SECOND CITIZEN. You are bent on contributing then? FIRST CITIZEN. 'Pon my soul, yes! Look, there are all my neighbours carrying in all they have. SECOND CITIZEN. Ha, ha! 'Tis no doubt Antisthenes.[708] He's a fellow who would rather sit on his pot for thirty days than not! FIRST CITIZEN. The pest seize you! SECOND CITIZEN. And perhaps Callimachus[709] is going to take in more money than Callias owns? That man want to ruin himself! FIRST CITIZEN. How you weary me! SECOND CITIZEN. Ah! I weary you! But, wretch, see what comes of decrees of this kind. Don't you remember the one reducing the price of salt, eh? FIRST CITIZEN. Why, certainly I do. SECOND CITIZEN. And do you remember that about the copper coinage? FIRST CITIZEN. Ah! that cursed money did me enough harm. I had sold my grapes and had my mouth stuffed with pieces of copper;[710] indeed I was going to the market to buy flour, and was in the act of holding out my bag wide open, when the herald started shouting, "Let none in future accept pieces of copper; those of silver are alone current." SECOND CITIZEN. And quite lately, were we not all swearing that the impost of one-fortieth, which Euripides[711] had conceived, would bring five talents to the State, and everyone was vaunting Euripides to the skies? But when the thing was looked at closely, it was seen that this fine decree was mere moonshine and would produce nothing, and you would have willingly burnt this very same Euripides alive. FIRST CITIZEN. The cases are quite different, my good fellow. We were the rulers then, but now 'tis the women. SECOND CITIZEN. Whom, by Posidon, I will never allow to piss on my nose. FIRST CITIZEN. I don't know what the devil you're chattering about. Slave, pick up that bundle. HERALD. Let all citizens come, let them hasten at our leader's bidding! 'Tis the new law. The lot will teach each citizen where he is to dine; the tables are already laid and loaded with the most exquisite dishes; the couches are covered with the softest of cushions; the wine and water is already being mixed in the ewers; the slaves are standing in a row and waiting to pour scent over the guests; the fish is being grilled, the hares are on the spit and the cakes are being kneaded, chaplets are being plaited and the fritters are frying; the youngest women are watching the pea-soup in the saucepans, and in the midst of them all stands Smaeus,[712] dressed as a knight, washing the crockery. And Geres[713] has come, dressed in a grand tunic and finely shod; he is joking with another young fellow and has already divested himself of his heavy shoes and his cloak.[714] The pantryman is waiting, so come and use your jaws. SECOND CITIZEN. Aye, I'll go. Why should I delay, since the Republic commands me? FIRST CITIZEN. And where are you going to, since you have not deposited your belongings? SECOND CITIZEN. To the feast. FIRST CITIZEN. If the women have any wits, they will first insist on your depositing your goods.