You, you whole body of Theban citizens,
Know absolutely nothing; for I hear
You call the cuttle-fish not [Greek: sêpia],
But [Greek: opisthotila]. Then, too, you term
A cock not [Greek: alektryôn], but [Greek: ortalichos]:
A physician is no longer in your mouths
[Greek: iatros]—no, but [Greek: saktas]. For a bridge,
You turn [Greek: gephyra] into [Greek: blephyra].
Figs are not [Greek: syka] now, but [Greek: tyka]: swallows,
[Greek: kôtilades], not [Greek: chelidones]. A mouthful
With you is [Greek: akolos]; to laugh, [Greek: ekriddemen].
A new-soled shoe you call [Greek: neospatôton].
16. Semos the Delian says in his book about Pæans—"The men who were called [Greek: hautokabdaloi] used to wear crowns of ivy, and they would go through long poems slowly. But at a later time both they and their poems were called Iambics. And those," he proceeds, "who are called Ithyphalli, wear a mask representing the face of a drunken man, and wear crowns, having gloves embroidered with flowers. And they wear tunics shot with white; and they wear a Tarentine robe, which covers them down to their ancles: and they enter at the stage entrance silently, and when they have reached the middle of the orchestra, they turn towards the spectators, and say—
Out of the way; a clear space leave
For the great mighty god:
For the god, to his ancles clad,
Will pass along the centre of the crowd.
And the Phallophori," says he, "wear no masks; but they put on a sort of veil of wild thyme, and on that they put acanthi, and an untrimmed garland of violets and ivy; and they clothe themselves in Caunacæ, and so come on the stage, some at the side, and others through the centre entrance, walking in exact musical time, and saying—
For you, O Bacchus, do we now set forth
This tuneful song; uttering in various melody
This simple rhythm.
It is a song unsuited to a virgin;
Nor are we now addressing you with hymns
Made long ago, but this our offering
Is fresh unutter'd praise.
And then, advancing, they used to ridicule with their jests whoever they chose; and they did this standing still, but the Phallophorus himself marched straight on, covered with soot and dirt."
17. And since we are on this subject, it is as well not to
