PHILOCLEON. Hold, hold! Here is a fine state of things! you had almost made me judge without a bar,[88] and that is the thing of all others most sacred among us. BDELYCLEON. By Zeus! I had forgotten it, but I will run indoors and bring you one immediately. What is this after all, though, but mere force of habit! XANTHIAS. Plague take the brute! Can anyone keep such a dog? BDELYCLEON. Hullo! what's the matter? XANTHIAS. Why, 'tis Labes,[89] who has just rushed into the kitchen and has seized a whole Sicilian cheese and gobbled it up. BDELYCLEON. Good! this will be the first offence I shall make my father try. (_To Xanthias._) Come along and lay your accusation. XANTHIAS. No, not I; the other dog vows he will be accuser, if the matter is set down for trial. BDELYCLEON. Well then, bring them both along. XANTHIAS. I am coming. PHILOCLEON. What is this? BDELYCLEON. 'Tis the pig-trough[90] of the swine dedicated to Hestia. PHILOCLEON. But it's sacrilege to bring it here. BDELYCLEON. No, no, by addressing Hestia first,[91] I might, thanks to her, crush an adversary. PHILOCLEON. Put an end to delay by calling up the case. My verdict is already settled. BDELYCLEON. Wait! I must yet bring out the tablets[92] and the scrolls.[93] PHILOCLEON. Oh! I am boiling, I am dying with impatience at your delays. I could have traced the sentence in the dust. BDELYCLEON. There you are. PHILOCLEON. Then call the case. BDELYCLEON. I am here. PHILOCLEON. Firstly, who is this? BDELYCLEON. Ah! my god! why, this is unbearable! I have forgotten the urns. PHILOCLEON. Well now! where are you off to? BDELYCLEON. To look for the urns. PHILOCLEON. Unnecessary, I shall use these vases.[94] BDELYCLEON. Very well, then we have all we need, except the clepsydra. PHILOCLEON. Well then! and this? what is it if not a clepsydra?[95] BDELYCLEON. True again! 'Tis calling things by their right name! Let fire be brought quickly from the house with myrtle boughs and incense, and let us invoke the gods before opening the sitting. CHORUS. Offer them libations and your vows and we will thank them that a noble agreement has put an end to your bickerings and strife. BDELYCLEON. And first let there be a sacred silence. CHORUS. Oh! god of Delphi! oh! Phoebus Apollo! convert into the greatest blessing for us all what is now happening before this house, and cure us of our error, oh, Paean,[96] our helper! BDELYCLEON. Oh! Powerful god, Apollo Aguieus,[97] who watchest at the door of my entrance hall, accept this fresh sacrifice; I offer it that you may deign to soften my father's excessive severity; he is as hard as iron, his heart is like sour wine; do thou pour into it a little honey. Let him become gentle like other men, let him take more interest in the accused than in the accusers, may he allow himself to be softened by entreaties; calm his acrid humour and deprive his irritable mind of all sting.