Aristophanes. The Clouds

Translated by William James Hickie.
Webster’s Thesaurus Edition for PSAT, SAT, GRE, LSAT, GMAT, and AP English Test PreparationSCENE — The interior of a sleeping-apartment: STREPSIADES,
PHIDIPPIDES, and two servants are in their beds; a small house is seen at a
distance. Time: midnight.%
STREPSIADES.
[sitting up in his bed]. Ah me! Ah me! O King Jupiter, of what a terrible
length the nights are! Will it never be day? And yet long since I heard the
cock. My domestics are snoring; but they would not have done so heretofore!
May you perish then, O war! For many reasons; because I may not even
punish my domestics. Neither does this excellent youth awake through the
night; but takes his ease, wrapped up in five blankets. Well, if it is the
fashion, let us snore wrapped up.
[Lies down, and then almost immediately starts up again.]
But I am not able, miserable man, to sleep, being tormented by my expenses,
and my stud of horses, and my debts, through this son of mine. He with his
long hair, is riding horses and driving curricles, and dreaming of horses;
while I am driven to distraction, as I see the moon bringing on the
twentieths; for the interest is running on. Boy! Light a lamp, and bring forth
my tablets, that I may take them and read to how many I am indebted, and
calculate the interest.