Page:Comedies of Aristophanes (Hickie 1853) vol1.djvu/188

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. Say the same things of me again, and more. Do you know that I take pleasure in being much abused?

. You blackguard!

. Sprinkle me with roses in abundance.

. Do you beat your father?

. And will prove, too, by Jupiter, that I beat you with justice.

. O thou most rascally! Why, how can it be just to beat a father?

. I will demonstrate it, and will overcome you in argument.

. Will you overcome me in this?

. Yea, by much and easily. But choose which of the two Causes you wish to speak.

. Of what two Causes?

. The better, or the worse?

. Marry, I did get you taught to speak against justice, by Jupiter, my friend, if you are going to persuade me of this, that it is just and honourable for a father to be beat by his sons!

. I think I shall certainly persuade you; so that, when you have heard, not even you yourself will say any thing against it.

. Well now, I am willing to hear what you have to say.

. It is your business, old man, to consider in what way you shall conquer the man; for, if he were not relying upon something, he would not be so licentious. But he is emboldened by something; the boldness of the man is evident. Now you ought to tell to the Chorus from what the contention first arose. And this you must do by all means.