the ecclesiazusae-第7章
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FIRST OLD WOMAN
Will you buy a chaplet for me too？
YOUNG MAN
Yes； if you outlast the tapers； for I expect to see you fall
down dead as you go in。
YOUNG GIRL （running out of her house）
Where are you dragging this unfortunate man to？
FIRST OLD WOMAN
To my own bed。
YOUNG GIRL
That's not right。 A young fellow like him is not of the age to
suit you。 You ought to be his mother rather than his wife。 With
these laws in force； the earth will be filled with Oedipuses。
（She takes him away with her。）
FIRST OLD WOMAN
Oh！ you cursed pest！ it's envy that makes you say this； but I will
be revenged。
（She goes back into her house。）
YOUNG MAN
By Zeus the Deliverer； what a service you have done me； by freeing
me of this old wretch！ with what ardour I will show you my gratitude
in a substantial form！
（Just as he begins to go in with the YOUNG GIRL an even older and
uglier woman enters。）
SECOND OLD WOMAN
Hi！ you there！ where are you taking that young man to； in defiance
of the law？ The decree ordains that he must first sleep with me。
YOUNG MAN
Oh！ what a misfortune！ Where does this hag come from？ She's a more
frightful monster than the other even。
SECOND OLD WOMAN
Come here。
（She takes him by the arm。）
YOUNG MAN （to the YOUNG GIRL）
Oh！ I beg you； don't let me be led off by her！
SECOND OLD WOMAN
It's not I but the law that leads you off。
YOUNG MAN
No； it's not the law； but an Empusa with a body covered with
blemishes and blotches。
SECOND OLD WOMAN
Follow me； my handsome little friend； come along quickly without
any more ado。
YOUNG MAN
Oh！ let me go to the can first； so that I may gather my wits
somewhat。 Else I should be so terrified that you would see me
letting out something yellow。
SECOND OLD WOMAN
Never mind！ you can crap； if you want； in my house。
YOUNG MAN
More than I want to； I'm afraid； but I offer you two good
securities。
SECOND OLD WOMAN
I don't require them。
（A THIRD OLD WOMAN； the ugliest yet； now appears。）
THIRD OLD WOMAN
Hi！ friend； where are you off to with that woman？
YOUNG MAN
I am not going with her； but am being dragged by force。 Oh！
whoever you are； may heaven bless you for having had pity on me in
my dire misfortune。 （Turns round and sees the THIRD OLD WOMAN。） Oh
Heracles！ oh Pan！ oh Corybantes！ oh Dioscuri！ Why； she is still more
awful！ Oh！ what a monster！ great gods！ Are you an ape plastered with
white lead； or the ghost of some old hag returned from the dark
borderlands of death？
THIRD OLD WOMAN （taking his other arm）
No jesting！ Follow me。
SECOND OLD WOMAN
No； come this way。
THIRD OLD WOMAN
I will never let you go。
SECOND OLD WOMAN
Nor will I。
YOUNG MAN
But you will rend me asunder； you cursed wretches。
SECOND OLD WOMAN
I'm the one he must go with according to the law。
THIRD OLD WOMAN
Not if an uglier old woman than yourself appears。
YOUNG MAN
But if you kill me at the outset； how shall I afterwards go to
find this beautiful girl of mine？
THIRD OLD WOMAN
That's your problem。 But begin by obeying。
YOUNG MAN
Of which one must I rid myself first？
THIRD OLD WOMAN
Don't you know？ Come here。
YOUNG MAN
Then let the other one release me。
SECOND OLD WOMAN
Come to my house。
YOUNG MAN
If this dame will let me go。
THIRD OLD WOMAN
No； by all the gods； I'll not let you go。
SECOND OLD WOMAN
Nor will I。
YOUNG MAN
You would make very bad boatwomen。
SECOND OLD WOMAN
Why？
YOUNG MAN
Because you would tear your passengers to pieces in dragging
them on board。
THIRD OLD WOMAN
Then come along； do； and hold your tongue。
SECOND OLD WOMAN
No； by Zeus； come with me。
YOUNG MAN
It's clearly a case for the decree of Cannonus； I must cut
myself in two in order to lay you both。 But how am I to work two
oars at once？
THIRD OLD WOMAN
Easily enough； you have only to eat a full pot of onions。
YOUNG MAN
Oh！ great gods！ here I am close to the door and being dragged in！
SECOND OLD WOMAN （to THIRD OLD WOMAN）
You will gain nothing by this； for I shall rush into your house
with you。
YOUNG MAN
Oh； no！ no！ to suffer a single misfortune than two。
THIRD OLD WOMAN
Ah！ by Hecate； whether you wish it or not。
YOUNG MAN
What a fate is mine； that I must make love to such a stinking
harridan the whole night through and all day； then； when I am rid of
her； I have still to tackle a brick…coloured hag！ Am I not truly
unfortunate？ Ah！ by Zeus the Deliverer； under what fatal star must I
have been born； that I must sail in company with such monsters！ But if
my bark sinks in the sewer of these strumpets； may I be buried at
the very threshold of the door； let this hag be stood upright on my
grave； let her be coated alive with pitch and her legs covered with
molten lead up to the ankles； and let her be set alight as a funeral
lamp。
（The YOUNG MAN is dragged off by the two OLD WOMEN； one on each
arm。）
（Interlude of dancing by the CHORUS。）
A SERVANT…MAID To PRAXAGORA （she comes from the banquet）
What happiness is the people's！ what joy is mine； and above all
that of my mistress！ Happy are ye； who form choruses before our house！
Happy are ye； both neighbours and fellow…citizens！ Happy am I
myself！ I am but a servant； and yet I have poured on my hair the
most exquisite essences。 Let thanks be rendered to thee； Oh； Zeus！ But
a still more delicious aroma is that of the wine of Thasos； its
sweet bouquet delights the drinker for a long time； whereas the others
lose their bloom and vanish quickly。 Therefore； long life to the
wine…jars of Thasos！ Pour yourselves out unmixed wine； it will cheer
you the whole night through； if you choose the liquor that possesses
most fragrance。 （To the CHORUS） But tell me； friends； where is my
mistress's husband？
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Wait for him here； he will no doubt pass this way。
MAID…SERVANT
Ah！ there he is just going to dinner。 Oh！ master！ what joy！ what
blessedness is yours！
BLEPYRUS
Mine？
MAID…SERVANT
None can compare his happiness to yours； you have reached its
utmost height； you who； alone out of thirty thousand citizens have not
yet dined。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Aye； here is undoubtedly a truly happy man。
MAID…SERVANT
Where are you off to？
BLEPYRUS
I am going to dine。
MAID…SERVANT
By Aphrodite； you will be the last of all； far and away the
last。 Yet my mistress has bidden me take you and take with you these
young girls。 Some Chian wine is left and lots of other good things。
Therefore hurry； and invite likewise all the spectators whom we have
pleased； and such of the judges as are not against us； to follow us；
we will offer them everything they can desire。
BLEPYRUS
Generously invite everyone and omit no one； old or young。 Dinner
is ready for all； they need only go home。 As for me； I shall go to the
banquet with the customary torch in my hand。
MAID…SERVANT
But why do you tarry； Blepyrus？ Take these young girls with you
and； while you are away a while； I will whet my appetite with some
dining…song。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
I have but a few words to say： let the wise judge me because of
what； ever is wise in this piece； and those who like a laugh by
whatever has made them laugh。 In this way I address pretty well
everyone。 If the lot has assigned my comedy to be played first of all；
don't let that be a disadvantage to me； engrave in your memory all
that shall have pleased you in it and judge the competitors
equitably as you have bound yourselves by oath to do。 Don't act like
vile courtesans； who never remember any but their last lover。
MAID…SERVANT
It is time； friends； high time to go to the banquet； if we want to
have our share of it。 Open your ranks and let the Cretan rhythms
regulate your dances。
BLEPYRUS
That's what I am doing。
MAID…SERVANT
And you others； let your light steps too keep time。 Very soon we'll
be eating lepadotema choselackogaleokrani
oleipsanodrimypotrimmatosil phiotyromelitokatake
chymenokicklepikossyphopkat toperisteralektryonoptokeph
aliokinklopeleiolagoiosiral obaphetragalopter ygdn。 Come； quickly；
seize hold of a plate； snatch up a cup； and let's run to secure a
place at table。 The rest will have their jaws at work by this time。
CHORUS （as they depart； dancing； with BLEPYRUS leading them）
Dance gaily！ Iai！ Iai！ We shall dine！ Euoi！ Euai！ Euai！ As for a
triumph！ Euoi！ Euoi Euai！ Euai！
THE END
。
