Page:Acharnians and two other plays (1909).djvu/46

28 Lam. What are you doing?

You varlet, would you use my plume for a vomit? Dic. A plume, do you call it? What does it belong to? Lam. To a bird— Dic. To a cock lorrel, does it not? Lam. Ah, you shall die. [A scuffle, in which Lamachus is foiled. Dic. No, Lamachus, not so fast.

That's rather a point above you, stout as you are. Lam. Is this the sort of language for a beggar

To use to a commander such as me? Dic. A beggar am I? Lam. Why, what else are you? Dic. I'll tell ye! an honest man; that's what I am.

A citizen that has served his time in the army,

As a foot-soldier, fairly; not like you,

Pilfering, and drawing pay, with a pack of foreigners. Lam. They voted me a command. Dic. Who voted it?

A parcel of cuckoos! Well, I've made my peace.

In short, I could not abide the thing, not I;

To see grey-headed men serve in the ranks,

And lads like you despatched upon commissions;

Some skulking away to Thrace, with their three drachmas;

Tisamenus's, Chares's, and Geres's,

Cheats, coxcombs, vagabonds, and Phænippus's,

And Theodorus's sent off to Gela,

And Catana, and Camarina, and the Catamountains. Lam. It past by a vote. Dic. But what's the reason, pray,

For you to be sent out with salaries always,

And none of these good people? You, Marilades,

Have you been ever sent on an embassy?

You're old enough. He shakes his head. Not he!

Yet he's a hardworking steady sober man.

And you, Euphorides, Prinides, and the rest,

Have you ever been out into Chaonia,

Or up to Ecbatana?—no, not one of ye.

But Megacles, and Lamachus, and suchlike,