214 : ARISTOPHANES..

“Now befits thee to unfold
Skilful plan and counsel bold;
Now for friends and commonweal
Show how great and wise thy zeal.
Hove of better days impart,

pe Cheering weary mind and heart.

Time it is some skilful hand
Healed the sorrows of our land;
Only let thy wise intent
Some judicious scheme invent,
Such as ne’er before has been
Either thought of, heard, or seen;

. Old things please not here, I ween.”

Prax. “The first thing in my plan is that all
should share and share alike. I won’t have some
rich and some poor; one man with a broad domain,
and another with not ground enough for a grave;.
one man with many slaves, and another with not
even one poor page. No. All the citizens shall fare
alike. How shall I do it, do you ask? I shall make
the land common property, and the money, and all
that every man possesses. . These things we women
will wisely manage, apportioning to each what he
wants.”

Blep. “But what will you do with those who don’t
own land, but have a secret store of gold and
silver?”

Prax. “Wemust bring them into the common stock.”

Blep. “But suppose that the man swears that he
hasn’t got them?”