the ecclesiazusae-第9章
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What need for buying hooks？ I will let her down to the bottom of
the well and pull up the buckets with her old carcase； for she's
crooked enough for that。
FIRST OLD WOMAN
A truce to your jeering； poor boy； and follow me。
YOUNG MAN
Nothing compels me to do so； unless you have paid the levy of five
hundredths for me。
FIRST OLD WOMAN
Look； by Aphrodite； there is nothing that delights me as much as
sleeping with a lad of your years。
YOUNG MAN
And I abhor such as you； and I will never； never consent。
FIRST OLD WOMAN
But； by Zeus； here is something will force you to it。
（She shows him a document。）
YOUNG MAN
What's that？
FIRST OLD WOMAN
A decree； which orders you to enter my house。
YOUNG MAN
Read it out then； and let's hear。
FIRST OLD WOMAN
Listen。 〃The women have decreed that if a young man desires a
young girl； he can only lay her after having satisfied an old woman；
and if he refuses and goes to seek the maiden； the old women are
authorized to seize him and drag him in。〃
YOUNG MAN
Alas！ I shall become a Procrustes。
FIRST OLD WOMAN
Obey the law。
YOUNG MAN
But if a fellow…citizen； a friend； came to pay my ransom？
FIRST OLD WOMAN
No man may dispose of anything above a medimnus。
YOUNG MAN
But may I not enter an excuse？
FIRST OLD WOMAN
There's no evasion。
YOUNG MAN
I shall declare myself a merchant and so escape service。
FIRST OLD WOMAN
Beware what you do！
YOUNG MAN
Well！ what is to be done？
FIRST OLD WOMAN
Follow me。
YOUNG MAN
Is it absolutely necessary？
FIRST OLD WOMAN
Yes； as surely as if Diomedes had commanded it。
YOUNG MAN
Well then； first spread out a layer of origanum upon four pieces
of wood； bind fillets round your head； bring phials of scent and place
a bowl filled with lustral water before your door。
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
