laugh; so, too, others have parodied the verses which were sung to the harp, in which pastime Œnopas led the way. And he was imitated by Polyeuctus the Achæan, and by Diocles of Cynætha. There have also been poets who have composed a low kind of poems, concerning whom Phænias the Eresian speaks in his writings addressed to the Sophists; where he writes thus:—"Telenicus the Byzantian, and also Argas, being both authors of low poems, were men who, as far as that kind of poetry could go, were accounted clever. But they never even attempted to rival the songs of Terpander or Phrynis." And Alexis mentions Argas, in his Man Disembarked, thus—
A. Here is a poet who has gained the prize
In choruses.
B. What is his style of poetry?
A. A noble kind.
B. How will he stand comparison
With Argas?
A. He's a whole days journey better.
And Anaxandrides, in his Hercules, says—
For he appears a really clever man.
How gracefully he takes the instrument,
Then plays at once. . . .
When I have eaten my fill, I then incline
To send you off to sing a match with Argas,
That you, my friend, may thus the sophists conquer.
43. But the author of the play called the Beggars, which is attributed to Chionides, mentions a certain man of the name of Gnesippus as a composer of ludicrous verses, and also of merry songs; and he says—
I swear that neither now Gnesippus, nor
Cleomenes with all his nine-string'd lyre,
Could e'er have made this song endurable.
And the author of the Helots says—
He is a man who sings the ancient songs
Of Alcman, and Stesichorus, and Simonides;
(he means to say Gnesippus):
He likewise has composed songs for the night,
Well suited to adulterers, with which
They charm the women from their doors, while striking
The shrill iambyca or the triangle.
And Cratinus, in his Effeminate Persons, says—
Who, O Gnesippus, e'er saw me in love?
I am indignant; for I do think nothing
Can be so vain or foolish as a lover.
