[505] As Euripides had done to those of Aeschylus; that sort of criticism was too low for him.
[506] [Greek: D_ekuthion ap_olesa], oleum perdidi, I have lost my labour, was a proverbial expression, which was also possibly the refrain of some song. Aeschylus means to say that all Euripides' phrases are cast in the same mould, and that his style is so poor and insipid that one can adapt to it any foolery one wishes; as for the phrase he adds to every one of the phrases his rival recites, he chooses it to insinuate that the work of Euripides is labour lost, and that he would have done just as well not to meddle with tragedy. The joke is mediocre at its best and is kept up far too long.
[507] Prologue of the 'Archelaus' of Euripides, a tragedy now lost.
[508] From prologue of the 'Hypsipilé' of Euripides, a play now lost.
[509] From prologue of the 'Sthenoboea' of Euripides, a play now lost.
[510] From prologue of the 'Phryxus' of Euripides, a play now lost.
[511] From prologue of the 'Iphigeneia in Tauris' of Euripides.
[512] Prologue of 'The Meleager' by Euripides, lost.
[513] Prologue of 'The Menalippé Sapiens,' by Euripides, lost.
[514] The whole of these fragments are quoted at random and have no meaning. Euripides, no doubt, wants to show that the choruses of Aeschylus are void of interest or coherence. As to the refrain, "haste to sustain the assault," Euripides possibly wants to insinuate that Aeschylus incessantly repeats himself and that a wearying monotony pervades his choruses. However, all these criticisms are in the main devoid of foundation.