the thesmophoriazusae-第2章
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himself。
MNESILOCHUS
Ah！ so it is for this reason that Philocles； who is so hideous；
writes hideous pieces； Xenocles； who is malicious； malicious ones； and
Theognis； who is cold； such cold ones？
AGATHON
Yes； necessarily and unavoidably； and it is because I knew this
that I have so well cared for my person。
MNESILOCHUS
How； in the gods' name？
EURIPIDES
Come； leave off badgering him； I was just the same at his age；
when I began to write。
MNESILOCHUS
Ah！ then； by Zeus！ I don't envy you your fine manners。
EURIPIDES （to AGATHON）
But listen to the cause that brings me here。
AGATHON
Say on。
EURIPIDES
Agathon； wise is he who can compress many thoughts into few words。
Struck by a most cruel misfortune； I come to you as a suppliant。
AGATHON
What are you asking？
EURIPIDES
The women purpose killing me to…day during the Thesmophoria；
because I have dared to speak ill of them。
AGATHON
And what can I do for you in the matter？
EURIPIDES
Everything。 Mingle secretly with the women by making yourself pass
as one of themselves； then do you plead my cause with your own lips；
and I am saved。 You； and you alone； are capable of speaking of me
worthily。
AGATHON
But why not go and defend yourself？
EURIPIDES
Impossible。 First of all； I am known； further； I have white hair
and a long beard； whereas you； you are good…looking； charming； and are
close…shaven； you are fair； delicate； and have a woman's voice。
AGATHON
Euripides！
EURIPIDES
Well？
AGATHON
Have you not said in one of your pieces； 〃You love to see the
light； and don't you believe your father loves it too？〃
EURIPIDES
Yes。
AGATHON
Then never you think I am going to expose myself in your stead； it
would be madness。 It's up to you to submit to the fate that
overtakes you； one must not try to trick misfortune； but resign
oneself to it with good grace。
MNESILOCHUS
You fairy！ That's why your arse is so accessible to lovers。
EURIPIDES
But what prevents your going there？
AGATHON
I should run more risk than you would。
EURIPIDES
Why？
AGATHON
Why？ I should look as if I were wanting to trespass on secret
nightly pleasures of the women and to rape their Aphrodite。
MNESILOCHUS （aside）
Wanting to rape indeed！ you mean wanting to be raped。 Ah！ great
gods！ a fine excuse truly！
EURIPIDES
Well then； do you agree？
AGATHON
Don't count upon it。
EURIPIDES
Oh！ I am unfortunate indeed！ I am undone！
MNESILOCHUS
Euripides； my friend； my son…in…law； never despair。
EURIPIDES
What can be done？
MNESILOCHUS
Send him to the devil and do with me as you like。
EURIPIDES
Very well then； since you devote yourself to my safety； take off
your cloak first。
MNESILOCHUS
There； it lies on the ground。 But what do you want to do with me？
EURIPIDES
To shave off this beard of yours； and to remove all your other
hair as well。
MNESILOCHUS
Do what you think fit； I yield myself entirely to you。
EURIPIDES
Agathon； you always have razors about you； lend me one。
AGATHON
Take it yourself； there； out of that case。
EURIPIDES
Thanks。 （To MNESILOCHUS） Now sit down and puff out your right
cheek。
MNESILOCHUS （as he is being shaved）
Ow！ Ow！ Ow！
EURIPIDES
What are you houting for？ I'll cram a spit down your gullet； if
you're not quiet。
MNESILOCHUS
Ow！ Ow！ Ow！ Ow！ Ow！ （He jumps up and starts running away。）
EURIPIDES
Where are you running to now？
MNESILOCHUS
To the temple of the Eumenides。 No； by Demeter！ I won't let myself
be gashed like that。
EURIPIDES
But you will get laughed at； with your face half…shaven like that。
MNESILOCHUS
Little care I。
EURIPIDES
In the gods' names； don't leave me in the lurch。 Come here。
MNESILOCHUS
Oh！ by the gods！ （He turns reluctantly and resumes his seat。）
EURIPIDES
Keep still and hold up your head。 Why do you want to fidget
about like this？
MNESILOCHUS
Mm； mm。
EURIPIDES
Well！ why mm； mm？ There！ it's done and well done too！
MNESILOCHUS
Alas； I shall fight without armour。
EURIPIDES
Don't worry； you look charming。 Do you want to see yourself？
MNESILOCHUS
Yes； I do； hand the mirror here。
EURIPIDES
Do you see yourself？
MNESILOCHUS
But this is not I； it is Clisthenes！
EURIPIDES
Stand up； I am now going to remove your hair。 Bend down。
MNESILOCHUS
Alas！ alas！ they are going to grill me like a pig。
EURIPIDES
Come now； a torch or a lamp！ Bend down and watch out for the
tender end of your tool！
MNESILOCHUS
Aye； aye！ but I'm afire！ oh！ oh！ Water； water； neighbour； or my
perineum will be alight！
EURIPIDES
Keep up your courage！
MNESILOCHUS
Keep my courage； when I'm being burnt up？
EURIPIDES
Come； cease your whining； the worst is over。
MNESILOCHUS
Oh！ it's quite black； all burnt down there！
EURIPIDES
Don't worry！ Satyrus will wash it。
MNESILOCHUS
Woe to him who dares to wash me！
EURIPIDES
Agathon； you refuse to devote yourself to helping me； but at any
rate lend me a tunic and a belt。 You cannot say you have not got them。
AGATHON
Take them and use them as you like； I consent。
MNESILOCHUS
What shall I take？
EURIPIDES
First put on this long saffron…coloured robe。
MNESILOCHUS
By Aphrodite！ what a sweet odour！ how it smells of young male
tools Hand it to me quickly。 And the belt？
EURIPIDES
Here it is。
MNESILOCHUS
Now some rings for my legs。
EURIPIDES
You still want a hair…net and a head…dress。
AGATHON
Here is my night cap。
EURIPIDES
Ah！ that's fine。
MNESILOCHUS
Does it suit me？
AGATHON
It could not be better。
EURIPIDES
And a short mantle？
AGATHON
There's one on the couch； take it。
EURIPIDES
He needs slippers。
AGATHON
Here are mine。
MNESILOCHUS
Will they fit me？ （To AGATHON） You don't like a loose fit。
AGATHON
Try them on。 Now that you have all you need； let me be taken
inside。
（The eccyclema turns and AGATHON disappears。）
EURIPIDES
You look for all the world like a woman。 But when you talk； take
good care to give your voice a woman's tone。
MNESILOCHUS （falsetto）
I'll try my best。
EURIPIDES
Come； get yourself to the temple。
MNESILOCHUS
No； by Apollo； not unless you swear to me。。。。
EURIPIDES
What？
MNESILOCHUS
。。。。that； if anything untoward happen to me； you will leave
nothing undone to save me。
EURIPIDES
Very well！ I swear it by the Aether； the dwelling…place of the
king of the gods。
MNESILOCHUS
Why not rather swear it by the sons of Hippocrates？
EURIPIDES
Come； I swear it by all the gods； both great and small。
MNESILOCHUS
Remember； it's the heart； and not the tongue； that has sworn；
for the oaths of the tongue concern me but little。
EURIPIDES
Hurry up！ The signal for the meeting has just been raised on the
Temple of Demeter。 Farewell。
（They both depart。 The scene changes to the interior of the
Thesmophorion； where the women who form the chorus are
assembled。 Mnesilochus enters； in his feminine attire； striving
to act as womanly as possible； and giving his voice as female a
pitch and lilt as he can； he pretends to be addressing his
slave…girl。）
MNESILOCHUS
Here； Thratta； follow me。 Look； Thratta； at the cloud of smoke
that arises from all these lighted torches。 Ah！ beautiful
Thesmophorae！ grant me your favours； protect me； both within the
temple and on my way back！ Come； Thratta； put down the basket and take
out the cake； which I wish to offer to the two goddesses。 Mighty
divinity； oh； Demeter； and thou； Persephone； grant that I may be
able to offer you many sacrifices； above all things； grant that I
may not be recognized。 Would that my well…holed daughter might marry a
man as rich as he is foolish and silly； so that she may have nothing
to do but amuse herself。 But where can a place be found for hearing
well？ Be off； Thratta； be off； slaves have no right to be present at
this gathering。
（He sits down amongst the women。）
WOMAN HERALD
Silence！ Silence！ Pray to the Thesmophorae； Demeter and Cora； pray
to Plutus； Calligenia； Curotrophus； the Earth； Hermes and the
Graces； that all may happen for the best at this gathering； both for
the greatest advantage of Athens and for our own personal happiness！
May the award be given her who； by both deeds and words； has most
deserved it from the Athenian people and from the women！ Address these
prayers to heaven and demand happiness for yourselves。 Io Paean！ Io
Paean！ Let us rejoice！
CHORUS （singing）
May the gods deign to accept our vows and our prayers！ Oh！
almighty Zeus； and thou； god with the golden lyre； who reignest on
sacred Delos； and thou； oh； invincible virgin； Pallas； with the eyes
of azure and the spear of gold； who protectest our illustrious city；
and thou； the daughter of the beautiful Leto； queen of the forests；
who art adored under many names； hasten hither at my call。 Come；
thou mighty Posidon； king of the Ocean； leave thy stormy whirlpools of
Nereus； come； goddesses of the seas； come； ye nymphs； who wander on
the mountains。 Let us unite our voices to the sounds of the golden
lyre； and may wisdom preside at the gathering of the noble matrons
of Athens。
WOMAN HERALD
Address your prayers to the gods and goddesses of Olympus； of
Delphi； Delos and all other places； if there be a man who is
plotting against the womenfolk or who； to injure them； is proposing
peace to Euripides and the Medes； or who aspires to usurping the
tyranny； plots the return of a tyrant； or unmasks a supposititious
child； or if there be a slave who； a confidential party to a wife's
intrigues； reveals them secretly to her husband； or who； entrusted
with a message； does not deliver the same faithfully； if there be a
lover who fulfils naught of what he has promised a woman； whom he
has abused on the strength of his lies； if there be an old woman who
seduces the lover of a maiden by dint of her presents and
treacherously receives him in her house； if there be a host or hostess
who sells false measure； pray the gods that they will overwhelm them
with their wrath； both them and their families； and that they may
reserve all their favours for you。
CHORUS （singing）
Let us ask the fulfilment of these wishes both for the city and
for the people； and may the
