What are you
ruminating
over now again?
Aristophanes
citizens!
is it just, that the
mother of Hyperbolus should sit dressed in white and with loosened
tresses beside that of Lamachus[621] and lend out money on usury? He, who
may have done a deal of this nature with her, so far from paying her
interest, should not even repay the capital, saying, "What, pay you
interest? after you have given us this delightful son? "
MNESILOCHUS. I have contracted quite a squint by looking round for him,
and yet Euripides does not come. Who is keeping him? No doubt he is
ashamed of his cold Palamedes. [622] What will attract him? Let us see! By
which of his pieces does he set most store? Ah! I'll imitate his
Helen,[623] his lastborn. I just happen to have a complete woman's
outfit.
SEVENTH WOMAN.
What are you ruminating over now again? Why are you
rolling up your eyes? You'll have no reason to be proud of your Helen, if
you don't keep quiet until one of the Prytanes arrives.
MNESILOCHUS (_as Helen_). "These shores are those of the Nile with the
beautiful nymphs, these waters take the place of heaven's rain and
fertilize the white earth, that produces the black syrmea. "[624]
SEVENTH WOMAN. By bright Hecate, you're a cunning varlet.
MNESILOCHUS. "Glorious Sparta is my country and Tyndareus is my
father. "[625]
SEVENTH WOMAN. He your father, you rascal! Why, 'tis Phrynondas. [626]
MNESILOCHUS. "I was given the name of Helen. "
SEVENTH WOMAN. What!
mother of Hyperbolus should sit dressed in white and with loosened
tresses beside that of Lamachus[621] and lend out money on usury? He, who
may have done a deal of this nature with her, so far from paying her
interest, should not even repay the capital, saying, "What, pay you
interest? after you have given us this delightful son? "
MNESILOCHUS. I have contracted quite a squint by looking round for him,
and yet Euripides does not come. Who is keeping him? No doubt he is
ashamed of his cold Palamedes. [622] What will attract him? Let us see! By
which of his pieces does he set most store? Ah! I'll imitate his
Helen,[623] his lastborn. I just happen to have a complete woman's
outfit.
SEVENTH WOMAN.
What are you ruminating over now again? Why are you
rolling up your eyes? You'll have no reason to be proud of your Helen, if
you don't keep quiet until one of the Prytanes arrives.
MNESILOCHUS (_as Helen_). "These shores are those of the Nile with the
beautiful nymphs, these waters take the place of heaven's rain and
fertilize the white earth, that produces the black syrmea. "[624]
SEVENTH WOMAN. By bright Hecate, you're a cunning varlet.
MNESILOCHUS. "Glorious Sparta is my country and Tyndareus is my
father. "[625]
SEVENTH WOMAN. He your father, you rascal! Why, 'tis Phrynondas. [626]
MNESILOCHUS. "I was given the name of Helen. "
SEVENTH WOMAN. What!
