PEACE. 59

plan was to get some very thin scaling-ladders made,
and to scramble up to heaven by means of them.
Unfortunately they. broke, and brought him down
with them to the ground. After this he got the
beetle, and proposed to fly on its back up to. the
sky.

The animal having finished its meal, Trygzeus
mounted on its back, and was preparing to start, first
giving his steed sundry cautions not to set off at too
great a pace, or to put itself out of breath. The
steward entreated his master to give up the idea,
and after vainly endeavouring forcibly to stop him,
called to the old gentleman’s daughter to come and
help him. Accordingly the girl came running out of
the house into the court-yard, where Trygzeus, who
had now risen some way from the ground, was pre-
paring to fly off. “Father,” she said, “surely it
isn’t true that you are thinking of leaving us and
going to the crows?! Tell me the truth, if you love
me
Trygeus. “Yes, it is true. The fact is, that I
can’t bear to hear you poor creatures saying to me,
‘Papa, give us some bread,’ when I haven’t got a
stiver of money in the house to buy it with. Only
let me succeed in this plan of mine, and I will give
you, not only bread, but the biggest buns that you
ever saw.”

”

1 «Going to the crows” was the Greek equivalent for our “ going
to the dogs,” as a proverbial expression for going to ruin,