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the ecclesiazusae-第8部分

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    Not before knocking at mine first。

  YOUNG MAN (haughtily)

    For the moment I really have no need for old leather。

  FIRST OLD WOMAN

    I know that you love me; perhaps you are surprised to find me at

the door。 But come; let me kiss you。

  YOUNG MAN (pulling back; sarcastically)

    No; no; my dear; I am afraid of your lover。

  FIRST OLD WOMAN

    Of whom?

  YOUNG MAN

    The most gifted of painters。

  FIRST OLD WOMAN

    And who is he?

  YOUNG MAN

    The artist who paints the little bottles on coffins。 But get you

indoors; lest he should find you at the door。

  FIRST OLD WOMAN

    I know what you want。

  YOUNG MAN

    I can say as much of you。

  FIRST OLD WOMAN (hanging on to him)

    By Aphrodite; who has granted me this good chance; I won't let you

go。

  YOUNG MAN

    You are drivelling; you little old hag。

  FIRST OLD WOMAN

    Rubbish! I am going to lead you to my couch。

  YOUNG MAN

    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

lose their bloom and vanish 
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