THE KCCLESIAZUSAE, 1103-1130

0 Zeus the Saviour, what a wretch am I
Yoked with tins pair of savage-hearted beasts !
And O should aughfc befall me, sailing in

To harbour, towed by these detested drabs.
Bury my body by the harbour's mouth ;
And take the upper hag, who still survives,
And tar her well, and round her ankles twain
Pour molten lead, and plant her on my grave,
The staring likeness of a bottle of oil .a

MAID. O lucky People, and O happy me,

And O my mistress, luckiest of us all,
And ye who now are standing at our door.
And all our neighbours, aye and all our town,
And I'm a lucky waiting-maid, who now
Have had my head with unguents rich and rare
Perfumed and bathed ; but far surpassing all
Are those sweet flagons full of Thasian wine.
Their fragrance long keeps lingering in the head.
Whilst all the rest evaporate and fade.
There's nothing half so good; great gods, not half!
Choose the most fragrant, mix it neat and raw,
'Twill make us merry all the whole night through.
But tell me, ladies, where my master is ;

1 mean, the husband of my honoured rnistress.&
CEI. If you stay here, methinks you'll find him soon.
MAID. Aye, here he comes.0 He's off to join the dinner.

O master, O you lucky, lucky man !
BL. What I ?
MAID, Yes you, by Zeus, you luckiest man.

have sent the maids to fetch wife and children, but all that has
been changed now.

b The man is now described by his relationship to the new head
of the house.

« Enter Blepyrus and the children (rairdi, 1188).

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