52
ARISTOPHANES' FROGS
Dionysus.
Hurt? Not it.
Aeacus.
I'll step across again then to the first one.
[Strikes Xanthias, who also howls.
Xanthias.
Hi-i!
Aeacus.
What is it now?
Xanthias.
Take out that thorn.
[Pointing to his foot.
Aeacus.
What does it mean?—Over we go again.
[Strikes Dionysus.
Dionysus.
(hurriedly turning his wail into a line of poetry).
O Lord! . . . "of Delos or of Pytho's rock."
Xanthias (triumphantly).
It hurts. You heard?
Dionysus.
It doesn't! I was saying
A verse of old Hipponax to myself.
Xanthias.
You're making nothing of it. Hit him hard
Across the soft parts underneath the ribs.
Aeacus (to Xanthias).
A good idea! Turn over on your back!
[Strikes him.
