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peace-第11部分

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war; the hated of the gods and of men; who know nothing but how to

throw away their shield。 For this reason; if it please heaven; I

propose to call these rascals to account; for they are lions in

times of peace; but sneaking foxes when it comes to fighting。

  TRYGAEUS (coming out of his house; followed by the SERVANT)

    Oh! oh! what a crowd for the nuptial feast! Here! dust the

tables with this crest; which is good for nothing else now。 Halloa!

produce the cakes; the thrushes; plenty of good jugged hare and the

little loaves。

    (A SICKLE…MAKER enters with a comrade; one carries sickles; the

      other casks。)

  SICKLE…MAKER

    Trygaeus; where is Trygaeus?

  TRYGAEUS

    I am cooking the thrushes。

  SICKLE…MAKER

    Trygaeus; my best of friends; what a fine stroke of business you

have done for me by bringing back Peace! Formerly my sickles would not

have sold at an obolus apiece; to…day I am being paid fifty drachmae

for every one。 And here is a neighbour who is selling his casks for

the country at three drachmae each。 So come; Trygaeus; take as many

sickles and casks as you will for nothing。 Accept them for nothing;

it's because of our handsome profits on our sales that we offer you

these wedding presents。

  TRYGAEUS

    Thanks。 Put them all down inside there; and come along quick to

the banquet。 Ah! do you see that armourer yonder coming with a wry

face?

  (Enter an armourer; followed by other personages who represent the

    various specialized trades which have profited by the war; a

    crest…maker; a manufacturer of breastplates; a trumpet…maker; a

    helmet…maker; a polisher of lances; each carries a sample of his

    products。 The armourer is the only one who speaks。)

  ARMOURER

    Alas! alas! Trygaeus; you have ruined me utterly。

  TRYGAEUS

    What! won't the crests go any more; friend?

  ARMOURER

    You have killed my business; my livelihood; and that of this

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 t
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