the ecclesiazusae-第4章
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BLEPYRUS
Did I not tell you of it yesterday？
PRAXAGORA
True； I remember now。
BLEPYRUS
And don't you know the decrees that have been voted？
PRAXAGORA
No indeed。
BLEPYRUS
Go to！ you can live on lobster from now on； for they say the
government is handed over to you。
PRAXAGORA
To do what…to spin？
BLEPYRUS
No； that you may rule。。。
PRAXAGORA
What？
BLEPYRUS
。。。over all public business。
PRAXAGORA （as she exclaims this CHREMES reappears）
Oh！ by Aphrodite how happy Athens will be！
BLEPYRUS
Why so？
PRAXAGORA
For a thousand reasons。 None will dare now to do shameless
deeds； give false testimony or lay informations。
BLEPYRUS
Stop！ in the name of the gods！ Do you want me to die of hunger？
CHREMES
Good sir； let your wife speak。
PRAXAGORA
There will be no more thieves； nor envious people； no more rags
nor misery； no more abuse and no more prosecutions and law…suits。
CHREMES
By Posidon！ that's grand； if it's true！
PRAXAGORA
I shall prove it and you shall be my witness and even he （pointing
to Blepyrus） will have no objections to raise。
CHORUS （singing）
You have served your friends； but now it behoves you to apply your
ability and your care to the welfare of the people。 Devote the
fecundity of your mind to the public weal； adorn the citizens' lives
with a thousand enjoyments and teach them to seize every favourable
opportunity。 Devise some ingenious method to secure the much…needed
salvation of Athens； but let neither your acts nor your words recall
anything of the past； for 'tis only innovations that please。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
But do not fail to put your plans into execution immediately； it's
quick action that pleases the audience。
PRAXAGORA
I believe my ideas are good； but what I fear is that the public
will cling to the old customs and refuse to accept my reforms。
CHREMES
Have no fear about that。 Love of novelty and disdain for
traditions； these are the dominating principles among us。
PRAXAGORA （to the audience）
Let none contradict nor interrupt me until I have explained my
plan。 I want all to have a share of everything and all property to
be in common； there will no longer be either rich or poor； no longer
shall we see one man harvesting vast tracts of land； while another has
not ground enough to be buried in； nor one man surround himself with a
whole army of slaves； while another has not a single attendant； I
intend that there shan only be one and the same condition of life
for all。
BLEPYRUS
But how do you mean for all？
PRAXAGORA （impatiently）
You'll eat dung before I do！
BLEPYRUS
Won't the dung be common too？
PRAXAGORA
No； no； but you interrupted me too soon。 This is what I was
going to say； I shall begin by making land； money； everything that
is private property； common to all。 Then we shall live on this
common wealth； which we shall take care to administer with wise
thrift。
BLEPYRUS
And how about the man who has no land； but only gold and silver
coins； that cannot be seen？
PRAXAGORA
He must bring them to the common stock； and if he fails he will be
a perjured man。
BLEPYRUS
That won't worry him much； for has he not gained them by perjury？
PRAXAGORA
But his riches will no longer be of any use to him。
BLEPYRUS
Why？
PRAXAGORA
The poor will no longer be obliged to work； each will have all
that he needs； bread； salt fish； cakes； tunics； wine； chaplets and
chick…pease； of what advantage will it be to him not to contribute his
share to the common wealth？ What do you think of it？
BLEPYRUS
But is it not the biggest robbers that have all these things？
CHREMES
Yes； formerly； under the old order of things； but now that all
goods are in common； what will he gain by not bringing his wealth into
the general stock？
BLEPYRUS
If someone saw a pretty wench and wished to lay her； he would take
some of his reserve store to make her a present and stay the night
with her； this would not prevent him claiming his share of the
common property。
PRAXAGORA
But he can sleep with her for nothing； I intend that women shall
belong to all men in common； and each shall beget children by any
man that wishes to have her。
BLEPYRUS
But all will go to the prettiest woman and try to lay her。
PRAXAGORA
The ugliest and the most flat…nosed will be side by side with
the most charming； and to win the latter's favours； a man will first
have to get into the former。
BLEPYRUS
But what about us oldsters？ If we have to lay the old women first；
how can we keep our tools from failing before we get into the Promised
Land？
PRAXAGORA
They will make no resistance。 Never fear； they will make no
resistance。
BLEPYRUS
Resistance to what？
PRAXAGORA
To the pleasure of the thing。 This is the way that matters will be
ordered for you。
BLEPYRUS
It's very well conceived for you women； for every wench's hole
will be filled； but what about the men？ The women will run away from
the ugly ones and chase the good…looking。
PRAXAGORA
The ugly will follow the handsomest into the public places after
supper and see to it that the law； which forbids the women to sleep
with the big； handsome men before having satisfied the ugly shrimps；
is complied with。
BLEPYRUS
Thus ugly Lysicrates' nose will be as proud as the handsomest
face？
PRAXAGORA
Yes； by Apollo！ this is a truly popular decree； and what a
set…back it will be for one of those elegants with their fingers
loaded with rings； when a man with heavy shoes says to him； 〃Give
way to me and wait till I have done； you will pass in after me。〃
BLEPYRUS
But if we live in this fashion； how will each one know his
children？
PRAXAGORA
The youngest will look upon the oldest as their fathers。
BLEPYRUS
Ah！ how heartily they will strangle all the old men； since even
now； when each one knows his father； they make no bones about
strangling him！ then； my word！ won't they just scorn and crap upon the
old folks！
PRAXAGORA
But those around will prevent it。 Hitherto； when anyone saw an old
man beaten； he would not meddle； because it did not concern him；
buff now each will fear the sufferer may be his own father and such
violence will be stopped。
BLEPYRUS
What you say is not so silly after all； but it would be highly
unpleasant were Epicurus and Leucolophas to come up and call me
father。
CHREMES
But it would be far worse； were。。。
BLEPYRUS
Were what？
CHREMES
。。。Aristyllus to embrace you and style you his father。
BLEPYRUS
He'll regret it if he does！
CHREMES
For you would smell vilely of mint if he kissed you。 But he was
born before the decree was carried； so that you have not to fear his
kiss。
BLEPYRUS
It would be awful。 But who will till the soil？
PRAXAGORA
The slaves。 Your only cares will be to scent yourself； and to go
and dine； when the shadow of the gnomon is ten feet long on the dial。
BLEPYRUS
But how shall we obtain clothing？ Tell me that！
PRAXAGORA
You will first wear out those you have； and then we women will
weave you others。
BLEPYRUS
Now another point： if the magistrates condemn a citizen to the
payment of a fine； how is he going to do it？ Out of the public
funds？ That would not be right surely。
PRAXAGORA
But there will be no more lawsuits。
BLEPYRUS
This rule will ruin you。
CHREMES
I think so too。
PRAXAGORA
Besides； my dear； why should there be lawsuits？
BLEPYRUS
Oh！ for a thousand reasons； on my faith！ Firstly； because a debtor
denies his obligation。
PRAXAGORA
But where will the lender get the money to lend； if all is in
common？ unless he steals it out of the treasury？ and he could not hide
that！
CHREMES
Well thought out； by Demeter！
BLEPYRUS
But tell me this： here are some men who are returning from a feast
and are drunk and they strike some passer…by； how are they going to
pay the fine？ Ah！ you are puzzled now！
PRAXAGORA
They will have to take it out of their pittance； and being thus
punished through their belly； they will not care to begin again。
BLEPYRUS
There will be no more thieves then； eh？
PRAXAGORA
Why steal； if you have a share of everything？
BLEPYRUS
People will not be robbed any more at night？
CHREMES
Not if you sleep at home。
PRAXAGORA
Even if you sleep outdoors there will be no more danger； for all
will have the means of living。 Besides； if anyone wanted to steal your
cloak； you would give it to him yourself。 Why not？ You will only
have to go to the common store and be given a better one。
BLEPYRUS
There will be no more playing at dice？
PRAXAGORA
What object will there be in playing？
BLEPYRUS
But what kind of life is it you propose to set up？
PRAXAGORA
The life in common。 Athens will become nothing more than a
single house； in which everything will belong to everyone； so that
everybody will be able to go from one house to the other at pleasure。
BLEPYRUS
And where will the meals be served？
PRAXAGORA
The law…courts and the porticoes will be turned into dining…halls。
BLEPYRUS
And what will the speaker's platform be used for？
PRAXAGORA
I shall place the bowls and the ewers there； and young children
will sing the glory of the brave from there； also the infamy of
cowards； who out of very shame will no longer dare to come to the
public meals。
BLEPYRUS
Well thought out； by Apollo！ And what will you do with the urns？
PRAXAGORA
I shall have them taken to the market…place； and standing close to
the statue of Harmodius； I shall draw a lot for each citizen； which by
its letter will show the place where he must go to dine。 Thus； those
for whom I have drawn an R will go to the royal portico； if it's a
T； they will go to the portico of Theseus； if it's an F； to that of
the flour…market。
BLEPYRUS
To cram himself there like a capon？
PRAXAGORA
No； to dine there。
BLEPYRUS
And the citizen whom the lot has not given a letter showing
where he is to dine will be driven off by everyone？
PRAXAGORA （with great solemnity）
But that will not occur。 Each man will have plenty； he will not
leave the feast until he is well drunk； and then with a chaplet on his
head and a torch in his hand； and then the women running to meet you
in the crossroads will say； 〃This way； come to our house； you will
find a beautiful young girl there。〃…〃And I；〃 another will call from
her balcony； 〃have one so pretty and as whi
