By Pallas, if he is in the habit of putting shoes on his fleas, he is kinder to them than to himself.

But listen to me, boy; if you go on in this way, you will be ruined.

There is an argument for you.
Go to your Socrates and your Melesigenes, and tell them to refute that.
Ruined! Do you hear?
SPEUSIPPUS.

Ruined! CALLIDEMUS.

Ay, by Jupiter! Is such a show as you make to be supported on nothing?
During all the last war, I made not an obol from my farm; the Peloponnesian locusts came almost as regularly as the Pleiades;--corn burnt;--olives stripped;--fruit trees cut down;--wells stopped up;--and, just when peace came, and I hoped that all would turn out well, you must begin to spend as if you had all the mines of Thasus at command.
SPEUSIPPUS.