peace-第9节
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poor lance maker too。
TRYGAEUS
Come； come； what are you asking for these two crests？
ARMOURER
What do you bid for them？
TRYGAEUS
What do I bid？ Oh！ I am ashamed to say。 Still； as the clasp is
of good workmanship； I would give two； even three measures of dried
figs； I could use them for dusting the table。
ARMOURER
All right； tell them to bring me the dried figs。 （To the
crest…maker） That's better than nothing； my friend。
TRYGAEUS
Take them away； be off with your crests and get you gone； they are
moulting； they are losing all their hair； I would not give a single
fig for them。
ARMOURER
Good gods； what am I going to do with this fine ten…mina
breastplate； which is so splendidly made？
TRYGAEUS
Oh； you will lose nothing over it。 Sell it to me at cost price。 It
would be very useful as a thunder…mug。。。
ARMOURER
Cease your insults； both to me and my wares。
TRYGAEUS
。。。if propped on three stones。 （He sits on it。） Look； it's
admirable
ARMOURER
But how can you wipe yourself； idiot？
TRYGAEUS （with appropriate gestures）
I can put one hand through here； and the other there； and so。。。
ARMOURER
What！ do you wipe yourself with both hands？
TRYGAEUS
Aye； so that I may not be accused of robbing the State； by
blocking up an oar…hole in the galley。
ARMOURER
Would you crap in a thunder…mug that cost ten minae？
TRYGAEUS
Undoubtedly； you rascal。 Do you think I would sell my arse for a
thousand drachmae？
ARMOURER
Come； have the money paid over to me。
TRYGAEUS
No； friend； I find it pinches my bottom。 Take it away； I won't buy
it。
ARMOURER
What is to be done with this trumpet； for which I gave sixty
drachmae the other day？
TRYGAEUS
Pour lead into the hollow and fit a good； long stick to the top；
and you will have a balanced cottabus。
ARMOURER
Don't mock me。
TRYGAEUS
Well； here's another idea。 Pour in lead as I said； add here a dish
hung on strings； and you will have a balance for weighing the figs
which you give your slaves in the fields。
ARMOURER
Cursed fate！ I am ruined。 Here are helmets； for which I gave a
mina each。 What I to do with them？ who will buy them？
TRYGAEUS
Go and sell them to the Egyptians； they will do for measuring
laxatives。
ARMOURER
Ah！ poor helmet…maker； things are indeed in a bad way。
TRYGAEUS
He has no cause for complaint。
ARMOURER
But helmets will be no more used。
TRYGAEUS
Let him learn to fit a handle to them and he can sell them for
more money。
ARMOURER
Let us be off； comrade。
TRYGAEUS
No； I want to buy these spears。
ARMOURER
What will you give？
TRYGAEUS
If they could be split in two； I would take them at a drachma
per hundred to use as vine…props。
ARMOURER
The insolent dog！ Let us go； friend。
（The munitions…makers all depart。）
TRYGAEUS （as some young boys enter）
Ah I here come the guests； young folks from the table to take a
pee； I fancy they also want to hum over what they will be singing
presently。 Hi！ child！ what do you reckon to sing？ Stand there and give
me the opening line。
BOY
〃Glory to the young warriors。。。〃
TRYGAEUS
Oh！ leave off about your young warriors； you little wretch； we are
at peace and you are an idiot and a rascal。
BOY
〃The skirmish begins； the hollow bucklers clash against each
other。〃
TRYGAEUS
Bucklers！ Leave me in peace with your bucklers。
BOY
〃And then there came groanings and shouts of victory。〃
TRYGAEUS
Groanings！ ah！ by Bacchus！ look out for yourself； you cursed
squaller； if you start wearying us again with your groanings and
hollow bucklers。
BOY
Then what should I sing？ Tell me what pleases you。
TRYGAEUS
〃'Tis thus they feasted on the flesh of oxen；〃 or something
similar； as； for instance； 〃Everything that could tickle the palate
was placed on the table。〃
BOY
〃'Tis thus they feasted on the flesh of oxen and； tired of
warfare； unharnessed their foaming steeds。〃
TRYGAEUS
That's splendid； tired of warfare； they seat themselves at
table； sing to us how they still go on eating after they are satiated。
BOY
〃The meal over； they girded themselves。。。〃
TRYGAEUS
With good wine； no doubt？
BOY
〃。。。with armour and rushed forth from the towers； and a terrible
shout arose。〃
TRYGAEUS
Get you gone； you little scapegrace； you and your battles！ You
sing of nothing but warfare。 Who is your father then？
BOY
My father？
TRYGAEUS
Why yes； your father。
BOY
I am Lamachus' son。
TRYGAEUS
Oh！ oh！ I could indeed have sworn； when I was listening to you；
that you were the son of some warrior； who dreams of nothing but
wounds and bruises； of some Bulomachus or Clausimachus； go and sing
your plaguey songs to the spearmen。。。。Where is the son of Cleonymus？
Sing me something before going back to the feast。 I am at least
certain he will not sing of battles； for his father is far too careful
a man。
SON OF CLEONYMUS
〃A Saian is parading with the spotless shield which I regret to
say I have thrown into a thicket。〃
TRYGAEUS
Tell me； you little good…for…nothing； are you singing that for
your father？
SON OF CLEONYMUS
〃But I saved my life。〃
TRYGAEUS
And dishonoured your family。 But let us go in； I am very
certain； that being the son of such a father； you will never forget
this song of the buckler。 （To the CHORUS） You； who remain to the
feast； it's your duty to devour dish after dish and not to ply empty
jaws。 Come； put heart into the work and eat with your mouths full。
For； believe me； poor friends； white teeth are useless furniture if
they chew nothing。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS （to TRYGAEUS； who is going into the house）
Never fear； thanks all the same for your good advice。 （To the
CHORUS） And all of you； who yesterday were dying of hunger； come；
stuff yourselves with this fine hare…stew； it's not every day that
we find cakes lying neglected。 Eat； eat； or I predict you will soon
regret it。
TRYGAEUS （coming out of the house）
Silence！ Keep silence！ Here is the bride about to appear！ Take
nuptial torches and let all rejoice and join in our songs。 Then；
when we have danced； clinked our cups and thrown Hyperbolus through
the doorway we will carry back all our farming tools to the fields and
shall pray the gods to give wealth to the Greeks and to cause us all
to gather in an abundant barley harvest； enjoy a noble vintage； to
grant that we may choke With good figs； that our wives may prove
fruitful； that in fact we may recover all our lost blessings； and that
the sparkling fire may be restored to the hearth； （OPORA comes out
of the house； followed by torch…bearing slaves。） Come； wife； to the
fields and seek； my beauty； to brighten and enliven my nights。 Oh！
Hymen！ oh！ Hymenaeus！
LEADER OF THE CHORUS （singing）
Oh！ thrice happy man； who so well deserve your good fortune！ Oh！
Hymen！ oh oh！ Hymenaeus！
CHORUS （singing）
Oh！ Hymen！ oh！ Hymenaeus！
TRYGAEUS （singing）
What shall we do to her？
CHORUS （singing）
What shall we do to her？
TRYGAEUS （singing）
We will gather her kisses。
CHORUS （singing）
We will gather her kisses。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS （singing）
But come； comrades； we who are in the first row； let us pick up
the bridegroom and carry him in triumph。 Oh！ Hymen！ oh！ Hymenaeus！ Oh！
Hymen！ oh！ Hymenaeus！
TRYGAEUS （singing）
You shall have a fine house； no cares and the finest of figs。
Oh！ Hymen！ oh！ Hymenaeus！ Oh！ Hymen！ oh！ Hymenaeus！
LEADER OF THE CHORUS （singing）
The bridegroom's fig is great and thick； the bride's very soft and
tender。
TRYGAEUS （singing）
While eating and drinking deep draughts of wine； continue to
repeat： Oh！ Hymen！ oh！ Hymenaeus！ Oh！ Hymen！ oh！ Hymenaeus； Hail；
hail； my friends。 All who come with me shall have cakes galore。
THE END
。
