midnight
Or if I had a cudgel between my teeth instead of a tongue , I would exercise it on you till it was as tired as that of a preacher who has threshed his empty straw to his congregation for three mortal hours . Scarcely is the sun risen when we are plagued by the parasitical and inquisitive mob . Why ! they will rouse us at midnight next , and throw stones at our rotten old shutters . The effects of my last greeting lasted you for three weeks -- to-day 's I hope may act a little longer . You , gentlemen there , listen to me . Just as the raven follows an army to batten on the dead , so that fellow there stalks on in front of strangers in order to empty their pockets -- and you , who call yourself an interpreter , and in learning Greek have forgotten the little Egyptian you ever knew , mark this : When you have to guide strangers take them to see the Sphinx , or to consult the Apis in the temple of Ptah , or lead them to the king 's beast-garden at Alexandria , or the taverns at Hanopus , but do n't bring them here , for we are neither pheasants , nor flute-playing women , nor miraculous beasts , who take a pleasure in being stared at .