Page:Acharnians and two other plays (1909).djvu/58

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40
Aristophanes' Plays

Squeak when I bid you, I say; by Mercury,
I'll carry you back to Megara if you don't.

Daught. Wee Wée.

Meg. Do ye hear the pig?

Dic. The pig, do ye call it?
It will be a different creature before long. 1040

Meg. It will take after the mother, like enough.

Dic. Aye, but this pig won't do for sacrifice.

Meg. Why not? Why won't it do for sacrifice?

Dic. Imperfect! here's no tail!

Meg. Poh, never mind;
It will have a tail in time, like all the rest.
But feel this other, just the fellow to it;
With a little further keeping, it would serve
For a pretty dainty sacrifice to Venus.

Dic. You warrant 'em weaned? they'll feed without the mother?

Meg. Without the mother or the father either. 1050

Dic. But what do they like to eat?

Meg. Just what ye give 'em;
You may ask 'em if you will.

Dic. Pig, Pig!

1st Daught. Wee Wée.

Dic. Pig, are ye fond of peas?

1st Daught. Wee Wée, Wee Wée.

Dic. Are ye fond of figs?

1st Daught. Wee Wée, Wee Wée, Wee Weé.

Dic. You little one, are you fond of figs?

2nd Daught. Wee Wée.

Dic. What a squeak was there! they're ravenous for the figs;
Go somebody, fetch out a parcel of figs
For the little pigs! Heh, what, they'll eat I warrant.
Lawk there, look at 'em racketing and bustling!
How they do munch and crunch! in the name of heaven,
Why, sure they can't have eaten 'em all already! 1061

Meg. (sneakingly). Not all, there's this one here, I took myself.

Dic. Well, faith, they're clever comical animals.
What shall I give you for 'em? What do ye ask?

Meg. I must have a gross of onions for this here;
And the other you may take for a peck of salt.

Dic. I'll keep 'em; wait a moment. [Exit.