peace-第3章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
laughing。
（He runs off。）
TRYGAEUS （to the audience）
Ah！ what is to become of us； wretched mortals that we are？ See the
danger that threatens if he returns with the pestle； for War will
quietly amuse himself with pounding all the towns of Hellas to pieces。
Ah！ Bacchus！ cause this herald of evil to perish on his road！
WAR （to the returning TUMULT）
Well？
TUMULT
Well； what？
WAR
You have brought back nothing？
TUMULT
Alas！ the Athenians have lost their pestle…the tanner； who
ground Greece to powder。
TRYGAEUS
Oh！ Athene； venerable mistress！ it is well for our city he is
dead； and before he could serve us with this hash。
WAR
Then go and seek one at Sparta and have done with it！
TUMULT
Aye； aye； master！
（He runs off。）
WAR （shouting after him）
Be back as quick as ever you can。
TRYGAEUS （to the audience）
What is going to happen； friends？ This is the critical hour。 Ah！
if there is some initiate of Samothrace among you； this is surely
the moment to wish this messenger some accident…some sprain or strain。
TUMULT （returning）
Alas！ alas！ thrice again； alas！
WAR
What is it？ Again you come back without it？
TUMULT
The Spartans too have lost their pestle。
WAR
How； varlet？
TUMULT
They had lent it to their allies in Thrace； who have lost it for
them。
TRYGAEUS
Long life to you； Thracians！ My hopes revive； pluck up courage；
mortals！
WAR
Take all this stuff； I am going in to make a pestle for myself。
（He goes in； followed by TUMULT。）
TRYGAEUS （coming out of his hiding…place）
Now is the time to sing as Datis did； as he masturbated at high
noon； 〃Oh pleasure！ oh enjoyment！ oh delights！〃 Now； oh Greeks！ is the
moment when freed of quarrels and fighting； we should rescue sweet
Peace and draw her out of this pit； before some other pestle
prevents us。 Come； labourers； merchants； workmen； artisans； strangers；
whether you be domiciled or not； islanders； come here； Greeks of all
countries； come hurrying here with picks and levers and ropes！ This is
the moment to drain a cup in honour of the Good Genius。
（The CHORUS enters； it consists of labourers and farmers from
various Greek states。）
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Come hither all！ quick； to the rescue！ All peoples of Greece；
now is the time or never； for you to help each other。 You see
yourselves freed from battles and all their horrors of bloodshed。
The day hateful to Lamachus has come。 （To TRYGAEUS） Come then； what
must be done？ Give your orders； direct us； for or swear to work this
day without ceasing； until with the help of our levers and our engines
we have drawn back into light the greatest of all goddesses； her to
whom the olive is so dear。
TRYGAEUS
Silence！ if War should hear your shouts of joy he would bound
forth from his retreat in fury。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Such a decree overwhelms us with joy； how different to the
edict； which bade us muster with provisions for three days。
TRYGAEUS
Let us beware lest the cursed Cerberus prevent us even from the
nethermost bell from delivering the goddess by his furious howling；
just as he did when on earth。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Once we have hold of her； none in the world will be able to take
her from us。 Huzza！ huzza！
TRYGAEUS
You will work my death if you don't subdue your shouts。 War will
come running out and trample everything beneath his feet。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Well then！ Let him confound； let him trample； let him overturn
everything！ We cannot help giving vent to our joy。
TRYGAEUS
Oh！ cruel fate！ My friends！ in the name of the gods； what
possesses you？ Your dancing will wreck the success of a fine
undertaking。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
It's not I who want to dance； it's my legs that bound with
delight。
TRYGAEUS
Enough； please； cease your gambols。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
There！ That's all。
TRYGAEUS
You say so； and nevertheless you go on。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Yet one more figure and it's done。
TRYGAEUS
Well； just this one； then you must dance no more。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
No； no more dancing； if we can help you。
TRYGAEUS
But look； you are not stopping even now。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
By Zeus； I am only throwing up my right leg； that's all。
TRYGAEUS
Come； I grant you that； but pray； annoy me no further。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Ah！ the left leg too will have its fling； well； that's its
right。 I am so happy； so delighted at not having to carry my buckler
any more。 I fart for joy and I laugh more than if I had cast my old
age； as a serpent does its skin。
TRYGAEUS
No； it's not time for joy yet； for you are not sure of success。
But when you have got the goddess； then rejoice； shout and laugh；
thenceforward you will be able to sail or stay at home； to make love
or sleep； to attend festivals and processions； to play at cottabos；
live like true Sybarites and to shout； Io； io！
CHORUS （singing）
Ah！ God grant we may see the blessed day。 I have suffered so much；
have so oft slept with Phormio on hard beds。 You will no longer find
me a bitter and angry judge。。。。
TRYGAEUS （singing）
Nor； naturally； hard in your ways； as heretofore。
CHORUS （singing）
。。。。but turned indulgent and grown younger by twenty years through
happiness。 We have been killing ourselves long enough； tiring
ourselves out with going to the Lyceum and returning laden with
spear and buckler。…But what can we do to please you？ Come； speak；
for 'tis a good Fate that has named you our leader。
TRYGAEUS
How shall we set about removing these stones？
HERMES （who has just returned）
Rash reprobate； what do you propose doing？
TRYGAEUS
Nothing bad； as Cillicon said。
HERMES
You are undone； you wretch。
TRYGAEUS
Yes； if the lot had to decide my life； for Hermes would know how
to turn the chance。
HERMES
You are lost； you are dead。
TRYGAEUS
On what day？
HERMES
This instant。
TRYGAEUS
But I have not provided myself with flour and cheese yet to
start for death。
HERMES
You are kneaded and ground already； I tell you。
TRYGAEUS
Hah！ I have not yet tasted that gentle pleasure。
HERMES
Don't you know that Zeus has decreed death for him who is caught
exhuming Peace？
TRYGAEUS
What！ must I really and truly die？
HERMES
You must。
TRYGAEUS
Well then； lend me three drachmae to buy a young pig； I wish to
have myself initiated before I die。
HERMES
Oh！ Zeus； the Thunderer！
TRYGAEUS
I adjure you in the name of the gods； master； don't report us！
HERMES
I may not； I cannot keep silent。
TRYGAEUS
In the name of the meats which I brought you so good…naturedly。
HERMES
Why； wretched man； Zeus will annihilate me； if I do not shout
out at the top of my voice； to inform him what you are plotting。
TRYGAEUS
Oh； no！ don't shout； I beg you； dear little Hermes。。。。 And what
are you doing； comrades？ You stand there as though you were stocks and
stones。 Wretched men； speak； entreat him at once； otherwise he will be
shouting。
CHORUS （singing）
Oh！ mighty Hermes！ do not do it； no； do not do it！ If ever you
have eaten some young pig； sacrificed by us on your altars； with
pleasure； may this offering not be without value in your sight to…day。
TRYGAEUS （singing）
Do you not hear them wheedling you； mighty god？
CHORUS （singing）
Be not pitiless toward our prayers； permit us to deliver the
goddess。 Oh！ the most human； the most generous of the gods； be
favourable toward us； if it be true that you d
