1895-]
the business, caught the ball, our boys made a rush, the Eleu
sinians were dashed right and left, and when at last Alcibiades
came down upon the ground the centre of the field was nearly
won and the Athenians who lined the field cheered with much
spirit. Then the tussle went on. They pushed like two whirl
winds, three trials and our boys had gained ten yards more, and
then one of our swiftest runners got the ball, the others gathered
in front to clear his pathway, and away he went around the end of
those Eleusinians before they knew what was being done, and
forward sped the runner to the goal with an Eleusiuian sprinter
trying in vain to overhaul him. O, Aristophanes, it was nobly
done, and when with a touch-down fairly won Cleopas followed
with a kick like a Boeotian mule and sent the ball over the goal I
felt it was glorious to be an Athenian, and I vowed then and there
to sacrifice a rooster to Hercules within a week.”
"Truly, it was a noble moment. O, Socrates, but tell me how
the game came out.” " That will I, Aristophanes! Again the
Eleusinians got the ball, and again the same thing was gone
through with, and before the first half was over the Athenians had
made over 30 points and the followers of Eumolpus not one. In
the rest Eumolpus was furious. He is verily something of a
ruffian and no little of a blackguard, and he strode up and down
the field talking and swinging his arms about in a very wild
manner and saying that their side had not had fair play. He
even went so far as to say that the umpire was hired to give the
game to the Athenians. Of course, Aristophanes, I felt a little
disturbed at this, but when I reflected that I had only done what
was right then in truth I cared not for I saw that young Eumol
pus felt that his party was no match for our team and that his
rage was a virtual confession of defeat. So I called the game, and
at it they went again. Again our boys taught them how Athenian
brains can get the better of Eleusinian muscle, and when our
boys at the end of the second half had beaten them with a score
of seventy-two to nothing the rage of the priest’s son, Eumolpus,
knew no bounds. He foamed at the mouth. He taunted with
being ruled by the tanner, General Cleon. He told me I was a
lazy bare-footed old tramp, and then told our young Athenians
that they were a parcel of trumpery Atheists who cared not a whit
for the; holy gods, and finally taunted Alcibiades with having made
a mockery of the sacred mysteries of Eleusis. This was too much
for Alcibiades. I thought he would have died with laughter. He
rolled on the ground and fairly shouted with laughter.
Football at Athens.