Burrow, Edward John: The Elgin Marbles: With an abridged historical and topographical account of Athens (London, 1837)

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handled different subjects, selected the same
ground, and struggled for superiority with the
same intellectual weapons. The jealousy of
these great tragedians was elevated into a
noble emulation; and they became devoted
friends. Their tragedies were equally admired
for different qualities, each excellent of their
kind. The spirit of Sophocles was sublime,
that of Euripides, pathetic.

The children of Sophocles, impatient to in-
herit their father's property, most ungratefully
accused him of having fallen into a state of
childishness and imbecility in the regulation of
his affairs. To disprove such malicious calum-
ny, he produced to the judges his " CEdipus,"
which he had just completed. The evidence
was amply sufficient to establish his capa-
bility, and to shame his unnatural accusers.
Historians are not agreed with respect to the
cause of the death of Sophocles : some report
that he overstrained his lungs in repeating his
"Antigone;" others, that he died for joy at
having gained the prize at the Olympic games;
and Lucian tells us, that he was choked while
eatingagrape. Hediedatagreatage> A.C.406.