[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.
[639] Perseus was returning from the land of the Gorgons mounted upon Pegasus, when, while high up in the air, he saw Andromeda bound to a rock and exposed to the lusts and voracity of a sea monster. Touched by the misfortune and the beauty of the princess, he turned the monster to stone by showing him the head of Medusa, released Andromeda and married her.—Euripides had just produced a tragedy on this subject.
[640] Mnesilochus speaks alternately in his own person and as though he were Andromeda, the effect being comical in the extreme.
[641] A notorious glutton, mentioned also in the 'Peace.'
[642] Through Euripides, his father-in-law.
[643] On the occasion of the presentation of the tragedy of 'Andromeda,' in which the nymph Echo plays an important part.
[644] Unknown; Aristophanes plays upon the similarity of name.
[645] That is, the Thesmophoriae, viz. Demeter and Persephoné.
[646] Throughout the whole scene the Scythian speaks with a grotesque barbarian accent.