on by my friends at the Scira.[1] But none of them is present, who ought to have come. And yet it is close upon day-break; and the Assembly will take place immediately;[2] and we must take possession of different[3] seats from those which Phyromachus formerly ordered, if you still remember, and sit down without being detected. What then can be the matter? Have they their beards not sewed on, which they were ordered to have? or has it been difficult for them to steal and take their husbands' clothes? But I see a lamp there[4] approaching. Come, now let me[5] retire back, lest the person who approaches should chance to be a man. [Retires to one side.]
1st Woman (entering with a lamp). It is time to go; for the herald just now crowed[6] the second time, as we were setting out.
Prax. (coming forward out of her hiding-place). I was lying awake the whole night expecting you. But come, let me summon our neighbour here by tapping at her door: for I must escape the notice of her husband. [Taps at the door.]
2nd Woman (coming out of the house). I heard the tapping[7] of your fingers, as I was putting on my shoes, since I was not asleep: for my husband, my dearest, (for he whom I live with[8] is a Salaminian,) was occupying me the whole night
- ↑ "The Σκίρα or Σκιῤῥοφορία was an anniversary solemnity at Athens, in honour of Athena Σκιράς. The name is derived from Sciras, a borough between Athens and Eleusis, where there was a temple dedicated to that goddess." Smith. The principal ceremony consisted in the carrying of a white parasol from the Acropolis to Sciras. Cf. Thesm. 834. It was a woman's festival.
- ↑ Cf. Plut. 432, 942, 1191. Pax, 237. Equit. 284. Thesm. 750. Lys. 739, 744. Demosth. 354, 16; 398, 16; 569, 10; 586, 9. Æschin. 10, 32.
- ↑ "Während statt der Plätze, die
Phyromachos für uns beantragt—wisst ihr noch?—
Wir uns der andern versichern müssten unversehns." Droysen.
"The allusion is to some decree proposed by Phyromachus." Brunck. - ↑ "Doch 'ne Lampe seh' Ich da herkommen." Droysen.
See note on Aves, 992. - ↑ See note on Lys. 864.
- ↑ "Es ist Zeit zu gehen; hat der Herold eben doch,
Da aus dem Haus wir traten, zum zweiten Mai gekräht." Droysen.
The allusion is to the crowing of the cock. See Liddell's Lex. in voc. κῆρυξ. Cf. Ran. 1380. - ↑ Cf. Thesm. 481.
- ↑ Dessen Frau Ich bin." Droysen.
