Peace [5]
the success of a fine
undertaking.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
It's not I who want to dance; it's my legs that bound with
delight.
TRYGAEUS
Enough, please, cease your gambols.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
There! That's all.
TRYGAEUS
You say so, and nevertheless you go on.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Yet one more figure and it's done.
TRYGAEUS
Well, just this one; then you must dance no more.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
No, no more dancing, if we can help you.
TRYGAEUS
But look, you are not stopping even now.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
By Zeus, I am only throwing up my right leg, that's all.
TRYGAEUS
Come, I grant you that, but pray, annoy me no further.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Ah! the left leg too will have its fling; well, that's its
right. I am so happy, so delighted at not having to carry my buckler
any more. I fart for joy and I laugh more than if I had cast my old
age, as a serpent does its skin.
TRYGAEUS
No, it's not time for joy yet, for you are not sure of success.
But when you have got the goddess, then rejoice, shout and laugh;
thenceforward you will be able to sail or stay at home, to make love
or sleep, to attend festivals and processions, to play at cottabos,
live like true Sybarites and to shout, Io, io!
CHORUS (singing)
Ah! God grant we may see the blessed day. I have suffered so much;
have so oft slept with Phormio on hard beds. You will no longer find
me a bitter and angry judge....
TRYGAEUS (singing)
Nor, naturally, hard in your ways, as heretofore.
CHORUS (singing)
....but turned indulgent and grown younger by twenty years through
happiness. We have been killing ourselves long enough, tiring
ourselves out with going to the Lyceum and returning laden with
spear and buckler.-But what can we do to please you? Come, speak;
for 'tis a good Fate that has named you our leader.
TRYGAEUS
How shall we set about removing these stones?
HERMES (who has just returned)
Rash reprobate, what do you propose doing?
TRYGAEUS
Nothing bad, as Cillicon said.
HERMES
You are undone, you wretch.
TRYGAEUS
Yes, if the lot had to decide my life, for Hermes would know how
to turn the chance.
HERMES
You are lost, you are dead.
TRYGAEUS
On what day?
HERMES
This instant.
TRYGAEUS
But I have not provided myself with flour and cheese yet to
start for death.
HERMES
You are kneaded and ground already, I tell you.
TRYGAEUS
Hah! I have not yet tasted that gentle pleasure.
HERMES
Don't you know that Zeus has decreed death for him who is caught
exhuming Peace?
TRYGAEUS
What! must I really and truly die?
HERMES
You must.
TRYGAEUS
Well then, lend me three drachmae to buy a young pig; I wish to
have myself initiated before I die.
HERMES
Oh! Zeus, the Thunderer!
TRYGAEUS
I adjure you in the name of the gods, master, don't report us!
HERMES
I may not, I cannot keep silent.
TRYGAEUS
In the name of the meats which I brought you so good-naturedly.
HERMES
Why, wretched man, Zeus will annihilate me, if I do not shout
out at the top of my voice, to inform him what you are plotting.
TRYGAEUS
Oh, no! don't shout, I beg you, dear little Hermes.... And what
are you doing, comrades? You stand there as though you were stocks and
stones. Wretched men, speak, entreat him at once; otherwise he will be
shouting.
CHORUS (singing)
Oh! mighty Hermes! do not do it; no, do not do it! If ever you
have eaten some young pig, sacrificed by us on your altars, with
pleasure, may this offering not be without value in your sight to-day.
TRYGAEUS (singing)
Do you not hear them wheedling you, mighty god?
CHORUS (singing)
Be not pitiless toward our prayers; permit us to deliver the
undertaking.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
It's not I who want to dance; it's my legs that bound with
delight.
TRYGAEUS
Enough, please, cease your gambols.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
There! That's all.
TRYGAEUS
You say so, and nevertheless you go on.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Yet one more figure and it's done.
TRYGAEUS
Well, just this one; then you must dance no more.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
No, no more dancing, if we can help you.
TRYGAEUS
But look, you are not stopping even now.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
By Zeus, I am only throwing up my right leg, that's all.
TRYGAEUS
Come, I grant you that, but pray, annoy me no further.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Ah! the left leg too will have its fling; well, that's its
right. I am so happy, so delighted at not having to carry my buckler
any more. I fart for joy and I laugh more than if I had cast my old
age, as a serpent does its skin.
TRYGAEUS
No, it's not time for joy yet, for you are not sure of success.
But when you have got the goddess, then rejoice, shout and laugh;
thenceforward you will be able to sail or stay at home, to make love
or sleep, to attend festivals and processions, to play at cottabos,
live like true Sybarites and to shout, Io, io!
CHORUS (singing)
Ah! God grant we may see the blessed day. I have suffered so much;
have so oft slept with Phormio on hard beds. You will no longer find
me a bitter and angry judge....
TRYGAEUS (singing)
Nor, naturally, hard in your ways, as heretofore.
CHORUS (singing)
....but turned indulgent and grown younger by twenty years through
happiness. We have been killing ourselves long enough, tiring
ourselves out with going to the Lyceum and returning laden with
spear and buckler.-But what can we do to please you? Come, speak;
for 'tis a good Fate that has named you our leader.
TRYGAEUS
How shall we set about removing these stones?
HERMES (who has just returned)
Rash reprobate, what do you propose doing?
TRYGAEUS
Nothing bad, as Cillicon said.
HERMES
You are undone, you wretch.
TRYGAEUS
Yes, if the lot had to decide my life, for Hermes would know how
to turn the chance.
HERMES
You are lost, you are dead.
TRYGAEUS
On what day?
HERMES
This instant.
TRYGAEUS
But I have not provided myself with flour and cheese yet to
start for death.
HERMES
You are kneaded and ground already, I tell you.
TRYGAEUS
Hah! I have not yet tasted that gentle pleasure.
HERMES
Don't you know that Zeus has decreed death for him who is caught
exhuming Peace?
TRYGAEUS
What! must I really and truly die?
HERMES
You must.
TRYGAEUS
Well then, lend me three drachmae to buy a young pig; I wish to
have myself initiated before I die.
HERMES
Oh! Zeus, the Thunderer!
TRYGAEUS
I adjure you in the name of the gods, master, don't report us!
HERMES
I may not, I cannot keep silent.
TRYGAEUS
In the name of the meats which I brought you so good-naturedly.
HERMES
Why, wretched man, Zeus will annihilate me, if I do not shout
out at the top of my voice, to inform him what you are plotting.
TRYGAEUS
Oh, no! don't shout, I beg you, dear little Hermes.... And what
are you doing, comrades? You stand there as though you were stocks and
stones. Wretched men, speak, entreat him at once; otherwise he will be
shouting.
CHORUS (singing)
Oh! mighty Hermes! do not do it; no, do not do it! If ever you
have eaten some young pig, sacrificed by us on your altars, with
pleasure, may this offering not be without value in your sight to-day.
TRYGAEUS (singing)
Do you not hear them wheedling you, mighty god?
CHORUS (singing)
Be not pitiless toward our prayers; permit us to deliver the