Peace [15]
preparing his mystic fire?
CHORUS (singing)
Undoubtedly. Will anything that a wise man ought to know escape
you? Don't you know all that a man should know, who is distinguished
for his wisdom and inventive daring?
TRYGAEUS
There! the wood catches. Its smoke blinds poor Stilbides. I am now
going to bring the table and thus be my own slave.
(He goes into the house.)
CHORUS (singing)
You have braved a thousand dangers to save your sacred town. All
honour to you I your glory will be ever envied.
TRYGAEUS (returning with a table)
Wait. Here are the legs, place them upon the altar. For myself,
I mean to go back to the entrails and the cakes.
(He is about to go into the house.)
SERVANT (going in ahead of him)
I'll take care of them.
TRYGAEUS
But I want you here.
SERVANT (returning)
Well then, here I am. Do you think I have taken long?
TRYGAEUS
Just get this roasted. Ab who is this man, crowned with laurel,
who is coming to me?
SERVANT
He has a self-important look; is he some diviner?
TRYGAEUS
No, it's Hierocles, that oracle-monger from Oreus.
SERVANT
What is he going to tell us?
TRYGAEUS
Evidently he is coming to oppose the peace.
SERVANT
No, it's the odour of the fat that attracts him.
TRYGAEUS
Let us appear not to see him.
SERVANT
Very well.
HIEROCLES (approaching)
What sacrifice is this? to what god are you offering it?
TRYGAEUS (to the SERVANT)
Keep quiet.-(Aloud) Look after the roasting and keep your hands of
the meat.
HIEROCLES
To whom are you sacrificing? Answer me.
TRYGAEUS
Ah! the tail is showing favourable omens.
SERVANT
Aye, very favourable, oh, loved and mighty Peace!
HIEROCLES
Come, cut off the first offering and make the oblation.
TRYGAEUS
It's not roasted enough.
HIEROCLES
Yea, truly, it's done to a turn.
TRYGAEUS
Mind your own business, friend! (To the SERVANT) Cut away.
HIEROCLES
Where is the table?
TRYGAEUS
Bring the libations.
(The SERVANT departs.)
HIEROCLES
The tongue is cut separately.
TRYGAEUS
We know all that. But just listen to one piece of advice.
HIEROCLES
And that is?
TRYGAEUS
Don't talk, for it is divine Peace to whom we are sacrificing.
HIEROCLES (in an oracular tone)
Oh! wretched mortals, oh, you idiots!
TRYGAEUS
Keep such ugly terms for yourself.
HIEROCLES (as before)
What! you are so ignorant you don't understand the will of the
gods and you make a treaty, you, who are men, with apes, who are
full of malice?
TRYGAEUS
Ha, ha, ha!
HIEROCLES
What are you laughing at?
TRYGAEUS
Ha, ha! your apes amuse me!
HIEROCLES (resuming the oracular manner)
You simple pigeons, you trust yourselves to foxes, who are all
craft, both in mind and heart.
TRYGAEUS
Oh, you trouble-maker! may your lungs get as hot as this meat!
HIEROCLES
Nay, nay! if only the Nymphs had not fooled Bacis, and Bacis
mortal men; and if the Nymphs had not tricked Bacis a second time....
TRYGAEUS (mocking his manner)
May the plague seize you, if you don't stop Bacizing!
HIEROCLES
....it would not have been written in the book of Fate that the
bends of Peace must be broken; but first....
TRYGAEUS
The meat must be dusted with salt.
HIEROCLES
....it does not please the blessed gods that we should stop the
War until the wolf uniteth with the sheep.
(A kind of oracle-match now ensues.)
TRYGAEUS
How, you cursed animal, could the wolf ever unite with the sheep?
HIEROCLES
As long as the wood-bug gives off a fetid odour,
CHORUS (singing)
Undoubtedly. Will anything that a wise man ought to know escape
you? Don't you know all that a man should know, who is distinguished
for his wisdom and inventive daring?
TRYGAEUS
There! the wood catches. Its smoke blinds poor Stilbides. I am now
going to bring the table and thus be my own slave.
(He goes into the house.)
CHORUS (singing)
You have braved a thousand dangers to save your sacred town. All
honour to you I your glory will be ever envied.
TRYGAEUS (returning with a table)
Wait. Here are the legs, place them upon the altar. For myself,
I mean to go back to the entrails and the cakes.
(He is about to go into the house.)
SERVANT (going in ahead of him)
I'll take care of them.
TRYGAEUS
But I want you here.
SERVANT (returning)
Well then, here I am. Do you think I have taken long?
TRYGAEUS
Just get this roasted. Ab who is this man, crowned with laurel,
who is coming to me?
SERVANT
He has a self-important look; is he some diviner?
TRYGAEUS
No, it's Hierocles, that oracle-monger from Oreus.
SERVANT
What is he going to tell us?
TRYGAEUS
Evidently he is coming to oppose the peace.
SERVANT
No, it's the odour of the fat that attracts him.
TRYGAEUS
Let us appear not to see him.
SERVANT
Very well.
HIEROCLES (approaching)
What sacrifice is this? to what god are you offering it?
TRYGAEUS (to the SERVANT)
Keep quiet.-(Aloud) Look after the roasting and keep your hands of
the meat.
HIEROCLES
To whom are you sacrificing? Answer me.
TRYGAEUS
Ah! the tail is showing favourable omens.
SERVANT
Aye, very favourable, oh, loved and mighty Peace!
HIEROCLES
Come, cut off the first offering and make the oblation.
TRYGAEUS
It's not roasted enough.
HIEROCLES
Yea, truly, it's done to a turn.
TRYGAEUS
Mind your own business, friend! (To the SERVANT) Cut away.
HIEROCLES
Where is the table?
TRYGAEUS
Bring the libations.
(The SERVANT departs.)
HIEROCLES
The tongue is cut separately.
TRYGAEUS
We know all that. But just listen to one piece of advice.
HIEROCLES
And that is?
TRYGAEUS
Don't talk, for it is divine Peace to whom we are sacrificing.
HIEROCLES (in an oracular tone)
Oh! wretched mortals, oh, you idiots!
TRYGAEUS
Keep such ugly terms for yourself.
HIEROCLES (as before)
What! you are so ignorant you don't understand the will of the
gods and you make a treaty, you, who are men, with apes, who are
full of malice?
TRYGAEUS
Ha, ha, ha!
HIEROCLES
What are you laughing at?
TRYGAEUS
Ha, ha! your apes amuse me!
HIEROCLES (resuming the oracular manner)
You simple pigeons, you trust yourselves to foxes, who are all
craft, both in mind and heart.
TRYGAEUS
Oh, you trouble-maker! may your lungs get as hot as this meat!
HIEROCLES
Nay, nay! if only the Nymphs had not fooled Bacis, and Bacis
mortal men; and if the Nymphs had not tricked Bacis a second time....
TRYGAEUS (mocking his manner)
May the plague seize you, if you don't stop Bacizing!
HIEROCLES
....it would not have been written in the book of Fate that the
bends of Peace must be broken; but first....
TRYGAEUS
The meat must be dusted with salt.
HIEROCLES
....it does not please the blessed gods that we should stop the
War until the wolf uniteth with the sheep.
(A kind of oracle-match now ensues.)
TRYGAEUS
How, you cursed animal, could the wolf ever unite with the sheep?
HIEROCLES
As long as the wood-bug gives off a fetid odour,