exhausted by their efforts—Come, Prytanes, take Theoria. Oh! took how graciously yonder fellow has received her; you would not have been in such a hurry to introduce her to the Senate, if nothing were coming to you through it;[1] you would not have failed to plead some holiday as an excuse.
Chorus.
Such a man as you assures the happiness of all his fellow-citizens.
Trygæus.
When you are gathering your vintages you will prize me even better.
Chorus.
E’en from to-day we hail you as the deliverer of mankind.
Trygæus.
Wait until you have drunk a beaker of new wine, before you appraise my true merits.
Chorus.
Excepting the gods, there is none greater than yourself, and that will ever be our opinion.
Trygæus.
Yea, Trygæus of Athmonia has deserved well of you, he has freed both husbandman and craftsman from the most cruel ills; he has vanquished Hyperbolus.
Chorus.
Well then, what must we do now?
- ↑ One of the offices of the Prytanes was to introduce those who asked admission to the Senate, but it would seem that none could obtain this favour without payment. Without this, a thousand excuses would be made; for instance, it would be a public holiday, and consequently the Senate could receive no one. As there was some festival nearly every day, he whose purse would not open might have to wait a very long while.
