Pray, what’s the matter now? Who has been driving these sheep Driving these sheep : She calls them sheep, probably, because of their venerable appearance; though she afterwards remarks that they are but dirty sheep. Perhaps, too, it was the custom among ladies of this class, in cant phrase to call those sheep who could stand fleecing; a point on which it will be found in the dialogue that they exchange remarks. Goat. would have been a more appropriate name, under the circumstances for the old sinners. to us? NICOBULUS These most shocking hussies call us sheep. 2nd BACCHIS Their shepherd’s asleep, as they come straying thus from the flock. 1st BACCHIS But, i’ faith, they are not white; they both look dirty. 2nd BACCHIS Because they have both been shorn just now. PHILOXENUS How they seem to be laughing at us. NICOBULUS Let them, just as long as they please. 1st BACCHIS Don’t you think that these sheep are shorn three times a year? 2nd BACCHIS I’ faith, to-day one of them has been already shorn twice, that’s sure. 1st BACCHIS They are old and fleeceless Old and fleeceless : Mina ovis was a sheep that had no wool on its belly. It is hard to say why this name was given to it. If the word mina had signified a certain coin, and not a sum of money merely, we might have supposed it alluded to the smoothness of the coin. , both of them. 2nd BACCHIS But I think they have been in good plight once. 1st BACCHIS Prithee, do you see how they are looking with a sheep’s eye at us?