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eat influence in that country。 He commanded an Athenian squadron of seven ships at Thasos； in 424 B。C。； at the time when Brasidas was besieging Amphipolis； and having failed to relieve that city in time； he went into a voluntary exile； in order probably to avoid the punishment of death。 He appears to have spent 20 years in banishment； principally in the Peloponnesus； or in places under the dominion or influence of Sparta。 He perhaps returned to Athens in B。C。 403； the date of its liberation by Thrasybulus。 According to the unanimous testimony of antiquity he met with a violent end； and it seems probable that he was assassinated at Athens； since it cannot be doubted that his tomb existed there。 From the beginning of the Peloponnesian war he had designed to write its history； and he employed himself in collecting materials for that purpose during its continuance； but it is most likely that the work was not actually composed till after the conclusion of the war； and that he was engaged upon it at the time of his death。 The first book of his History is introductory； and contains a rapid sketch of Grecian history from the remotest times to the breaking out of the war。 The remaining seven books are filled with the details of the war； related according to the division into summers and winters； into which all campaigns naturally fall； and the work breaks off abruptly in the middle of the 21st year of the war （B。C。 411）。 The materials of Thucydides were collected with the most scrupulous care； the events are related with the strictest impartiality； and the work probably offers a more exact account of a long and eventful period than any other contemporary history； whether ancient or modern； of an equally long and important aera。 The style of Thucydides is brief and sententious； and whether in moral or political reasoning； or in description； gains wonderful force from its condensation。 But this characteristic is sometimes carried to a faulty extent； so as to render his style harsh； and his meaning obscure。
XENOPHON； the son of Gryllus； was also an Athenian； and was probably born about B。C。 444。 He was a pupil of Socrates； who saved his life at the battle of Delium （B。C。 424）。 His accompanying Cyrus the younger in his expedition against his brother Artaxerxes； king of Persia； formed a striking episode in his life； and has been recorded by himself in his ANABASIS。 He seems to have been still in Asia at the time of the death of Socrates in 399 B。C。； and was probably banished from Athens soon after that period； in consequence of his close connexion with the Lacedaemonians。 He accompanied Agesilaus； the Spartan king； on the return of the latter from Asia to Greece； and he fought along with the Lacedaemonians against his own countrymen at the battle of Coronea in 394 B。C。 After this battle he went with Agesilaus to Sparta； and soon afterwards settled at Scillus in Elis； near Olympia。 He is said to have lived to more than 90 years of age； and he mentions an event which occurred as late as 357 B。C。
Probably all the works of Xenophon are still extant。 The ANABASIS is the work on which his fame as an historian chiefly rests。 It is written in a simple and agreeable style； and conveys much curious and striking information。 The HELLENICA is a continuation of the history of Thucydides； and comprehends in seven books a space of about 48 years； namely； from the time when Thucydides breaks off； B。C。 411； to the battle of Mantinea in 362。 The subject is treated in a very dry and uninteresting style； and his evident partiality to Sparta； and dislike of Athens； have frequently warped his judgment； and must cause his statements to be received with some suspicion。 The CYROPAEDIA； one of the most pleasing and popular of his works； professes to be a history of Cyrus； the founder of the Persian monarchy； but is in reality a kind of political romance； and possesses no authority whatever as an historical work。 The design of the author seems to have been to draw a picture of a perfect state； and though the scene is laid in Persia； the materials of the work are derived from his own philosophical notions and the usages of Sparta engrafted on the popularly current stories respecting Cyrus。 Xenophon displays in this work his dislike of democratic institutions like those of Athens； and his preference for an aristocracy； or even a monarchy。 Xenophon was also the author of several minor works； but the only other treatise which we need mention is the MEMORABILIA of Socrates； in four books； intended as a defence of his master against the charges which occasioned his death； and which undoubtedly contains a genuine picture of Socrates and his philosophy。 The genius of Xenophon was not of the highest order； it was practical rather than speculative； but he is distinguished for his good sense； his moderate views； his humane temper； and his earnest piety。
The DRAMA pre…eminently distinguished Athenian literature。 The democracy demanded a literature of a popular kind； the vivacity of the people a literature that made a lively impression； and both these conditions were fulfilled by the drama。 But though brought to perfection among the Athenians； tragedy and comedy； in their rude and early origin； were Dorian inventions。 Both arose out of the worship of Dionysus。 There was at first but little distinction between these two species of the drama； except that comedy belonged more to the rural celebration of the Dionysiac festivals； and tragedy to that in cities。 The name of TRAGEDY was far from signifying any thing mournful； being derived from the goat…like appearance of those who； disguised as Satyrs； performed the old Dionysiac songs and dances。 In like manner； COMEDY was called after the song of the band of revellers who celebrated the vintage festivals of Dionysus； and vented the rude merriment inspired by the occasion in jibes and extempore witticisms levelled at the spectators。 Tragedy； in its more perfect form； was the offspring of the dithyrambic odes with which that worship was celebrated。 These were not always of a joyous cast。 Some of them expressed the sufferings of Dionysus； and it was from this more mournful species of dithyramb that tragedy； properly so called； arose。 The dithyrambic odes formed a kind of lyrical tragedy； and were sung by a chorus of fifty men； dancing round the altar of Dionysus。 The improvements in the dithyramb were introduced by Arion at Corinth； and it was chiefly among the Dorian states of the Peloponnesus that these choral dithyrambic songs prevailed。 Hence； even in attic tragedy； the chorus； which was the foundation of the drama； was written in the Doric dialect； thus clearly betraying the source from which the Athenians derived it。
In Attica an important alteration was made in the old tragedy in the time of Pisistratus； in consequence of which it obtained a new and dramatic character。 This innovation is ascribed to THESPIS； a native of the Attic village of Icaria； B。C。 535。 It consisted in the introduction of an actor for the purpose of giving rest to the chorus。 Thespis was succeeded by Choerilus and Phrynichus； the latter of whom gained his first prize in the dramatic contests in 511 B。C。 The Dorian Pratinas； a native of Philius； but who exhibited his tragedies at Athens； introduced an improvement in tragedy by separating the Satyric from the tragic drama。 As neither the popular taste nor the ancient religious associations connected with the festivals of Dionysus would have permitted the chorus of Satyrs to be entirely banished from the tragic representations； Pratinas avoided this by the invention of what is called the Satyric drama； that is； a species of play in which the ordinary subjects of tragedy were treated in a lively and farcical manner； and in which the chorus consisted of a band of Satyrs in appropriate dresses and masks。 After this period it became customary to exhibit dramas in TETRALOGIES； or sets of four； namely； a tragic trilogy； or series of three tragedies； followed by a Satyric play。 These were often on connected subjects； and the Satyric drama at the end served like a merry after…piece to relieve the minds of the spectators。
The subjects of Greek tragedy were taken； with few