even in Egypt than to have judged badly. Enter Strepsiades with a meal-sack on his shoulder. Strepsiades. The fifth, the fourth, the third, after this the second; and then, of all the days I most fear, and dread, and abominate, immediately after this there is the Old and New. For every one to whom I happen to be indebted, swears, and says he will ruin and destroy me, having made his deposits against me; though I only ask what is moderate and just— My good sir, one part don’t take just now; the other part put off I pray; and the other part remit ; they say that thus they will never get back their money, but abuse me, as I am unjust, and say they will go to law with me. Now therefore let them go to law, for it little concerns me, if Phidippides has learned to speak well. I shall soon know by knocking at the thinking-shop. Knocks at the door. Boy, I say! Boy, boy! Enter Socrates. Socrates. Good morning, Strepsiades. Strepsiades. The same to you. But first accept this present; for one ought to compliment the teacher with a fee. And tell me about my son, if he has learned that cause, which you just now brought forward. Socrates. He has learned it. Strepsiades. Well done, O Fraud, all-powerful queen! Socrates. So that you can get clear off from whatever suit you please. Strepsiades. Even if witnesses were present when I borrowed the money? Socrates. Yea, much more! Even if a thousand be present. Strepsiades. Then I will shout with a very loud shout: Ho! Weep, you petty-usurers, both you and your principals, and your compound interests! For you can no longer do me any harm, because such a son is being reared for me in this house, shining with a double-edged tongue, for my guardian, the preserver of my house, a mischief to my enemies, ending the sadness of the great woes of his father. Him do thou run and summon from within to me. Socrates goes into the house. Socrates. assigned to Strepsiades in the the print. O child! O son! Come forth from the house! Hear your father!
 Re-enter Socrates leading in Phidippides. Lo, here is the man! Strepsiades. O my dear, my dear! Socrates. Take your son and depart. Exit Socrates. Strepsiades. Oh, oh, my child! Huzza! Huzza! How I am delighted at the first sight of your complexion! Now, indeed, you are, in the first place, negative and disputatious to look at, and this fashion native to the place plainly appears, the what do you say? and the seeming to be injured when, I well know, you are injuring and inflicting a wrong; and in your countenance there is the Attic look. Now, therefore, see that you save me, since you have also ruined me. Phidippides. What, pray, do you fear? Strepsiades. The Old and New. Phidippides. Why, is any day old and new? Strepsiades. Yes; on which they say that they will make their deposits against me. Phidippides. Then those that have made them will lose them; for it is not possible that two days can be one day. Strepsiades. Can not it? Phidippides. Certainly not; unless the same woman can be both old and young at the same time. Strepsiades. And yet it is the law. Phidippides. For they do not, I think, rightly understand what the law means. Strepsiades. And what does it mean?