CHORUS. 'Tis the act of a wise and sensible man, who has done much sailing, always to trim his sail towards the quarter whence the fair wind wafts, rather than stand stiff and motionless like a god Terminus.[442] To change your part to serve your own interest is to act like a clever man, a true Theramenes.[443] DIONYSUS. Faith! 'twould be funny indeed if Xanthias, a slave, were indolently stretched out on purple cushions and fucking the dancing-girl; if he were then to ask me for a pot, while I, looking on, would be rubbing my tool, and this master rogue, on seeing it, were to know out my front teeth with a blow of his fist. FIRST INKEEPER'S WIFE. Here! Plathané, Plathané! do come! here is the rascal who once came into our shop and ate up sixteen loaves for us. SECOND INKEEPER'S WIFE. Aye, truly, 'tis he himself! XANTHIAS. This is turning out rough for somebody. FIRST WIFE. And besides that, twenty pieces of boiled meat at half an obolus apiece. XANTHIAS. There's someone going to get punished. FIRST WIFE. And I don't know how many cloves of garlic. DIONYSUS. You are rambling, my dear, you don't know what you are saying. FIRST WIFE. Hah! you thought I should not know you, because of your buskins! And then all the salt fish, I had forgotten that! SECOND WIFE. And then, alas! the fresh cheese that he devoured, osier baskets and all! Ten, when I asked for my money, he started to roar and shoot terrible looks at me. XANTHIAS. As! I recognize him well by that token; 'tis just his way. SECOND WIFE. And he drew out his sword like a madman. FIRST WIFE. By the gods, yes. SECOND WIFE. Terrified to death, we clambered up to the upper storey, and he fled at top speed, carrying off our baskets with him. XANTHIAS. Ah! this is again his style! But you ought to take action. FIRST WIFE. Run quick and call Cleon, my patron. SECOND WIFE. And you, should you run against Hyperbolus,[444] bring him to me; we will knock the life out of our robber. FIRST WIFE. Oh! you miserable glutton! how I should delight in breaking those grinders of yours, which devoured my goods! SECOND WIFE. And I in hurling you into the malefactor's pit. FIRST WIFE. And I in slitting with one stroke of the sickle that gullet that bolted down the tripe. But I am going to fetch Cleon; he shall summon you before the court this very day and force you to disgorge. DIONYSUS. May I die, if Xanthias is not my dearest friend. XANTHIAS. Can I be the son of Alcmena, I, a slave and a mortal? DIONYSUS. I know, I know, that you are in a fury and you have the right to be; you can even beat me and I will not reply. But if I ever take this costume from you again, may I die of the most fearful torture--I, my wife, my children, all those who belong to me, down to the very last, and blear-eyed Archidemus[445] into the bargain. XANTHIAS. I accept your oath, and on those terms I agree.