Soc. In the first place, to be clever at an entertainment, understanding what rhythm is for the war-dance, and what, again, according to the dactyle.

Strep. According to the dactyle? By Jove, but I know it.

Soc. Tell me, pray.

Strep. What else but this finger? Formerly, indeed, when I was yet a boy, this here!

Soc. You are boorish and stupid.

Strep. For I do not desire, you wretch, to learn any of these things.

Soc. What then?

Strep. That, that, the most unjust cause.

Soc. But you must learn other things before these: namely, what quadrupeds are properly masculine.

Strep. I know the males, if I am not mad:—κριὸς, τράγος, ταῦρος, κύων, ἀλεκτρυών.^[1]

Soc. Do you see what you are doing? You are calling both the female and the male ἀλεκτρυὼν in the same way.

Strep. How, pray? come, tell me.

Soc. How?^[2] The one with you is ἀλεκτρυὼν, and the other is ἀλεκτρυὼν also.

Strep. Yea, by Neptune! how now ought I to call them?

Soc. The one ἀλεκτρύαινα, and the other ἀλέκτωρ.

Strep. Ἀλεκτρύαινα? Capital, by the Air! So that, in return for this lesson alone, I will fill your κάρδοπος full of barley-meal on all sides.

Soc. See! see!^[3] there again 's another blunder! You make κάρδοπος, which is feminine, to be masculine.

Strep. In what way do I make κάρδοπος masculine?

Soc. Most assuredly; just as if you were to say Κλεώνυμος.

Strep. How, pray? Tell me.

Soc. Κάρδοπος with you is tantamount to Κλεώνυμος.

Strep. Good sir, Cleonymus had no kneading-trough, but