EURIPIDES. The blunder is even worse than I had thought to make it out; for if he holds his office in the nether world from his father....
DIONYSUS. It means his father has made him a grave-digger.
AESCHYLUS. Dionysus, your wine is not redolent of perfume.[503]
DIONYSUS. Continue, Aeschylus, and you, Euripides, spy out the faults as he proceeds.
AESCHYLUS. "Be my deliverer, assist me, I pray thee. I come, I return to this land."
EURIPIDES. Our clever Aeschylus says the very same thing twice over.
AESCHYLUS. How twice over?
EURIPIDES. Examine your expressions, for I am going to show you the repetition. "I come, I return to this land." But I come is the same thing as I return.
DIONYSUS. Undoubtedly. 'Tis as though I said to my neighbour, "Lend me either your kneading-trough or your trough to knead in."
AESCHYLUS. No, you babbler, no, 'tis not the same thing, and the verse is excellent.
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