PASIAS (_to his witness_). A man should never lend a single obolus. 'Twould be better to put on a brazen face at the outset than to get entangled in such matters. I want to see my money again and I bring you here to-day to attest the loan. I am going to make a foe of a neighbour; but, as long as I live, I do not wish my country to have to blush for me. Come, I am going to summon Strepsiades. STREPSIADES. Who is this? PASIAS. ... for the old day and the new. STREPSIADES. I call you to witness, that he has named two days. What do you want of me? PASIAS. I claim of you the twelve minae, which you borrowed from me to buy the dapple-grey horse. STREPSIADES. A horse! do you hear him? I, who detest horses, as is well known. PASIAS. I call Zeus to witness, that you swore by the gods to return them to me. STREPSIADES. Because at that time, by Zeus! Phidippides did not yet know the irrefutable argument. PASIAS. Would you deny the debt on that account? STREPSIADES. If not, what use is his science to me? PASIAS. Will you dare to swear by the gods that you owe me nothing? STREPSIADES. By which gods? PASIAS. By Zeus, Hermes and Posidon! STREPSIADES. Why, I would give three obols for the pleasure of swearing by them. PASIAS. Woe upon you, impudent knave! STREPSIADES. Oh! what a fine wine-skin you would make if flayed! PASIAS. Heaven! he jeers at me! STREPSIADES. It would hold six gallons easily. PASIAS. By great Zeus! by all the gods! you shall not scoff at me with impunity. STREPSIADES. Ah! how you amuse me with your gods! how ridiculous it seems to a sage to hear Zeus invoked. PASIAS. Your blasphemies will one day meet their reward. But, come, will you repay me my money, yes or no? Answer me, that I may go. STREPSIADES. Wait a moment, I am going to give you a distinct answer. (_Goes indoors and returns immediately with a kneading-trough._) PASIAS. What do you think he will do? WITNESS. He will pay the debt. STREPSIADES. Where is the man who demands money? Tell me, what is this? PASIAS. Him? Why he is your kneading-trough. STREPSIADES. And you dare to demand money of me, when you are so ignorant? I will not return an obolus to anyone who says _him_ instead of _her_ for a kneading-trough. PASIAS. You will not repay? STREPSIADES. Not if I know it. Come, an end to this, pack off as quick as you can. PASIAS. I go, but, may I die, if it be not to pay my deposit for a summons. STREPSIADES. Very well! 'Twill be so much more to the bad to add to the twelve minae. But truly it makes me sad, for I do pity a poor simpleton who says _him_ for a kneading-trough. AMYNIAS. Woe! ah woe is me! STREPSIADES. Hold! who is this whining fellow? Can it be one of the gods of Carcinus?[568] AMYNIAS. Do you want to know who I am? I am a man of misfortune! STREPSIADES. Get on your way then. AMYNIAS. Oh! cruel god! Oh Fate, who hath broken the wheels of my chariot! Oh, Pallas, thou hast undone me![569] STREPSIADES. What ill has Tlepolemus done you?