Page:History of the Literature of Ancient Greece (Müller) 2ed.djvu/393

LITERATURE OF ANCIENT GREECE. 371 of Attica against the descendants of the Heracleidae when they should invade Attica as enemies, was obviously designed to strengthen the confidence of the less enlightened portion of the audience in regard to the issue of this struggle. The drama was probably brought out at the time when the Argives stood at the head of the Peloponnesian con- federacy, and it was thought probable that they would join the Spartans and Bceotians in their march against Athens, about Olymp. 89. 3. b. c. 421. § 13. The Suppliants has a considerable affinity to the Heracleidae. In this play also a great political action is represented with circum- stantial detail and with an ostentatious display of patriotic speeches and stories. The whole turns on the interment of the fallen Argive heroes, which was refused by the Thebans, but brought about by Theseus. It is highly probable that Euripides had in view the dispute between the Athenians and Bceotians after the battle of Delium, on which occasion the latter refused to give up the dead bodies for sepulture (Olymp. 89. 2. b. c. 424.) The alliance which Euripides makes the Argive ruler contract with Athens on behalf of all his descendants, refers un- questionably to the alliance which actually took place between Athens and Argos about this time (Olymp. 89. 4. b. c. 421). The piece has, however, besides this political bearing, some independent beauties, especially in the songs of the chorus, which is composed of the mothers of the seven heroes and their attendants; to which are added, later in the piece, seven youths, the sous of the fallen warriors. The temple of Demeter at Eleusis, where the scene is laid, forms an imposing back- ground to the whole piece. The burning of the dead bodies, which is seen on the stage, the urns with the bones of the dead which are carried by the seven youths, are scenes which must have produced a great outward effect ; and the frantic conduct of Evadne, who of her own accord throws herself on the blazing funeral pi'e of her husband Capaneus, must have created emotions of terror and surprise in the minds of the spectators. It is clear that in this play Euripides sum- moned to his aid all the resources which might contribute to make its representation splendid and effective. § 14. The Ion of Euripides possesses great beauties, but is defective in the very same points as those which we have just described. No great character, no violent passion predominates in the poem ; the only motive by which the characters are actuated is a consideration of their own advantage ; all the interest lies in the ingenuity of the plot, which is so involved that, while on the one hand it keeps our expecta- tion on the stretch and agreeably surprises us, on the other hand the result is highly flattering to the patriotic wishes of the Athenians. Apollo is desirous of advancing Ion, his son by Creusa, the daughter of Erechtheus, to the sovereignty of Athens, but without acknowledging 2 b 2