PISTHETAERUS. Will you just pocket your salary, do nothing, and be off?
INSPECTOR. I' faith! that I will; I am urgently needed to be at Athens to
attend the assembly; for I am charged with the interests of
Pharnaces.[300]
PISTHETAERUS. Take it then, and be off. See, here is your salary. (_Beats
him._)
INSPECTOR. What does this mean?
PISTHETAERUS. 'Tis the assembly where you have to defend Pharnaces.
INSPECTOR. You shall testify that they dare to strike me, the inspector.
PISTHETAERUS. Are you not going to clear out with your urns. 'Tis not to
be believed; they send us inspectors before we have so much as paid
sacrifice to the gods.
A DEALER IN DECREES. "If the Nephelococcygian does wrong to the
Athenian...."
PISTHETAERUS. Now whatever are these cursed parchments?
DEALER IN DECREES. I am a dealer in decrees, and I have come here to sell
you the new laws.
PISTHETAERUS. Which?
DEALER IN DECREES. "The Nephelococcygians shall adopt the same weights,
measures and decrees as the Olophyxians."[301]
PISTHETAERUS. And you shall soon be imitating the Ototyxians. (_Beats
him._)
DEALER IN DECREES. Hullo! what are you doing?
PISTHETAERUS. Now will you be off with your decrees? For I am going to
let _you_ see some severe ones.
INSPECTOR (_returning_). I summon Pisthetaerus for outrage for the month
of Munychion.[302]
PISTHETAERUS. Ha! my friend! are you still there?
DEALER IN DECREES. "Should anyone drive away the magistrates and not
receive them, according to the decree duly posted..."
PISTHETAERUS. What! rascal! you are there too?
INSPECTOR. Woe to you! I'll have you condemned to a fine of ten thousand
drachmae.