1074. When a
person took refuge at an altar, he could not be brought to justice, or
have violence offered to his person. According to some writers, there
were always two altars on the stage of Comedy, one on the right hand,
sacred to Apollo, and one on the left, devoted to that Divinity or Hero
in honor of whom the Play was being acted.]
[Footnote 3: _Sharper when I'm sitting_)--1083. Warner suggests
that a little raillery is intended here, upon the custom of sitting when
dispensing justice and paying adoration to the Gods.]
[Footnote 4: _With higher sanction from holy places_)--Ver. 1084.
The ancients made use of sacred places for the purpose of debating on
affairs of importance in, as being likely to add weight and authority to
their judgment. The Roman Senate often met in the Temples, and there
administered justice and gate audience to ambassadors.]
[Footnote 5: _You've wiped me clean_)--Ver. 1089. "Emungo," "to
wipe the nose" for a person, also meant "to cheat" or "impose upon him;"
probably, by reason of the state of helplessness it implied in the party
who was so treated.]
[Footnote 6: _Order fire and faggots_)--Ver. 1099. Though a
suppliant could not be removed from the altar by force, still it was
allowable to burn him away, by surrounding him with fire.]
SCENE II.--_Enter CALLIDAMATES, _at a distance._
CALL. (_to himself_). When I had buried all drowsiness [1], and
slept off the debauch, Philolaches told me that _his_ father had
arrived here from abroad; in what a way too _his_ servant had
imposed upon the man on his arrival; he said that he was afraid to come
into his presence.
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