92 ARISTOPHANES.

moan-over their poverty, — yes, actually try to make
themselves out as badly off as I am; and some tell
me fables, or quote something funny out of AAsop ;
and some banter and jest to make me laugh, to put
me into a good temper. And if this doesn’t move
me, then the man brings his children, boys and girls.
They huddle together, and bleat like so many lambs,
while their father beseeches me to pass his accounts
‘and let him go free And I just let my wrath down
by a peg or two. Then if a player gets into trouble,
he has to give me one of his very best speeches ; and
if a piper wins a suit, he plays us out of court with a
quick march. If a father leaves his daughter and
his fortune.to a friend, what do we care for the will
with its big seal? Nothing at all; we do just what
we please with the girl and her monéy, and there is
nobody to call us to account. Then ‘the government
takes care that we are not overworked. One suit a
day, they say, and then we may go home. Why, we
are the only people whom Cleon does not nibble at

1 Every Athenian official, on reaching the term of his office, had to
submit his accounts to the public auditors. If any objection was made,
the matter in dispute was submitted to the judgment of the courts,
these tribunals being constituted as has been described in the introduc-
tion. The practice of the accused attempting to move the compassion
of his judges by. bringing into court his children is frequently men-
tioned. One quotation will suffice. Socrates, at the conclusion of his
defence as given by Plato, says: “It may be that some one of-you may
be indignant with me when he remembers that he himself, brought
before the court on a less serious charge than this, prayed and besought
the jury with many tears, and exhibited his children,” etc.