peace-第2章
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LITTLE DAUGHTER
Why not saddle Pegasus？ you would have a more tragic appearance in
the eyes of the gods。
TRYGAEUS
Eh！ don't you see； little fool； that then twice the food would
be wanted？ Whereas my beetle devours again as filth what I have
eaten myself。
LITTLE DAUGHTER
And if it fell into the watery depths of the sea； could it
escape with its wings？
TRYGAEUS （exposing himself）
I am fitted with a rudder in case of need； and my Naxos beetle
will serve me as a boat。
LITTLE DAUGHTER
And what harbour will you put in at？
TRYGAEUS
Why is there not the harbour of Cantharus at the Piraeus？
LITTLE DAUGHTER
Take care not to knock against anything and so fall off into
space； once a cripple； you would be a fit subject for Euripides； who
would put you into a tragedy。
TRYGAEUS （as the Machine hoists him higher）
I'll see to it。 Good…bye！ （To the Athenians） You； for love of whom
I brave these dangers； do ye neither fart nor crap for the space of
three days； for； if； while cleaving the air； my steed should scent
anything； he would fling me head foremost from the summit of my hopes。
（Intoning）
Now come； my Pegasus； get a…going with up…pricked ears and make
your golden bridle resound gaily。 Eh！ what are you doing？ What are you
up to？ Do you turn your nose towards the cesspools？ Come； pluck up a
spirit； rush upwards from the earth； stretch out your speedy wings and
make straight for the palace of Zeus； for once give up foraging in
your daily food。…Hi！ you down there； what are you after now？ Oh！ my
god！ it's a man taking a crap in the Piraeus； close to the
whorehouses。 But is it my death you seek then； my death？ Will you
not bury that right away and pile a great heap of earth upon it and
plant wild thyme therein and pour perfumes on it？ If I were to fall
from up here and misfortune happened to me； the town of Chios would
owe a fine of five talents for my death； all because of your damned
arse。
（Speaking）
Alas！ how frightened I am！ oh！ I have no heart for jests。 Ah！
machinist； take great care of me。 There is already a wind whirling
round my navel； take great care or； from sheer fright； I shall form
food for my beetle。。。。 But I think I am no longer far from the gods；
aye； that is the dwelling of Zeus； I perceive。 （The beetle descends
and comes to a halt in front of the house of ZEUS。 TRYGAEUS
dismounts and knocks at the door。） Hullo！ Hi！ where is the doorkeeper？
Will no one open？
HERMES （from within）
I think I can sniff a man。 （Opening the door） Why； what plague
is this？
TRYGAEUS
A horse…beetle。
HERMES
Oh！ impudent； shameless rascal！ oh！ scoundrel！ triple scoundrel！
the greatest scoundrel in the world！ how did you come here？ Oh！
scoundrel of all scoundrels！ your name？ Reply。
TRYGAEUS
Triple scoundrel。
HERMES
Your country？
TRYGAEUS
Triple scoundrel。
HERMES
Your father？
TRYGAEUS
My father？ Triple scoundrel。
HERMES
By the Earth； you shall die； unless you tell me your name。
TRYGAEUS
I am Trygaeus of the Athmonian deme； a good vine…dresser； little
addicted to quibbling and not at all an informer。
HERMES
Why do you come？
TRYGAEUS
I come to bring you this meat。
HERMES （changing his tone）
Ah！ my good friend； did you have a good journey？
TRYGAEUS
Glutton； be off！ I no longer seem a triple scoundrel to you。 Come；
call Zeus。
HERMES
Ah！ ah！ you are a long way yet from reaching the gods； for they
moved yesterday。
TRYGAEUS
To what part of the earth？
HERMES
Eh！ of the earth； did you say？
TRYGAEUS
In short； where are they then？
HERMES
Very far； very far； right at the furthest end of the dome of
heaven。
TRYGAEUS
But why have they left you all alone here？
HERMES
I am watching what remains of the furniture； the little pots and
pans； the bits of chairs and tables； and odd wine…jars。
TRYGAEUS
And why have the gods moved away？
HERMES
Because of their wrath against the Greeks。 They have located War
in the house they occupied themselves and have given him full power to
do with you exactly as he pleases； then they went as high up as ever
they could； so as to see no more of your fights and to hear no more of
your prayers。
TRYGAEUS
What reason have they for treating us so？
HERMES
Because they have afforded you an opportunity for peace more
than once； but you have always preferred war。 If the Laconians got the
very slightest advantage； they would exclaim； 〃By the Twin Brethren！
the Athenians shall smart for this。〃 If； on the contrary； the latter
triumphed and the Laconians came with peace proposals； you would
say； 〃By Demeter； they want to deceive us。 No； by Zeus； we will not
hear a word； they will always be coming as long as we hold Pylos。〃
TRYGAEUS
Yes； that is quite the style our folk do talk in。
HERMES
So that I don't know whether you will ever see Peace again。
TRYGAEUS
Why； where has she gone to then？
HERMES
War has cast her into a deep pit。
TRYGAEUS
Where？
HERMES
Down there； at the very bottom。 And you see what heaps of stones
he has piled over the top； so that you should never pull her out
again。
TRYGAEUS
Tell me； what is War preparing against us？
HERMES
All I know is that last evening he brought along a huge mortar。
TRYGAEUS
And what is he going to do with his mortar？
HERMES
He wants to pound up all the cities of Greece in it。。。。 But I must
say good…bye； for I think he is coming out； what an uproar he is
making！
（He departs in haste。）
TRYGAEUS
Ah！ great gods let us seek safety； I think I already hear the
noise of this fearful war mortar。 （He hides。）
WAR （enters； carrying a huge mortar）
Oh！ mortals； mortals； wretched mortals； how your jaws will snap！
TRYGAEUS
Oh！ divine Apollo！ what a prodigious big mortar！ Oh； what misery
the very sight of War causes me！ This then is the foe from whom I fly；
who is so cruel； so formidable； so stalwart； so solid on his legs！
WAR
Oh！ Prasiae！ thrice wretched； five times； aye； a thousand times
wretched！ for thou shalt be destroyed this day。
（He throws some leeks into the mortar。）
TRYGAEUS （to the audience）
This； gentlemen； does not concern us over much； it's only so
much the worse for the Laconians。
WAR
Oh！ Megara！ Megara！ utterly are you going to be ground up！ what
fine mincemeat are you to be made into！
（He throws in some garlic。）
TRYGAEUS （aside）
Alas！ alas！ what bitter tears there will be among the Megarians！
WAR （throwing in some cheese）
Oh； Sicily！ you too must perish！ Your wretched towns shall be
grated like this cheese。 Now let us pour some Attic honey into the
mortar。
（He does so。）
TRYGAEUS （aside）
Oh！ I beseech you！ use some other honey； this kind is worth four
obols； be careful； oh！ be careful of our Attic honey。
WAR
Hi！ Tumult； you slave there！
TUMULT
What do you want？
WAR
Out upon you！ Standing there with folded arms！ Take this cuff on
the head for your pains。
TUMULT
Oh！ how it stings！ Master； have you got garlic in your fist； I
wonder？
WAR
Run and fetch me a pestle。
TUMULT
But we haven't got one； it was only yesterday we moved。
WAR
Go and fetch me one from Athens； and hurry； hurry！
TUMULT
I'll hurry； if I return without one； I shall have no cause for
laughing。
（He runs off。）
TRYGAEUS （to the audience）
Ah！
