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JUST DISCOURSE
Sons of broad…arses。
UNJUST DISCOURSE
Well said again。 And our demagogues？
JUST DISCOURSE
Sons of broad…arses。
UNJUST DISCOURSE
You admit that you have spoken nonsense。 And the spectators；
what are they for the most part？ Look at them。
JUST DISCOURSE
I am looking at them。
UNJUST DISCOURSE
Well！ What do you see？
JUST DISCOURSE
By the gods； they are nearly all broad…arses。 （pointing） See； this
one I know to be such and that one and that other with the long hair。
UNJUST DISCOURSE
What have you to say； then？
JUST DISCOURSE
I am beaten。 Debauchees！ in the name of the gods； receive my
cloak； I pass over to your ranks。
（He goes back into the Thoughtery。）
UNJUST DISCOURSE
Well then！ Are you going to take away your son or do you wish me
to teach him how to speak？
STREPSIADES
Teach him； chastise him and do not fail to sharpen his tongue
well； on one side for petty law…suits and on the other for important
cases。
UNJUST DISCOURSE
Don't worry； I shall return him to you an accomplished sophist。
PHIDIPPIDES
Very pale then and thoroughly hang…dog…looking。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Take him with you。 （The UNJUST DISCOURSE and PHIDIPPIDES go into
the THOUGHTERY。 To STREPSIADES； who is just going into his own house。）
I think you will regret this。 （The CHORUS turns and faces the
audience。） judges； we are all about to tell you what you will gain
by awarding us the crown as equity requires of you。 In spring； when
you wish to give your fields the first dressing； we will rain upon you
first； the others shall wait。 Then we will watch over your corn and
over your vinestocks； they will have no excess to fear； neither of
heat nor of wet。 But if a mortal dares to insult the goddesses of
the Clouds； let him think of the ills we shall pour upon him。 For
him neither wine nor any harvest at all！ Our terrible slings will
mow down his young olive plants and his vines。 If he is making bricks；
it will rain； and our round hailstones will break the tiles of his
roof。 If he himself marries or any of his relations or friends； we
shall cause rain to fall the whole night long。 Verily； he would prefer
to live in Egypt than to have given this iniquitous verdict。
STREPSIADES （coming out again）
Another four； three； two days； then the eve； then the day； the
fatal day of payment！ I tremble； I quake； I shudder； for it's the
day of the old moon and the new。 Then all my creditors take the
oath； pay their deposits； I swear my downfall and my ruin。 As for
me； I beseech them to be reasonable； to be just； 〃My friend； do not
demand this sum； wait a little for this other and give me time for
this third one。〃 Then they will pretend that at this rate they will
never be repaid； will accuse me of bad faith and will threaten me with
the law。 Well then； let them sue me！ I care nothing for that； if
only Phidippides has learnt to speak fluently。 I am going to find out；
I'll knock at the door of the school。 （He knocks。）。。。。 Ho！ slave；
slave！
SOCRATES （coming out）
Welcome！ Strepsiades！
STREPSIADES
Welcome！ Socrates！ But first take this sack （offers him a sack
of flour）； it is right to reward the master with some present。 And
my son； whom you took off lately； has he learnt this famous reasoning？
Tell me。
SOCRATES
He has learnt it。
STREPSIADES
Wonderful！ Oh！ divine Knavery！
SOCRATES
You will win just as many causes as you choose。
STREPSIADES
Even if I have borrowed before witnesses？
SOCRATES
So much the better； even if there are a thousand of them！
STREPSIADES （bursting into song）
Then I am going to shout with all my might。 〃Woe to the usurers；
woe to their capital and their interest and their compound interest！
You shall play me no more bad turns。 My son is being taught there； his
tongue is being sharpened into a double…edged weapon； he is my
defender； the saviour of my house； the ruin of my foes！ His poor
father was crushed down with misfortune and he delivers him。〃 Go and
call him to me quickly。 Oh！ my child！ my dear little one！ run
forward to your father's voice！
SOCRATES （singing）
Lo； the man himself！
STREPSIADES （singing）
Oh； my friend； my dearest friend！
SOCRATES （singing）
Take your son； and get you gone。
STREPSIADES （as PHIDIPPIDES appears）
Oh； my son！ oh！ oh！ what a pleasure to see your pallor！ You are
ready first to deny and then to contradict； it's as clear as noon。
What a child of your country you are！ How your lips quiver with the
famous； 〃What have you to say now？〃 How well you know； I am certain；
to put on the look of a victim； when it is you who are making both
victims and dupes！ And what a truly Attic glance！ Come； it's for you
to save me； seeing it is you who have ruined me。
PHIDIPPIDES
What is it you fear then？
STREPSIADES
The day of the old and the new。
PHIDIPPIDES
Is there then a day of the old and the new？
STREPSIADES
The day on which they threaten to pay deposit against me。
PHIDIPPIDES
Then so much the worse for those who have deposited！ for it's
not possible for one day to be two。
STREPSIADES
What？
PHIDIPPIDES
Why； undoubtedly； unless a woman can be both old and young at
the same time。
STREPSIADES
But so runs the law。
PHIDIPPIDES
I think the meaning of the law is quite misunderstood。
STREPSIADES
What does it mean？
PHIDIPPIDES
Old Solon loved the people。
STREPSIADES
What has that to do with the old day and the new？
PHIDIPPIDES
He has fixed two days for the summons； the last day of the old
moon and the first day of the new； but the deposits must only be
paid on the first day of the new moon。
STREPSIADES
And why did he also name the last day of the old？
PHIDIPPIDES
So； my dear sir； that the debtors； being there the day before；
might free themselves by mutual agreement； or that else； if not； the
creditor might begin his action on the morning of the new moon。
STREPSIADES
Why then do the magistrates have the deposits paid on the last
of the month and not the next day？
PHIDIPPIDES
I think they do as the gluttons do； who are the first to pounce
upon the dishes。 Being eager to carry off these deposits； they have
them paid in a day too soon。
STREPSIADES
Splendid！ （to the audience） Ah！ you poor brutes； who serve for
food to us clever folk！ You are only down here to swell the number；
true blockheads； sheep for shearing； heap of empty pots！ Hence I
will sing a song of victory for my son and myself。 〃Oh！ happy；
Strepsiades！ what cleverness is thine！ and what a son thou hast here！〃
Thus my friends and my neighbours will say； jealous at seeing me
gain all my suits。 But come in； I wish to regale you first。
（They both go in。 A