The passage on which I wish to comment comes near the beginning of the Parabasis and was written between spring 420 and winter 417 as part of the second version of the play. Aristophanes expresses his disappointment in the sophoi for whom he took the trouble to write the play. He had tried it out on them thinking them an intelligent audience, but had been undeservedly defeated. ‘Nevertheless’, he says, ‘in spite of that defeat I will not betray the intelligent. For ever since, in this theatre, an audience whom it is a pleasure to mention gave the best of receptions to “the Good Boy and the Impudent Boy” …from that moment I have with you sure guarantees of your goodwill.
And then Aristophanes proceeds to list the merits of his comedies in general.