THE WASPS.’ 95

fight for the -people.’- And, O father, ’tis all your
fault. It is you who make these men your masters,
cheated by their fine words. And then they get
presents, fifty talents at a‘time, from the allies, by
means of. threats ‘of this: kind, ‘Hand. over the
tribute, or there will be an end of your city!’ And
you are content to gnaw away at the offal, while
they eat the meat. Do you suppose that the allies
are not clever enough to see all this? Of course
they do. When they find you growing lanky and
lean, and your masters round and fat, it is to them
that they bring their presents, —their wine, their
cheeses, their jars of pickle, their pots of honey,
their ‘caps, their mantles, their necklaces, and ‘all
that a°man wants fo be healthy and wealthy. And
you, from all the empire that you have won by toils
on land and toils on sea, you don’t get a head of
garlic to flavour your boiled sprats with.”

Phil. “Quite true; I had to send to the green-
grocer’s yesterday for three heads. But you take
a long time in proving that I am a slave.” oa es

Bdel. “Isn't it slavery when the men in power —.
yes, and their toadies, too — get at the money, and
you are content with your miserable sixpence, —
money that you have earned yourselves on ship-
board, in battles, and in sieges. Doesn’t some
young fop come and bid you attend at the court
betimes? ‘Don’t you lose your sixpence if you are
late, while he comes: whenever he may choose and