Laudator Temporis Acti

Aristophanes, Frogs 389-393 (tr. Stephen Halliwell):

And may we utter many jokes
But many serious things as well,
And may we serve your festival
In a worthy spirit of playful humour
And win the ribbons of victory!

καὶ πολλὰ μὲν γέλοιά μ᾽ εἰ-
πεῖν, πολλὰ δὲ σπουδαῖα, καὶ        390
τῆς σῆς ἑορτῆς ἀξίως
παίσαντα καὶ σκώψαντα νικήσαντα
ταινιοῦσθαι.

W.B. Stanford ad loc.:

389 ff. .... Note γέλοια and σπουδαῖα together: Ar. made this mixture of the gay and the grave the essence of his plays: cf. Plato, Laws 816 E, 'without the comic (γελοίων) it is impossible to understand the serious' (τὰ σπουδαῖα): cf. § 10 n. 53.

393. ταινιοῦσθαι: 'to wear the victor's bands' : the victor in athletic or dramatic contests was decorated both with a garland of leaves and with a ribbon or headband (ταινία), which floated down like a streamer. Cf. Thucydides 4, 121.

Horace, Satires 1.1.24-25 (tr. H. Rushton Fairclough):

What is to prevent one from telling truth as he laughs?

ridentem dicere verum / quid vetat?