Ignotum tragicae genus invenisse Camenae
Dicitur et plaustris vexisse poëmata Thespis
Quae canerent agerentque peruncti faecibus ora.
Thespis began the drama: rumour says
In travelling carts he carried round his plays,
When actors, smeared with lees, before the throng,
Performed their parts with gesture and with song!
(Conington.)
These celebrations became identified with the nine Dionysiac festivals. See Virgil, Georgics ii. 380.
There is a reference to the dignity of tragedy throughout the sonnet, and yet to the fact that it is a passing show.—Ed.