Page:Acharnians and two other plays (1909).djvu/29

Rh Theor. And now he has sent some warriors from a tribe

The fiercest in all Thrace. Dic. Well, come—that's fair. Her. The Thracians that came hither with Theorus!

Let them come forward! Dic. What the plague are these? Theor. The Odomantian army. Dic. The Odomantians?

Thracians? and what has brought them here from Thrace

So strangely equipt, disguised, and circumcised? Theor. These are a race of fellows, if you'd hire 'em,

Only at a couple of drachmas daily pay;

With their light javelins, and their little bucklers,

They'd worry and skirmish over all Bœotia. Dic. Two drachmas for those scarecrows! and our seamen,

What would they say to it?—left in arrears,

Poor fellows, that are our support and safeguard.

Out, out upon it! I'm a plundered man.

I'm robbed and ruined here with the Odomantians.

They're seizing upon my garlic. Theor. (to the Thracians). Oh, for shame,

Let the man's garlic alone. You shabby fellow,

You countryman, take care what you're about;

Don't venture near them when they're primed with garlic. Dic. You Magistrates, have you the face to see it,

With your own eyes—your fellow-citizen

Here, in the city itself, robbed by barbarians?

But I forbid the assembly. There's a change

In the heaven! I felt a drop of rain! I'm witness! Her. The Thracians must withdraw, to attend again

The first of the next month. The assembly is closed. Dic. Lord help me, what a luncheon have I lost!

But there's Amphitheus coming back from Sparta.

Welcome Amphitheus! Amph. I'm not welcome yet,

There are the Acharnians pursuing me! Dic. How so? Amph. I was coming here to bring the treaties,

But a parcel of old Acharnians smelt me out,

Case-hardened, old, inveterate, hard-handed

Veterans of Marathon, hearts of oak and iron,