THE CLOUDS. 125

Strep. (after a pause). “My dear Socrates, I have
a device for escaping interest.”

Soc. “ Explain it.”

Strep. “I should buy a witch from Thessaly;
she would bring down the moon out of the sky for
me. I should shut it up in a round crest case, and
keep it.”

Soc. “ How would that help you?”

Sivep. “How? Why, if the moon was never to
rise, of course I should not pay interest.” :

Soc. “Why not?”

Strep. “Because it is due at the new moon.”

Soc. “Very good; but answer me this: An action
is brought against you for five talents; how would it
get rid of it?” .

Strep. “How? how? I don’t know, but I will
consider.”

Soc. “Don’t keep your mind always going round
and round yourself. Let it fly about like a cock-
chafer tied by a string.”

Strep. “I have found the very cleverest way of
getting rid of a suit. You have seen at the drug-
gist’s that pretty transparent stone with which they
light fires?”

Soc. “A burning glass, I suppose you mean.”

Strep. “Just so. Well, might not I take this, and
while the registrar was writing down the case, turn
the sun on to it, and melt the wax?”

Soc. “ By the Graces! a clever thought.”