the acharnians-第3章
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DICAEOPOLIS
What cries of anguish you would have uttered had these coals of
Parnes been dismembered； and yet it came very near it； had they
perished； their death would have been due to the folly of their
fellow…citizens。 The poor basket was so frightened； look； it has
shed a thick black dust over me； the same as a cuttle…fish does。
What an irritable temper！ You shout and throw stones； you will not
hear my arguments…not even when I propose to speak in favour of the
Lacedaemonians with my head on the block； and yet I cling to life。
（He goes into the house。）
CHORUS （singing； belligerently again）
Well then； bring out a block before your door； scoundrel； and
let us hear the good grounds you can give us； I am curious to know
them。 Now mind； as you proposed yourself； place your head on the block
and speak。
DICAEOPOLIS （coming out of his house； carrying a block）
Here is the block； and； though I am but a very sorry speaker； I
wish nevertheless to talk freely of the Lacedaemonians and without the
protection of my buckler。 Yet I have many reasons for fear。 I know our
rustics； they are delighted if some braggart comes； and rightly or
wrongly； loads both them and their city with praise and flattery； they
do not see that such toad…eaters are traitors； who sell them for gain。
As for the old men； I know their weakness； they only seek to overwhelm
the accused with their votes。 Nor have I forgotten how Cleon treated
me because of my comedy last year； he dragged me before the Senate and
there he uttered endless slanders against me； it was a tempest of
abuse； a deluge of lies。 Through what a slough of mud he dragged me！ I
almost perished。 Permit me； therefore； before I speak； to dress in the
manner most likely to draw pity。
CHORUS （singing； querulously）
What evasions； subterfuges and delays！ Wait！ here is the sombre
helmet of Pluto with its thick bristling plume； Hieronymus lends it to
you； then open Sisyphus' bag of wiles； but hurry； hurry； for
discussion does not admit of delay。
DICAEOPOLIS
The time has come for me to manifest my courage； so I will go
and seek Euripides。 （Knocking on EURIPIDES' door） Ho！ slave； slave！
SLAVE （opening the door and poking his head out）
Who's there？
DICAEOPOLIS
Is Euripides at home？
SLAVE
He is and he isn't； understand that； if you can。
DICAEOPOLIS
What's that？ He is and he isn't！
SLAVE
Certainly； old man； busy gathering subtle fancies here and
there； his mind is not in the house； but he himself is； perched aloft；
he is composing a tragedy。
DICAEOPOLIS
Oh； Euripides； you are indeed happy to have a slave so quick at
redartee！ Now； fellow； call your master。
SLAVE
Impossible！ （He slams the door。）
DICAEOPOLIS
Too bad。 But I will not give up。 Come； let us knock at the door
again。 Euripides； my little Euripides； my darling Euripides； listen；
never had man greater right to your pity。 It is Dicaeopolis of the
Chollidan Deme who calls you。 Do you hear？
EURIPIDES （from within）
I have no time to waste。
DICAEOPOLIS
Very well； have yourself wheeled out here。
EURIPIDES
Impossible。
DICAEOPOLIS
Nevertheless。。。。
EURIPIDES
Well； let them roll me out； as to coming down； I have not the
time。
（The eccyclema turns and presents the interior of the house。
EURIPIDES is lying on a bed； his slave beside him。 On the back
wall are hung up tragic costumes of every sort and a multitude
of accessories is piled up on the floor。）
DICAEOPOLIS
Euripides。。。。
EURIPIDES
What words strike my ear？
DICAEOPOLIS
You perch aloft to compose tragedies； when you might just as
well do them on the ground。 No wonder you introduce cripples on the
stage。 And why do you dress in these miserable tragic rags？ No
wonder your heroes are beggars。 But； Euripides； on my knees I
beseech you； give me the tatters of some old piece； for I have to
treat the Chorus to a long speech； and if I do it badly it is all over
with me。
EURIPIDES
What rags do you prefer？ Those in which I rigged out Oeneus on the
stage； that unhappy； miserable old man？
DICAEOPOLIS
No； I want those of some hero still more unfortunate。
EURIPIDES
Of Phoenix； the blind man？
DICAEOPOLIS
No； not of Phoenix； you have another hero more unfortunate than
him。
EURIPIDES （to himself）
Now； what tatters does he want？ （to DICAEOPOLIS） Do you mean those
of the beggar Philoctetes？
DICAEOPOLIS
No； of another far more beggarly。
EURIPIDES
Is it the filthy dress of the lame fellow； Bellerophon？
DICAEOPOLIS
No； not Bellerophon； the one I mean was not only lame and a
beggar； but boastful and a fine speaker。
EURIPIDES
Ah！ I know； it is Telephus； the Mysian。
DICAEOPOLIS
Yes； Telephus。 Give me his rags； I beg of you。
EURIPIDES
Slave！ give him Telephus' tatters； they are on top of the rags
of Thyestes and mixed with those of Ino。 There they are； take them。
DICAEOPOLIS （holding up the costume for the audience to see）
Oh！ Zeus； whose eye pierces everywhere and embraces all； permit me
to assume the most wretcbed dress on earth。 Euripides； cap your
kindness by giving me the little Mysian hat； that goes so well with
these tatters。 I must to…day have the look of a beggar； 〃be what I am；
but not appear to be〃； the audience will know well who I am； but the
Chorus will be fools enough not to； and I shall dupe them with my
subtle phrases。
EURIPIDES
I will give you the hat； I love the clever tricks of an
ingenious brain like yours。
DICAEOPOLIS
Rest happy； and may it befall Telephus as I wish。 Ah； I already
feel myself filled with quibbles。 But I must have a beggar's staff。
EURIPIDES （handing him a staff）
Here you are； and now get away from this porch。
DICAEOPOLIS
Oh； my soul！ You see how you are driven from this house； when I
still need so many accessories。 But let us be pressing； obstinate；
importunate。 Euripides； give me a little basket with a lamp lighted
inside。
EURIPIDES
Whatever do you want such a thing as that for？
DICAEOPOLIS
I do not need it； but I want it all the same。
EURIPIDES （handing him a basket）
You importune me； get out of here！
DICAEOPOLIS
Alas！ may the gods grant you a destiny as brilliant as your
mother's。〃
EURIPIDES
Leave me in peace。
DICAEOPOLIS
Oh； just a little broken cup。
EURIPIDES （handing him a cup）
Take it and go and hang yourself。 （to himself） What a tiresome
fellow！
DICAEOPOLIS
Ah！ you do not know all the pain you cause me。 Dear； good
Euripides； just a little pot with a sponge for a stopper。
EURIPIDES
Miserable man！ You are stealing a whole tragedy。 Here； take it and
be off。
（He hands DICAEOPOLIS a pot。）
DICAEOPOLIS
I am going； but； great gods！ I need one thing more； unless I
have it； am a dead man。 Hearken； my little Euripides； only give me
this and I go； never to return。 For pity's sake； do give me a few
small herbs for my basket。
EURIPIDES
You wish to ruin me then。 Here； take what you want； but it is
all over with my plays！
（He hands him some herbs。）
DICAEOPOLIS
I won't ask another thing； I'm going。 I am too importunate and
forget that I rouse against me the hate of kings。 （He starts to leave；
then returns quickly） Ah！ wretch that I am！ I am lost！ I have
forgotten one thing； without which all the rest is as nothing。
Euripides； my excellent Euripides； my dear little Euripides； may I die
if I ask you again for the smallest present； only one； the last；
absolutely the last； give me some of the chervil your mother left
you in her will。
EURIPIDES
Insolent hound！ Slave； lock the door！ （The eccyclema turns back
again。）
DICAEOPOLIS
Oh； my soul！ we must go away without the chervil。 Art thou
sensible of the dangerous battle we are about to engage upon in
defending the Lacedaemonians？ Courage； my soul； we must plunge into
the midst of it。 Dost thou hesitate and art thou fully steeped in
Euripides？ That's right！ do not falter； my poor heart； and let us risk
our head to say what we hold for truth。 Courage and boldly to the
front。 I am astonished at my bravery。
（He approaches the block。）
CHORUS （singing； excitedly）
What do you purport doing？ what are you going to say？ What an
impudent fellow！ what a brazen heart！ to dare to stake his head and
uphold an opinion contrary to that of us all！ And he does not
tremble to face this peril Come； it is you who desired it； speak！
DICAEOPOLIS
Spectators； be not angered if； although I am a beggar； I dare in
comedy to speak before the people of Athens of the public weal； even
Comedy can sometimes discern what is right。 I shall not please； but
I shall say what is true。 Besides； Cleon shall not be able to accuse
me of attacking Athens before strangers； we are by ourselves at the
festival of the Lenaea； the time when our allies send us their tribute
and their soldiers is not yet here。 There is only the pure wheat
without the chaff； as to the resident aliens settled among us； they
and the citizens are one； like the straw and the ear。
I detest the Lacedaemonians with all my heart； and may Posidon；
the god of Taenarus； cause an earthquake and overturn their dwellings！
My vines too have been cut。 But come （there are only friends who
hear me）； why accuse the Laconians of all our woes？ Some men （I do not
say the city； note particularly that I do not say the city）； some
wretches； lost in vices； bereft of honour； who were not even
citizens of good stamp； but strangers； have accused the Megarians of
introducing their produce fraudulently； and not a cucumber； a leveret；
a suckling pig； a clove of garlic； a lump of salt was seen without its
being said； 〃Halloa！ these come from Megara；〃 and their being
instantly confiscated。 Thus far the evil was not serious and we were
the only sufferers。 But now some young drunkards go to Megara and
carry off the harlot Simaetha； the Megarians； hurt to the quick； run
off in turn with two harlots of the house of Aspasia； and so for three
whores Greece is set ablaze。 Then Pericles； aflame with ire on his
Olympian height； let loose the lightning； caused the thunder to
roll； upset Greece and passed an edict； which ran like the song； 〃That
the Megarians be banished both from our land and from our markets
and from the sea and from the continent。〃 Meanwhile the Megarians； who
were beginning to die of hunger； begged the Lacedaemonians to bring
about the abolition of the decree； of which those harlots were the
cause； several
