STREPSIADES. DISCIPLE STR. Well, I must go. Why keep on loitering here? Why don't I knock and enter? -- Hoa! within there! -- (@3Knocks violently at the door.@1) DIS. (@3half-opening the door@1) Go, hang yourself! and give the crows a dinner -- What noisy fellow hammered at the door? STR. Strepsiades of Cicynna, son of Pheidon. DIS. However named, 'fore Heaven, you're a fool Not to respect these doors; battering so loud, And kicking with such vengeance, you have marred The ripe conception of my pregnant brain, And brought on a miscarriage. STR. Oh! the pity! -- Pardon my ignorance: I'm country bred And far afield am come: I pray you tell me What curious thought my luckless din has strangled, Just as your brain was hatching. DIS. These are things We never speak of but amongst ourselves. STR. Speak boldly then to me, for I am come To be amongst you, and partake the secrets Of your profound academy. DIS. Enough! I will impart, but set it down in thought Amongst our mysteries -- This is the question, As it was put but now to Chaerophon, By our great master Socrates, to answer -- How many of his own lengths at one spring A flea can hop -- for we did see one vault From brow of Chaerophon onto the head Of the philosopher. STR. And how did t'other Contrive to measure this? DIS. Most accurately: He dipt the insect's feet in melted wax, Which, hardening into sandals as it cooled, Gave him the space by rule infallible. STR. Imperial Zeus! what subtilty of thought! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN A SWEDISH GRAVEYARD by EMMA LAZARUS INFERENTIAL by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON THE DELICACIES by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS THRENOS by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY WHITE FIELDS by JAMES STEPHENS CHELSEA by LILLIAN M. (PETTES) AINSWORTH MASKS by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE STORY OF FIORDISPINA, FR. ORLANDO FURIOSO by LUDOVICO (LODOVICO) ARIOSTO |