Going to buy rouge and saltpetre for us,
Comes bringing salt! The great big simpleton !

Gor. And there's my money-waster Dioclides;
He gave for five old dog's hair fleeces, yesterday,
Ten drachmas !--for mere dirt! Trash upon trash!
But come, put on your botton-vest and cloak,
And let us go and see the spectacle
Of great King Ptolemy;--the Queen, they say,
Has made it a fine thing.
Prax.

Ay, luck has luck.
Tell me then all you've seen and heard of it,
For I've seen nothing.
Gor.

We shall not have time,
Those who've no work, have none but holidays.

Prax. Some water, Eunoe; and then, my fine one, To take your rest again! Puss loves good lying. Come, move, girl, move ! some water,—water first.

a

Look how she brings it! Now then ;-hold, hold,

careless; Not quite so fast, you're wetting all my gown! There, that'll do. Now please the Gods I'm washed. The key of the great chest; where's that? go fetch it.

Gor. Praxinoe, that plaited vest of yours Becomes you mightily. What did it cost you ?

Prax. Oh don't remind me, Gorgo ;-more than

one

Or two good minas,-besides time and trouble.

Gor. And yet you seemed to have forgotten it.
Prax. Ah, ha; that's true ;--that's very good.

(To Eunoe.) Here, fetch me My cloak and hood; and help them on now, properly. (To the little boy.) Child, child, you cannot go;

the horse will bite it, The horrid woman's coming !-Well then, well, Cry, if you will ; but you must not get lamed.

Come, Gorgo. Phrygia, take the child and play

with him ; And call the dog in doors, and lock the gate.

(They go out.) Powers, what a crowd! how shall we get along ! Why, they're like ants ? countless! immeasurable ! Well, Ptolemy, you've done fine things, that's cer

tain,

Since the Gods took your father. No one now-a

days Does harm to travellers, as they used to do After the Ægyptian fashion, lying in wait,Masters of nothing but detestable tricks, And all alike, a set of cheats and brawlers. Gorgo, my sweetest friend, what will become of us ? Here are the king's horse-guards! Pray, my good

man,

Don't tread upon me so.

See the bay horse!

Look, how it rears! It's like a great mad dog! How you stand, Eunoe !-It will throw him cer

tainly. How lucky that I left the child at home!

Gor. Courage, Praxinoe ;-we're behind them

now ; They're gone into the court-yard. Prax.

And I'm well again. I never could abide from infancy

A horse and a cold snake.

Gor. (addressing an old woman.) From court,

mother?

Old Wom. Yes, children.
Gor. Is it easy to get in, pray?
Old Wom. (passing briskly.) The Greeks got into

Troy. Every thing's done,
By trying, sweetest.
Gor.

How she bustles off!

Why the old woman's quite oracular,
But women must know every thing, even how

Jupiter
Took to wife Juno. See, Praxinoe,
How the gate's crowded !
Prax.

Frightfully indeed!
Give me your hand, dear Gorgó; and do you,
Hold fast of Eutychis's, Eunoe;
Don't let her go; don't stir an inch; and so
We'll all squeeze in together. Stick close, Eunoe.
Oh me! oh me! my veil's torn right in two!
Do take care, my good man, and mind my cloak.

Man. 'Twas not my fault ;---but I'll take care.
Prar.

What heaps !
They drive like pigs.
Man.

Courage, my girl. All's safe. Prax. Blessings, upon you, Sir, now and for ever, For taking care of us.-A good, kind soul !