50 ARISTOPHANES.

that one that I like so much, of how I shall become
an eagle in the clouds.”
Bluster reads : —.

‘Son of Erectheus, mark and ponder well
This holy warning from Apollo’s cell.
He bids thee guard the sacred sharp-toothed whelp,
Who for thy sake doth bite and bark and yelp;
Guard and protect him from the chattering jay,
So shall thy juries all be kept in pay.” 4

D. “What is all this about? What is meant by
Erectheus and the dog and the jay?”

B. “I am the dog; I bark for 0 and Apollo
says:that you are to take care of me.”

Ss. “Itis nothing of the kind. I have got the
true oracle about the dog. Listen to this: —

“Son of Erectheus, ever at thy feast
Beware the dog, the greedy, filching beast.
He wags his tail, still fawning as you eat,
But when you look away he steals the meat.”

D. ‘That sounds much better, Glanis.”
B. “Listen again to this :—

1 The poorer class of Athenians depended very much on the pay of
three odo, or half a drachma (represented by fourpence farthing in
English money, if measured by weight, but actually equivalent to
more) which they received for performing the office of jurymen. The
practice of making this payment is supposed to have been begun by
Pericles, but the pay was increased by Cleon. It may be compared,
riot so much in itself, but in its political significance, to the distribution
of money and corn under the empire at Rome.