But I oppose the
discussion
of paying a
wage to the Thracians; I announce an omen; I have just felt a drop of
rain.
wage to the Thracians; I announce an omen; I have just felt a drop of
rain.
Aristophanes
THEORUS. If they are given a wage of two drachmae, they will put all
Boeotia[176] to fire and sword.
DICAEOPOLIS. Two drachmae to those circumcised hounds! Groan aloud, ye
people of rowers, bulwark of Athens! Ah! great gods! I am undone; these
Odomanti are robbing me of my garlic! [177] Will you give me back my
garlic?
THEORUS. Oh! wretched man! do not go near them; they have eaten
garlic. [178]
DICAEOPOLIS. Prytanes, will you let me be treated in this manner, in my
own country and by barbarians?
But I oppose the discussion of paying a
wage to the Thracians; I announce an omen; I have just felt a drop of
rain. [179]
HERALD. Let the Thracians withdraw and return the day after to-morrow;
the Prytanes declare the sitting at an end.
DICAEOPOLIS. Ye gods, what garlic I have lost! But here comes Amphitheus
returned from Lacedaemon. Welcome, Amphitheus.
AMPHITHEUS. No, there is no welcome for me and I fly as fast as I can,
for I am pursued by the Acharnians.
DICAEOPOLIS. Why, what has happened?
AMPHITHEUS. I was hurrying to bring your treaty of truce, but some old
dotards from Acharnae[180] got scent of the thing; they are veterans of
Marathon, tough as oak or maple, of which they are made for sure--rough
and ruthless. They all set to a-crying, "Wretch! you are the bearer of a
treaty, and the enemy has only just cut our vines! " Meanwhile they were
gathering stones in their cloaks, so I fled and they ran after me
shouting.
