[562] An allusion to the secret practices of mutual love which the women assembled for the Thesmophoria were credited by popular repute with indulging in. [563] That is, to sanctuary. [564] An effeminate often mentioned by Aristophanes. [565] An allusion to the pederastic habits which the poet attributes to Agathon. [566] An obscene allusion. [567] On the machine upon which he is perched. [568] A fragment of the 'Menalippé' of Euripides. [569] The ether played an important part in the physical theories of Hippocrates, the celebrated physician. [570] An allusion to a verse in his 'Hippolytus,' where Euripides says, "_The tongue has sworn, but the heart is unsworn._" See also 'The Frogs.' [571] The name of a slave; being disguised as a woman, Mnesilochus has himself followed by a female servant, a Thracian slave-woman. [572] Demeter and Cora (or Persephoné), who were adored together during the Thesmophoria. [573] Women slaves were forbidden by law to be present at the Thesmophoria; they remained at the door of the temple and there waited for the orders of their mistresses. [574] The god of riches. [575] The nurse of Demeter. According to another version, Calligenia was a surname of Demeter herself, who was adored as presiding over the growth of a child at its mother's breast. [576] A surname of Demeter, who, by means of the food she produces as goddess of abundance, presides over the development of the bodies of children and young people. Curotrophos is derived from [Greek: trephein], to nourish, and [Greek: kouros], young boy. [577] Apollo. [578] Artemis. [579] An insult which Aristophanes constantly repeats in every way he can; as we have seen before, Euripides' mother was, or was commonly said to be, a market-woman. [580] Lovers sent each other chaplets and flowers. [581] In parody of a passage in the 'Sthenoboea' of Euripides, which is preserved in Athenaeus. [582] He believes her pregnant. [583] A fragment from the 'Phoenix,' by Euripides. [584] It seems that the Spartan locksmiths were famous for their skill. [585] The women broke the seals their husbands had affixed, and then, with the aid of their ring bearing the same device, they replaced them as before. [586] The impression of which was too complicated and therefore could not be imitated. [587] As a remedy against the colic. [588] So that it might not creak when opened. [589] An altar in the form of a column in the front vestibule of houses and dedicated to Apollo. [590] Because the smell of garlic is not inviting to gallants. [591] The last words are the thoughts of the woman, who pretends to be in child-bed; she is, however, careful not to utter them to her husband. [592] The proverb runs, "_There is a scorpion beneath every stone._" By substituting _orator_ for _scorpion_, Aristophanes means it to be understood that one is no less venomous than the other.