Page:Comedies of Aristophanes (Hickie 1853) vol2.djvu/268

644 644 THE ECCLESIAZUS^. .542—563.

Blep. But with what view^ went my Laconian shoes and my staff along with you ?

pRAX. I changed shoes with you, in order that I might keep the garment safe,^ imitating you, and stamping with my feet, and striking the stones with the staff.

Blep. Do you know then that you have lost a sextary^ of wheat, which I ought to have received from the Assembly ?

Prax. Don't be concerned ; for she has borne a male child.

Blep. The Assembly ?

Prax. No, by Jove ! but the woman I went to. But has it been held p-^

Blep. Yes, by Jove ! Did you not know that I told you yesterday ?

Prax. I just now recollect it.

Blep. Then don't you know what has been decreed ?

Prax. No, by Jove ! not I.

Blep. Then sit down and chew cuttle-fish ; ^ for they say the state has been committed to you.

Prax. What to do ? to weave ?

Blep. No, by Jove ! but to rule.

Prax. What?

Blep. The affairs of the state, every one.

Prax. By Venus, the state "^ will be happy henceforth !

Blep. On what account ?

Prax. For many reasons. For no longer will it be per- mitted for the audacious to act shamefully towards it hence- forth, and no where to give evidence, nor to act the in- former

Blep. By the gods, by no means do this, nor take away^ my livelihood.

' See Kriiger, Gr. Gr. § 51, 17, obs. 8, § 62, 3, obs. 9, and Bern- hardy, W. S. p. 240.

^ She imitated her husband's gait and dress, in order that she might not be robbed by the w7rocvTa1. ' Cf. note on Nub. 645.


 * " War heut' denn Ekklesie?" Droysen.

'" " The sense is : sede et in posterum laute et beate vivito ; tibi enim magnum vnperiiwi paratum video." Faber. To eat cuttle-ftsh was sy- nonymous with enjoying the highest felicity ; hence Suidas trans- lates it by T^v<pav. See Athen. viii. p. 324, C.

^ In Brunck's edition y up'. " very wrongly. See Hermann, Orphic, p. 216. Lobeck, Ajax, p. 302." Dindorf. For to Xonrbv, see note on Thesm. 539.

' Soph. Phil. 933, Trpoj 9ewv Trarp^jjoji', rov fSiov fii ii7]^tjg.