ieces, which had met with great success at Athens.

SERVANT And those stars like sparks, that plough up the air as they dart
across the sky?(1)

f(1) The shooting stars.

TRYGAEUS They are the rich leaving the feast with a lantern and a light
inside it.--But hurry up, show this young girl into my house, clean out
the bath, heat some water and prepare the nuptial couch for herself and
me. When 'tis done, come back here; meanwhile I am off to present this
one to the Senate.

SERVANT But where then did you get these pretty chattels?

TRYGAEUS Where? why in heaven.

SERVANT I would not give more than an obolus for gods who have got to
keeping brothels like us mere mortals.

TRYGAEUS They are not all so, but there are some up there too who live
by this trade.

SERVANT Come, that's rich! But I bethink me, shall I give her something
to eat?

TRYGAEUS No, for she would neither touch bread nor cake; she is used to
licking ambrosia at the table of the gods.

SERVANT Well, we can give her something to lick down here too.

CHORUS Here is a truly happy old man, as far as I can judge.

TRYGAEUS Ah! but what shall I be, when you see me presently dressed for
the wedding?

CHORUS Made young again by love and scented with perfumes, your lot will
be one we all shall envy.

TRYGAEUS And when I lie beside her and caress her bosoms?

CHORUS Oh! then you will be happier than those spinning-tops who call
Carcinus their father.(1)

f(1) It has already been mentioned that the sons of Carcinus
were dancers.

TRYGAEUS And I well deserve it; have I not bestridden a beetle to save
the Greeks, who now, thanks to me, can make love at their ease and sleep
peacefully on their farms?

SERVANT The girl has quitted the bath; she is charming from head to
foot, both belly and buttocks; the cake is baked and they are kneading
the sesame-biscuit;(1) nothing is lacking but the bridegroom's virility.

f(1) It was customary at weddings, says Menander, to give
the bride a sesame-caked as an emblem of fruitfulness,
because sesame is the most fruitful of all seeds.

TRYGAEUS Let us first hasten to lodge Theoria in the hands of the
Senate.

SERVANT But tell me, who is this woman?

TRYGAEUS Why, 'tis Theoria, with whom we used formerly to go to
Brauron,(1) to get tipsy and frolic. I had the greatest trouble to get
hold of her.

f(1) An Attic town on the east coast, noted for a
magnificent temple,