But its kingdom was far more extensive, and the poets claiming the privilege of laying their opinions on public affairs before the people in this shape, Cra tinus, Eupolis, and particularly Aristophanes, a daring, powerful, aud apparently unprincipled writer, converted comedy into an engine for assailing the credit and character of private individuals, as well as the persons and political measures of those who administered the state.
To this edict Horace alludes in the well-known lines: It is probable, that had the old Grecian comedy continued 4° direct ils shafts of ridicule only against the inhabitants of Olympus, it would not have at tracted the coercion of the magistracy.  But its kingdom was far more extensive, and the poets claiming the privilege of laying their opinions on public affairs before the people in this shape, Cra tinus, Eupolis, and particularly Aristophanes, a daring, powerful, aud apparently unprincipled writer, converted comedy into an engine for assailing the credit and character of private individuals, as well as the persons and political measures of those who administered the state.  The doctrines of philo sophy, the power of the magistrate, the genius of the poet, the rites proper to the Deity, were alter nately made the subject of the most uncompromising and severe satire.