Look well at us, and you will see that we have all the character and habits of the wasp. Firstly, if roused, no beings are more irascible, more relentless than we are. In all other things, too, we act like wasps. We collect in swarms, in a kind of nests,[123] and some go a-judging with the Archon,[124] some with the Eleven,[125] others at the Odeon;[126] there are yet others, who hardly move at all, like the grubs in the cells, but remain glued to the walls[127] and bent double to the ground. We also pay full attention to the discovery of all sorts of means of existing and sting the first who comes, so as to live at his expense. Finally, we have among us drones,[128] who have no sting and who, without giving themselves the least trouble, seize on our revenues as they flow past them and devour them. 'Tis this that grieves us most of all, to see men who have never served or held either lance or oar in defence of their country, enriching themselves at our expense without ever raising a blister on their hands. In short, I give it as my deliberate opinion that in future every citizen not possessed of a sting shall not receive the triobolus. PHILOCLEON. As long as I live, I will never give up this cloak; 'tis the one I wore in that battle[129] when Boreas delivered us from such fierce attacks, BDELYCLEON. You do not know what is good for you. PHILOCLEON. Ah! I know not how to use fine clothing! T'other day, when cramming myself with fried fish, I dropped so many grease spots that I had to pay three obols to the cleaner. BDELYCLEON. At least have a try, since you have once for all handed the care for your well-being over to me. PHILOCLEON. Very well then! what must I do? BDELYCLEON. Take off your cloak, and put on this tunic in its stead. PHILOCLEON. 'Twas well worth while to beget and bring up children, so that this one should now wish to choke me. BDELYCLEON. Come, take this tunic and put it on without so much talk. PHILOCLEON. Great gods! what sort of a cursed garment is this? BDELYCLEON. Some call it a pelisse, others a Persian cloak.[130] PHILOCLEON. Ah! I thought it was a wraprascal like those made at Thymaetia.[131] BDELYCLEON. Pray, how should you know such garments? 'Tis only at Sardis you could have seen them, and you have never been there. PHILOCLEON. I' faith, no! but it seems to me exactly like the mantle Morychus[132] sports. BDELYCLEON. Not at all; I tell you they are woven at Ecbatana. PHILOCLEON. What! are there woollen ox-guts[133] then at Ecbatana? BDELYCLEON. Whatever are you talking about? These are woven by the Barbarians at great cost. I am certain this pelisse has consumed more than a talent of wool.[134] PHILOCLEON. It should be called wool-waster then instead of pelisse. BDELYCLEON. Come, father, just hold still for a moment and put it on. PHILOCLEON. Oh! horrors! what a waft of heat the hussy wafts up my nose! BDELYCLEON. Will you have done with this fooling?