< Page:Comedies of Aristophanes (Hickie 1853) vol1.djvu
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188

THE WASPS.

125—149.

longer let him out. But he used to escape through the sewers and chimneys. And we stuffed up with rags every crevice there was, and made them fast. But he, like a jackdaw, used to hammer in pegs for himself into the wall, and then used to leap out. So we covered the whole hall with nets round about, and keep guard. Now the name of the old man is Philocleon, by Jove; but of his son here, Bdelycleon, having wanton and haughty manners.

Bdelycleon. (from within). O Xanthias and Sosias, are you asleep?

Xan. Ah me!

Sos. What is the matter?

Xan. Bdelycleon is getting up. [Enter Bdelycleon.]

Bdel. Will not one[1] of you quickly run round hither? for my father has entered into the furnace, and is running about like a mouse, having crept in. But look about, that he may not escape through the hole of the kitchen-boiler. And do you press against the door.

Sos. Aye, Aye, master.[2] [Sets his back against the door.]

Bdel. King Neptune! why in the world, then, does the chimney rumble? Hollo you! who are you?

PHILOCLEON.

Phil. I am smoke coming out.

Bdel. Smoke? Come, let me see of what wood you are.

Phil. Of fig.[3]

Bdel. Aye, by Jove, which is the most pungent of smokes. But,—for you will not go in, where is the chimney-board? Go in again! [Philocleon is driven in again.] Come, let me[4] also lay a lump of wood on you. There now[5] seek some other

  1. ↑ An Attic crasis for ὁ ἕτερος. This must not be confounded with ἅτερος, Doric form of ἕτερος. See Piers. ad Mœr. p. 432.
  2. ↑ "His verbis significat servus se heri jussa exsequi. Pax, 275." Brunck's Index. Cf. note on Ach. 815; and see Eq. 111; Vesp. 1008. Krüger, Gr. Gr. § 62, 3, obs. 5.
  3. ↑ Alluding to the word συκοφάντης. There is a similar play on words in the Plutus, vs. 946, where the Sycophant says—

    ⁠ἐὰν δὲ σύζυγον λάβω τινὰ,
    ⁠καὶ σύκινον, κ. τ. λ. See also Ach. 726, 916.

  4. ↑ See note on vs. 54.
  5. ↑ νῦν in Greek, as nunc in Latin, is frequently used with bitter irony. Vide Juv. Sat., "I nunc, et ventis vitam committe," &c.;
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