the ecclesiazusae-第6部分
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。。。wait and put it off again。
CHREMES
What for？
CITIZEN
That an earthquake may come or an ill…omened flash of lightning；
that a black cat may run across the street and no one carry in
anything more； you fool！
CHREMES
It would be a fine thing if I were to find no room left for
placing all this。
CITIZEN
You are much more likely to lose your stuff。 As for placing it；
you can be at ease； for there will be room enough as long as a month
hence。
CHREMES
Why？
CITIZEN
I know these people； a decree is readily passed； but it is not
so easily attended to。
CHREMES
All will contribute their property； my friend。
CITIZEN
But what if they don't？
CHREMES
But there is no doubt that they will。
CITIZEN （insistently）
But anyhow； what if they don't？
CHREMES
Do not worry； they will。
CITIZEN
And what if they oppose it？
CHREMES
We shall compel them to do so。
CITIZEN
And what if they prove the stronger？
CHREMES
I shall leave my goods and go off。
CITIZEN
And what if they sell them for you？
CHREMES
The plague take you！
CITIZEN
And if it does？
CHREMES
It will be a good riddance。
CITIZEN （in an incredulous tone）
You are really bent on contributing； then？
CHREMES
'Pon my soul； yes！ Look； there are all my neighbours carrying in
all they have。
CITIZEN （sarcastically）
Oh yes； it's Antisthenes； he's the type that would contribute！
He would just as soon spend the next month sitting on the can。
CHREMES
The pest seize you！
CITIZEN
Will Callimachus； the chorus…master； contribute anything？
CHREMES
Why； more than Callias！
CITIZEN
The man must want to spend all his money！
CHREMES
How you weary me！
CITIZEN
Ah！ I weary you？ But； wretch； see what comes of decrees of this
kind。 Don't you remember the one reducing the price of salt？
CHREMES
Why； certainly I do。
CITIZEN
And do you remember that about the copper coinage？
CHREMES
Ah！ that cursed money did me enough harm。 I had sold my grapes and
had my mouth stuffed with pieces of copper； indeed I was going to
the market to buy flour； and was in the act of holding out my bag wide
open； when the herald started shouting； 〃Let none in future accept
pieces of copper； those of silver are alone current。〃
CITIZEN
And quite lately； were we not all swearing that the impost of
one…fortieth； which Euripides had conceived； would bring five
hundred talents to the state； and everyone was vaunting Euripides to
the skies？ But when the thing was looked at closely； it was seen
that this fine decree was mere moonshine and would produce nothing；
and you would have willingly burnt this very same Euripides alive。
CHREMES
The cases are quite different； my good fellow。 We were the
rulers then； but now it's the women。
CITIZEN
Whom； by Posidon； I will never allow to piss on my nose。
CHREMES
I don't know what the devil you're chattering about。 Slave； pick
up that bundle。
HERALD （a woman）
Let all citizens come； let them hasten at our leader's bidding！ It
is the new law。 The lot will teach each citizen where he is to dine；
the tables are already laid and loaded with the most exquisite dishes；
the couches are covered with the softest of cushions； the wine and
water are already being mixed in the ewers； the slaves are standing in
a row and waiting to pour scent over the guests； the fish is being
grilled； the hares are on the spit and the cakes are being kneaded；
chaplets are being plaited and the fritters are frying； the youngest
women are watching the pea…soup in the saucepans； and in the midst
of them all stands Smoeus； dressed as a knight； washing the
crockery。 And Geron has come； dressed in a grand tunic and finely
shod； he is joking with another young fellow and has already
divested himself of his heavy shoes and his cloak。 The pantry man is
waiting； so come and use your jaws。
（Exit）
CITIZEN
All right； I'll go。 Why should I delay； since the state commands
me？
CHREMES
And where are you going to； since you have not deposited your
belongings？
CITIZEN
To the feast。
CHREMES
If the women have any wits； they will first insist on your
depositing your goods。
CITIZEN
But I am going to deposit them。
CHREMES
When？
CITIZEN
I am not the man to make delays。
CHREMES
How do you mean？
CITIZEN
There will be many less eager than I。
CHREMES
In the meantime you are going to dine。
CITIZEN
What else should I do？ Every sensible man must give his help to
the state。
CHREMES
But if admission is forbidden you？
CITIZEN
I shall duck my head and slip in。
CHREMES
And if the women have you beaten？
CITIZEN
I shall summon them。
CHREMES
And if they laugh in your face？
CITIZEN
I shall stand near the door。。。
CHREMES
And then？
CITIZEN
。。。and seize upon the dishes as they pass。
CHREMES
Then go there； but after me。 Sicon and Parmeno； pick up all this
baggage。
CITIZEN
Come； I will help you carry it。
CHREMES （pushing him away）
No； no； I should be afraid of your pretending to the leader that
what I am depositing belonged to you。
（Exit with his belongings。）
CITIZEN
Let me see！ let me think of some good trick by which I can keep my
goods and yet take my share of the common feast。 （He reflects for a
moment。） Ha！ that's a fine idea！ Quick！ I'll go and dine； ha！ ha！
（Exit laughing。）
（Interlude of dancing by the CHORUS。）
（The scene shifts to a different section of Athens and the two
houses are now to be thought of as those of two prostitutes。）
FIRST OLD WOMAN （leaning out of the window of one house）
How is this？ no men are coming？ And yet it must be fully time！
Then it is for naught that I have painted myself with white lead；
dressed myself in my beautiful yellow robe； and that I am here；
frolicking and humming between my teeth to attract some passer…by！ Oh；
Muses； alight upon my lips； inspire me with some soft Ionian
love…song！
YOUNG GIRL （in the window of the other house）
You putrid old thing； you have placed yourself at the window
before me。 You were expecting to strip my vines during my absence
and to trap some man in your snares with your songs。 If you sing； I
shall follow suit； all this singing will weary the spectators； but
is nevertheless very pleasant and very diverting。
FIRST OLD WOMAN （thumbing her nose at the YOUNG GIRL）
Ha！ here is an old man； take him and lead him away。 （To the
flute…player） As for you； you young flute…player； let us hear some
airs that are worthy of you and me。
（She sings）
Let him who wishes to taste pleasure come to my side。 These
young things know nothing about it； it's only the women of ripe age
who understand the art of love； and no one could know how to fondle
the lover who possessed me so well as myself； the young girls are
all flightiness。
YOUNG GIRL （singing in her turn）
Don't be jealous of the young girls； voluptuousness resides in the
pure outline of their beautiful limbs and blossoms on their rounded
breasts； but you； old woman； you who are tricked out and perfumed as
if for your own funeral； are an object of love only for grim Death
himself。
FIRST OLD WOMAN （singing again）
May your tongue be stopped； may you be unable to find your couch
when you want to be loved。 And on your couch； when your lips seek a
lover； may you embrace only a viper！
YOUNG GIRL （singing again）
Alas！ alas！ what is to become of me？ There is no lover！ I am
left here alone； my mother has gone out。 （Interrupting her song）
There's no need to mention the rest。 （Then singing again） Oh！ my
dear nurse； I adjure you to call Orthagoras； and may heaven bless you。
Ah！ poor child； desire is consuming you like an Ionian woman；
（interrupting again） and yet you are no stranger to the wanton arts of
the Lesbian women。 （Resuming her song） But you shall not rob me of
my pleasures； you will not be able to reduce or filch the time that
first belongs to me。
FIRST OLD WOMAN
Sing as much as you please； peep out like a cat lying in wait； but
none shall pass through your door without first having been to see me。
YOUNG GIRL
If anyone enter your house； it will be to carry out your corpse。
And that will be something new for you； you rotten old thing！
FIRST OLD WOMAN
Can anything be new to an old woman？ My old age will not harm you。
YOUNG GIRL
Ah！ shame on your painted cheeks！
FIRST OLD WOMAN
Why do you speak to me at all？
YOUNG GIRL
And why do you place yourself at the window？
FIRST OLD WOMAN
I am singing to myself about my lover； Epigenes。
YOUNG GIRL
Can you have any other lover than that old fop Geres？
FIRST OLD WOMAN
Epigenes will show you that himself； for he is coming to me。
See； here he is。
YOUNG GIRL
He's not thinking of you in the least。
FIRST OLD WOMAN
Aye； but he is。
YOUNG GIRL
Old starveling！ Let's see what he will do。 I will leave my window。
FIRST OLD WOMAN
And I likewise。 You will see I am much wiser than you。
A YOUNG MAN （sings）
Ah！ could I but sleep with the young girl without first making
love to the old flat…nose！ It is intolerable for a free…born man。
FIRST OLD WOMAN （singing to the same tune）
Willy nilly； you must first gratify my desire。 There shall be no
nonsense ab
