< Page:Comedies of Aristophanes (Hickie 1853) vol1.djvu
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118

THE CLOUDS.

12—32.

But I am not able, miserable man, to sleep, being tormented by my expenses, and my stud of horses, and my debts, through this son of mine. He with his long hair,[1] is riding horses and driving curricles, and dreaming of horses; while I am driven to distraction, as I see the moon[2] bringing on the twentieths; for the interest is running on.—Boy! light a lamp, and bring forth my tablets, that I may take them and read to how many I am indebted, and calculate the interest. [Enter boy with a light and tablets.] Come, let me see; what do I owe? Twelve minæ to Pasias. Why[3] twelve minæ to Pasias? Why did I borrow them? When I bought the blood-horse.[4] Ah me, unhappy! Would that it had had its eye knocked[5] out with a stone first!

Phid. (talking in his sleep). You are acting unfairly, Philo![6] Drive on your own course.

Strep. This[7] is the bane which has destroyed me; for even in his sleep he dreams about horsemanship.

Phid. How[8] many courses will the war-chariots run?

Strep. Many courses do you drive me, your father.—But what debt[9] came upon me after Pasias? Three minæ to Amynias for a little chariot and pair of wheels.

Phid. Lead the horse home, after having given him a good rolling.

  1. ↑ Comp. Equit 580. Plut. 170.
  2. ↑ "Interest at Athens was paid at the end of the month." Droysen.
  3. ↑ τοῦ = τίνος ἕνεκα.
  4. ↑ "Sanbrennlinge." Voss.
  5. ↑ The commentators are divided in their readings and opinions, whether it should be ἐξεκόπην or ἐξεκόπη; i. e. whether Strepsiades wishes his own eye or that of the horse to have been knocked out; and whether there be a play of words between ἐκκόπτειν and κοππατίαν. See note on Lys. 940. Cf. Eccles. 938.
  6. ↑ There is a further dispute, whether Philo be the name of a horse, of the charioteer of Phidippides, or of a rival in the race; but there can be little doubt that the last is the right interpretation.

    "He! Philon, falsch gefahren! bleib in deinem Gleis!" Droysen.

  7. ↑ "Das ist das Unglück, das mich ganz zu Nichte macht!" Droysen.

    "There 'tis! that's it! the bane of all my peace—
    ⁠He's racing in his sleep." Cumberland.

  8. ↑ "Wie viele Gänge machst du im Ringelrennen denn?" Droysen.
  9. ↑ A burlesque upon the following fragment of Euripides, τί χρέος ἔβα με; There is a play upon the double meaning of χρέος.
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