So, as I began to tell you, you sorry pimp, about that Pentethronic battlePentethronic battle: Much learning and discussion have been wasted on this word, which probably is only intended as coined by the Captain, as a high-sounding word without any meaning., in which, with my own hands, in one day, I slew sixty thousand flying men.LYCUSHeyday! Flying men? ANTHEMONIDESCertainly I do affirm it.LYCUSPrithee, are there anywhere men that fly?ANTHEMONIDESThere were; but I slew them.LYCUSHow could you?ANTHEMONIDESI’ll tell you. I gave birdlime and slings to my troops; beneath it they laid leaves of coltsfootLeaves of coltsfoot: The hairy surface of the leaves of coltsfoot would serve to keep the pellets of birdlime together at the moment of being hurled from the sling..LYCUSFor what purpose?ANTHEMONIDESThat the birdlime mightn’t adhere to the slings.LYCUSProceed. (Aside.) I faith, you do lie most egregiously. (Aloud.) What after that?ANTHEMONIDESThey placed pretty large pellets of birdlime in their slings: with which I ordered them to be taken aim at as they flew. Why many words? Each one did they hit with the birdlime—they fell to the ground as thick as pears. As each one dropped, I straightway pierced him through the brain with his own feathers, just like a turtle-dove.LYCUSBy my troth, if ever this did take place, then may Jupiter make me to be ever sacrificing, and never propitiating him.ANTHEMONIDESAnd don’t you.believe me in this?LYCUSI do believe, in the same degree that it is proper that I should be believed. Come, let’s go in-doors, until the entrails are brought home.ANTHEMONIDESI wish to relate to you a single battle more.LYCUSI don’t care about it. ANTHEMONIDESDo listen.LYCUSUpon my faith, no. ANTHEMONIDESWhy then I’ll break your head this instant, if you don’t listen,or else be off to utter perdition!LYCUSI’d sooner go to utter perdition!ANTHEMONIDESAre you determined then? LYCUSDetermined. ANTHEMONIDESIn that case, do you, then, upon this lucky day, the Aphrodisia, make over to me the younger one of your courtesans.LYCUSThe sacred ceremony has by its omens been to me today of such a nature—I put off all serious matters from today until another day.I am resolved to make it really a holiday. Now let’s go hence in-doors. Follow me this way.ANTHEMONIDESI follow. For this day, then, I’m out on hire to you.(They go into the house of LYCUS.)

(Enter AGORASTOCLES, and several ASSISTANTS walking behind him.)AGORASTOCLESSo may the Deities love me, there’s nothing more annoying than a tardy friend,