34 ARISTOPHANES.

V. “What? Do you think getting tipsy will help
us?” . aes)

HT, “Yes, I do, you poor water-pitcher. Do you
mean to doubt the inspiration of wine? Where can
you find anything more potent? Is there anything
that men can’t do when they are drunk? Wealth,
prosperity, good luck, helping their friends, every-
thing is easy to them. Bring me a pitcher of wine.
Pll moisten my understanding till the inspiration
comes.”

V. “You'll ruin us with your drink.”

ff, “Ruin you! Nothing of the kind. Off with
you and bring the wine.”

Victor ran off and in a few minutes reappeared
carrying a pitcher of wine. “Well!” he said, “it
was lucky that I got it without any one seeing.”

HT, “Tell me, what was Bluster doing ?”

V. “He had gorged himself with half-digested
confiscations, and was lying fast asleep and snoring

“on a heap of his own hides.”

Hearty went on drinking and thinking. At last

he started up, crying : —

“Thine is the thought, good Genius, not mine own.”

V. “What is it?”

ff. “That you go and steal the prophecies that
Bluster keeps indoors.”

This was not really to Victor’s liking. However,
he went, and came back with them. One he knew