172 ARIS TOPHANES.

Bac. ‘Too choky by far.”

Fler. “Then there is a very short cut by the
Pestle and Mortar.”

Bac. “Do you mean the hemlock road?”

Her. “ Certainly.”

Bac. “Too cold and wintry for me. One’s hands
and feet get so numb.”

Fler. “Come, shall I tell you the quickest and
most direct of all?”

Bac. “Yes, yes; Iam but a poor traveller.”

Fler. “Stroll down, then, to the Potter’s Quarter ;!
climb to the top of the tower, and watch till the
torch race begins, ave when the people ay ‘They’re
off!’ off with you.”

Bac. “ Off where?”

Fler. “Why, down to the bottom.”

Bac. “Yes, and lose two platefuls of brain? Not
that way for me, thank you.” .

Fler. “ How do you intend to go, then?”

Bac. “ By the way that you went, to be sure.”

fer. “ But that’s a long journey. First, you will
come to a very big lake without any bottom.”

Bac. “How am I to get over?”

ffer. “Oh! there’s an old sailor with a tiny boat,
just so big (spans a length of five or six feet), will
ferry you over for a groat.” .

Bac. “ Ah! a groat means something everywhere.”

1 The Ceramicus, where the bodies of Athenian citizens killed in
battle were buried.