[43] There is a political allusion here to the conduct of Laches, (whose name is slightly modified), an Athenian admiral accused at the time of taking bribes in Sicily.
[44] This scene has been borrowed by Racine (Les Plaideurs, act iii. sc. 3.) The French dramatist has added, as to the behaviour of the puppies in court, a touch of his own which is very Aristophanic indeed. Ben Jonson has also adapted the idea in his play of ‘The Staple of News’ (act v. sc. 2), where he makes the miser Pennyboy sit in judgment on his two dogs. It is somewhat surprising that two such authors should have considered an incident which, after all, is not so very humorous, worth making prize of.
[45] If the reader would like to see how thoroughly this kind of humour is in the spirit of modern burlesque, he cannot do better than glance at Mr Planché’s “Birds of Aristophanes,” produced at the Haymarket in 1846. This is his free version of the passage just noticed—(‘Tomostyleron’ and ‘Jackanoxides’ are the two adventurers of the Greek comedy):—
“King of Birds. And what bird will you be—a popinjay?
Tom. No, no; they pop at him. (To Jack.) What kind would you be?
King (aside). The bird you’re most akin to is a booby.
Jack. For fear of accidents, some fowl I’d be,
That folks don’t shoot or eat.
Tom. Humph! let me see—
There may be one I never heard the name of.
King (aside). You can’t be anything they won’t make game of.”
[46] The play on the names is, of course, not the same in the Greek as in the English. Mr Frere has perhaps managed it as well as it could be done.
[47] A sort of Night-hag belonging to Hecate, which assumed various shapes to terrify belated travellers at cross-roads.
[48] The priests of Bacchus had probably (and very naturally) a reputation as bons vivants. At all events, they gave a sumptuous official entertainment at these dramatic festivals.
[49] We find something of this professional badinage to the audience in Shakspeare’s “Hamlet” (act v. sc. i.):—
Ham. Marry, why was he sent into England?
1st Grave-d. Why, because he was mad: he shall recover his wits there; or if he do not, ’tis no great matter there.
Ham. Why?
1st Gr. ’Twill not be seen in him there—there the men are as mad as he.
[50] See, however, on this question, ‘Euripides’ (Anc. Cl.), p. 37, &c.