'Tis a
rascally
trick to steal the flute-girl away from the
other guests.
other guests.
Aristophanes
And yet, if you would not be a naughty girl, I would redeem you, when my
son is dead, and you should be my concubine, my little cuntling. At
present I am not my own master; I am very young and am watched very
closely. My dear son never lets me out of his sight; 'tis an unbearable
creature, who would quarter a thread and skin a flint; he is afraid I
should get lost, for I am his only father. But here he comes running
towards us. But be quick, don't stir, hold these torches. I am going to
play him a young man's trick, the same as he played me before I was
initiated into the mysteries.
BDELYCLEON. Oh! oh! you debauched old dotard! you desire and, meseems,
you love pretty baggages; but, by Apollo, it shall not be with impunity!
PHILOCLEON. Ah! you would be very glad to eat a lawsuit in vinegar, you
would.
BDELYCLEON.
'Tis a rascally trick to steal the flute-girl away from the
other guests.
PHILOCLEON. What flute-girl? Are you distraught, as if you had just
returned from Pluto?
BDELYCLEON. By Zeus! But here is the Dardanian wench in person. [153]
PHILOCLEON. Nonsense. This is a torch that I have lit in the public
square in honour of the gods.
BDELYCLEON. Is this a torch?
PHILOCLEON. A torch? Certainly. Do you not see it is of several different
colours?