But who is this hasty - comer-bronze, wellformed, with a good outline and an obsolete coiffure? It must be your brother, Hermes, the one
that stands in the market-place near the Porch.
At all events, his hollows are full of pitch from
having impressions of him taken daily by the
statuaries.
Why, my child, do you come to us at racing
speed? Have you, perhaps, some fresh news
from earth? Hermagoras Great news, Zeus, and calling for
the greatest attention. Zeus Speak, then, if some new trouble has
arisen unknown to us. Hermagoras It chanced that even now the brass-workers Were smearing me with pitch on breast and back. A breastplate modelled by the mimic's art Hung round me ludicrous. It was beat out Merely to take th' impression of my bronze. But I beheld a crowd approaching. Two Pale, screaming, quibbling, verbal prize-fighters, One Damis and the other- Zeus Drop the iambics, there's a good fellow.
I know whom you mean. But tell me this, whether they have already joined battle. Hermagoras Not yet. They were still skirmishing and attacking each other from afar with
the javelins of abuse. Zeus What is there left for us to do now,
deities, but bend down and listen to them? So
let the Hours draw the bolt immediately and
chase away the clouds and throw open the gates
of heaven.
 
Heavens, what a crowd has gathered to hear
them! But I am not very well satisfied with
Timokles himself; he is trembling with confusion. He will ruin everything this day. Evidently he will not be able to stand against Damis. However, let us do what in us lies and
pray for him.


 



"Silence on our side, that Damis, at least, may
not hear us."