And I am going to denounce you too.

BOEOTIAN
What harm have I done you?

NICARCHUS
I will say it for the benefit of those that listen; you

introduce lampwicks from an enemy's country.
DICAEOPOLIS

Then you even denounce a wick.
NICARCHUS

It needs but one to set an arsenal afire.
DICAEOPOLIS

A wick set an arsenal ablaze! But how, great gods?
NICARCHUS

Should a Boeotian attach it to an insect's wing, and, taking
advantage of a violent north wind, throw it by means of a tube into

the arsenal and the fire once get hold of the vessels, everything
would soon be devoured by the flames.

DICAEOPOLIS
Ah! wretch! an insect and a wick devour everything!

(He strikes him.)
NICARCHUS (to the CHORUS)

You will bear witness, that he mishandles me.
DICAEOPOLIS (to the BOEOTIAN)

Shut his mouth. Give me some hay; I am going to pack him up like a
vase, that he may not get broken on the road.

(The INFORMER is bound and gagged and packed in hay.)
LEADER OF THE CHORUS

Pack up your goods carefully, friend; that the stranger may not
break it when taking it away.

DICAEOPOLIS
I shall take great care with it. (He hits the INFORMER on the head

and a stifled cry is heard.) One would say he is cracked already; he
rings with a false note, which the gods abhor.

LEADER OF THE CHORUS
But what will be done with him?

DICAEOPOLIS
This is a vase good for all purposes; it will be used as a

vessel for holding all foul things, a mortar for pounding together
law-suits, a lamp for spying upon accounts, and as a cup for the

mixing up and poisoning of everything.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS

None could ever trust a vessel for domestic use that has such a
ring about it.

DICAEOPOLIS
Oh! it is strong, my friend, and will never get broken, if care is

taken to hang it head downwards.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS (to the BOEOTIAN)

There! it is well packed now!
BOEOTIAN

Well then, I will proceed to carry off my bundle.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS

Farewell, worthiest of strangers, take this informer, good for
anything, and fling him where you like.

DICAEOPOLIS
Bah! this rogue has given me enough trouble to pack! Here!

Boeotian, pick up your pottery.
BOEOTIAN

Stoop, Ismenias, that I may put it on your shoulder, and be very
careful with it.

DICAEOPOLIS
You carry nothing worth having; however, take it, for you will

profit by your bargain; the informers will bring you luck.
(The BOEOTIAN and his slave depart; DICAEOPOLIS goes into his house;

a slave comes out of LAMACHUS' house.)
SLAVE

Dicaeopolis!
DICAEOPOLIS (from within)

What's the matter? Why are you calling me?
SLAVE

Lamachus wants to keep the Feast of Cups, and I come by his
order to bid you one drachma for some thrushes and three more for a

Copaic eel.
DICAEOPOLIS (coming out)

And who is this Lamachus, who demands an eel?
SLAVE (in tragic style)

He is the terrible, indefatigable Lamachus, who is always
brandishing his fearful Gorgon's head and the three plumes which

o'ershadow his helmet.
DICAEOPOLIS

No, no, he will get nothing, even though he gave me his buckler.
Let him eat salt fish while he shakes his plumes, and, if he comes

here making any din, I shall call the inspectors. As for myself, I
shall take away all these goods; (in tragic style) I go home on

thrushes' wings and black-birds' pinions. (He goes into his house.)
FIRST SEMI-CHORUS (singing)

You see, citizens, you see the good fortune which this man owes to
his prudence, to his profoundwisdom. You see how, since he has

concluded peace, he buys what is useful in the household and good to
eat hot. All good things flow towards him unsought. Never will welcome

the god of war in my house; never shall he sing the "Harmodius" at
my table; he is a sot, who comes feasting with those who are

overflowing with good things and brings all manner of mischief in
his train. He overthrows, ruins, rips open; it is vain to make him a

thousand offers, to say "be seated, pray, and drink this cup, profered
in all friendship"; he burns our vine-stocks and brutally spills on

the ground the wine from our vineyards.
SECOND SEMI-CHORUS (singing)

This man, on the other hand, covers his table with a thousand
dishes; proud of his good fortunes, he has had these feathers cast

before his door to show us how he lives. (A woman appears, bearing the
attributes of Peace.) Oh, Peace! companion of fair Aphrodite and of

the sweet Graces, how charming are thy features and yet I never knew
it! Would that Eros might join me to thee, Eros crowned with roses

as Zeuxis shows him to us! Do I seem somewhat old to thee? I am yet
able to make thee a threefold offering; despite my age I could plant a

long row of vines for you; then beside these some tender cuttings from
the fig; finally a youn, vinestock, loaded with fruit, and all

around the field olive trees, to furnish us with oil wherewith to
anoint us both at the New Moons.

(A HERALD enters.)
HERALD

Oyez, oyez! As was the custom of your forebears, empty a full
pitcher of wine at the call of the trumpet; he who first sees the

bottom shall get a wine-skin as round and plump as Ctesiphon's belly.
DICAEOPOLIS (coming out of the house; to his family within)

Women, children, have you not heard? Faith! do you not heed the
herald? Quick! let the hares boil and roast merrily; keep them

turning; withdraw them from the flame; prepare the chaplets; reach
me the skewers that I may spit the thrushes.

LEADER OF FIRST SEMI-CHORUS
I envy you your wisdom and even more your good cheer.

DICAEOPOLIS
What then will you say when you see the thrushes roasting?

LEADER OF FIRST SEMI-CHORUS
Ah! true indeed!

DICAEOPOLIS
Slave! stir up the fire.

LEADER OF FIRST SEMI-CHORUS
See, how he knows his business, what a perfect cook! How well he

understands the way to prepare a good dinner!
(A HUSBANDMAN enters in haste.)

HUSBANDMAN
Ah! woe is me!

DICAEOPOLIS
Heracles! What have we here?

HUSBANDMAN
A most miserable man.

DICAEOPOLIS
Keep your misery for yourself.

HUSBANDMAN
Ah! friend! since you alone are enjoying peace, grant me a part of

your truce, were it but five years.
DICAEOPOLIS

What has happened to you?
HUSBANDMAN

I am ruined; I have lost a pair of steers.
DICAEOPOLIS

How?
HUSBANDMAN

The Boeotians seized them at Phyle.
DICAEOPOLIS

Ah! poor wretch! and do you still wear white?
HUSBANDMAN

Their dung made my wealth.
DICAEOPOLIS

What can I do in the matter?
HUSBANDMAN

Crying for my beasts has lost me my eyesight. Ah! if you care
for poor Dercetes of Phyle, anoint mine eyes quickly with your balm of

peace.
DICAEOPOLIS

But, my poor fellow, I do not practise medicine.
HUSBANDMAN

Come, I adjure you; perhaps I shall recover my steers.
DICAEOPOLIS

Impossible; away, go and whine to the disciples of Pittalus.
HUSBANDMAN

Grant me but one drop of peace; pour it into this little reed.
DICAEOPOLIS

No, not a particle; go and weep somewhere else.
HUSBANDMAN (as he departs)

Oh! oh! oh! my poor beasts!
LEADER OF SECOND SEMI-CHORUS

This man has discovered the sweetest enjoyment in peace; he will
share it with none.

DICAEOPOLIS (to a slave)
Pour honey over this tripe; set it before the fire to dry.

LEADER OF SECOND SEMI-CHORUS
What lofty tones he uses! Did you hear him?

DICAEOPOLIS (to the slaves inside the house)
Get the eels on the gridiron!

LEADER OF SECOND SEMI-CHORUS
You are killing me with hunger; your smoke is choking your

neighbours, and you split our ears with your bawling.
DICAEOPOLIS

Have this fried and let it be nicely browned.
(He goes back into the house. A WEDDING GUEST enters, carrying a

package.)
WEDDING GUEST

Dicaeopolis! Dicaeopolis!
DICAEOPOLIS

Who are you?
WEDDING GUEST

A young bridegroom sends you these viands from the marriage feast.
DICAEOPOLIS

Whoever he be, I thank him.
WEDDING GUEST

And in return, he prays you to pour a glass of peace into this
vase, that he may not have to go to the front and may stay at home

to make love to his young wife.
DICAEOPOLIS

• attach [ə´tætʃ] v.附；使隶属；使依恋 (初中英语单词)
• violent [´vaiələnt] a.强暴的；猛烈的 (初中英语单词)
• insect [´insekt] n.昆虫 (初中英语单词)
• witness [´witnis] n.见证人 vt.目击 (初中英语单词)
• vessel [´vesəl] n.容器；船；脉管 (初中英语单词)
• domestic [də´mestik] a.家庭的；本国的 (初中英语单词)
• chorus [´kɔ:rəs] n.合唱；齐声 v.合唱 (初中英语单词)
• bargain [´bɑ:gin] n.买卖合同 v.议(价) (初中英语单词)
• fearful [´fiəfəl] a.可怕的；担心的 (初中英语单词)
• wisdom [´wizdəm] n.智慧，聪明，才智 (初中英语单词)
• mischief [´mistʃif] n.伤害；故障；调皮 (初中英语单词)
• companion [kəm´pæniən] n.同伴；同事；伴侣 (初中英语单词)
• charming [´tʃɑ:miŋ] a.可爱的；极好的 (初中英语单词)
• despite [di´spait] prep.尽管 (初中英语单词)
• withdraw [wið´drɔ:] v.收回；撤销；撤退 (初中英语单词)
• miserable [´mizərəbəl] a.悲惨的；可怜的 (初中英语单词)
• misery [´mizəri] n.痛苦；悲惨；穷困 (初中英语单词)
• practise [´præktis] v.实践(行，施)；提倡 (初中英语单词)
• hunger [´hʌŋgə] n.饥饿；渴望 (初中英语单词)
• nicely [naisli] ad.恰好地；谨慎地 (初中英语单词)
• wedding [´wediŋ] n.婚礼，结婚 (初中英语单词)
• denounce [di´nauns] vt.指责；告发；揭发 (高中英语单词)
• devour [di´vauə] vt.吞食；毁坏 (高中英语单词)
• tragic [´trædʒik] a.悲剧的；悲惨的 (高中英语单词)
• profound [prə´faund] a.深奥的；渊博的 (高中英语单词)
• bearing [´beəriŋ] n.举止；忍耐；关系 (高中英语单词)
• offering [´ɔfəriŋ] n.提供；礼物；捐献 (高中英语单词)
• herald [´herəld] n.先驱；预兆 vt.预示 (高中英语单词)
• trumpet [´trʌmpit] n.喇叭；小号 (高中英语单词)
• merrily [´merili] ad.欢乐地；愉快地 (高中英语单词)
• particle [´pɑ:tikl] n.微粒；极小量 (高中英语单词)
• enjoyment [in´dʒɔimənt] n.享受；愉快；乐趣 (高中英语单词)
• mortar [´mɔ:tə] n.灰浆 vt.用灰浆涂抹 (英语四级单词)
• prudence [´pru:dəns] n.谨慎；慎重；节俭 (英语四级单词)
• anoint [ə´nɔint] vt.涂油于，用油擦 (英语四级单词)
• bridegroom [´braidgru:m] n.新郎 (英语四级单词)
• arsenal [´ɑ:sənəl] n.兵工厂；军械库 (英语六级单词)
• taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (英语六级单词)
• cracked [krækt] a.有裂缝的；碎的；粗哑 (英语六级单词)
• holding [´həuldiŋ] n.保持，固定，存储 (英语六级单词)
• calling [´kɔ:liŋ] n.点名；职业；欲望 (英语六级单词)
• wherewith [wɛə´wiθ] ad.用什么；用以 (英语六级单词)