Opening Aeschylus's work, check what he could have been paid (7)
I believe the answer is:
drachma
'he could have been paid' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.
'opening aeschylus's work check' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'check' could be 'ch' (abbreviation) and 'ch' is located in the answer.
'work' could be 'drama' (I have seen 'Theatrical work ' mean 'drama' so perhaps 'work' could also mean 'drama') and 'drama' is found in the remaining letters.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'what' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for drachma that I've seen before include "Old Greek currency" , "Former unit of money in Greece" , "Money no longer available" , "Old Greek settler" , "money in the past" .)