matter. When he had asked me to write a history of the Egyptians, and I said I did not love or hate them enough to do it, he replied that I had the right idea of what a history ought to be, but that none such had ever been written excepting Homer's, and that his was a fiction: he said he would have true histories written by good patriots, who loved their country and hated its enemies; that he would compare several of these to gether, and compose a history of the world that should be a true one. When I replied that there would be no love or hate in it, he said he had no fear of that, for that each nation would play its part like a hero in an epic, and that if the whole were skillfully composed in a grand style, it would be the work of works. I told him I did not believe the time could ever come, or the writer be found for such a work. He replied that the time might come for it when all men were under one law and one religion; and a writer should be found who was a philanthropist or lover of men." "I beseech you, Diotima," said Cymon, with an air of impatience, " do not let these discursive gentlemen cheat us of our entertainment." Meton the jester, who had thus long remained silent, rather from want of opportunity than inclination, observing Cymon's impatience with a half sneer, remarked that Diotima did himself and his friend Cymon a great injustice in allowing this discursive talk, for it was a part of civility to adapt our conversation to the understandings of our guests, and not to insult them by soaring above their abilities." This remark occasioned a laugh, which was all that Meton looked for. "Come," said he, "if Diotima leaves us much longer at the gate of the caravanserai, I shall dismount from my camel and go in by myself. There, now I am dismounted, and now I am gone in; poh! what a crowd is here-Greeks, Scythians, Egyptians, Persians, black slaves-sitting, squatting, standing, eating, sleeping, fighting, swearing, hustling. You yellow rascal in the blue mantle and tiara, ho, there, what woman have you under the veilcome, I will see her face. Do you jabber what, Greek! this wretch thinks he is talking Greek—a woman slave, do you say? Well, I knew that I am a buyer-I must see her face. By Zeus! a handsome countenance! what do you call her name? Dio, what-O, Diotima, a very good name-I will give six oboli for her, without the name. Here, you rascal-Kata, what-Zena-de bya-a thousand pounds! It's more than I am worth altogether. Carry her to the chief of the Magi-she looks bookish. learned, is she? So I thought. Knows several languages; good, she's not for me: one language is enough for any woman, I Meton discharged himself of his nonsense at a rate which put him out of breath; and satisfied with the laugh which followed, he remained quiet for a time, with only now and then a grimace. Diotima, taking advantage of the silence which followed, went on with her story. have their arts from Egypt; for I observed that the houses of the Babylonians resembled those of Ionia, of Jerusalem, of Phonicia, and of Egypt; and many travellers have assured me that no nation on the earth, except the Northern and Eastern Scythians, are free of the traces of Egyptian art. "We entered the outer gates about sunrise, and arrived at night before the gate of Need I describe to you, what I saw the caravanserai; but the merchant who had only at a distance, the gardens of Semirame in charge would not expose me to the mis,-an artificial mountain raised upon curiosity of the crowds of buyers and idlers arches of brick, and covered with forest who thronged at the gate, and turning trees of immense size;-the tower of Belus, aside, conducted me instantly to the house the first built and the loftiest of human of a Greek merchant, one Strato of Co-works,-in which live the priests of a rerinth, a man of great wealth and virtue, in whose care I should be safe from the curiosity of a class of persons who take upon themselves to provide for the happiness of grandees, by filling their houses with women of all kinds and qualities. "Of all cities in the world Babylon is the least famous for the virtue of its people; and I believe that a people naturally pure and educated to virtue, would be instantly corrupted if by any chance they should occupy a city like Babylon. Being a centre for the commerce of the world, it is filled with slaves, traders and sharpers of all nations, from Gades to the extreme east. The mass of its people, living in extreme poverty, because of the oppression of the rich, know of no enjoyment but in the worship of Adonai, who is the personification of every vice. The Persian lords, living idly, and secure within their walls, vie with each other only in debauchery and extravagance. Among the women purity is hated, and among the men sobriety suspected. In the luxury of their lives, the effeminacy of their manners, and the grossness of their worship, this wealthy people are without an equal among the nations. I dare not disgust you with a recital of what I saw and heard, even in the streets and at the doors of the temples, where riches strove with vice, which should be most conspicuous. Actions punishable among ourselves with death, are here practiced as religious rites. Bestialities are boasted and recommended, which would here condemn the doer to infamy. "For the modes of living in Babylon,they resemble those of Egypt, and differ not greatly from our own. I am inclined to believe that all nations of the world ligion, so undivine in its form, and so ineffectual in its spirit, it should be named a delusion rather, and not a belief? We found Strato at the door of his house, engaged in conversation with an officer of the Royal Guards. My master lifted me from the dromedary, and embracing Strato, explained to him the purpose of his visit, and said something in my favor. After a moment's hesitation, he turned to the officer and dismissed him in the most respectful manner imaginable; then seizing Zadec and myself by the hand, he hurried us into the house, and turning to the door shut it and bolted it. 6 "You are unlucky,' said he, to have come at this moment. The person whom you saw with me when you came up, is a provider of the palace, and he has orders to seize or purchase all the Greek women that are brought into Babylon. I wish a better fate for my countrywoman than to be buried for life in the palace, especially if she be such a person as you represent her.' While Strato talked with my master, I followed them through the court into an inner chamber, and being sufficiently terrified with what I heard him say, I conceived a hope of as good favor with him as I had found with Manes on a like occasion. Though I could not think to affect him with my face, from which forty years had taken the attraction of youth, I nevertheless removed my veil, and embracing his knees as a suppliant, I besought him with tears to yield me the protection of his house. Strato's countenance glowed with satisfaction, when he saw me unveiled and addressing him in this fashion. will buy this woman of you, friend,' said he to Zadec, whatever be her price.' My I master heard Strato's proposition with a smile, and instantly named a sum so large, I was struck with terror lest it be beyond my deliverer's ability; but he answered cheerfully, A talent, my friend, is indeed. a mighty sum in Grecia, but we, of Babylon, have a different standard of wealth. I could buy me twenty such slaves, and not feel it an outlay.' Šo saying he pulled out a bag of diamonds, and with three of the largest satisfied Zadec, before he should have leisure to re-consider his bargain. "As it was now evening, my new master led us into a beautiful hall, lighted with flambeaux in silver branches projecting from the wall. Their smoke filled the hall with a sweet odor. When we had taken our seats upon the couches, he placed himself near me, and helped me to food and wine with his own hands. Presently a company of female slaves entered, bearing instruments of music; and ranging themselves in a circle at the lower end of the hall, they charmed our ears with soft music, singing the praises of Adonai. When they had finished the first strain I made a sign to one of them to bring me her lute, and tuning it with such skill as I possessed, I sang a song descriptive of the sorrows of an exile; nor did I fail to introduce the praises of my deliverer, and the greatness of the gratitude I owed him. Strato was so deeply affected by this appeal, his eyes overflowed with tears; and taking my hand in the tenderest and most respectful manner, he declared he would freely sacrifice his fortune, nay, even his life, to rescue me from the barbarians. Then taking the lute, he touched it skillfully and sang an ode in praise of Greece; expressing, at the close, his desire to return thither, after long absence. I answered him by composing a verse in honor of Corinth, not failing to express again my longing for our common country. Zadec, reclining opposite to us, listened with silent attention. 'I perceive,' said he, when there was a pause, 'that you are like to love each other, as it is well you should do; being equals in age, and children of the same soil. Be it your care, then, to escape from Babylon, where you are subject to the envy of the Persians, and go with me into Cilicia, whence you may take ship to Rhodes, and from thence to Corinth. Let leave this mighty capital of iniquity at to-morrow's dawn; you are even now in danger of the informer.' Strato instantly approved of Zadec's proposition, and going that night to a place of barter, made an exchange of his house and slaves for merchandise suitable for the journey. The Syrian was no less expeditious in his bargains; and at sunrise we were mounted and moving rapidly toward the gate at which we entered. I saw behind me the morning light shining on the cypresses of the hill of Semiramis, and southward, afar off, the tower of Belus, with its winding pathway, stood sharply against the purple sky. "At noon of that day we united our own troop, which consisted of four camels for burthen, and horses for ourselves, with a Scythian caravan; intending to keep with them while they continued in our route. After a week's journey northward, through the watered fields of the Euphrates, our company divided into three; a part turning westward toward Phoenicia, another eastward for Bactria, and a third inclining to the west and north toward Cilicia. After a few days' passage over the desert, we came in sight of the sea, whose dark bosom we hailed with cries and even tears of joy, when Strato, whose piety exceeded that of any Greek I have known, made a sacrifice to Poseidon, (the Sea,) and to the spirit of his father, but whether in worship or in honor only, I could not be sure. "Our intercourse during this journey established our regard for each other on a footing of mutual love; nor had I ever greater occasion for gratitude to the gods, than for the accident that brought me into the power of this Corinthian. During our journey we beguiled the tedium of the way by relating stories; and in this kind of amusement our friend Zadec proved himself not unskillful. If it be not displeasing to you, I will repeat as I remember it, a story which he related to us, while we moved along the borders of the sea where the high road of the great king turns out of Syria into Cilicia. The banqueters listened with the greatest attention while Diotima related Zadec's story. Socrates in particular seemed to catch and weigh every word of it. Lysis remarked, with an animation unusual to him, that the story was a good one, and the inventor of it a very ingenious liar: | should rather be ashamed, so common is but it was rather Diotima's skill in the it and so abused:-is it she whom you delivery of it, than the merit of the piece call upon to defend the poor race of feeble itself, which charmed them. Socrates did women? Will you have her defend them not conceal his admiration. "No historian by an appeal to your courage-magnaniare you," said he, "Diotima, but the most mous hearts that you are? or shall she eloquent of narrators: when you speak, start up stiffly, and with a shriek, and in not only my ears but my whole body eager voice, voluble and vehement, cry out seems to hear; and what you describe I on you for the liberty of the sex, ye hard instantly behold. Observe, Euripides," masters, as did the Amazons of old, and continued he, addressing the dramatist, when their husbands would not hear nor "that women are the lords of speech; redress their injuries, they freed themthe tongue is theirs." Socrates' remark selves boldly in the night with their was instantly turned by the parasite into knives? No, I see you would not have a jest upon women, at which no one me cry out upon you; you abhor the vullaughed; a misfortune which silenced ture shriek of a discontented woman-your him again for the time. wives have taught you to hate that—hey? Meton, Socrates-and I think Euripides. has disciplines too, from certain sources. My friends make no question, I am sure, of the superiority of women in glibness and keenness of tongue; they are able to cut and stab with their tongues; the gods have not left them defenceless! You, Socrates, would endure the Spartan swords more easily than your wife's reproaches." 66 "If that were so," said Euripides, women should be poets and orators; but you see they excel only in easy and flowing forms of speech. I know of but one woman who is able to compose an oration, and that is Aspasia." "And Diotima," said Socrates, "excels all the sophists in their art. She is the best of rhetoricians and the most eloquent of narrators." "I am in the right still," responded Euripides; "for though I grant you these wonderful exceptions, and might add a few others who have composed good verses, women are not, as I think, equal to men in the use of words. Perhaps we may concede them a greater fluency and readiness in the use of established phrases, for we see them always careful to make use of accepted terms, avoiding a new word as they would a rock; and for this I confess they have my admiration but they never originate thoughts, nor invent sciences, nor advance arts; nay, in these it seems to be a woman's fate to fall behind her teacher. But enough of this; please you, Diotima, you who are more than a woman, and as I think inspired with the soul of both sexes, tell us your opinion of the female sex are they the equals or superiors of men in the use of speech?" "Is it Euripides, the friend of women," said Diotima," who calls upon the weakest of women, in the extremity of garrulous age, when her wit is dulled, her senses impaired, her strength wasted, her mind. untuned, her soul faint with the burthen of mortality, and nothing left her but an easily moving tongue, a gift of which she "I confess it, Diotima," said Socrates; "nor do I know a harder trial than the reproaches of a woman." 66 "What would you be, without this terror to discipline you?" continued Diotima. When you sleep too long, it rouses you; when you neglect your person, it shames you; when you are negligent of fame and honor, it spurs you on to their acquisition. Fame has no trumpet but a woman's mouth; we praise not our own sex, we rather calumniate and diminish them. But who of you would resign the good opinion of women in the city? Is it not that which sustains Pericles? The people long ago would have ostracised him, but for the women's voice in his favor. Do you then doubt their. power of persuasion, do you doubt their eloquence, who are able to banish you from the city, or exalt you to be its head? whom demagogues consult before they persuade the people, and whom the very gods must take care to please, or their shrines will be deserted?" "A vain dispute, Diotima," said Lysis, "when matter of fact is turned into matter of opinion. I am fond of knowing the fact, I care not for the opinion or the probabilities. Euripides must yield to the fact, though he be an inventor of improbable | milksop, a rascal, a laughing-stock, an obfables." "You mistake my vocation, Lysis," rejoined the dramatist, rather sharply. "My fables have a meaning; you will not forget that, I think." 66 "Your fables are like a hollow earthen figure full of sweetmeats," said Meton: the figure is vile, the contents excellent." "Pray, sir," said Euripides, turning sharply upon the parasite, "be a little more careful of your wit; you flourish it indiscreetly." Meton, who lay next below, rolled himself awkwardly to the bottom of the couch, which was a long one, as if afraid Euripides would strike him, and with a face of well-feigned terror called out to Socrates to protect him against this wicked fellow, who had put so many innocent people to death in cold blood. "Sec," said he, "how he glares at me with those gray eyes, like a cat in a corner. Now if he had but his style with him and a tablet, I doubt not he would put us all instantly to death in blank verse, a death I desire not to die; for look you, all his heroes die twice,-first when he kills them in his fury, and again when they are forgotten by the Athenians. Zeus defend us, we shall all be hissed!" "I wonder, Diotima," said the dramatist, growing extremely angry, "you will suffer this rascal at your table: he is one of these rude dogs, who bites more than he favors. I would have a parasite remember his duty, and use a discretion in his talk. A common fly is endurable, but a breeze with a sting in its tail we wish among the dogs, and not at our banquets." Diotima made no reply, but cast a reproving look upon the parasite, which put him to silence. "I was saying, Lysis," continued the dramatist, making an effort to smother his anger, that the fables of my dramas, though they be popular traditions and void of truth, are made more profitable than true histories, by my manner of employing them. Esop's beasts utter much wisdom; my heroes, though they be phantasms and foolish puppets at best, are turned into philosophical oracles. My women set forth the loves and the duties of a woman; silly wretches though they The hero of a drama may be a very ject of pity, but he is none the less useful to speak wise sentences to the people. Understand me: when I bring an old hero in rags upon the stage, I first interest the audience in his story. Of all things, you know, the story of a ragged, wretched old fellow, a mixture of the sage and niggard, is the most entertaining, and excites most attention: we hear him for pity, and believe him for his misery's sake, just as we believe dying drunkards when they describe the evils that follow drinking. "Another principle I wish you to observe, is evident in the construction of my plays. They are very pathetic, and in this way I make them so. I am assured first, in my own mind, that the mass of men and women love pleasure as much as they fear death, and would nearly as soon die as not be gratified in their wishes. Observe what a reverence they show for those pious jugglers who come to us from Egypt and the East, following about an image of Cybele in a little cart drawn by bullocks. These wretches gash themselves with knives, and thrust thorns and splinters into their flesh in honor of their goddess. Now this observation will convince you that to interest an audience in a female character, however mean it be in other particulars, you need only resort to this beggar's trick: make them deny themselves for the sake of a god, or a husband, or a brother, or a lover; let them voluntarily expose themselves to death to save some worthless life, garnishing their exit with lamentations for the pleasures they resign, the bridal couch, food, the light of day, the common rest of life; and trust me, you shall not fail,-despite of a bad fable, a wretched style, mean sentiments, and dry philosophy. They will not stay to inquire probability, or question the vanity of the procedure-enough that here is a character who is able to torture itself for pity's sake-and the people will hear and applaud." "Your secret is ingenious, I think,” said Lysis, "and founded in nature, if we may judge by its great success; but you add to all this a simplicity and elegance of style. in which you are without a rival. To tell you honestly, I detest your heroes, and admire the author;-they are to me no more than infatuated women, and wretched |