Page:Comedies of Aristophanes (Hickie 1853) vol2.djvu/262

638 save the state and the citizens. For if the fullers furnish cloaks to those in want, as soon as ever the sun turns, a pleurisy would never seize any of us. And as many as have no bed or bed-clothes, let them go to the tanners' to sleep after they have been washed. But if he shut them out with the door when it is winter, let him have to pay three goat-skins."

. By Bacchus, an excellent plan! But if he had added that, no one would have voted against it,—that the meal-hucksters should furnish three chœnixes as supper to all those in want, or suffer smartly for it; that they might have derived this benefit from Nausicydes.

. After this then a handsome, fair-faced youth, like to Nicias, jumped up to harangue the people, and essayed to speak, to the intent that we ought to commit the state to the women. And then the mob of shoemakers cheered and cried out, that he spoke well: but those from the country grumbled loudly.

. For, by Jove, they had sense.

. But they were the weaker party; while he