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gain all my suits。 But come in； I wish to regale you first。
（They both go in。 A moment later a creditor arrives； with his
witness。）
PASIAS （to the WITNESS）
A man should never lend a single obolus。 It would be better to put
on a brazen face at the outset than to get entangled in such
matters。 I want to see my money again and I bring you here to…day to
attest the loan。 I am going to make a foe of a neighbour； but； as long
as I live； I do not wish my country to have to blush for me。 Come； I
am going to summon Strepsiades。。。。
STREPSIADES （coming out of his house）
Who is this？
PASIAS
。。。。for the old day and the new。
STREPSIADES （to the WITNESS）
I call you to witness； that he has named two days。 What do you
want of me？
PASIAS
I claim of you the twelve minae； which you borrowed from me to buy
the dapple…grey horse。
STREPSIADES
A horse！ do you hear him？ I； who detest horses； as is well known。
PASIAS
I call Zeus to witness； that you swore by the gods to return
them to me。
STREPSIADES
Because at that time； by Zeus！ Phidippides did not yet know the
irrefutable argument。
PASIAS
Would you deny the debt on that account？
STREPSIADES
If not； what use is his science to me？
PASIAS
Will you dare to swear by the gods that you owe me nothing？
STREPSIADES
By which gods？
PASIAS
By Zeus； Hermes and Posidon！
STREPSIADES
Why； I would give three obols for the pleasure of swearing by
them。
PASIAS
Woe upon you； impudent knave！
STREPSIADES
Oh！ what a fine wine…skin you would make if flayed！
PASIAS
Heaven！ he jeers at me！
STREPSIADES
It would hold six gallons easily。
PASIAS
By great Zeus！ by all the gods！ you shall not scoff at me with
impunity；
STREPSIADES
Ah！ how you amuse me with your gods！ how ridiculous it seems to
a sage to hear Zeus invoked。
PASIAS
Your blasphemies will one day meet their reward。 But； come； will
you repay me my money； yes or no？ Answer me； that I may go。
STREPSIADES
Wait a moment； I am going to give you a distinct answer。 （He
goes indoors and returns immediately with a kneading…trough。）
PASIAS （to the WITNESS）
What do you think he will do？ Do you think he will pay？
STREPSIADES
Where is the man who demands money？ Tell me； what is this？
PASIAS
Him？ Why； he is your kneading…trough。
STREPSIADES
And you dare to demand money of me； when you are so ignorant？ I
will not return an obolus to anyone who says him instead of her for
a kneading…trough。
PASIAS
You will not repay？
STREPSIADES
Not if I know it。 Come； an end to this； pack off as quick as you
can。
PASIAS
I go； but； may I die； if it be not to pay my deposit for a
summons。
（Exit）
STREPSIADES
Very well！ It will be so much more loss to add to the twelve
minae。 But truly it makes me sad； for I do pity a poor simpleton who
says him for a kneading…trough
（Another creditor arrives。）
AMYNIAS
Woe！ ah woe is me！
STREPSIADES
Wait！ who is this whining fellow？ Can it be one of the gods of
Carcinus？
AMYNIAS
Do you want to know who I am？ I am a man of misfortune！
STREPSIADES
Get on your way then。
AMYNIAS （in tragic style）
Oh！ cruel god！ Oh Fate； who hast broken the wheels of my
chariot！ Oh； Pallas； thou hast undone me！
STREPSIADES
What ill has Tlepolemus done you？
AMYNIAS
Instead of jeering me； friend； make your son return me the money
he has had of me； I am already unfortunate enough。
STREPSIADES
What money？
AMYNIAS
The money he borrowed of me。
STREPSIADES
You have indeed had misfortune； it seems to me。
AMYNIAS
Yes； by the gods！ I have been thrown from a chariot。
STREPSIADES
Why then drivel as if you had fallen off an ass？
AMYNIAS
Am I drivelling because I demand my money？
STREPSIADES
No； no； you cannot be in your right senses。
AMYNIAS
Why？
STREPSIADES
No doubt your poor wits have had a shake。
AMYNIAS
But by Hermes！ I will sue you at law； if you do not pay me。
STREPSIADES
Just tell me； do you think it is always fresh water that Zeus lets
fall every time it rains； or is ill always the same water that the sun
pumps over the earth？
AMYNIAS
I neither know； nor care。
STREPSIADES
And actually you would claim the right to demand your money；
when you know not an iota of these celestial phenomena？
AMYNIAS
If you are short； pay me the interest anyway。
STREPSIADES
What kind of animal is interest？
AMYNIAS
What？ Does not the sum borrowed go on growing； growing every
month； each day as the time slips by？
STREPSIADES
Well put。 But do you believe there is more water in the sea now
than there was formerly？
AMYNIAS
No； it's just the same quantity。 It cannot increase。
STREPSIADES
Thus； poor fool； the sea； that receives the rivers； never grows；
and yet you would have your money grow？ Get you gone； away with you；
quick！ Slave！ bring me the ox…goad！
AMYNIAS
I have witnesses to this。
STREPSIADES
Come； what are you waiting for？ Will you not budge； old nag！
AMYNIAS
What an insult！
STREPSIADES
Unless you start trotting； I shall catch you and stick this in
your arse； you sorry packhorse！ （AMYNIAS runs off。） Ah！ you start；
do you？ I was about to drive you pretty fast； I tell you…you and
your wheels and your chariot！
（He enters his house。）
CHORUS （singing）
Whither does the passion of evil lead！ here is a perverse old man；
who wants to cheat his creditors； but some mishap； which will speedily
punish this rogue for his shameful schemings； cannot fail to
overtake him from to…day。 For a long time he has been burning to
have his son know how to fight against all justice and right and to
gain even the most iniquitous causes against his adversaries every
one。 I think this wish is going to be fulfilled。 But mayhap； mayhap；
will he soon wish his son were dumb rather！
STREPSIADES （rushing out With PHIDIPPIDES after him）
Oh！ oh！ neighbours； kinsmen； fellow…citizens； help！ help！ to the
rescue； I am being beaten！ Oh！ my head！ oh！ my jaw！ Scoundrel！ Do
you beat your own father？
PHIDIPPIDES （calmly）
Yes； father； I do。
STREPSIADES
See！ he admits he is beating me。
PHIDIPPIDES
Of course I do。
STREPSIADES
You villain； you parricide； you gallows…bird！
PHIDIPPIDES
Go on； repeat your epithets； call me a thousand other names； if it
please you。 The more you curse； the greater my amusement！
STREPSIADES
Oh！ you ditch…arsed cynic！
PHIDIPPIDES
Ho