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第8部分

the acharnians-第8部分

小说: the acharnians 字数: 每页4000字

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  HUSBANDMAN

    Their dung made my wealth。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    What can I do in the matter?

  HUSBANDMAN

    Crying for my beasts has lost me my eyesight。 Ah! if you care

for poor Dercetes of Phyle; anoint mine eyes quickly with your balm of

peace。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    But; my poor fellow; I do not practise medicine。

  HUSBANDMAN

    Come; I adjure you; perhaps I shall recover my steers。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Impossible; away; go and whine to the disciples of Pittalus。

  HUSBANDMAN

    Grant me but one drop of peace; pour it into this little reed。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    No; not a particle; go and weep somewhere else。

  HUSBANDMAN (as he departs)

    Oh! oh! oh! my poor beasts!

  LEADER OF SECOND SEMI…CHORUS

    This man has discovered the sweetest enjoyment in peace; he will

share it with none。

  DICAEOPOLIS (to a slave)

    Pour honey over this tripe; set it before the fire to dry。

  LEADER OF SECOND SEMI…CHORUS

    What lofty tones he uses! Did you hear him?

  DICAEOPOLIS (to the slaves inside the house)

    Get the eels on the gridiron!

  LEADER OF SECOND SEMI…CHORUS

    You are killing me with hunger; your smoke is choking your

neighbours; and you split our ears with your bawling。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Have this fried and let it be nicely browned。

    (He goes back into the house。 A WEDDING GUEST enters; carrying a

    package。)

  WEDDING GUEST

    Dicaeopolis! Dicaeopolis!

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Who are you?

  WEDDING GUEST

    A young bridegroom sends you these viands from the marriage feast。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Whoever he be; I thank him。

  WEDDING GUEST

    And in return; he prays you to pour a glass of peace into this

vase; that he may not have to go to the front and may stay at home

to make love to his young wife。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Take back; take back your viands; for a thousand drachmae I

would not give a drop of peace。 (A young woman enters) But who is she?

  WEDDING GUEST

    She is the matron of honour; she wants to say something to you

from the bride privately。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Come; what do you wish to say? (The MATRON OF HONOUR whispers in

his ear。) Ah! what a ridiculous demand! The bride burns with longing

to keep her husband's tool at home。 Come! bring hither my truce; to

her alone will I give some of it; for she is a woman; and; as such;

should not suffer under the war。 Here; friend; hand me your vial。

And as to the manner of applying this balm; tell the bride; when a

levy of soldiers is made; to rub some in bed on her husband; where

most needed。 (The MATRON OF HONOUR and the WEDDING GUEST depart。)

There; slave; take away my truce! Now; quick; bring me the

wine…flagon; that I may fill up the drinking bowls!

                                 (The slave leaves。 A HERALD enters。)

  LEADER OF THE CHORUS (in tragic style)

    I see a man; 〃striding along apace; with knitted brows; he seems

to us the bearer of terrible tidings。〃

  HERALD (in tragic style)

    Oh! toils and battles and Lamachuses!

                                       (He knocks on LAMACHUS' door。)

  LAMACHUS (from within; in tragic style)

    What noise resounds around my dwelling; where shines the glint

of arms。

                                         (He comes out of his house。)

  HERALD

    The Generals order you forthwith to take your battalions and

your plumes; and; despite the snow; to go and guard our borders。

They have learnt that a band of Boeotians intend taking advantage of

the Feast of Cups to invade our country。

  LAMACHUS

    Ah! the Generals! they are numerous; but not good for much! It's

cruel; not to be able to enjoy the feast!

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Oh! warlike host of Lamachus!

  LAMACHUS

    Wretch! do you dare to jeer me?

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Do you want to fight this four…winged Geryon?

  LAMACHUS

    Oh! oh! what fearful tidings!

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Ah! ah! I see another herald running up; what news does he bring

me?

                                             (Another HERALD enters。)

  HERALD

    Dicaeopolis!

  DICAEOPOLIS

    What is the matter?

  HERALD

    Come quickly to the feast and bring your basket and your cup; it

is the priest of Bacchus who invites you。 But hasten; the guests

have been waiting for you a long while。 All is ready…couches;

tables; cushions; chaplets; perfumes; dainties and whores to boot;

biscuits; cakes; sesamebread; tarts; lovely dancing women; and the

〃Harmodius。〃 But come with all speed。

  LAMACHUS

    Oh! hostile gods!

  DICAEOPOLIS

    This is not astounding; you have chosen this great ugly Gorgon's

head for your patron。 (To a slave) You; shut the door; and let someone

get ready the meal。

  LAMACHUS

    Slave! slave! my knapsack!

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Slave! slave! a basket!

  LAMACHUS

    Take salt and thyme; slave; and don't forget the onions。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Get some fish for me; I cannot bear onions。

  LAMACHUS

    Slave; wrap me up a little stale salt meat in a fig…leaf。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    And for me some nice fat tripe in a fig…leaf; I will have it

cooked here。

  LAMACHUS

    Bring me the plumes for my helmet。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Bring me wild pigeons and thrushes。

  LAMACHUS

    How white and beautiful are these ostrich feathers!

  DICAEOPOLIS

    How fat and well browned is the flesh of this wood…pigeon!

  LAMACHUS (to DICAEOPOLIS)

    My friend; stop scoffing at my armour。

  DICAEOPOLIS (to LAMACHUS)

    My friend; stop staring at my thrushes。

  LAMACHUS (to his slave)

    Bring me the case for my triple plume。

  DICAEOPOLIS (to his slave)

    Pass me over that dish of hare。

  LAMACHUS

    Alas! the moths have eaten the hair of my crest。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Shall I eat my hare before dinner?

  LAMACHUS

    My friend; will you kindly not speak to me?

  DICAEOPOLIS

    I'm not speaking to you; I'm scolding my slave。 (To the slave)

Shall we wager and submit the matter to Lamachus; which of the two

is the best to eat; a locust or a thrush?

  LAMACHUS

    Insolent hound!

  DICAEOPOLIS

    He much prefers the locusts。

  LAMACHUS

    Slave; unhook my spear and bring it to me。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Slave; slave; take the sausage from the fire and bring it to me。

  LAMACHUS

    Come; let me draw my spear from its sheath。 Hold it; slave; hold

it tight。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    And you; slave; grip well hold of the skewer。

  LAMACHUS

    Slave; the bracings for my shield。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Pull the loaves out of the oven and bring me these bracings of

my stomach。

  LAMACHUS

    My round buckler with the Gorgon's head。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    My round cheese…cake。

  LAMACHUS

    What clumsy wit!

  DICAEOPOLIS

    What delicious cheese…cake!

  LAMACHUS

    Pour oil on the buckler。 Hah! hah I can see reflected there an old

    man who will be accused of cowardice。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Pour honey on the cake。 Hah! hah! hah! I can see an old man who

makes Lamachus of the Gorgon's head weep with rage。

  LAMACHUS

    Slave; full war armour。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Slave; my beaker; that is my armour。

  LAMACHUS

    With this I hold my ground with any foe。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    And I with this in any drinking bout。

  LAMACHUS

    Fasten the strappings to the buckler。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Pack the dinner well into the basket。

  LAMACHUS

    Personally I shall carry the knapsack。

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Personally I shall carry the cloak。

  LAMACHUS

    Slave; take up the buckler and let's be off。 It is snowing! God

help us! A wintry business!

  DICAEOPOLIS

    Take up the basket; mine's a festive business。

                                (They depart in opposite directions。)

  LEADER OF THE CHORUS

    We wish you both joy on your journeys; which differ so much。 One

goes to mount guard and freeze; while the other will drink; crowned

with flowers; and then lie with a young beauty till he gets his tool

all sore。

  CHORUS (singing)

    I say it freely; may Zeus confound Antimachus; the poet…historian;

the son of Psacas! When Choregus at the Lenaea; alas! alas! he

dismissed me dinnerless。 May I see him devouring with his eyes a

cuttle…fish; just served; well cooked; hot and properly salted; and

the moment that he stretches his hand to help himself; may a dog seize

it and run off with it。 Such is my first wish。 I also hope for him a

misfortune at night。 That returning all…fevered from horse practice;

he may meet an Orestes; mad with drink; who will crack him over the

head; that wishing to seize a stone; he; in the dark; may pick up a

fresh turd; hurl; miss him and hit Cratinus。

                                      (The slave of LAMACHUS enters。)

  SLAVE OF LAMACHUS (knocking on the door of LAMACHUS' house; in

                    tragic style)

    Captives present within the house of Lamachus; water; water in a

little pot! Make 

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