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, Ishall 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 about that, for my authority is the law and the law must be obeyed in a democracy.
