Page:Comedies of Aristophanes (Hickie 1853) vol1.djvu/205

150—175.

device. But I am wretched, as no other man is, who shall now be called the son of father Capnius.

. Push against the door; now press against it very vigorously, and like a man, for I am coming there. And take care of the lock and of the bar. Watch that he do not gnaw through the peg.

. (from within). What are you going to do? Will you not let me out, O most abominable, to judicate, but shall Dracontides escape?

. Would you be vexed at this?

. Yes, for the god at Delphi once upon a time responded to me, consulting him, that I should then pine away, when any one shall have escaped me.

. O Apollo, averter of ill, what an oracle!

. Come, I entreat you, let me out, lest I burst.

. Never, O Philocleon, by Neptune!

. Then I will gnaw through your net with my teeth.

. But you have no teeth.

. Ah me, miserable man! Would I could kill you! would I could! Give me a sword as quick as possible, or a tablet of assessment.

. This man desires to do some great mischief.

. No, by Jove, certainly not; but I wish to take and sell my ass together with his panniers, for it is the New Moon.

. Pray, could not I then sell it as well?

. Not as I could.

. No, by Jove, better. Come, bring forth the ass.

. What a pretext he has put forward! how dissemblingly! that you might let him out.

. Yes. but he did not draw up his hook in this way;