Peace [14]
while the
divine will is set on stopping this cruel war and is showering on us
the most striking benefits.
TRYCAEUS (returning)
Here is the basket of barley-seed mingled with salt, the chaplet
and the sacred knife; and there is the fire; so we are only waiting
for the sheep.
CHORUS (singing)
Hasten, hasten, for, if Chaeris sees you, he will come without
bidding, he and his flute; and when you see him puffing and panting
and out of breath, you will have to give him something.
TRYGAEUS (to the SERVANT who has returned with a sheep and a vase
of water)
Come, seize the basket and take the lustral water and hurry to
circle round the altar to the right.
SERVANT
There! that's done. What is your next bidding?
TRYGAEUS
Wait. I take this fire-brand first and plunge it into the water.
Now quick, quick, you sprinkle the altar. Give me some barley-seed,
purify yourself and hand me the basin; then scatter the rest of the
barley among the audience.
SERVANT
Done.
TRYGAEUS
You have thrown it?
SERVANT
Yes, by Hermes! and all the spectators have had their share.
TRYGAEUS
At least the women got none.
SERVANT
Oh! their husbands will give them some this evening.
TRYGAEUS
Let us pray! Who is here? Are there any good men?
SERVANT
Come, give me the water, so that I may sprinkle these people.
Faith! they are indeed good, brave men.
(He throws the lustral water on hem.)
TRYGAEUS
You believe so?
SERVANT
I am sure, and the proof of it is that we have flooded them with
lustral water and they have not budged an inch.
TRYGAEUS
Let us pray, then, as soon as we can.
SERVANT
Yes, let us pray.
TRYGAEUS
Oh! Peace, mighty queen, venerated goddess, thou, who presidest
over choruses and at nuptials, deign to accept the sacrifices we offer
thee.
SERVANT
Receive it, greatly honoured mistress, and behave not like the
courtesans, who half open the door to entice the gallants, draw back
when they are stared at, to return once more if a man passes on. But
do not thou act like this to us.
TRYGAEUS
No, but like an honest woman, show thyself to thy worshippers, who
are worn with regretting thee all these thirteen years. Hush the noise
of battle, be a true Lysimacha to us. Put an end to this
tittle-tattle, to this idle babble, that set us defying one another.
Cause the Greeks once more to taste the pleasant beverage of
friendship and temper all hearts with the gentle feeling of
forgiveness. Make excellent commodities flow to our markets, fine
heads of garlic, early cucumbers, apples, pomegranates and nice little
cloaks for the slaves; make them bring geese, ducks, pigeons and larks
from Boeotia and baskets of eels from Lake Copais; we shall all rush
to buy them, disputing their possession with Morychus, Teleas,
Glaucetes and every other glutton. Melanthius will arrive on the
market last of all; they'll say, "no more eels, all sold!" and then
he'll start groaning and exclaiming as in his monologue of Medea, "I
am dying, I am dying! Alas! I have let those hidden in the beet escape
me!" And won't we laugh? These are the wishes, mighty goddess, which
we pray thee to grant. (To the SERVANT) Take the knife and slaughter
the sheep like a finished cook.
SERVANT
No, the goddess does not wish it.
TRYGAEUS
And why not?
SERVANT
Blood cannot please Peace, so let us spill none upon her altar.
TRYGAEUS
Then go and sacrifice the sheep in the house, cut off the legs and
bring them here; thus the carcase will be saved for the Choregus.
(The SERVANT goes into the house with the sheep.)
CHORUS (singing)
You, who remain here, get chopped wood and everything needed for
the sacrifice ready.
TRYGAEUS
Don't I look like a diviner
divine will is set on stopping this cruel war and is showering on us
the most striking benefits.
TRYCAEUS (returning)
Here is the basket of barley-seed mingled with salt, the chaplet
and the sacred knife; and there is the fire; so we are only waiting
for the sheep.
CHORUS (singing)
Hasten, hasten, for, if Chaeris sees you, he will come without
bidding, he and his flute; and when you see him puffing and panting
and out of breath, you will have to give him something.
TRYGAEUS (to the SERVANT who has returned with a sheep and a vase
of water)
Come, seize the basket and take the lustral water and hurry to
circle round the altar to the right.
SERVANT
There! that's done. What is your next bidding?
TRYGAEUS
Wait. I take this fire-brand first and plunge it into the water.
Now quick, quick, you sprinkle the altar. Give me some barley-seed,
purify yourself and hand me the basin; then scatter the rest of the
barley among the audience.
SERVANT
Done.
TRYGAEUS
You have thrown it?
SERVANT
Yes, by Hermes! and all the spectators have had their share.
TRYGAEUS
At least the women got none.
SERVANT
Oh! their husbands will give them some this evening.
TRYGAEUS
Let us pray! Who is here? Are there any good men?
SERVANT
Come, give me the water, so that I may sprinkle these people.
Faith! they are indeed good, brave men.
(He throws the lustral water on hem.)
TRYGAEUS
You believe so?
SERVANT
I am sure, and the proof of it is that we have flooded them with
lustral water and they have not budged an inch.
TRYGAEUS
Let us pray, then, as soon as we can.
SERVANT
Yes, let us pray.
TRYGAEUS
Oh! Peace, mighty queen, venerated goddess, thou, who presidest
over choruses and at nuptials, deign to accept the sacrifices we offer
thee.
SERVANT
Receive it, greatly honoured mistress, and behave not like the
courtesans, who half open the door to entice the gallants, draw back
when they are stared at, to return once more if a man passes on. But
do not thou act like this to us.
TRYGAEUS
No, but like an honest woman, show thyself to thy worshippers, who
are worn with regretting thee all these thirteen years. Hush the noise
of battle, be a true Lysimacha to us. Put an end to this
tittle-tattle, to this idle babble, that set us defying one another.
Cause the Greeks once more to taste the pleasant beverage of
friendship and temper all hearts with the gentle feeling of
forgiveness. Make excellent commodities flow to our markets, fine
heads of garlic, early cucumbers, apples, pomegranates and nice little
cloaks for the slaves; make them bring geese, ducks, pigeons and larks
from Boeotia and baskets of eels from Lake Copais; we shall all rush
to buy them, disputing their possession with Morychus, Teleas,
Glaucetes and every other glutton. Melanthius will arrive on the
market last of all; they'll say, "no more eels, all sold!" and then
he'll start groaning and exclaiming as in his monologue of Medea, "I
am dying, I am dying! Alas! I have let those hidden in the beet escape
me!" And won't we laugh? These are the wishes, mighty goddess, which
we pray thee to grant. (To the SERVANT) Take the knife and slaughter
the sheep like a finished cook.
SERVANT
No, the goddess does not wish it.
TRYGAEUS
And why not?
SERVANT
Blood cannot please Peace, so let us spill none upon her altar.
TRYGAEUS
Then go and sacrifice the sheep in the house, cut off the legs and
bring them here; thus the carcase will be saved for the Choregus.
(The SERVANT goes into the house with the sheep.)
CHORUS (singing)
You, who remain here, get chopped wood and everything needed for
the sacrifice ready.
TRYGAEUS
Don't I look like a diviner