Page:Acharnians and two other plays (1909).djvu/25

Rh Dic. You presidents, I say! you exceed your powers;

You insult the Assembly, dragging off a man

That offered to make terms and give us peace. Her. Keep silence there. Dic. By Jove, but I won't be silent,

Except I hear a motion about peace. Her. Ho there! the Ambassadors from the King of Persia. Dic. What King of Persia? what Ambassadors?

I'm sick of foreigners and foreign animals,

Peacocks and Coxcombs and Ambassadors. Her. Keep silence there. Dic. What's here? What dress is that?

In the name of Ecbatana! What does it mean? Amb. You sent us when Euthymenes was Archon,

Some few years back, Ambassadors to Persia,

With an appointment of two Drachmas each

For daily maintenance. Dic. Alas, poor Drachmas! Amb. 'Twas no such easy service, I can tell you,

No trifling inconvenience to be dragged

Along those dusty, dull Caystrian plains,

Smothered with cushions in the travelling chariots,

Obliged to lodge at night in our pavilions,

Jaded and hacked to death. Dic. My service then

Was an easy one, you think! on guard all night,

In the open air, at the outposts, on a mat. Amb. At our reception we were forced to drink

Strong luscious wine in cups of gold and crystal Dic. Ο rock of Athens! sure thy very stones

Should mutiny at such open mockery! Amb. (in continuation).

with the Barbarians 'tis the test of manhood.

There the great drinkers are the greatest men Dic. As debauchees and coxcombs are with us.