Claudius Ælianus, his various history

CHAP. XIII. Of Socrates abused in a Comedy by Ari∣stophanes.

Anytus and his Companions studied to doe Socrates a mischief, for those reasons which are related by many; but feared the Athenians, doubting, if they should accuse Socrates, how they would take it, his name being in high esteem for many respects, but chiefly for opposing the Sophists, who neither taught nor knew any solid learning. Wherefore they began, by making trial in less things, to sound how the Athenians would entertain a Charge against his life: for to have accused him upon the very first, he conceived unsafe, as well for the reason already mentioned, as lest the friends and followers of Socrates should divert the anger of the Judges upon them, for falsly

accusing a person so farre from being guilty of any wrong to the State, that he was the onely Ornament of Athens. What then do they contrive? They suborn Ari∣stophanes a Comick Poet, whose onely business was to raise mirth, to bring Socra∣tes upon the Stage, taxing him with crimes which most men knew him free from; Im∣pertinent discourse, making an ill cause by argument seem good, introducing new and strange Deities, whilst himself believed and reverenced none: hereby to insinuate an ill opinion of him even into those who most frequented him. Aristophanes taking this Theme, interweaves it with much abusive mirth & pleasant Verses; taking for his sub∣ject the best man of the Grecians. The argu∣ment of his Play was not against Cleon; he did not abuse the Lacedemonians, the Thebans, or Pericles himself; but a per∣son dear to all the Gods, especially to Apollo. At first (by reason of the no∣velty of the thing, the unusual persona∣ting of Socrates upon the Stage) the Athe∣nians, who expected nothing less, were struck with wonder: Then (being natu∣rally envious, apt to detract from the best persons, not onely such as bore office in the Commonwealth, but any that were

eminent for learning or vertue) they begun to be taken with the CLOUDS, [so was the Play named] and cried up the Poet with more applause then ever any before, giving him with many shouts the victory, and sending word to the Judges to set the name of Aristophanes in the highest place. Socrates came seldome to the Theatre, un∣less when Euripides the Tragick Poet con∣tested with any new Tragedian, then he used to goe: And when Euripides conten∣ded in the Piraeum, he went thither also, for he loved the man as well for his wise∣dome, as the sweetness of his Verse. Sometimes Alcibiades son of Clinias and Critias son of Callaeschrus would invite him to a Comedy, and in a manner compell him: for he was so farre from esteeming, that he did greatly contemn those persons that were abusive and scurrilous in their language, (being himself a temperate, just, good and discreet person) which hugely troubled the Comedians. And this was the ground (as well as other things sugge∣sted by Anytus and Melitus) of Aristopha∣nes his Comedy; who, it is likely too, got a great summe of money by it, they being eager in prosecution of their design, and he prepared by want and malice to re∣ceive

their impression: But this he best knows. In fine, the Play got extraordi∣nary credit, that of Cratinus being verified,

The Theatre was then Fill'd with malicious men.

It being at that time the Feast of Bacchus, a multitude of Grecians went to see the Play. Socrates being personated on the Stage, and often named, (nor was it much the Players should represent him, for the Potters frequently did it upon their stone Juggs) the strangers that were presen•…•… (not knowing whom the Comedy abused) raised a humme and whisper, every one asking who that Socrates was. Which he observing, (for he came not thither by chance, but because he knew himself shoul•…•… be abused in the Play, had chosen the most conspicuous Seat in the Theatre) to pu•…•… the strangers out of doubt, he rose up, an•…•… all the while the Play lasted continued i•…•… that posture. So much did Socrates despis•…•… the Comedy and the Athenians themselves