[415] This was the third day of the Anthesteria or feasts of Dionysus. All kinds of vegetables were cooked in pots and offered to Dionysus and Athené. It was also the day of the dramatic contests.
[416] Dionysus' temple, the Lenaeum, was situated in the district of Athens known as the Linnae, or Marshes, on the south side of the Acropolis.
[417] He points to the audience.
[418] A spectre, which Hecaté sent to frighten men. It took all kinds of hideous shapes. It was exorcised by abuse.
[419] This was one of the monstrosities which credulity attributed to the Empusa.
[420] He is addressing a priest of Bacchus, who occupied a seat reserved for him in the first row of the audience.
[421] A verse from the Orestes of Euripides.—Hegelochus was an actor who, in a recent representation, had spoken the line in such a manner as to lend it an absurd meaning; instead of saying, [Greek: gal_en_en], which means calm, he had pronounced it [Greek: gal_en], which means a cat.
[422] The priest of Bacchus, mentioned several verses back.
[423] High-flown expressions from Euripides' Tragedies.
[424] A second Chorus, comprised of Initiates into the Mysteries of Demeter and Dionysus.