Page:Acharnians and two other plays (1909).djvu/26

8 Amb. (in continuation).

In the fourth year we reached the royal residence,

But found the Sovereign absent on a progress,

Gone with his army to the Golden Mountains,

To take his ease, and purge his royal person;

There he remained eight months. Dic. When did he close

His course of medicine? Amb. With the full of the moon

He rose, and left his seat, returning homeward:

There he admitted us to an audience,

And entertained us at a royal banquet

With a service of whole oxen baked in crust. Dic. Oxen in crust! what lies, what trumpery!

Did ever am mortal hear the like? Amb. Besides they treated us with a curious bird,

Much bigger than our own Cleonymus.

'Tis called the Chousibus. Dic. Ay, by that same token

We're choused of our two drachmas. Amb. Finally,

We've brought you here a nobleman, Shamartabas

By name, by rank and office the King's Eye. Dic, God send a crow to peck it out, I say,

And yours the Ambassador's into the bargain! Her. Let the King's Eye come forward. Dic. Hercules!

What's here? an eye for the head of a ship! what point,

What headland is he weathering? what's your course?

What makes you steer so steadily and so slowly?