THE CLOUDS. 133

greatest coolness. One claimed fifty pounds for a
dappled horse. He was met first with the objection
about the day, then with the argument that it was
very unlikely that he, Strepsiades, notoriously hating
all that had to do with horses, should have incurred
such a debt, and then, when reminded that he had
sworn to pay at the proper time, with ridicule of the
gods whom he had named in his oath, and finally by
questions of grammar. It was quite preposterous,
‘he said, that a man who did not know the gender
of nouns should presume to ask for payment of a
debt. 3
Another was asked a problem in physics. “Is the
rain always new water, or does the sun draw up the
same over and over again?” —“I don’t know and I
don’t care,” said the man. — “ Then,” replied Strep-
siades, “you are not fit to have your money.” —
“Well,” the man went on,. “if you are short of
money and cannot let me have the capital, pay me the

interest.” — “Interest!” replied Strepsiades, “what
kind of monster is that? Tell me, does the sea
grow bigger, or always remain the same?” —“ Re.
mains the same, I suppose,” said the man. — “ Well,”

Strepsiades went on, “if the sea does not grow
bigger though all the rivers flow into it, how can you
expect your capital to grow bigger? Out of the
house with you!” This was all very well; but
Strepsiades found before long that there was another
side to the affair. He asked his son to sing a song

a