EURIPIDES. Whence comes this voice. SCYTHIAN. Ah! beware! EURIPIDES. Ah! beware! SCYTHIAN (_to Mnesilochus_). Are you mocking me? EURIPIDES. Are you mocking me? MNESILOCHUS. No, 'tis this woman, who stands near you. EURIPIDES. Who stands near you. SCYTHIAN. Where is the hussy? Ah! she is escaping! Whither, whither are you escaping? EURIPIDES. Whither, whither are you escaping? SCYTHIAN. You shall not get away. EURIPIDES. You shall not get away. SCYTHIAN. You are chattering still? EURIPIDES. You are chattering still? SCYTHIAN. Stop the hussy. EURIPIDES. Stop the hussy. SCYTHIAN. What a babbling, cursed woman! EURIPIDES (_as Perseus_). "Oh! ye gods! to what barbarian land has my swift flight taken me? I am Perseus, who cleaves the plains of the air with my winged feet, and I am carrying the Gorgon's head to Argos." SCYTHIAN. What, are you talking about the head of Gorgos,[644] the scribe? EURIPIDES. No, I am speaking of the head of the Gorgon. SCYTHIAN. Why, yes! of Gorgus! EURIPIDES. "But what do I behold? A young maiden, beautiful as the immortals, chained to this rock like a vessel in port?" MNESILOCHUS. Take pity on me, oh, stranger! I am so unhappy and distraught! Free me from these bonds. SCYTHIAN. Don't you talk! a curse upon your impudence! you are going to die, and yet you will be chattering! EURIPIDES. "Oh! virgin! I take pity on your chains." SCYTHIAN. But this is no virgin; 'tis an old rogue, a cheat and a thief. EURIPIDES. You have lost your wits, Scythian. This is Andromeda, the daughter of Cepheus. SCYTHIAN. But just look at this tool; is that like a woman? EURIPIDES. Give me your hand, that I may descend near this young maiden. Each man has his own particular weakness; as for me I am aflame with love for this virgin. SCYTHIAN. Oh! I'm not jealous; and as he has his back turned this way, why, I make no objection to your pedicating him. EURIPIDES. "Ah! let me release her, and hasten to join her on the bridal couch." SCYTHIAN. If this old man instils you with such ardent concupiscence, why, you can bore through the plank, and so get at his behind. EURIPIDES. No, I will break his bonds. SCYTHIAN. Beware of my lash! EURIPIDES. No matter. SCYTHIAN. This blade shall cut off your head. EURIPIDES. "Ah! what can be done? what arguments can I use? This savage will understand nothing! The newest and most cunning fancies are a dead letter to the ignorant. Let us invent some artifice to fit in with his coarse nature." SCYTHIAN. I can see the rascal is trying to outwit me. MNESILOCHUS. Ah! Perseus! remember in what condition you are leaving me. SCYTHIAN. Are you wanting to feel my lash again! CHORUS.