I bore it no longer, but immediately assailed him with many abusive reproaches. And then, after that, as was natural, we hurled word upon word. Then he springs upon me; and then he was wounding me, and beating me, and throttling me, and killing me.
Phid. Were you not therefore justly beaten, who do not praise Euripides, the wisest of poets?
Strep. He the wisest! O, what shall I call you? But I shall get beaten again.
Phid. Yes, by Jupiter, with justice.
Strep. Why, how with justice? Who, O shameless fellow, reared you, understanding all your wishes, when you lisped what you meant? If you[1] said bryn, I, understanding it, used to give you to drink. And when you asked for mamman, I used to come to you with bread. And you used no sooner to say[2] caccan, than I used to take and carry you out of doors, and hold you before me. But you now, throttling me who was bawling and crying out because I wanted to ease myself, had not the heart to carry me forth out of doors, you wretch; but I did it there, while I was being throttled.
Cho. I fancy the hearts of the youths are panting to hear what he will say.[3] For if, after having done such things, he shall persuade him by speaking, I would not take the hide of the old folks, even at the price of a chick-pea.[4] It is thy business, thou author and upheaver of new words, to seek some means of persuasion, so that you shall seem to speak justly.
Phid. How pleasant it is to be acquainted with new and clever things, and to be able to despise the established laws! For I, when I applied my mind to horsemanship alone, used not to be able to utter three words before I made a mistake; but now, since he himself has made me cease from these pursuits, and I am acquainted with subtle thoughts, and arguments, and speculations, I think I shall demonstrate that it is just to chastise one's father.
- ↑ "Here γὲ may be expressed in Latin by certe. δὲ, in vs. 1383, corresponds to the μὲν in vs. 1382. Cf. vs. 1171." Hermann.
- ↑ For this remarkable construction, see Krüger's Gr. Gr. § 56, 5, obs. 5.
- ↑ For similar examples of conciseness, see vs. 1084, 1447. Eccles. 207. Ach. 748. Ran. 780, 873, 939. Thuc viii. 50.
- ↑ "So geben wir für solches alten Kauzen Fell
Keinen Pfifferling weiter." Droysen.
