"The style of Aristophanes is no less pleasing than his fancy ; for, besides its clearness, its vigour, and its sweetness, there is in it a certain harmony so delightful to the car, that there is no pleasure equal to that of read ing it. When he applies himself to vulgar mediocrity of style, he descends without meanness ; when he at tempts the sublime, lie is elevated without obscurity, and no man has ever had the art of blending all the dif ferent kinds of writing so equally together. After hav ing studied all that is left us of Grecian learning, if we have not read Aristophanes, we cannot yet know all the charms and beauties of that language."—(Preface to Plautus.) This splendid eulogium evidently proceeds from an enthusiastic admirer of the Greek comic poet ; yet we are not inclined to detract from it. A great deal of the wit and humour of Aristophanes, indeed, must evidently be of such a perishable nature, as to have become ob solete or unintelligible in modern times ; but enough still remains to satisfy us of his extraordinary genius ; and we are certain that his comedies afforded exquisite merriment to a polite people, in an age which assuredly was not destitute of taste or sensibility.
Like most other authors of supereminent genius, Aris tophanes has found formidable critics, as well as able apologists and defenders. Among the former, may be
reckoned Elian, Plutarch, Rapin, and others ; among the latter, (besides Mad. Dacier,) Frischlinus, Brumoy,— who, however, is more impartial,—and Mr Cumberland, whose admiration of this author has no bounds.
Aristophanes has been accused of being accessary to the judicial murder of Socrates, by exposing that philo sopher in a most unfavourable light, in his comedy of " The Clouds." Upon a minute investigation of dates and circumstances, however, this charge does not appear to be well founded. At the same time, we cannot help expressing our opinion, that, notwithstanding of Mr Cumberland's elaborate vindication, the conduct of Aris tophanes was, in this instance, highly reprehensible. But we shall have occasion to enter more deeply into this subject in the article SocitATEs.
The reader who is desirous of obtaining farther in formation with regard to the writings of Aristophanes, is referred to the following works : Bayle's Diet. Hist. et Crit., art. ?iristofih. Brumoy, Theatre des Gi•ecs. Cum berland's Observer, vols. 5th and 6th. At the end of this last work will be found an admirable translation of " The Clouds."