YOUNG MAN. Oh! let me first do the needful, so that I may gather my wits somewhat. Else I should be so terrified that you would see me letting out something yellow. SECOND OLD WOMAN. Never mind! you can stool, if you want, in my house. YOUNG MAN. Oh! I fear doing more than I want to; but I offer you two good securities. SECOND OLD WOMAN. I don't require them. THIRD OLD WOMAN. Hi! friend, where are you off to with that woman? YOUNG MAN. I am not going with her, but am being dragged by force. Oh! whoever you are, may heaven bless you for having had pity on me in my dire misfortune. (_Turns round and sees the Third Old Woman._) Oh Heracles! oh Heracles! oh Pan! Oh ye Corybantes! oh ye Dioscuri! Why, she is still more awful! Oh! what a monster! great gods! Are you an ape plastered with white lead, or the ghost of some old hag returned from the dark borderlands of death? THIRD OLD WOMAN. No jesting! Follow me. SECOND OLD WOMAN. No, come this way. THIRD OLD WOMAN. I will never let you go. SECOND OLD WOMAN. Nor will I. YOUNG MAN. But you will rend me asunder, you cursed wretches. SECOND OLD WOMAN. 'Tis I he must go with according to the law. THIRD OLD WOMAN. Not if an uglier old woman than yourself appears. YOUNG MAN. But if you kill me at the outset, how shall I afterwards go to find this beautiful girl of mine? THIRD OLD WOMAN. That's your business. But begin by obeying. YOUNG MAN. Of which one must I rid myself first? SECOND OLD WOMAN. Don't you know? Come here. YOUNG MAN. Then let the other one release me. THIRD OLD WOMAN. Come to my house. YOUNG MAN. If this dame will let me go. SECOND OLD WOMAN. No, by all the gods, I'll not let you go. THIRD OLD WOMAN. Nor will I. YOUNG MAN. You would make very bad boatwomen. SECOND OLD WOMAN. Why? YOUNG MAN. Because you would tear your passengers to pieces in dragging them on board. SECOND OLD WOMAN. Then come along, do, and hold your tongue. THIRD OLD WOMAN. No, by Zeus, come with me. YOUNG MAN. 'Tis clearly a case of the decree of Cannonus;[731] I must cut myself in two in order to fuck you both. But how am I to work two oars at once? SECOND OLD WOMAN. Easily enough; you have only to eat a full pot of onions.[732] YOUNG MAN. Oh! great gods! here I am close to the door and being dragged in! THIRD OLD WOMAN (_to Second Old Woman_). You will gain nothing by this, for I shall rush into your house with you. YOUNG MAN. Oh, no! no! 'twould be better to suffer a single misfortune than two. THIRD OLD WOMAN. Ah! by Hecaté, 'twill be all the same whether you wish it or not.