When our victorious gen'rals knit their brows, Assume a higher tone and loftier gait Than common men, it scarcely moves my wonder— Indeed 'tis natural that the commonwealth Should give to public virtue just rewards— They who have risk'd their lives to serve the state Deserve its highest honours in return, Place and precedence too above their fellows: But I am choked with rage when I behold These saucy fishmongers assume such airs, Now throw their eyes disdainful down, and now Lift their arch'd brows and wrinkle up their fronts— "Say, at what price you sell this brace of mullets?" "Ten oboli," they answer. "Sure you joke; Ten oboli indeed! will you take eight?" "Yes, if you choose but one."—"Come, come, be serious, Nor trifle with your betters thus."—"Pass on, And take your custom elsewhere." 'Tis enough To move our bile to hear such insolence.—ANON. _The same._ However, this is still endurable. But when a paltry fishfag will look big, Cast down his eyes affectedly, or bend His eyebrows upwards like a full-strain'd bow, I burst with rage. Demand what price he asks For—say two mullets; and he answers straight "Ten obols."—"Ten? That's dear: will you take eight?" "Yes, if one fish will serve you."—"Friend, no jokes; I am no subject for your mirth."—"Pass on, Sir! And buy elsewhere."—Now tell me, is not this Bitterer than gall?—J. A. ST. JOHN. * * * * * DIPHILUS. (Book vi. §6, p. 356.) I once believed the fishmongers at Athens Were rogues beyond all others. 'Tis not so; The tribe are all the same, go where you will, Deceitful, avaricious, plotting knaves, And rav'nous as wild-beasts. But we have one Exceeds the rest in baseness, and the wretch Pretends that he has let his hair grow long In rev'rence to the gods. The varlet lies. He bears the marks of justice on his forehead, Which his locks hide, and therefore they are long. Accost him thus—"What ask you for that pike?" "Ten oboli," he answers—not a word About the currency—put down the cash, He then objects, and tells you that he meant The money of Ægina. If there's left A balance in his hands, he'll pay you down In Attic oboli, and thus secures A double profit by the exchange of both.—ANON. _The same._