[625] This reply and those that follow are
fragments
from 'Helen.
Aristophanes
[616] Eubule ([Greek: eu], well, and [Greek: bouleuesthai], to
deliberate) is also an imaginary name. The poet wishes to say that in
that year wisdom had not ruled the decisions of the Senate; they had
allowed themselves to be humbled by the tyranny of the Four Hundred.
[617] The cylinder and the beams were the chief tools of the weaver. It
was the women who did this work.
[618] The taxiarch had the command of 128 men; the strategus had the
direction of an army.
[619] The Sthenia were celebrated in honour of Athene Sthenias, or the
goddess of force; the women were then wont to attack each other with
bitter sarcasms. --During the Scirophoria ([Greek: skiron], canopy) the
statues of Athene, Demeter, Persephone, the Sun and Posidon were carried
in procession under canopies with great pomp.
[620] The trierarchs were rich citizens, whose duty it was to maintain
the galleys or triremes of the fleet.
[621] Hyperbolus is incessantly railed at by Aristophanes as a traitor
and an informer. Lamachus, although our poet does not always spare him,
was a brave general; he had been one of the commanders of the Sicilian
Expedition.
[622] It will be remembered that Mnesilochus had employed a similar
device to one imputed to Oeax by Euripides in his 'Palamedes,' in order
to inform his father-in-law of his predicament.
[623] A tragedy, in which Menelaus is seen in Egypt, whither he has gone
to seek Helen, who is detained there.
[624] These are the opening verses of Euripides' 'Helen,' with the
exception of the last words, which are a parody. --Syrmea is a purgative
plant very common in Egypt. Aristophanes speaks jestingly of the white
soil of Egypt, because the slime of the Nile is very black.
[625] This reply and those that follow are fragments from 'Helen. '
[626] An infamous Athenian, whose name had become a byword for everything
that was vile.
[627] The whole of this dialogue between Mnesilochus and Euripides is
composed of fragments taken from 'Helen,' slightly parodied at times.
[628] King of Egypt.
[629] Son of Epicles, and mentioned by Thucydides.
[630] Aristophanes invents this in order to give coherence to what
follows.
[631] An Athenian general whom Thucydides mentions.
[632] A deme of Attica.
[633] No doubt Euripides appeared on the stage carrying some herbs in his
hand or wearing them in his belt, so as to recall his mother's calling.
If the gibes of Aristophanes can be believed, she dealt in vegetables, as
we have noted repeatedly.
[634] A ruined man, living in penury, presumably well known to the
audience.
[635] Apollo.
[636] Surnames of Bacchus.
[637] The archers, or the police officers, at Athens were mostly
Scythians. If not from that country always, they were known generally by
that name.
[638] Which the archer had driven in to tighten up the rope binding the
prison to the pillory.
