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...AUSPEX by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL THE RUBAIYAT, 1879 EDITION: 15 by OMAR KHAYYAM CA' THE YOWES TO THE KNOWES' by ISOBEL (ISABEL) PAGAN A LETTER TO LADY [MISS] MARGARET-CAVANDISH-HOLLES-HARLEY, WHEN A CHILD by MATTHEW PRIOR VALENTINES TO MY MOTHER: 1883 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI |