Strepsiades! How wise you are yourself, and how
excellent is the son whom you are rearing!" My friends
and fellow-tribesmen will say of me, envying me, when
you prove victorious in arguing causes. But first I wish
to lead you in and entertain you.

[Exeunt Strepsiades and Phidippides.]

Pasias (entering with his summons-witness) Then, ought a
man to throw away any part of his own property? Never!
But it were better then at once to put away blushes,
rather than now to have trouble; since I am now dragging
you to be a witness, for the sake of my own money; and
further, in addition to this, I shall become an enemy to
my fellow-tribesman. But never, while I live, will I
disgrace my country, but will summon Strepsiades.

Strep. (from within) Who's there?

Pas. For the Old and New.

Strep. I call you to witness, that he has named it for
two days. For what matter do you summon me?

Pas. For the twelve minae, which you received when you
were buying the dapple-gray horse.

Strep. A horse? Do you not hear? I, whom you all know to
hate horsemanship!

Pas. And, by Jupiter! You swore by the gods too, that
you would repay it.

Strep. Ay, by Jove! For then my Phidippides did not yet
know the irrefragable argument.

Pas. And do you now intend, on this account, to deny the
debt?

Strep. Why, what good should I get else from his
instruction?

Pas. And will you be willing to deny these upon oath of
the gods?

Strep. What gods?

Pas. Jupiter, Mercury, and Neptune.

Strep. Yes, by Jupiter! And would pay down, too, a
three-obol piece besides to swear.

Pas. Then may you perish some day for your impudence!

Strep. This man would be the better for it if he were
cleansed by rubbing with salt.

Pas. Ah me, how you deride me!

Strep. He will contain six choae.

Pas. By great Jupiter and the gods, you certainly shall
not do this to me with impunity!

Strep. I like your gods amazingly; and Jupiter, sworn
by, is ridiculous to the knowing ones.

Pas. You will assuredly suffer punishment, some time or
other, for this. But answer and dismiss me, whether you
are going to repay me my money or not.

Strep. Keep quiet now, for I will presently answer you
distinctly.

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