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peace-第9部分

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divine will is set on stopping this cruel war and is showering on us

the most striking benefits。

  TRYCAEUS (returning)

    Here is the basket of barley…seed mingled with salt; the chaplet

and the sacred knife; and there is the fire; so we are only waiting

for the sheep。

  CHORUS (singing)

    Hasten; hasten; for; if Chaeris sees you; he will come without

bidding; he and his flute; and when you see him puffing and panting

and out of breath; you will have to give him something。

  TRYGAEUS (to the SERVANT who has returned with a sheep and a vase

             of water)

    Come; seize the basket and take the lustral water and hurry to

circle round the altar to the right。

  SERVANT

    There! that's done。 What is your next bidding?

  TRYGAEUS

    Wait。 I take this fire…brand first and plunge it into the water。

Now quick; quick; you sprinkle the altar。 Give me some barley…seed;

purify yourself and hand me the basin; then scatter the rest of the

barley among the audience。

  SERVANT

    Done。

  TRYGAEUS

    You have thrown it?

  SERVANT

    Yes; by Hermes! and all the spectators have had their share。

  TRYGAEUS

    At least the women got none。

  SERVANT

    Oh! their husbands will give them some this evening。

  TRYGAEUS

    Let us pray! Who is here? Are there any good men?

  SERVANT

    Come; give me the water; so that I may sprinkle these people。

Faith! they are indeed good; brave men。

                               (He throws the lustral water on hem。)

  TRYGAEUS

    You believe so?

  SERVANT

    I am sure; and the proof of it is that we have flooded them with

lustral water and they have not budged an inch。

  TRYGAEUS

    Let us pray; then; as soon as we can。

  SERVANT

    Yes; let us pray。

  TRYGAEUS

    Oh! Peace; mighty queen; venerated goddess; thou; who presidest

over choruses and at nuptials; deign to accept the sacrifices we offer

thee。

  SERVANT

    Receive it; greatly honoured mistress; and behave not like the

courtesans; who half open the door to entice the gallants; draw back

when they are stared at; to return once more if a man passes on。 But

do not thou act like this to us。

  TRYGAEUS

    No; but like an honest woman; show thyself to thy worshippers; who

are worn with regretting thee all these thirteen years。 Hush the noise

of battle; be a true Lysimacha to us。 Put an end to this

tittle…tattle; to this idle babble; that set us defying one another。

Cause the Greeks once more to taste the pleasant beverage of

friendship and temper all hearts with the gentle feeling of

forgiveness。 Make excellent commodities flow to our markets; fine

heads of garlic; early cucumbers; apples; pomegranates and nice little

cloaks for the slaves; make them bring geese; ducks; pigeons and larks

from Boeotia and baskets of eels from Lake Copais; we shall all rush

to buy them; disputing their possession with Morychus; Teleas;

Glaucetes and every other glutton。 Melanthius will arrive on the

market last of all; they'll say; 〃no more eels; all sold!〃 and then

he'll start groaning and exclaiming as in his monologue of Medea; 〃I

am dying; I am dying! Alas! I have let those hidden in the beet escape

me!〃 And won't we laugh? These are the wishes; mighty goddess; which

we pray thee to grant。 (To the SERVANT) Take the knife and slaughter

the sheep like a finished cook。

  SERVANT

    No; the goddess does not wish it。

  TRYGAEUS

    And why not?

  SERVANT

    Blood cannot please Peace; so let us spill none upon her altar。

  TRYGAEUS

    Then go and sacrifice the sheep in the house; cut off the legs and

bring them here; thus the carcase will be saved for the Choregus。

                    (The SERVANT goes into the house with the sheep。)

  CHORUS (singing)

    You; who remain here; get chopped wood and everything needed for

the sacrifice ready。

  TRYGAEUS

    Don't I look like a diviner preparing his mystic fire?

  CHORUS (singing)

    Undoubtedly。 Will anything that a wise man ought to know escape

you? Don't you know all that a man should know; who is distinguished

for his wisdom and inventive daring?

  TRYGAEUS

    There! the wood catches。 Its smoke blinds poor Stilbides。 I am now

going to bring the table and thus be my own slave。

                                            (He goes into the house。)

  CHORUS (singing)

    You have braved a thousand dangers to save your sacred town。 All

honour to you I your glory will be ever envied。

  TRYGAEUS (returning with a table)

    Wait。 Here are the legs; place them upon the altar。 For myself;

I mean to go back to the entrails and the cakes。

                                  (He is about to go into the house。)

  SERVANT (going in ahead of him)

    I'll take care of them。

  TRYGAEUS

    But I want you here。

  SERVANT (returning)

    Well then; here I am。 Do you think I have taken long?

  TRYGAEUS

    Just get this roasted。 Ab who is this man; crowned with laurel;

who is coming to me?

  SERVANT

    He has a self…important look; is he some diviner?

  TRYGAEUS

    No; it's Hierocles; that oracle…monger from Oreus。

  SERVANT

    What is he going to tell us?

  TRYGAEUS

    Evidently he is coming to oppose the peace。

  SERVANT

    No; it's the odour of the fat that attracts him。

  TRYGAEUS

    Let us appear not to see him。

  SERVANT

    Very well。

  HIEROCLES (approaching)

    What sacrifice is this? to what god are you offering it?

  TRYGAEUS (to the SERVANT)

    Keep quiet。…(Aloud) Look after the roasting and keep your hands of

the meat。

  HIEROCLES

    To whom are you sacrificing? Answer me。

  TRYGAEUS

    Ah! the tail is showing favourable omens。

  SERVANT

    Aye; very favourable; oh; loved and mighty Peace!

  HIEROCLES

    Come; cut off the first offering and make the oblation。

  TRYGAEUS

    It's not roasted enough。

  HIEROCLES

    Yea; truly; it's done to a turn。

  TRYGAEUS

    Mind your own business; friend! (To the SERVANT) Cut away。

  HIEROCLES

    Where is the table?

  TRYGAEUS

    Bring the libations。

                                               (The SERVANT departs。)

  HIEROCLES

    The tongue is cut separately。

  TRYGAEUS

    We know all that。 But just listen to one piece of advice。

  HIEROCLES

    And that is?

  TRYGAEUS

    Don't talk; for it is divine Peace to whom we are sacrificing。

  HIEROCLES (in an oracular tone)

    Oh! wretched mortals; oh; you idiots!

  TRYGAEUS

    Keep such ugly terms for yourself。

  HIEROCLES (as before)

    What! you are so ignorant you don't understand the will of the

gods and you make a treaty; you; who are men; with apes; who are

full of malice?

  TRYGAEUS

    Ha; ha; ha!

  HIEROCLES

    What are you laughing at?

  TRYGAEUS

    Ha; ha! your apes amuse me!

  HIEROCLES (resuming the oracular manner)

    You simple pigeons; you trust yourselves to foxes; who are a
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