Page:Comedies of Aristophanes (Hickie 1853) vol1.djvu/153

443—483.

from my debts, and appear to men to be bold, glib of tongue, audacious, impudent, shameless, a fabricator of falsehoods, inventive of words, a practised knave in lawsuits, a law-tablet, a thorough rattle, a fox, a sharper, a slippery knave, a dissembler, a slippery fellow, an impostor, a gallows-bird, a blackguard, a twister, a troublesome fellow, a licker-up of hashes. If they call me this, when they meet me, let them do to me absolutely what they please. And if they like, by Ceres, let them serve up a sausage out of me to the deep thinkers.

. This man has a spirit not void of courage, but prompt Know, that if you learn these matters from me, you will possess amongst mortals a glory as high as heaven.

. What shall I experience?

. You shall pass with me the most enviable of mortal lives the whole time.

. Shall I then ever see this?

. Yea, so that many be always seated at your gates, wishing to communicate with you and come to a conference with you, to consult with you as to actions and affidavits of many talents, as is worthy of your abilities. [To Socrates.] But attempt to teach the old man by degrees whatever you purpose, and scrutinize his intellect, and make trial of his mind.

. Come now, tell me your own turn of mind; in order that, when I know of what sort it is, I may now, after this, apply to you new engines.

. What? By the gods, do you purpose to besiege me?

. No; I wish to briefly learn from you if you are possessed of a good memory.

. In two ways, by Jove. If any thing be owing to