THE LYS1STRATA, 1223-1246

Come, come, begone ; that these Laconians here.
The banquet ended, may depart in peace.*

F.ATH. Well, if I ever saw a feast like this !

What cheery fellows those Laconians wort1,
And we were wondrous witty in our cups.

SEC ATH. Ay, ay, 'tis when we're sober, we're so daft.
Now if the State would take a friend's advice1,
Twould make its envoys always all get drunk.
When we go dry to Sparta, all our aim
Is just to see what mischief we can do,
We don't hear aught they say ; and vuk infer
A heap of things they never said at all.
Then we bring home all sorts of differing talt*s
Now everything gives pleasure : if a man,
When he should sing Cleitagora, strike up
With Telamon's song,& we'd clap him on the back.
And say 'twas excellent; ay, and swear it too/1

FOR. Why, bless the fellows, here they come again,

Crowding along. Be off, you scoundrels, will you ?

ID. By Zeus, we must : the guests are coming out/

LAC. O lovey mine, tak7 up the pipes an' blaw.
An* Fse jist dance * an' sing a canty sang
Anent the Athanians an' our airisells too.

ATH. Ay, by the Powers, take up the pipes and blow.
Eh, but I dearly love to see you dance.

word or similar thought. If the singer blundered, he would

be ridiculous; but at this ftjost it merely «vokw» a kindly

approval. Part of the Cleitagora seolium is given in W. 1245

Xprinara. Kal fiiav \ K\ciray6ptf rt Ka.fJ.ol perk ' O<rraXw*>» The

Telamon catch is given in Athenaeus xv. 50 ra? TtXa^wvos, MQ.V

at'x^Tii, \tyov<rt ere [ *'? Tpofa/' Hpiffrw <?

c The idlers again approach.

d The ambassadors come out from the

* Dance a reel. 5i7ro8Ła, a stalely Spartan dance.

JIT