‘212 “" " ARISTOPHANES.

Now ‘we're near to the spot which first witnessed our plot;
~ Let us go one and all to the shade of a wall,
And away from all eyes doff our manly disguise.”

They had scarcely finished when Praxagora ap-
peared, calmly walking up to her house. Her hus-
band naturally wanted to know where she had come
from.

Prax. “A dear friend who had been taken ill
sent for me in the night.”

LBlep. “ But why not tell me that you were going?”

Prax. “Ought not I to have gone, then?” »

Blep, “Gone— yes; but why did you ‘take ee
cloak?”

“Prax. “Tt was so cold, and I am not very strong,
and I left you snugly wrapped in your blankets.”

Blep. “ But why my sandals and staff ?”

Prax, “T was afraid, so I did my best to ‘make my-
self look’ like you. . T° stamped with my feet, and
knocked the stones with the staff.”

Blep,. “Well, you’ve made me lose a peck of wheat
which I should have brought home from the Assem-
bly.”

Prax. “Never you mind about that; j ‘it was a very
fine boy.”

Blep. “Whose boy? the Assembly’ ge:

Prax. “No; my friend’s. But has there been an
Assembly ?.”

‘Blep. “Of course. - Don’t you remember that I
told you yesterday it was'to be?”