worthy of your
abilities.

[To Socrates.]

But attempt to teach the old man by degrees whatever you
purpose, and scrutinize his intellect, and make trial of
his mind.

Soc. Come now, tell me your own turn of mind; in order
that, when I know of what sort it is, I may now, after
this, apply to you new engines.

Strep. What? By the gods, do you purpose to besiege me?

Soc. No; I wish to briefly learn from you if you are
possessed of a good memory.

Strep. In two ways, by Jove! If anything be owing to me,
I have a very good memory; but if I owe unhappy man, I
am very forgetful.

Soc. Is the power of speaking, pray, implanted in your
nature?

Strep. Speaking is not in me, but cheating is.

Soc. How, then, will you be able to learn?

Strep. Excellently, of course.

Soc. Come, then, take care that, whenever I propound any
clever dogma about abstruse matters, you catch it up
immediately.

Strep. What then? Am I to feed upon wisdom like a dog?

Soc. This man is ignorant and brutish--I fear, old man,
lest you will need blows. Come, let me see; what do you
do if any one beat you?

Strep. I take the beating; and then, when I have waited
a little while, I call witnesses to prove it; then
again, after a short interval, I go to law.

Soc. Come, then, lay down your cloak.

Strep. Have I done any wrong?

Soc. No; but it is the rule to enter naked.

Strep. But I do not enter to search for stolen goods.

Soc. Lay it down. Why do you talk nonsense?

Strep. Now tell me this, pray. If I be diligent and
learn zealously, to which of your disciples shall I
become like?

Soc. You will no way differ from Chaerephon in
intellect.

Strep. Ah me, unhappy! I shall become half-dead.

Soc. Don't chatter; but quickly follow me hither with
smartness.

Strep. Then give me first into my hands a honeyed cake;
for I am afraid of descending within, as if into the
cave of Trophonius.

Soc. Proceed; why do you keep poking about the door?

[Exeunt Socrates and Strepsiades]

Cho. Well, go in peace, for the sake of this your
valour. May prosperity attend the man, because, being
advanced into the vale of years, he imbues his intellect
with modern subjects, and cultivates wis