YOUNG MAN. Oh! 'tis not Sebinus,[718] whom no doubt you are expecting.
FIRST OLD WOMAN. By Aphrodite, you must, whether you like it or not.
YOUNG MAN. We are not now concerned with cases dated sixty years back; they are remanded for a later day; we are dealing only with those of less than twenty.[719]
FIRST OLD WOMAN. That was under the old order of things, sweetheart, but now you must first busy yourself with us.
YOUNG MAN. Aye, if I want to, according to the rules of draughts, where we may either take or leave.
FIRST OLD WOMAN. But 'tis not according to the rules of draughts that you take your seat at the banquet.[720]
YOUNG MAN. I don't know what you mean; 'tis at this door I want to knock.
FIRST OLD WOMAN. Not before knocking at mine first.
[718] [Greek: Ton Sebinon], a coined name, representing [Greek: ton se binounta], 'the man who is to tread you.'
[719] The passage is written in the language of the Bar. It is an allusion to the slowness of justice at Athens.
[720] i.e. the new law must be conformed to all round.
Studies
