Chapter 25
[754] The reference is no doubt to a pretentious construction that had been built for the rich and over-proud Timotheus, the son of Conon. He was a clever general of great integrity; when the 'Plutus' was produced, he was still very young.
[755] Chremylus rises in a regular climax from love to military glory; the slave in as direct an anti-climax comes from bread, sweetmeats, etc., down to lentils.
[756] The son of Aphareus, the King of Messenia; according to the legends, he had such piercing sight that he could see through walls, and could even discover what was going on in heaven and in the nether world. He took part in the expedition of the Argonauts.
[757] A part of the victim which Cario was bringing back from the Temple; it was customary to present the remains of a sacrifice to friends and relations.
[758] As soon as Chremylus sees himself assured of wealth he adopts less honest principles.
[759] The citizens appointed to act as dicasts, or jurymen, drew lots each year to decide in which Court they should sit. There were ten Courts, each of which was indicated by one of the first ten letters of the alphabet, and the urn contained as many tickets marked with these letters as there were dicasts. Cario means to say here that the old men of the Chorus should remember that they have soon to die themselves instead of bothering about punishing him.
[760] A word invented to imitate the sound of a lyre.
[761] The Cyclops let his flocks graze while he played the lyre; it was thus that Philoxenus had represented him in a piece to which Aristophanes is here alluding.--Cario assumes the part of the Cyclops and leaves that of the flock to the Chorus.
[762] In allusion to Ulysses' adventures in the cave of Polyphemus.
[763] Laïs.
[764] i.e. Cario, who is assuming the rôle of Circé of Corinth.
[765] This was the torture which Odysseus inflicted on Melanthius, one of the goatherds.
[766] A poet of debauched and degraded life, one of those who, like Ariphrades mentioned in 'The Knights,' "defiled his tongue with abominable sensualities," that is to say, was a _fellator_ and a _cunnilingue._
[767] It is uncertain whether Pamphilus, a tragedian, is meant here, who, like Euripides and Aeschylus, made the Heraclidae the subject of a tragedy, or the painter of that name, so celebrated in later times, who painted that subject in the Poecilé Stoa.
[768] Physicians at Athens were paid very indifferently, and hence the most skilled sought their practice in other cities.
[769] The Temple of Aesculapius stood on the way from the theatre to the citadel and near the tomb of Talos. A large number of invalids were taken there to pass a night; it was believed that the god visited them without being seen himself, because of the darkness, and arranged for their restoration to health.
[770] Like the Furies who composed the Chorus in Aeschylus' 'Eumenides.'
[771] A ravine into which criminals were hurled at Athens.
[772] During the winter the poor went into the public baths for shelter against the cold; they could even stop there all night; sometimes they burnt themselves by getting too near the furnace which heated the water.
[773] i.e. the most opposite things; the tyranny of Dionysius of Syracuse and the liberty which Thrasybulus restored to Athens.
[774] Crimes to which men are driven through poverty.
[775] The ancients placed statues of Hecaté at the cross-roads ([Greek: triodoi], places where three roads meet), because of the three names, Artemis, Phoebé and Hecaté, under which the same goddess was worshipped. On the first day of the month the rich had meals served before these statues and invited the poor to them.
[776] A verse from Euripides' lost play of 'Telephus.' The same line occurs in 'The Knights.'
[777] And not the citizens of Argos, whom agriculture and trade rendered wealthy.--Pauson was an Athenian painter, whose poverty had become a proverb. "Poorer than Pauson" was a common saying.
[778] There is here a long interval of time, during which Plutus is taken to the Temple of Aesculapius and cured of his blindness. In the first edition probably the Parabasis came in here; at all events a long choral ode must have intervened.
[779] The Athenians had erected a temple to Theseus and instituted feasts in his honour, which were still kept up in the days of Plutarch and Pausanias. Barley broth and other coarse foods were distributed among the poor.
[780] He was an orator, who was accused of theft and extortion, and who, moreover, was said not to be a genuine Athenian citizen.
[781] The serpent was sacred to Aesculapius; several of these reptiles lived in the temple of the god.
[782] Iaso (from [Greek: iasthai], to heal) and Panacea (from [Greek: pan], everything, and [Greek: akeisthai], to cure) were daughters of Aesculapius.
[783] He has to see, examine, and taste pill, potion, urine ... and worse.
[784] An apothecary's outfit.
[785] Tenos is one of the Cyclades, near Andros.
[786] A deme of Attica, where the strongest vinegar came from.
[787] The Scholiast says that this was an individual as poor as he was greedy, and on the watch for every opportunity to satisfy his voracity.--The comic poets often had nuts, figs and other petty dainties thrown to the audience. It was a fairly good way to secure the favour of a certain section of the public.
[788] The ancients used oil in large quantities, whether for rubbing themselves down after bathing or before their exercises in the palaestra, or for the different uses of domestic life. It was kept in a kind of tank, hollowed in the ground and covered with tiles or stones. The wine-sellers had similar tanks, but of larger size, for keeping their wine.
[789] This was what was styled the triple or complete sacrifice.
[790] As evidence of the sorry condition from which he had been raised.
[791] The clothes a man wore on the day that he was initiated into the Mysteries of Eleusis had, according to custom, to be dedicated to the gods, but only after they had been worn. Most people only decided to do this when they were full of holes and torn; it is because his visitor's cloak is in such a sorry condition that Chremylus takes it to be the cloak of an Initiate.
[792] This Eudemus was a kind of sorcerer, who sold magic rings, to which, among other virtues, he ascribed that of curing, or rather of securing him who wore them, from snake-bites.
[793] The merchants engaged in maritime commerce were absolved from military service; the Scholiast even declares, though it seems highly unlikely, that all merchants were exempt from imposts on their possessions. When it was a question of escaping taxes and military service the informer passed as a merchant.
[794] At Athens 'twas only the injured person who could prosecute in private disputes; everyone, however, had this right where wrongs against the State were involved; but if the prosecutor only obtained one-fifth of the votes, he was condemned to a fine of 1000 drachmae or banished the country.
[795] A proverbial saying, meaning, _the most precious thing_.--Battus, a Lacedaemonian, led out a colony from Thera, an island in the Aegean sea, and, about 630 B.C., founded the city of Cyrené in Africa. He was its first king, and after death was honoured as a god. The inhabitants of that country gathered great quantities of _silphium_ or 'laserpitium,' the sap of which plant was the basis of medicaments and sauces that commanded a high price. The coins of Cyrené bore the representation of a stalk of _silphium_.
[796] The old woman had entered dressed as a young girl. Or is it merely said ironically?
[797] A proverb, meaning, "_All things change with time._" Addressed to the old woman, it meant that she had perhaps been beautiful once, but that the days for love were over for her.--Miletus, the most powerful of the Ionic cities, had a very numerous fleet and founded more than eighty colonies; falling beneath the Persian yoke, the city never succeeded in regaining its independence.
[798] Eleusis was some distance from Athens, about seven and a half miles, and the wealthy women drove there. It was an occasion when they vied with each other in the display of luxury.
[799] You are so old.
[800] The goddess of death and old age.
[801] Wineshop-keepers were often punished for serving false measure. Hermes, who allowed them to be punished although he was the god of cheating and was worshipped as such by the wineshop-keepers, deserved to be neglected by them.
[802] The greater gods had a day in each month specially dedicated to them; thus Hermes had the fourth, Artemis the sixth, Apollo the seventh, etc.
[803] This game, which was customary during the feasts of Bacchus' consisted in hopping on one leg upon a wine-skin that was blown out and well greased with oil; the competitor who kept his footing longest on one leg, gained the prize.
[804] The cake was placed on the altar, but eaten afterwards by the priest or by him who offered the sacrifice.
[805] An allusion to the occupation of Phylé, in Attica on the Boeotian border, by Thrasybulus; this place was the meeting-place of the discontented and the exiled, and it was there that the expulsion of the thirty tyrants was planned. Once victorious, the conspirators proclaimed a general amnesty and swore to forget everything, [Greek: m_e mn_esikakein], 'to bear no grudge,' hence the proverb which Aristophanes recalls here.
[806] A verse taken from a lost tragedy by Euripides.
[807] Hermes runs through the gamut of his different attributes.
[808] As the rich citizens were accustomed to do at Athens.
[809] This trick was very often practised, its object being to secure the double fee.
[810] He is giving Plutus this title.
[811] Within the precincts of the Acropolis, and behind the Temple of Zeus Polias, there stood a building enclosed with double walls and double gates, where the public Treasury was kept. Plutus had ceased to dwell there, i.e. the Peloponnesian war and its disastrous consequences had emptied the Treasury; however, at the time of the production of the 'Plutus,' Athens had recovered her freedom and a part of her former might, and money was again flowing into her coffers.
[812] In the Greek there is a pun on the different significations of [Greek: graus],_ _an old woman,_ and the _scum_, or 'mother,' which forms on the top of boiling milk.
[813] In the 'Lysistrata' the Chorus similarly makes its exit singing.
INDEX[*]
[* Transcriber's note: The original index of this volume differs slightly in formatting from that of volume one. In order to increase consistency, I've reformatted this index according to the format in the first volume.]
A
Achilles, when mute Achradusian, coined word Adimantus, an admiral --his father Admetus, the King Adulterers, depilated Aeagrus, an actor AESCHYLUS, verse from --lost tragedy --periods imitated --ridiculed --supposed disciples --'The Persae,' --parodied --unfair criticism --"Philoctetes" --'Niobe' quoted --'Glaucus Potniensis' quoted Aesculapius, temple of --daughters of Aesimus, unknown Agathon, tragic poet --pederastic habits Aglaurus, two women Agoranomi (the) Agyrrhius, an effeminate general --an upstart Alcaeus, a parody of Alcibiades, lisp in speech --obtains a subsidy Alcmena, seduced by Zeus Alimos, the town of Alliance against Sparta --garrison at Corinth Allusion, obscene --and Smaeus --to Ulysses Alopé, seduced by Posidon Ammon, temple to Zeus Amynon, infamy of Anacreon Andromeda, the play --release of Anti-dicasts and lawsuits Antilochus, Nestor's son Antiphon, a gluttonous parasite Antisthenes, a constipated miser Antithenes, a dissolute doctor Antitheus Aphareus, son of, his piercing vision Aphrodisiac _Apodrasippides_, explained Apollo as god of healing --priestesses of --physician --altar, how misused Apothecary, outfit of Archers, mounted corps of --at Athens Archidemus Ares, a fighting-cock Arginusae, sea-battle of --slaves who fought at Argos, citizens of Ariphrades, his infamous habits Aristocrates, a general Aristophanes, why uncrowned --modifies opinion Aristyllus, debaucheries of Artemis, goddess of chase --the surname of Artemisium, battle of Asia Minor, coast towns Asses' (the) shadow --asses used for the Mysteries Athenian law Attica, invasion of Audience, favour, how gained Augé, the seduced
B
Bacchus, "Feast of Cups" --surnames of Baptism, the pagan Bar, the, language of Barathrum, a ravine Barriers, let down Bastard, when of strange women Baths, how heated --use in winter Battus, silphium of Bed of Procrustes Beginning, fable of the Bell, to awaken sentinels Birds as love-gifts Boasters, the, of Corinth Bottles painted on coffins Boxing, story of Brasidas, an Athenian general Brigand, the option of Buffoonery at Megara Bullocks' intestines, as comparison Buzzard, double meaning Byzantium
C
Cake, eaten by priest Callias, identity of Callias, the general, his debaucheries Calligenia, adoration of Callimachus, poverty of Canephori, rank in feasts Canephoros, the part of Cannonus, the decree of Carians, mountaineers Carcinus, tragic poet --pun on name --his three sons Carding, woman's shape at Caskets, how perfumed Cats, lascivious Centaur, the Cephalae, pun on word Cephalus, a demagogue --his father Cephisophon, a "ghost" --seduces a wife Ceramicus, the Chaerephon --compared to the bat Chaplets of flowers Charitimides, an admiral Chians, the, named in prayers Children, when registered Choenix (the) Chorus, the lost --exit singing Choruses, when given Cinesias, the poet --his build --befouls a statue --the dissolute Circumcision, where practised Citizens, the fame of Cleocritus, the strut of Cleonymus, cowardly --gluttony of --wife of Cleophon, a general --an alien Clepsydra (the) Cloak. _See_ Clothes Clothes, dedication of Clidemides Cligenes, a demagogue Climax and anti- Clisthenes, an effeminate --accused of prostitution Cock-fighting Coffins, emblems on Coins, in the mouth Colaconymus, the flatterer Colic, the, a remedy Colonus, and Croydon Connus, a flute-player Conon, flight of Coot's head, likeness to cunnus muliebris Corcyra, whips of Corinth, boasting at --corruption at --garrison at Corinthian ships, obscene comparison --courtesans Corybantes (the), mysteries of --sacred instrument Cotyle, a measure Courtesans, high prices Court-opening, formula Cramming oneself Crane, herald of winter --carry ballast Cratinus, a comic poet Cress, its properties "Cretan monologues" --rhythms Crime and poverty Criticism, too low Critylla _Crows, going to_ Cuckoo, the Curotrophos, meaning Cuttle-fish Cyclops, the, and lyre Cycni, the two Cynna, the courtesan Cyrené, the courtesan
D
Dardanus, flute-girls from Daughters, lent to strangers Dead bodies on plants Debts, in relation to women Demagogues as drones Demeter, Mysteries of --how represented --goddess of abundance Democracy in Olympus Demolochocleon, explained Demos, a young Athenian Depilation, for adultery "Descend," term explained _Devil, to the_, how expressed Dexinicus, the greedy Diagoras, a convert to atheism Dicasts, insignia Diitrephes, rich basket-maker Dining stations Diomedes, a brigand Diomeia, temple at Dionysus, not brave Dionysus, temple --the god Diopithes, a diviner Diopithes, the orator Discontented, the rendezvous of Division (the), of lands Dog, backside of Door-hinge, moistened Drachma (the) Draughts, rules of Dreams, fee to interpret Duck's domain, the
E
Eagle, symbol of royalty Egypt, soil of Ekkiklyma, the Elegants, effeminate Eleusis, mysteries of --women at Eleven (the), who they were Embezzling State funds Empusa, a spectre Engastromythes, explained Englottogastors, meaning of Epicrates, a demagogue Epigonus, a pathic Erasinidas, a general Erinnys, a fury Eryxis, noted for ugliness Ether (the), physical theory of Euathlus, a diffamer Eudemus, the sorcerer Euphemius, a flatterer Euripides, a verse from --date of his death --distich from --expressions from --verse from Orestes --origin --lost tragedies --verse from --heterodoxy --insipid style --"ghost" of --birth --stage-characters of --influence of his poetry --labour criticised --_versus_ Aeschylus --rhythm --monologue --'Antigoné' quoted --'Telephus' and 'Meleager' quoted --'Hippolytus,' line from --'Aeolus' and 'Phryxus' quoted --parodied --'Aeolus,' --'Alcestis' quoted --'Menalippé,' --mother insulted --'Sthenoboea,' --'Phoenix,' --'Palamedes,' --'Helen' quoted --how staged --son of --verse from Eurycles, the diviner Evaeon, poverty of Excrement, voiding --eating of, proverb Execestides, stranger at Athens --his tutelary deity Eyes, bad, proverb on
F
Fear, effect of Feast of Pots, the Fees to citizens Felicity, and cuttle-fish "Fig leaves in fire" Figs with tongues --"denouncers of figs" Figure of rhetoric Fish, high price of Flamingo, the Fleet (the), supremacy of Flowers, worn at feasts Flute-girls, genitalia, ref. to Fop, an old Forest, pun on word Four Hundred, the _Friend of Strangers_, the
G
Gables, pun on word Galleys, land of Games given at Athens Gargettus Garlic, and gallants Genetyllides, the Geres, old fop Gestation, ten months Gibberish uttered by a god Girls, unmarried, ornaments Glaucetes, a glutton Gods, the days of the Gorgos, head of Grasshopper, the, as comparison Greek words, puns on Grudge, bearing no Gull, the voracious
H
Hades, leaders in Harmodius, statue of Hecaté, altars of --the poor fed --goddess of death Hegelochus, an actor Heliasts, tribunal of --manner of voting --daily salary --acrid temper --separated from public --choice of _Hellé's sacred waves_ Hellebore, for madness Hemlock, effect of Heracles, gluttony of --descends to Hades Heracles, Temple of Hermes, attributes of Hesiod on Plutus "Hestia, addressing first" Hiero, of Syracuse Hieronymus, the argive Hippias, tyranny of Hippocrates, theories of Hipponicus, the orator Homer's text corrupted "Horse, the," an erotic posture Horses, devoured by Hydriaphoros, the alien
I
Ibycus, the poet Ilithyia, goddess of child-birth Illyrians, the Incest, in the 'Aeolus,' Informer, business of Ino, metamorphosis of Intercourse, sexual Interrupters, how dismissed _Invoke the god_ Iophon, son of Sophocles
J
Jar of wine comp. to ass Jest, obscene Jocasta, married by son Jokes, coarse Jurymen, fees of --tricks of Justice, slowness of
K
_Kimos_, top of voting urn Kite, the, and springtime
L
Laches, an Athenian general --comic trial of dog and --ref. to his peculations Laespodias, a general Laïs, the courtesan Lamachus, better opinion of Lamia, transformed Lamiae (the) Lamias, unknown Lampadephoria, the Lampon, a diviner --prediction of Lasus, the poet Laurium, the mines of Leather, allusion to old Leogaras, an epicure Leotrophides, his leanness Lesbian women, tricks of Literature, heavy Locksmiths, Spartan Lots, drawing Love exercises, ref. to _Love's Labour's Lost_ Lovers, gifts of --paid Lycabettus 'Lycimnius,' a tragedy Lycus, a titulary god --statue of Lyre, sound imitated Lysicrates, a treacherous general --famed for ugliness
M
Magic rings Marathon, ref. to Masks, use of Masturbation, jest on Measure, false, punished Medusa, head of Melanthius, a poet and leper Megabyzus, a general Megara, birthplace of comedy Memnon Memière (Dr. P.), ref. to Merchants, exemption of Meton, a geometrician "Milesian bravery" Military service (_see_ Merchants) Molon, a gigantic actor Morsimus, a minor poet Morychus, poet --mantle of "Mother of the Gods," the Mother, son marries Mouth-strap, (the) Munychion, April Myronides, a general Myrtia, a baker's wife Myrtle boughs, use of Mysteries, insulting the --of Eleusis
N
Nausicydes Naxos, island of Neoclides, an orator Nephelococcygia, meaning Nicias, grandson of Nicias, the general --his slackness Nightingale, song of "Niobe," tragedies of Nysa, a town of Dionysus
O
Odeon (the), by whom built Odysseus, manner of escape --as spy --how he tortured Odyssey, the, quoted Offal, human, tasting Oil, extensive use of Olive leaves Olophyxians, the Omen, word for --satire on --starting on journey Onions, as aphrodisiac Oracles, trees as Orators, infamous --venom of --wear chaplets --rapacity of "Orestes," prologue of the Orestes, the robber --cave alluded to Origanum, used for corpses Ornaments, worn by girls Orneae, a town --alluded to by prophet Owls, as omen --at Athens Ox-fat, syn. for people
P
Palamedes, the inventor Pamphilus, two of the name Pan, the god "Pankration" (the) Pantacles, unknown "Parsley and the rue" Pathos and bathos Patrocles, a rich miser Pauson, ruined --poverty of Peace, mother of Plutus Peacock and hoopoe Pebble, the, how held Pelargicon, the Pellené, a town Peplus, the Perfumes, on dead bodies Perseus, legend of Persian (the), cloak Phanae, land of informers Pharnaces and bribery Pharsalus, a town Philepsius, a buffoon Philippus, traitor and alien Philocles, the poet Phlegra, plain of Phratria, registers of the Phrygian Graces, the Phrygians, origin of Phrynichus, tragic writer --precocious talent of Phrynondas, the infamous 'Phryxus' (the), lines from Phylarchs, the Phylé, occupation of Physicians, poorly paid Pig-trough, for bar Pigs, young, sacrificed Pisander, a coward Pittalus, a physician Plants, aromatic, use of Plutus --god of riches --cured of blindness Pnyx (the) Poetry, and dissoluteness Poets, seduction of Pole, play on word Polemarch (the) Policemen, at Athens Poltroons, names for Poor, the --coffins of --the, fed monthly Porphyrion, name of a Titan Poverty, cause of crime Presents, by lovers Priestesses, title of Private disputes, law anent Procrustes, notorious brigand Prodicus, the sophist Pronomus, beard of Proteas, play on name Proteus, palace of Proxeni, their duties Purses, substitute for Pyrrhic, the, dance
Q
Quiver, pun on word
R
Rabelais, long word from Racine, in the _Plaideurs_ Raven, a muzzled Rewards, promised Rich, the, dead Ridicule feared Rites for dead Robe, Cretan Rope, the vermilion Rope's end, for _membrum virile_ Rowing, command to stop
S
Sacrifice, the complete Sacrificial remains Sailors, in danger Saffron robe, meaning of Salabaccha, a courtesan Salaminian, the, a State galley Samians, plot with Persians Sardanapalus, used as title Scaphephoros, symbol of Sceptre, the, how made Sciapodes, big feet of the Scioné, a town Scirophoria, feast of Scorpions and orators Scythian, the --use as police --his accent Seal, how protected Seals, broken Sebinus, the treader Semelé, mother of Bacchus Serenades, Greek Serpent, the sacred Sesame cakes Shakespeare, long word from Shoemakers, women as Shoes, etc., where left Sight, extraordinary Simois, city of the Singing, exit whilst Slaves --branding of --names Smaeus, the debauchee Socratic, the, "Elenchus" Socrates, etc. --comp. to vampires --the accuser of Soldier, as ambassador Solon, laws of Son, marries mother Sophocles --mentioned --parodied --the Laocoon of Sore throat and bribery "Sows, little," obscene pun Sparta --play on word --alliance against Sperchius, the Sphettian vinegar Spintharus Sporgilus, a barber State funds, embezzled State, prosecuting the Statutes, how protected Sthenelus, an actor Sthenoboea, an amorous queen Stool, position at Strangers, enjoy host's daughters Streak, the red Strouthian, the poulterer Sun, the, parodied Sunburnt, how to get Sunshade carrier Surnames of characters Swearing, by the birds Sybaris, the town of Sycophants, origin of word Syllables, seventy-seven Syrmea, a plant
T