is Maricas, having basely, base
fellow, spoiled by altering my play of the Knights,
having added to it, for the sake of the cordax, a
drunken old woman, whom Phrynichus long ago poetized,
whom the whale was for devouring. Then again Hermippus
made verses on Hyperbolus; and now all others press hard
upon Hyperbolus, imitating my simile of the eels.
Whoever, therefore, laughs at these, let him not take
pleasure in my attempts; but if you are delighted with
me and my inventions, in times to come you will seem to
be wise.

I first invoke, to join our choral band, the mighty
Jupiter, ruling on high, the monarch of gods; and the
potent master of the trident, the fierce upheaver of
earth and briny sea; and our father of great renown,
most august Aether, life-supporter of all; and the
horse-guider, who fills the plain of the earth with
exceeding bright beams, a mighty deity among gods and
mortals.

Most clever spectators, come, give us your attention;
for having been injured, we blame you to your faces. For
though we benefit the state most of all the gods, to us
alone of the deities you do not offer sacrifice nor yet
pour libations, who watch over you. For if there should
be any expedition without prudence, then we either
thunder or drizzle small rain. And then, when you were
for choosing as your general the Paphlagonian tanner,
hateful to the gods, we contracted our brows and were
enraged; and thunder burst through the lightning; and
the Moon forsook her usual paths; and the Sun
immediately drew in his wick to himself, and declared he
would not give you light, if Cleon should be your
general. Nevertheless you chose him. For they say that
ill counsel is in this city; that the gods, however,
turn all these your mismanagements to a prosperous
issue. And how this also shall be advantageous, we will
easily teach you. If you should convict the cormorant
Cleon of bribery and embezzlement, and then make fast
his neck in the stocks, the affair will turn out for the
state to the ancient form again, if you have mismanaged
in any way, and to a prosperous issue.

Hear me again, King Phoebus, Delian Apollo, who
inhabitest the high-peaked Cynthian rock! And thou,
blessed goddess, who inhabitest the all-golde