What advantage should I gain from him who is brought on the stage by Euripides raving mad, and acting the matricide of Alcmæon; who does not even retain his natural behaviour, but with his mouth wide open goes about sword in hand, and, screaming aloud, is burned to death, habited in a robe unfit for man? Away, too, with the mythical tales of Acusilaus, and Menander, a versifier of the same class! And why should I admire the mythic piper? Why should I busy myself about the Theban Antigenides, [488] like Aristoxenus? We leave you to these worthless things; and do you either believe our doctrines, or, like us, give up yours.

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Footnotes:

[488] Antigenides was a flute-player, and Aristoxenus a writer on music and musical instruments.