MNESILOCHUS

Woe to him who tries to wash me!

EURIPIDES

Agathon, you refuse to help me, but at any rate lend me a tunic and a belt. AGATHON

Take and use them as you like.

EURIPIDES

Now, first put on this long saffron-colored robe.

MNESILOCHUS

Ah, what a sweet odor! It smells of young men! Hand it to me quickly. And the belt? Fine. And now some rings for my legs.

EURIPIDES

You still want a hair-net and a head-dress. Agathon, lend us your nightcap. That's fine!

Does it suit me?

MNESILOCHUS

EURIPIDES

It couldn't be better! Agathon, have you a short mantle and some slippers? MNESILOCHUS

Will they fit me? (to Agathon) You certainly don't like a loost fit.

AGATHON

Now that you have all you need, let me be taken inside. (exit) EURIPIDES

You look for all the world like a woman. But when you talk, take good care to give your voice a woman's tone.

MNESILOCHUS (falsetto)

I'll try my best! But I won't go to plead for you unless you swear that if anything happens to me, you will leave nothing undone to save me.

EURIPIDES

Very well, I swear it. Hurry up! The signal for the meeting has been given. Farewell! (exeunt)

The following scenes, in which Mnesilochus thoroughly and completely bungles his plea for Euripides, are too delightful to edit and too long to reprint in their entirety. Read it and laugh at the Greeks, at the Greeks among us today and at yourself. The play is one of Aristophanes' best.

HIERONYMOUS K.

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