254
THE COMEDIES OF ARISTOPHANES
Chorus of Women.
I am getting you a bath ready to clean off the filth.
Chorus of Old Men.
A bath for me, you dirty slut, you!
Chorus of Women.
Yes, indeed, a nuptial bath—he, he!
Chorus of Old Men.
Do you hear that? What insolence!
Chorus of Women.
I am a free woman, I tell you.
Chorus of Old Men.
I will make you hold your tongue, never fear!
Chorus of Women.
Ah, ha! you shall never sit more amongst the heliasts.[1]
Chorus of Old Men.
Burn off her hair for her!
Chorus of Women.
Water, do your office! (The women pitch the water in their water-pots over the old men.)
Chorus of Old Men.
Oh, dear! oh, dear! oh, dear!
- ↑ The Heliasts at Athens were the body of citizens chosen by lot to act as jurymen (or, more strictly speaking, as judges and jurymen, the Dicast, or so-called Judge, being merely President of the Court, the majority of the Heliasts pronouncing sentence) in the Heliaia, or High Court, where all offences liable to public prosecution were tried. They were 6000 in number, divided into ten panels of 500 each, a thousand being held in reserve to supply occasional vacancies. Each Heliast was paid three obols for each day’s attendance in court.
