The Wasps [5]
run off without fear.
But to-day men-at-arms are placed at every outlet to watch me, and two
of them are lying in wait for me at this very door armed with spits,
just as folks lie in wait for a cat that has stolen a piece of meat.
CHORUS (singing)
Come, discover some way as quick as possible. Here is the dawn
come, my dear little friend.
PHILOCLEON (singing)
The best way is to gnaw through the net. Oh! goddess who
watchest over the nets, forgive me for making a hole in this one.
CHORUS (singing)
It's acting like a man eager for his safety. Get your jaws to
work.
PHILOCLEON (singing)
There! it's gnawed through! But no shouting! let Bdelycleon notice
nothing!
CHORUS (singing)
Have no fear, have no fear! if he breathes a syllable, it will
be to bruise his own knuckles; he will have to fight to defend his own
head. We shall teach him not to insult the mysteries of the goddesses.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
But fasten a rope to the window, tie it around your body and let
yourself down to the ground, with your heart bursting with the fury of
Diopithes.
PHILOCLEON
But if these notice it and want to fish me up and drag me back
into the house, what will you do? Tell me that.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
We shall call up the full strength of our oak-tough courage to
your aid. That is what we will do.
PHILOCLEON
I trust myself to you and risk the danger. If misfortune overtakes
me, take away my body, bathe it with your tears and bury it beneath
the bar of the tribunal.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Nothing will happen to you, rest assured. Come, friend, have
courage and let yourself slide down while you invoke your country's
gods.
PHILOCLEON
Oh! mighty Lycus! noble hero and my neighbour, thou, like
myself, takest pleasure in the tears and the groans of the accused. If
thou art come to live near the tribunal, 'tis with the express
design of hearing them incessantly; thou alone of all the heroes
hast wished to remain among those who weep. Have pity on me and save
him, who lives close to thee; I swear I will never make water,
never, nor ever let a fart, against the railing of thy statue.
(He slides down as quietly as possible; nevertheless BDELYCLEON
wakes up.)
BDELYCLEON (to XANTHIAS)
Ho, there! ho! get up!
XANTHIAS (waking up)
What's the matter?
BDELYCLEON
I thought I heard talking close to me. Is the old man at it again,
escaping through some loophole?
XANTHIAS
No, by Zeus! no, but he is letting himself down by a rope.
BDELYCLEON
Ha, rascal! what are you doing there? You shall not descend. (To
XANTHIAS) Mount quick to the other window, strike him with the
boughs that hang over the entrance; perhaps he will turn back when
he feels himself being thrashed.
PHILOCLEON (to the audience)
To the rescue! all you, who are going to have lawsuits this
year-Smicythion, Tisiades, Chremon and Pheredipnus. It's now or never,
before they force me to return, that you must help.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Why do we delay to let loose that fury, that is so terrible,
when our nests are attacked?
CHORUS (singing)
I feel my angry sting is stiffening, that sharp sting, with
which we punish our enemies. Come, children, cast your cloaks to the
winds, run, shout, tell Cleon what is happening, that he may march
against this foe of our city, who deserves death, since he proposes to
prevent the trial of lawsuits.
(The Boys run off, taking the CHORUS' mantles with them.)
BDELYCLEON (rushing out of the house with the two slaves and seizing
his father) Friends, listen to the truth, instead of bawling.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
By Zeus! we will shout to heaven.
BDELYCLEON
And I shall not let him go.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Why, this is intolerable, 'tis manifest tyranny.
CHORUS (singing)
Oh!
But to-day men-at-arms are placed at every outlet to watch me, and two
of them are lying in wait for me at this very door armed with spits,
just as folks lie in wait for a cat that has stolen a piece of meat.
CHORUS (singing)
Come, discover some way as quick as possible. Here is the dawn
come, my dear little friend.
PHILOCLEON (singing)
The best way is to gnaw through the net. Oh! goddess who
watchest over the nets, forgive me for making a hole in this one.
CHORUS (singing)
It's acting like a man eager for his safety. Get your jaws to
work.
PHILOCLEON (singing)
There! it's gnawed through! But no shouting! let Bdelycleon notice
nothing!
CHORUS (singing)
Have no fear, have no fear! if he breathes a syllable, it will
be to bruise his own knuckles; he will have to fight to defend his own
head. We shall teach him not to insult the mysteries of the goddesses.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
But fasten a rope to the window, tie it around your body and let
yourself down to the ground, with your heart bursting with the fury of
Diopithes.
PHILOCLEON
But if these notice it and want to fish me up and drag me back
into the house, what will you do? Tell me that.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
We shall call up the full strength of our oak-tough courage to
your aid. That is what we will do.
PHILOCLEON
I trust myself to you and risk the danger. If misfortune overtakes
me, take away my body, bathe it with your tears and bury it beneath
the bar of the tribunal.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Nothing will happen to you, rest assured. Come, friend, have
courage and let yourself slide down while you invoke your country's
gods.
PHILOCLEON
Oh! mighty Lycus! noble hero and my neighbour, thou, like
myself, takest pleasure in the tears and the groans of the accused. If
thou art come to live near the tribunal, 'tis with the express
design of hearing them incessantly; thou alone of all the heroes
hast wished to remain among those who weep. Have pity on me and save
him, who lives close to thee; I swear I will never make water,
never, nor ever let a fart, against the railing of thy statue.
(He slides down as quietly as possible; nevertheless BDELYCLEON
wakes up.)
BDELYCLEON (to XANTHIAS)
Ho, there! ho! get up!
XANTHIAS (waking up)
What's the matter?
BDELYCLEON
I thought I heard talking close to me. Is the old man at it again,
escaping through some loophole?
XANTHIAS
No, by Zeus! no, but he is letting himself down by a rope.
BDELYCLEON
Ha, rascal! what are you doing there? You shall not descend. (To
XANTHIAS) Mount quick to the other window, strike him with the
boughs that hang over the entrance; perhaps he will turn back when
he feels himself being thrashed.
PHILOCLEON (to the audience)
To the rescue! all you, who are going to have lawsuits this
year-Smicythion, Tisiades, Chremon and Pheredipnus. It's now or never,
before they force me to return, that you must help.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Why do we delay to let loose that fury, that is so terrible,
when our nests are attacked?
CHORUS (singing)
I feel my angry sting is stiffening, that sharp sting, with
which we punish our enemies. Come, children, cast your cloaks to the
winds, run, shout, tell Cleon what is happening, that he may march
against this foe of our city, who deserves death, since he proposes to
prevent the trial of lawsuits.
(The Boys run off, taking the CHORUS' mantles with them.)
BDELYCLEON (rushing out of the house with the two slaves and seizing
his father) Friends, listen to the truth, instead of bawling.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
By Zeus! we will shout to heaven.
BDELYCLEON
And I shall not let him go.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Why, this is intolerable, 'tis manifest tyranny.
CHORUS (singing)
Oh!