Note 47 — BOOK I.
Rowland Smith translation
χορήγησον τὴν ὑπόκρισιν μὴ άπολέσαι τό δρᾶμα. The language is figurative and borrowed from customs relating to the drama. If a poet wished to bring out a piece, he applied to the archon to grant him a chorus (χορὸν διδόναι); hence the phrases χορὸν αἰτεῖν, λαμβάνειν, to apply for and to succeed in the application. This will explain the above expression ἀπολέσαι τὸ δρᾶμα, to fail in obtaining through want of merit.