154 ARISTOPHANES.

Sooth. “Yes; look at the book. But he goes
on.—
“My bidding obey, noble youth, and you fly,
To an eagle transformed, through the realms of the sky ;

Refuse, neither eagle nor dove will you be,
Nor even a woodpecker tapping a tree.”

Plaus. “ Does he say all that?”

Sooth. “Yes; look at the book.”

Plaus. “Do you know that the prophecy that I
have got —and I wrote it down from the very lips of
Apollo — is quite different. Listen : —

“When you sacrifice first, should some vagabond dare,
Whom you have not invited, to ask for a share,
Smite him hard in the ribs, I command you, nor care
For his eagles that fly in the regions of air.”

Sooth, “ That is nonsense.”

“Look at the book!” cried Plausible; and, pro-
ducing a stout cudgel, he drove the fellow away.

The next arrival was an astronomer, carrying some
mathematical instruments, with which he proposed
to measure out and survey the territory of the new
state. He was no more welcome than his predeces-
sor. Plausible professed to respect him, and indeed
to see in him another Thales; but gave him some
friendly advice to the effect that he had better be
going about his business. There was trouble brew-
ing, he said; it was likely that all strangers would
be expelled from the country, especially strangers of