Page:Comedies of Aristophanes (Hickie 1853) vol1.djvu/139

134—158.

. Strepsiades, the son of Phidon, of Cicynna.

. You are a stupid fellow, by Jove! who have kicked against the door so very carelessly, and have caused the miscarriage of an idea which I had conceived.

. Pardon me; for I dwell afar in the country. But tell me the thing which has been made to miscarry.

. It is not lawful to mention it, except to disciples.

. Tell it, then, to me without fear; for I here am come as a disciple to the thinking-shop.

. I will tell you; but you must regard these as mysteries. Socrates lately asked Chærephon about a flea, how many of its own feet it jumped; for after having bit the eyebrow of Chærephon, it leapt away on to the head of Socrates.

. How, then, did he measure this?

. Most cleverly. He melted some wax, and then took the flea and dipped its feet in the wax; and then a pair of Persian slippers stuck to it when cooled. Having gently loosened these, he measured back the distance.

. O king Jupiter! what subtlety of thought!

. What then would you say, if you heard another contrivance of Socrates?

. Of what kind? Tell me, I beseech you!

. Chærephon the Sphettian asked him whether he thought gnats buzzed through the mouth or the breech.