The Acharnians, page 38 by Aristophanes
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DICAEOPOLIS A wick set an arsenal ablaze! But how, great gods?
NICARCHUS Should a Boeotian attach it to an insect's wing, and, taking advantage of a violent north wind, throw it by means of a tube into the arsenal and the fire once get hold of the vessels, everything would soon be devoured by the flames.
DICAEOPOLIS Ah! wretch! an insect and a wick devour everything! (HE STRIKES HIM.)
NICARCHUS (TO THE CHORUS) You will bear witness, that he mishandles me.
DICAEOPOLIS Shut his mouth. Give me some hay; I am going to pack him up like a vase, that he may not get broken on the road.
CHORUS Pack up your goods carefully, friend; that the stranger may not break it when taking it away.
DICAEOPOLIS I shall take great care with it, for one would say he is cracked already; he rings with a false note, which the gods abhor.
CHORUS But what will be done with him?
DICAEOPOLIS This is a vase good for all purposes; it will be used as a vessel for holding all foul things, a mortar for pounding together law-suits, a lamp for spying upon accounts, and as a cup for the mixing up and poisoning of everything.
CHORUS None could ever trust a vessel for domestic use that has such a ring about it.
DICAEOPOLIS Oh! it is strong, my friend, and will never get broken, if care is taken to hang it head downwards.
CHORUS There! it is well packed now!
BOEOTIAN Marry, I will proceed to carry off my bundle.
CHORUS Farewell, worthiest of strangers, take this informer, good for anything, and fling him where you like.
DICAEOPOLIS Bah! this rogue has given me enough trouble to pack! Here! Boeotian, pick up your pottery.
BOEOTIAN Stoop, Ismenias, that I may put it on your shoulder, and be very careful with it.
DICAEOPOLIS You carry nothing worth having; however, take it, for you will profit by your bargain; the Informers will bring you luck.
A SERVANT OF LAMACHUS Dicaeopolis!
DICAEOPOLIS What do you want crying this gait?
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