BLEPYRUS. And who avers the contrary? CHREMES. He maintained that women were both clever and thrifty, that they never divulged the Mysteries of Demeter, while you and I go about babbling incessantly about whatever happens at the Senate. BLEPYRUS. By Hermes, he was not lying! CHREMES. Then he added, that the women lend each other clothes, trinkets of gold and silver, drinking-cups, and not before witnesses too, but all by themselves, and that they return everything with exactitude without ever cheating each other; whereas, according to him, we are ever ready to deny the loans we have effected. BLEPYRUS. Aye, by Posidon, and in spite of witnesses. CHREMES. Again, he said that women were not informers, nor did they bring lawsuits, nor hatch conspiracies; in short, he praised the women in every possible manner. BLEPYRUS. And what was decided? CHREMES. To confide the direction of affairs to them; 'tis the one and only innovation that has not yet been tried at Athens. BLEPYRUS. And it was voted? CHREMES. Yes. BLEPYRUS. And everything that used to be the men's concern has been given over to the women? CHREMES. You express it exactly. BLEPYRUS. Thus 'twill be my wife who will go to the Courts now in my stead. CHREMES. And it will be she who will keep your children in your place. BLEPYRUS. I shall no longer have to tire myself out with work from daybreak onwards? CHREMES. No, 'twill be the women's business, and you can stop at home and take your ease. BLEPYRUS. Well, what I fear for us fellows now is, that, holding the reins of government, they will forcibly compel us ... CHREMES. To do what? BLEPYRUS. ... to work them. CHREMES. And if we are not able? BLEPYRUS. They will give us no dinner. CHREMES. Well then, do your duty; dinner and love form a double enjoyment. BLEPYRUS. Ah! but I hate compulsion. CHREMES. But if it be for the public weal, let us resign ourselves. 'Tis an old saying, that our absurdest and maddest decrees always somehow turn out for our good. May it be so in this case, oh gods, oh venerable Pallas! But I must be off; so, good-bye to you! BLEPYRUS. Good-bye, Chremes.