An interval between what we should call the acts of the play is filled up by a “_Parabasis_” as it was termed--a chant in which the Chorus pleads the author’s cause with the audience. By his comedy of ‘The Babylonians,’ produced the year before, he had drawn upon him, as has been already said, the wrath of Cleon and his party, and they had even gone so far as to bring an indictment against him for treason against the state. And he now, by the mouth of the Chorus, makes a kind of half-apology for his former boldness, and assures the spectators that he has never been really disloyal to Athens. As to Cleon the tanner--he will “cut him into shoe-soles for the Knights;” and we have already seen how he kept his word. When the regular action of the comedy is resumed, Dicæopolis has opened his free market. The first who comes to take advantage of it is an unfortunate Megarian, who has been reduced to poverty by the war. His native district, lying midway between the two powerful neighbours, had in its perplexity taken what they thought the strongest side, had put an Athenian garrison to the sword, and had suffered terribly from the vengeance of the Athenians in consequence. They had been excluded, on pain of death, from all ports and markets within the Athenian rule, and twice in every year orders were given to march into their territory and destroy their crops. The misery to which the wretched inhabitants were thus reduced is described with a grim humour. The Megarian, having nothing else left to dispose of, has brought his two little daughters to market for sale. “_Meg._ Ah, there’s the Athenian market! heaven bless it, I say; the welcomest sight to a Megarian. I’ve looked for it, and longed for it, like a child For its own mother. You, my daughters dear, Disastrous offspring of a dismal sire, List to my words, and let them sink impressed Upon your empty stomachs; now’s the time That you must seek a livelihood for yourselves, Therefore resolve at once, and answer me; Will you be sold abroad, or starve at home? _Daughters_ (_both together_). Let us be sold, papa! Let us be sold! _Meg._ I say so too; but who do ye think will purchase Such useless, mischievous commodities? However, I have a notion of my own, A true Megarian scheme; I mean to sell ye Disguised as pigs, with artificial pettitoes. Here, take them, and put them on. Remember now, Show yourselves off; do credit to your breeding, Like decent pigs; or else, by Mercury, If I’m obliged to take you back to Megara, There you shall starve, far worse than heretofore. This pair of masks too--fasten ’em on your faces, And crawl into the sack there on the ground. Mind ye, remember--you must squeak and whine.”--(F.)