Aye, truly, 'tis he
himself!
Aristophanes
'tis well!
take them.
But perhaps you will be
needing me one day, an it please the gods.
CHORUS. 'Tis the act of a wise and sensible man, who has done much
sailing, always to trim his sail towards the quarter whence the fair wind
wafts, rather than stand stiff and motionless like a god Terminus. [442]
To change your part to serve your own interest is to act like a clever
man, a true Theramenes. [443]
DIONYSUS. Faith! 'twould be funny indeed if Xanthias, a slave, were
indolently stretched out on purple cushions and fucking the dancing-girl;
if he were then to ask me for a pot, while I, looking on, would be
rubbing my tool, and this master rogue, on seeing it, were to know out my
front teeth with a blow of his fist.
FIRST INKEEPER'S WIFE. Here! Plathane, Plathane! do come! here is the
rascal who once came into our shop and ate up sixteen loaves for us.
SECOND INKEEPER'S WIFE.
Aye, truly, 'tis he himself!
XANTHIAS. This is turning out rough for somebody.
FIRST WIFE. And besides that, twenty pieces of boiled meat at half an
obolus apiece.
XANTHIAS. There's someone going to get punished.
FIRST WIFE. And I don't know how many cloves of garlic.
DIONYSUS. You are rambling, my dear, you don't know what you are saying.
FIRST WIFE. Hah! you thought I should not know you, because of your
buskins! And then all the salt fish, I had forgotten that!
SECOND WIFE.
needing me one day, an it please the gods.
CHORUS. 'Tis the act of a wise and sensible man, who has done much
sailing, always to trim his sail towards the quarter whence the fair wind
wafts, rather than stand stiff and motionless like a god Terminus. [442]
To change your part to serve your own interest is to act like a clever
man, a true Theramenes. [443]
DIONYSUS. Faith! 'twould be funny indeed if Xanthias, a slave, were
indolently stretched out on purple cushions and fucking the dancing-girl;
if he were then to ask me for a pot, while I, looking on, would be
rubbing my tool, and this master rogue, on seeing it, were to know out my
front teeth with a blow of his fist.
FIRST INKEEPER'S WIFE. Here! Plathane, Plathane! do come! here is the
rascal who once came into our shop and ate up sixteen loaves for us.
SECOND INKEEPER'S WIFE.
Aye, truly, 'tis he himself!
XANTHIAS. This is turning out rough for somebody.
FIRST WIFE. And besides that, twenty pieces of boiled meat at half an
obolus apiece.
XANTHIAS. There's someone going to get punished.
FIRST WIFE. And I don't know how many cloves of garlic.
DIONYSUS. You are rambling, my dear, you don't know what you are saying.
FIRST WIFE. Hah! you thought I should not know you, because of your
buskins! And then all the salt fish, I had forgotten that!
SECOND WIFE.
