< Page:Comedies of Aristophanes (Hickie 1853) vol2.djvu
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311—335.

THE ECCLESIAZUSÆ.

633

petticoat and shoes). What's the matter? Whither in the world is my wife gone? for it is now near[1] morning, and she does not appear. I have been lying this long while wanting to ease myself, seeking to find my shoes and my garment in the dark. And when now,[2] on groping after it, I was not able to find it, but he, Sir-reverence, now continued to knock at the door,[3] I take this kerchief of my wife's, and I trail along her Persian slippers. But where, where could one ease himself in an unfrequented[4] place? or is every place a good place[5] by night? for now no one will see me easing myself. Ah me, miserable! because I married a wife, being an old man.[6] How many stripes I deserve to get! For she never went out to do any good. But nevertheless I must certainly go aside to ease myself.

A neighbour (coming forward). Who is it? Surely it is not Blepyrus[7] my neighbour? Yes, by Jove! 'tis he himself assuredly. [Goes up to him.] Tell me, what means this yellow[8] colour? Cinesias has not, I suppose, befouled you somehow?

Blep. No; but I have come out with my wife's little saffron-coloured robe[9] on, Avhich she is accustomed to put on.

Neigh. But where is your garment?

Blep. I can't tell. For when I looked for it, I did not find it in the bed-clothes.

Neigh. Then did you not even bid[10] your wife tell you?

  1. ↑ Cf. vs. 20.
  2. ↑ Cf. vs. 195, supra. Lys. 523. Vesp. 121. Porson, Append. Toup. iv. p. 481. For ψηλαφῶν, compare Pax, 691.
  3. ↑ A Greek euphemism for πρωκτός.
  4. ↑ "ἐν καθαρῷ, in a place free from people. Hor. Epist. ii. 271, 'Puræ sunt plateæ, nihil ut meditantibus obstet.' Cf. Apoll. R. iii. 1201." Brunck.
  5. ↑ Cf. Thesm. 292. "It is the same as if he had said καλόν ἐστι." Kuster.
  6. ↑ Cf. Thesm. 412, 413.
  7. ↑ Terence, Andrian, iv. 5, 6, "Quem video? estne hic Crito sobrinus Chrysidis? is est." Eun. iii. 4, 7, "Sed quisnam a Thaide exit? is est, annon est? ipsus est."
  8. ↑ "There is an allusion to the πυῤῥίχη of Cinesias; for which see Ran. 153, and because the same person κατατετίληκε τῶν Ἑκαταίων, (Ran. 366)." Bergler.
  9. ↑ Plaut. Epid. ii. 2, 47, "caltulam aut crocotulam." Cf. Virg. Æn. ix. 614.
  10. ↑ See note on Equit. 1017.
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