Dionysus. “I’ve done it: call the god.” \ Xanthias. “Get up, you laughing-stock; get up directly, Before you’re seen.” \ Di. “What, get up ? I’m fainting. Please dab a sponge of water on my heart.” \ Xa. “Here! Dab it on.” \ Di. “Where is it?” \ Xa. “Ye golden gods, Lies your heart there?” \ Di. “It got so terrified. It fluttered down into my stomach’s pit.” \ Xa. “Cowardliest of gods and men.”
~ ‘The Frogs’ by Aristophanes (Benjamin B. Rogers translation. GB5 - p. 569)
The play begins with the god Dionysus and his slave Xanthias, who are on a journey. The slave is on a donkey complaining about the weight he is carrying while Dionysus is walking ( I briefly wondered about people who have backpacks on them while riding on a horse. They carry the weight, and the horse also carries the weight. They might as well place the backpack on the horse). They reach Heracles’ house and Heracles finds it funny to see Dionysus dressed up like him, wearing a lion skin and carrying a club. When asked why, Dionysus says that he is saddened to hear that Euripides is dead and would like to go to Hades and bring him back. He is dressed up as Heracles since he has gone to Hades and come back. (A reference to the events of Euripides’ play ‘Alcestis’, I think). Heracles describes various routes to Hades, and Dionysus chooses the one that Heracles used - crossing the lake to Hades with the ferryman Charon. While Dionysus is on the boat, Xanthias has to walk around the lake to reach the destination since Charon refuses to ferry slaves (showing that discrimination exists in Hell also!). A group of frogs (the Chorus) repeatedly croaks, “Brekekekex koax koax!”, mocking Dionysus.
They reach the shore, and Dionysus is reunited with Xanthias. As they walk towards the center of the Underworld, they encounter many people - some who are angry with Heracles and some who are friends. When they meet someone who is filled with rage, Dionysus makes Xanthias wear the costume, and he becomes the slave and changes when the reverse happens. Xanthias mocks Dionysus for being cowardly throughout this episode. In the end, when they meet Aeacus, the underworld judge who wants to punish Heracles for stealing Cerberus, they both get flogged.