University of Virginia Library

Scœne 3.

Strepsiades, Phidippides.
Streps.
Io my son! O how I joy to see
Thy chang'd complexion! Thou lookst now me thinks
As if thou wert inspir'd with contradiction
I read, crosse questions in thy very face,
Thy very eyes me thinks say, how, how's that?
Thou canst perswade the world that thou art wrong'd,
When thou art, he that does the wrong. I see't,
I plainly see't; a very Attick mine;
Now let it be thy study to recover
Him, whom thou almost hast undone.

Phid.
Why, what
Is that you fear?

Streps.
The old and the new day.

Phid.
Can one and the same day be old and new?

Streps.
I know that: I'm sure my Creditors
By joint consent that day threaten to sue me.

Phil.
They'l loose by it if they do: for 'tis impossible
To make two daies of one.

Streps.
How is't impossible?

Phil.
As for a woman to be old and young
At once.

Streps.
But law has so determined it

Phil.
But these men know not what the law doth mean.

Streps.
Why what's the meaning of it.

Phil.
Antient Solon
Was naturally a lover of the people.

Streps.
What's that to this?

Phid.
He did appoint two daies,
The last day of the old month for citation,
The first oth' new for payment of the money.

Streps.
But why the last day for citations?

Phil.
That
The debtor having th us one day of warning
Might fly and shun the trouble of the next.

So.
Why do the Magistrates then take all forfeits
Upon the old and new day?

Ph.
They are hungry,
And tast their meat before they should fall too.

Str.
We the fools that sit still and do nothing,
We that are wise and quick have done the businesse;
Ye blocks, ye stones, ye sheep, ye empty bubbles;
Let me congratulate this son of min
My selfe and my good fortune in a song.
“Now Strepsiades th'art blest
“Of the most discreet the best,
“What a Son thou hast, now may
“All my æmulous neighbours say,
“When they hear that he alone
“Hath my creditours orethrown.
But come my boy, now thou shalt feast with me.