Page:Comedies of Aristophanes (Hickie 1853) vol1.djvu/165

769—787.

. I do. Come, what would you say, pray, if I were to take this, when the clerk was entering the suit, and were to stand at a distance, in the direction of the sun, thus, and melt out the letters of my suit?

. Cleverly done, by the Graces!

. Oh! how I am delighted, that a suit of five talents has been cancelled!

. Come now, quickly seize upon this.

. What?

. How, when engaged in a lawsuit, you could overturn the suit, when you were about to be cast, because you had no witnesses.

. Most readily and easily.

. Tell me, pray.

. Well now, I tell you. If, while one suit was still pending, before mine was called on, I were to run away and hang myself.

. You talk nonsense.

. By the gods would I! for no one will bring an action against me when I am dead.

. You talk nonsense. Begone; I can't teach you any longer.

. Why so? Yea, by the gods, O Socrates!

. You straightway forget whatever you learn, For, what now was the first thing you were taught? Tell me.

. Come, let me see: nay, what was the first? What