EURIPIDES. Hand over the money. SCYTHIAN. I have not got it, but take my quiver in pledge. EURIPIDES. You will bring her back? SCYTHIAN. Follow me, my beautiful child. And you, old woman, just keep guard over this man. But what is your name? EURIPIDES. Artemisia. Can you remember that name? SCYTHIAN. Artemuxia.[646] Good! EURIPIDES (_aside_). Hermes, god of cunning, receive my thanks! everything is turning out for the best. (_To the Scythian._) As for you, friend, take away this girl, quick. (_Exit the Scythian with the dancing-girl._) Now let me loose his bonds. (_To Mnesilochus._) And you, directly I have released you, take to your legs and run off full tilt to your home to find your wife and children. MNESILOCHUS. I shall not fail in that as soon as I am free. EURIPIDES (_releases Mnesilochus_). There! 'Tis done. Come, fly, before the archer lays his hand on you again. MNESILOCHUS. That's just what I am doing. [_Exit with Euripides._ SCYTHIAN. Ah! old woman! what a charming little girl! Not at all the prude, and so obliging! Eh! where is the old woman? Ah! I am undone! And the old man, where is he? Hi! old woman! old woman! Ah! but this is a dirty trick! Artemuxia! she has tricked me, that's what the little old woman has done! Get clean out of my sight, you cursed quiver! (_Picks it up and throws it across the stage._) Ha! you are well named quiver, for you have made me quiver indeed.[647] Oh! what's to be done? Where is the old woman then? Artemuxia! CHORUS. Are you asking for the old woman who carried the lyre? SCYTHIAN. Yes, yes; have you seen her? CHORUS. She has gone that way along with an old man. SCYTHIAN. Dressed in a long robe? CHORUS. Yes; run quick, and you will overtake them. SCYTHIAN. Ah! rascally old woman! Which way has she fled? Artemuxia! CHORUS. Straight on; follow your nose. But, hi! where are you running to now? Come back, you are going exactly the wrong way. SCYTHIAN. Ye gods! ye gods! and all this while Artemuxia is escaping. [_Exit running._ CHORUS. Go your way! and a pleasant journey to you! But our sports have lasted long enough; it is time for each of us to be off home; and may the two goddesses reward us for our labours! * * * * * FINIS OF "THE THESMOPHORIAZUSAE" * * * * * Footnotes: [544] Aristophanes parodies Euripides' language, which is occasionally sillily sententious. [545] He flourished about 420 B.C. and composed many tragedies, such as 'Telephus,' 'Thyestes,' which are lost. Some fragments of his work are to be found in Aristotle and in Athenaeus; he also distinguished himself as a musician. The banquet, which gave his name to one of Plato's dialogues, is supposed to have taken place at his house. [546] The Thesmophoria were celebrated in the month of Pyanepsion, or November.