And Peleus married Thetis, too, through his modesty. Unjust Cause. And then she went off and left him; for he was not lustful, nor an agreeable bedfellow to spend the night with. Now a woman delights in being wantonly treated. But you are an old dotard. For (to Phidippides). consider, O youth, all that attaches to modesty, and of how many pleasures you are about to be deprived—of women, of games at cottabus, of dainties, of drinking-bouts, of giggling. And yet, what is life worth to you if you be deprived of these enjoyments? Well, I will pass from thence to the necessities of our nature. You have gone astray, you have fallen in love, you have been guilty of some adultery, and then have been caught. You are undone, for you are unable to speak. But if you associate with me, indulge your inclination, dance, laugh, and think nothing disgraceful. For if you should happen to be detected as an adulterer, you will make this reply to him, that you have done him no injury : and then refer him to Jupiter, how even he is overcome by love and women . And yet, how could you, who are a mortal, have greater power than a god? Just Cause. But what if he should suffer the radish through obeying you, and be depillated with hot ashes? What argument will he be able to state, to prove that he is not a blackguard? Unjust Cause. And if he be a blackguard, what harm will he suffer? Just Cause. Nay, what could he ever suffer still greater than this? Unjust Cause. What then will you say if you be conquered by me in this? Just Cause. I will be silent: what else can I do? Unjust Cause. Come, now, tell me; from what class do the advocates come? Just Cause. From the blackguards. Unjust Cause. I believe you. What then? From what class do tragedians come? Just Cause. From the blackguards. Unjust Cause. You say well. But from what class do the public orators come? Just Cause. From the blackguards. Unjust Cause. Then have you perceived that you say nothing to the purpose? And look which class among the audience is the more numerous. Just Cause. Well now, I’m looking. Unjust Cause. What, then, do you see? Just Cause. By the gods, the blackguards to be far more numerous. This fellow, at any rate, I know; and him yonder; and this fellow with the long hair. Unjust Cause. What, then, will you say? Just Cause. We are conquered. Ye blackguards, by the gods, receive my cloak, for I desert to you. Exeunt the Two Causes, and re-enter Socrates and Strepsiades. Socrates. What then? whether do you wish to take and lead away this your son, or shall I teach him to speak? Strepsiades. Teach him, and chastise him: and remember that you train him properly; on the one side able for petty suits; but train his other jaw able for the more important causes. Socrates. Make yourself easy; you shall receive him back a clever sophist. Strepsiades. Nay, rather, pale and wretched. Exeunt Socrates, Strepsiades, and Phidippides. Chorus. Go ye, then: but I think that you will repent of these proceedings. Chorus. We wish to speak about the judges, what they will gain, if at all they justly assist this Chorus. For in the first place, if you wish to plough up your fields in spring, we will rain for you first; but for the others afterward. And then we will protect the fruits, and the vines, so that neither drought afflict them, nor excessive wet weather. But if any mortal dishonour us who are goddesses, let him consider what evils he will suffer at our hands, obtaining neither wine nor anything else from his farm. For when his olives and vines sprout, they shall be cut down; with such slings will we smite them. And if we see him making brick, we will rain; and we will smash the tiles of his roof with round hailstones. And if he himself, or any one of his kindred or friends, at any time marry, we will rain the whole night; so he will probably wish rather to have been