Page:Acharnians and two other plays (1909).djvu/62

44 Fresh even and sweet as now, with savoury sauce. Theb. But how am I to be paid for it? Won't you tell me? Dic. Why, with respect to the eel, in the present instance,

I mean to take it as a perquisite,

As a kind of toll to the market; you understand me.

These other things of course are meant for sale. Theb. Yes, sure. I sell 'em all. Dic. Well, what do you ask?

Or would you take commodities in exchange? Theb. Aye; think of something of your country produce,

That's plentiful down here, and scarce up there. Dic. Well, you shall take our pilchards or our pottery. Theb. Pilchards and pottery! Naugh, we've plenty of they.

But think of something, as I said before,

That's plentiful down here, and scarce up there. Dic. (after a moments reflection).

I have it! A true-bred sycophant and informer.

Ill give you one, tied neatly and corded up,

Like an oil-jar. Theb. Aye; that's fair; by the holy twins!

He'd bring in money, I warrant, money enough,

Amongst our folks at home, with showing him,

Like a mischief-full kind of a foreign ape. Dic. Well, there's Nicarchus moving down this way,

Laying his informations. There he comes. Theb. (contemplating him with the eye of a purchaser).

'A seems but a small one to look at. Dic. Aye, but I promise ye,

He's full of tricks and roguery, every inch of him.

Nic. (in the pert peremptory tone of his profession as an informer).

Whose goods are these? these articles? Theb. Mine, sure;

We be come here from Thebes. Nic. Then I denounce them

As enemies' property. Theb. (with an immediate outcry). Why, what harm have they done,

The birds and creatures? Why do you quarrel with 'em?