Page:Comedies of Aristophanes (Hickie 1853) vol1.djvu/141

184—202.

basket.] O Hercules, from what country are these wild beasts?

. What do you wonder at? To what do they seem to you to be like?

. To the Spartans, who were taken at Pylos. But why in the world do these look upon the ground?

. They are in search of the things below the earth.

. Then they are searching for roots. Do not, then, trouble yourselves about this; for I know where there are large and fine ones. Why, what are these doing, who are bent down so much?

. These are groping about in darkness under Tartarus.

. Why then does their rump look towards heaven?

. It is getting taught astronomy alone by itself. [Turning to the pupils.] But go in, lest he meet with us.

. Not yet, not yet: but let them remain, that I may communicate to them a little matter of my own.

. It is not permitted to them to remain without in the open air for a very long time. [The pupils retire.]

, (discovering a variety of mathematical instruments). Why, what is this, in the name of heaven? Tell me.

. This is Astronomy.

. But what is this?

. Geometry.