eat charms of literature, an excellent library at
Pergamus to give pleasure to the public, Ptolemy also was aroused with
no end of enthusiasm and emulation into exertions to make a similar
provision with no less diligence at Alexandria. Having done so with the
greatest care, he felt that this was not enough without providing for
its increase and development, for which he sowed the seed. He
established public contests in honour of the Muses and Apollo, and
appointed prizes and honours for victorious authors in general, as is
done in the case of athletes.

5. These arrangements having been made, and the contests being at hand,
it became necessary to select literary men as judges to decide them. The
king soon selected six of the citizens, but could not so easily find a
proper person to be the seventh. He therefore turned to those who
presided over the library, and asked whether they knew anybody who was
suitable for the purpose. Then they told him that there was one
Aristophanes who was daily engaged in reading through all the books with
the greatest enthusiasm and the greatest care. Hence, when the gathering
for the contests took place, and separate seats were set apart for the
judges, Aristophanes was summoned with the rest, and sat down in the
place assigned to him.

6. A group of poets was first brought in to contend, and, as they
recited their compositions, the whole audience by its applause showed
the judges what it approved. So, when they were individually asked for
their votes, the six agreed, and awarded the first prize to the poet
who, as they observed, had most pleased the multitude, and the second to
the one who came next. But Aristophanes, on being asked for his vote,
urged that the poet who had least pleased the audience should be
declared to be the first.

7. As the king and the entire assembly showed great indignation, he
arose, and asked and received permission to speak. Silence being
obtained, he stated that only one of them--his man--was a poet, and that
the rest had recited things not their own; furthermore, that judges
ought to give their approval, not to thefts, but to original
compositions. The people were amazed, and the king hesitated, but
Aristophanes, trusting to his memory, had a vast number of volumes
brought out from bookcases which he specified, and, by comparing them
with what had been recited, obliged the thieves themselves to make
confession. So, the king gave orders that they should be