Marcus Aurelius · a new plain-English translation from the original language
Tragedies were first brought in as reminders of what happens, and that these things naturally come about this way, and that you should not be burdened on the greater stage by the very things that charm you on the stage - for you can see that these things must be brought to their end this way, and that even those who cry out "O Cithaeron!" must bear them. And some things are said usefully too by those who compose the plays - one saying above all is this: "But if I have been neglected by the gods, and my child too, even this has its reason" - and again: "we must not rage at events" - and: "to reap life as one reaps a fruitful ear of corn" - and other such lines. After tragedy the Old Comedy was brought in, having an educative frankness, and through its very plainness of speech reminding us, not uselessly, against puffed-up pride - it was for something of this sort that Diogenes too took such things up. After this consider for what purpose Middle Comedy, and then in turn New Comedy, was adopted, which gradually slid away into a mere artful pursuit of imitation. That some useful things are said even by these writers is not unknown - but toward what end did the whole aim of such poetry and playwriting look?