common　wealth；　which　we　shall　take　care　to　administer　with　wise
  thrift。
  BLEPYRUS
  And　how　about　the　man　who　has　no　land；　but　only　gold　and　silver
  coins；　that　cannot　be　seen？
  PRAXAGORA
  He　must　bring　them　to　the　common　stock；　and　if　he　fails　he　will　be
  a　perjured　man。
  BLEPYRUS
  That　won't　worry　him　much；　for　has　he　not　gained　them　by　perjury？
  PRAXAGORA
  But　his　riches　will　no　longer　be　of　any　use　to　him。
  BLEPYRUS
  Why？
  PRAXAGORA
  The　poor　will　no　longer　be　obliged　to　work；　each　will　have　all
  that　he　needs；　bread；　salt　fish；　cakes；　tunics；　wine；　chaplets　and
  chick…pease；　of　what　advantage　will　it　be　to　him　not　to　contribute　his
  share　to　the　common　wealth？　What　do　you　think　of　it？
  BLEPYRUS
  But　is　it　not　the　biggest　robbers　that　have　all　these　things？
  CHREMES
  Yes；　formerly；　under　the　old　order　of　things；　but　now　that　all
  goods　are　in　common；　what　will　he　gain　by　not　bringing　his　wealth　into
  the　general　stock？
  BLEPYRUS
  If　someone　saw　a　pretty　wench　and　wished　to　lay　her；　he　would　take
  some　of　his　reserve　store　to　make　her　a　present　and　stay　the　night
  with　her；　this　would　not　prevent　him　claiming　his　share　of　the
  common　property。
  PRAXAGORA
  But　he　can　sleep　with　her　for　nothing；　I　intend　that　women　shall
  belong　to　all　men　in　common；　and　each　shall　beget　children　by　any
  man　that　wishes　to　have　her。
  BLEPYRUS
  But　all　will　go　to　the　prettiest　woman　and　try　to　lay　her。
  PRAXAGORA
  The　ugliest　and　the　most　flat…nosed　will　be　side　by　side　with
  the　most　charming；　and　to　win　the　latter's　favours；　a　man　will　first
  have　to　get　into　the　former。
  BLEPYRUS
  But　what　about　us　oldsters？　If　we　have　to　lay　the　old　women　first；
  how　can　we　keep　our　tools　from　failing　before　we　get　into　the　Promised
  Land？
  PRAXAGORA
  They　will　make　no　resistance。　Never　fear；　they　will　make　no
  resistance。
  BLEPYRUS
  Resistance　to　what？
  PRAXAGORA
  To　the　pleasure　of　the　thing。　This　is　the　way　that　matters　will　be
  ordered　for　you。
  BLEPYRUS
  It's　very　well　conceived　for　you　women；　for　every　wench's　hole
  will　be　filled；　but　what　about　the　men？　The　women　will　run　away　from
  the　ugly　ones　and　chase　the　good…looking。
  PRAXAGORA
  The　ugly　will　follow　the　handsomest　into　the　public　places　after
  supper　and　see　to　it　that　the　law；　which　forbids　the　women　to　sleep
  with　the　big；　handsome　men　before　having　satisfied　the　ugly　shrimps；
  is　complied　with。
  BLEPYRUS
  Thus　ugly　Lysicrates'　nose　will　be　as　proud　as　the　handsomest
  face？
  PRAXAGORA
  Yes；　by　Apollo！　this　is　a　truly　popular　decree；　and　what　a
  set…back　it　will　be　for　one　of　those　elegants　with　their　fingers
  loaded　with　rings；　when　a　man　with　heavy　shoes　says　to　him；　〃Give
  way　to　me　and　wait　till　I　have　done；　you　will　pass　in　after　me。〃
  BLEPYRUS
  But　if　we　live　in　this　fashion；　how　will　each　one　know　his
  children？
  PRAXAGORA
  The　youngest　will　look　upon　the　oldest　as　their　fathers。
  BLEPYRUS
  Ah！　how　heartily　they　will　strangle　all　the　old　men；　since　even
  now；　when　each　one　knows　his　father；　they　make　no　bones　about
  strangling　him！　then；　my　word！　won't　they　just　scorn　and　crap　upon　the
  old　folks！
  PRAXAGORA
  But　those　around　will　prevent　it。　Hitherto；　when　anyone　saw　an　old
  man　beaten；　he　would　not　meddle；　because　it　did　not　concern　him；
  buff　now　each　will　fear　the　sufferer　may　be　his　own　father　and　such
  violence　will　be　stopped。
  BLEPYRUS
  What　you　say　is　not　so　silly　after　all；　but　it　would　be　highly
  unpleasant　were　Epicurus　and　Leucolophas　to　come　up　and　call　me
  father。
  CHREMES
  But　it　would　be　far　worse；　were。。。
  BLEPYRUS
  Were　what？
  CHREMES
  。。。Aristyllus　to　embrace　you　and　style　you　his　father。
  BLEPYRUS
  He'll　regret　it　if　he　does！
  CHREMES
  For　you　would　smell　vilely　of　mint　if　he　kissed　you。　But　he　was
  born　before　the　decree　was　carried；　so　that　you　have　not　to　fear　his
  kiss。
  BLEPYRUS
  It　would　be　awful。　But　who　will　till　the　soil？
  PRAXAGORA
  The　slaves。　Your　only　cares　will　be　to　scent　yourself；　and　to　go
  and　dine；　when　the　shadow　of　the　gnomon　is　ten　feet　long　on　the　dial。
  BLEPYRUS
  But　how　shall　we　obtain　clothing？　Tell　me　that！
  PRAXAGORA
  You　will　first　wear　out　those　you　have；　and　then　we　women　will
  weave　you　others。
  BLEPYRUS
  Now　another　point：　if　the　magistrates　condemn　a　citizen　to　the
  payment　of　a　fine；　how　is　he　going　to　do　it？　Out　of　the　public
  funds？　That　would　not　be　right　surely。
  PRAXAGORA
  But　there　will　be　no　more　lawsuits。
  BLEPYRUS
  This　rule　will　ruin　you。
  CHREMES
  I　think　so　too。
  PRAXAGORA
  Besides；　my　dear；　why　should　there　be　lawsuits？
  BLEPYRUS
  Oh！　for　a　thousand　reasons；　on　my　faith！　Firstly；　because　a　debtor
  denies　his　obligation。
  PRAXAGORA
  But　where　will　the　lender　get　the　money　to　lend；　if　all　is　in
  common？　unless　he　steals　it　out　of　the　treasury？　and　he　could　not　hide
  that！
  CHREMES
  Well　thought　out；　by　Demeter！
  BLEPYRUS
  But　tell　me　this：　here　are　some　men　who　are　returning　from　a　feast
  and　are　drunk　and　they　strike　some　passer…by；　how　are　they　going　to
  pay　the　fine？　Ah！　you　are　puzzled　now！
  PRAXAGORA
  They　will　have　to　take　it　out　of　their　pittance；　and　being　thus
  punished　through　their　belly；　they　will　not　care　to　begin　again。
  BLEPYRUS
  There　will　be　no　more　thieves　then；　eh？
  PRAXAGORA
  Why　steal；　if　you　have　a　share　of　everything？
  BLEPYRUS
  People　will　not　be　robbed　any　more　at　night？
  CHREMES
  Not　if　you　sleep　at　home。
  PRAXAGORA
  Even　if　you　sleep　outdoors　there　will　be　no　more　danger；　for　all
  will　have　the　means　of　living。　Besides；　if　anyone　wanted　to　steal　your
  cloak；　you　would　give　it　to　him　yourself。　Why　not？　You　will　only
  have　to　go　to　the　common　store　and　be　given　a　better　one。
  BLEPYRUS
  There　will　be　no　more　playing　at　dice？
  PRAXAGORA
  What　object　will　there　be　in　playing？
  BLEPYRUS
  But　what　kind　of　life　is　it　you　propose　to　set　up？
  PRAXAGORA
  The　life　in　common。　Athens　will　become　nothing　more　than　a
  single　house；　in　which　everything　will　belong　to　everyone；　so　that
  everybody　will　be　able　to　go　from　one　house　to　the　other　at　pleasure。
  BLEPYRUS
  And　where　will　the　meals　be　served？
  PRAXAGORA
  The　law…courts　and　the　porticoes　will　be　turned　into　dining…halls。
  BLEPYRUS
  And　what　will　the　speaker's　platform　be　used　for？
  PRAXAGORA
  I　shall　place　the　bowls　and　the　ewers　there；　and　young　children
  will　sing　the　glory　of　the　brave　from　there；　also　the　infamy　of
  cowards；　who　out　of　very　shame　will　no　longer　dare　to　come　to　the
  public　meals。
  BLEPYRUS
  Well　thought　out；　by　Apollo！　And　what　will　you　do　with　the　urns？
  PRAXAGORA
  I　shall　have　them　taken　to　the　market…place；　and　standing　close　to
  the　statue　of　Harmodius；　I　shall　draw　a　lot　for　each　citizen；　which　by
  its　letter　will　show　the　place　where　he　must　go　to　dine。　Thus；　those
  for　whom　I　have　drawn　an　R　will　go　to　the　royal　portico；　if　it's　a
  T；　they　will　go　to　the　portico　of　Theseus；　if　it's　an　F；　to　that　of
  the　flour…market。
  BLEPYRUS
  To　cram　himself　there　like　a　capon？
  PRAXAGORA
  No；　to　dine　there。
  BLEPYRUS
  And　the　citizen　whom　the　lot　has　not　given　a　letter　showing
  where　he　is　to　dine　will　be　driven　off　by　everyone？
  PRAXAGORA　（with　great　solemnity）
  But　that　will　not　occur。　Each　man　will　have　plenty；　he　will　not
  leave　the　feast　until　he　is　well　drunk；　and　then　with　a　chaplet　on　his
  head　and　a　torch　in　his　hand；　and　then　the　women　running　to　meet　you
  in　the　crossroads　will　say；　〃This　way；　come　to　our　house；　you　will
  find　a　beautiful　young　girl　there。〃…〃And　I；〃　another　will　call　from
  her　balcony；　〃have　one　so　pretty　and　as　white　as　milk；　but　before
  touching　her；　you　must　sleep　with　me。〃　And　the　ugly　men；　watching
  closely　after　the　handsome　fellows；　will　say；　〃Hi！　friend；　where　are
  you　running　to？　Go　in；　but　you　must　do　nothing；　it's　the　ugly　and
  the　flat…nosed　to　whom　the　law　gives　the　right　to　make　love　first；
  amuse　yourself　on　the　porch　while　you　wait；　in　handling　your
  fig…leaves　and　playing　with　yourself。〃　Well；　tell　me；　does　that
  picture　suit　you？
  BLEPYRUS　AND　CHREMES
  Marvellously　well。
  PRAXAGORA
  I　must　now　go　to　the　market…place　to　receive　the　property　that
  is　going　to　be　placed　in　common　and　to　choose　a　woman　with　a　loud
  voice　as　my　herald。　I　have　all　the　cares　of　state　on　my　shoulders；
  since　the　power　has　been　entrusted　to　me。　I　must　likewise　go　to　busy
  myself　about　establishing　the　common　meals；　and　you　will　attend　your
  first　banquet　to…day。
  BLEPYRUS
  Are　we　going　to　banquet？
  PRAXAGORA
  Why；　undoubtedly！　Furthermore；　I　propose　abolishing　the　whores。
  BLEPYRUS
  And　what　for？
  PRA