98 ARISTOPHANES,

may be, you need not sit hungry, worrying yourself
and the prisoner as well.”

Phil, “But do you think that I shall really be able
to judge and digest at the same time?”

Bdel. “Why not? You will do your judging all
the better. Don’t they say when there is a good
deal of hard swearing in a case that the judge could
scarcely digest it?”

Phil. “T can’t resist you. But tell me true; who
will give me my pay?”

Bdel. “T will.”

Phil. “Good! then I shall always get my fee.
That joker played me a pretty trick the other day.
We had a drachma between us. He changed it in
the fish-market, and put down three fish scales for
my. share. I popped them in my mouth, thinking
they were coins. Oh, the vile smell as I spat them
out!”

Bdel, “You see, then, how much better you will
fare in this way.”

Phil. “Yes, yes; something considerable. But
‘make haste and do it.”

Bdel. “Wait abit. I will go and get the things.”

Phil. “See how the oracle comes true. It ran
thus, I remember : —

“Behold! the days shall come, when every son
Of Athens, sitting in his house, shall judge
Causes of men, and at his door shall build
A little court of justice for himself.”