silent! Do not say anything
foolish. But, if you have any concern for your father's
patrimony, become one of them, having given up your
horsemanship.

Phid. I would not, by Bacchus, even if you were to give
me the pheasants which Leogoras rears!

Strep. Go, I entreat you, dearest of men, go and be
taught.

Phid. Why, what shall I learn?

Strep. They say that among them are both the two
causes--the better cause, whichever that is, and the
worse: they say that the one of these two causes, the
worse, prevails, though it speaks on the unjust side.
If, therefore you learn for me this unjust cause, I
would not pay any one, not even an obolus of these
debts, which I owe at present on your account.

Phid. I can not comply; for I should not dare to look
upon the knights, having lost all my colour.

Strep. Then, by Ceres, you shall not eat any of my
good! Neither you, nor your blood-horse; but I will
drive you out of my house to the crows.

Phid. My uncle Megacles will not permit me to be without
a horse. But I'll go in, and pay no heed to you.

[Exit Phidippides.]

Strep. Though fallen, still I will not lie prostrate:
but having prayed to the gods, I will go myself to the
thinking-shop and get taught. How, then, being an old
man, shall I learn the subtleties of refined
disquisitions? I must go. Why thus do I loiter and not
knock at the door?

[Knocks at the door.]

Boy! Little boy!

Disciple (from within). Go to the devil! Who it is that
knocked at the door?

Strep. Strepsiades, the son of Phidon, of Cicynna.

Dis. You are a stupid fellow, by Jove! who have kicked
against the door so very carelessly, and have caused the
miscarriage of an idea which I had conceived.

Strep. Pardon me; for I dwell afar in the country. But
tell me the thing which has been made to miscarry.

Dis. It is not lawful to mention it, except to
disciples.

Strep. Tell it, then, to me without fear; for I here am
come as a disciple to the thinking-shop.

Dis. I will tell you; but you must regard these as
mysteries. Socrates lately asked Chaerephon about a
flea, how many of its own feet it jumped; for after
having bit the eyebrow of Chaerephon, it leaped away
onto the head of Socrates.