CHORUS He has broken every oath, and his holy plighted troth, And the old social customs of our clan. He has led us unawares into wiles, and into snares, He has given us a prey, all helpless and forlorn, To those who were our foes from the time that they were born, To vile and abominable Man!
EUELPIDES Here it comes! I’m off, confound them.
PEISTHETAERUS Fool, why can’t you remain with me?
EUELPIDES What! that these may tear and rend me?
PEISTHETAERUS How can you hope from birds to flee?
EUELPIDES Truly, I haven’t the least idea.
PEISTHETAERUS Then it is I the affair must guide. Seize we a pot and, the charge awaiting, here we will combat side by side.
EUELPIDES Pot! and how can a pot avail us?
PEISTHETAERUS Never an owl will then come near.
EUELPIDES What of these birds of prey with talons?
PEISTHETAERUS Snatch up a spit, like a hoplite’s spear, Planting it firmly there before you.
EUELPIDES What shall I do about my eyes?
PEISTHETAERUS Take a platter, or take a saucer, holding it over them buckler-wise.
EUELPIDES What a skilful neat contrivance! O you clever fellow you, In your military science Nicias you far outdo!
CHORUS Eleleleu! advance! no loitering; level your beaks and charge away. Shatter the pot at once to pieces; worry, and scratch, and tear, and flay!
HOOPOE O, whatever is your purpose? is your villainy so great, You would slay two worthy persons, kinsmen, clansmen, of my mate? Men who never sought to harm you, would you tear and lacerate?
CHORUS Why, I wonder, should we spare them, more than ravening beasts of prey? Shall we ever find, for vengeance, enemies more rank than they?
HOOPOE Enemies, I grant, by nature, very friends in heart and will; Here they come with kindly purpose, useful lessons to instil.
CHORUS What, they come with words of friendship? What, you really then suppose They will teach us useful lessons, they our fathers’ fathers’ foes?
HOOPOE Yet to clever folk a foeman very useful hints may show; Thus, that foresight brings us safety, from a friend we ne’er should know, But the truth is forced upon us, very quickly, by a foe. Hence it is that all the Cities, taught by foe, and not by friend, Learn to build them ships of battle, and their lofty walls extend; So by this, a foeman’s, teaching children, home, and wealth defend.
CHORUS Well, I really think ’tis better that their errand we should know; I admit that something useful may be taught us by a foe.
PEISTHETAERUS (To Eu.) Now their anger grows more slack; now we had better just draw back.
HOOPOE (To Chor.) This is right and friendly conduct, such as I deserve from you.
CHORUS Well, I am sure that we have never gone against you hitherto.
PEISTHETAERUS Now they are growing a deal more peaceful, now is the time the pot to ground, Now we may lower the platters twain. Nay, but the spit we had best retain,—. Walking within the encampment’s bound, Letting our watchful glances skim Over the edge of the pot’s top rim; Never a thought of flight must strike us.
EUELPIDES Well, but tell me, suppose we die, Where in the world will our bodies lie?
PEISTHETAERUS They shall be buried in Cerameicus, That will be done at the public cost, For we will say that our lives we lost Gallantly fighting the public foe,
PEISTHETAERUS (Yea, we will tell the commanders so,) Gallantly fighting at Orneae.
CHORUS Fall back, fall back to your ranks once more, And stand at ease as ye stood before, And lay your wrath on the ground, in line With your angry mood, as a warrior should; We’ll ask the while who the men may be, And whence they come, and with what design. Hey, Hoopoe, hey! to you I speak.
HOOPOE What is it that to learn you seek?
CHORUS Whence are these visitors and who?
HOOPOE From clever Hellas strangers two.
CHORUS What’s their aim? Canst thou tell Why they came Here to dwell?
HOOPOE Love of you, Love of your Life and ways Was the lure. Here they fain Would remain Comrades true All their days.
CHORUS Hey, hey, what do you say?
CHORUS What is the tale they tell?
HOOPOE In brief, ’Tis something more than past belief.
CHORUS But wherefore is he come? What is it He seeks to compass by his visit? Think you he’s got some cunning plan Whereby, allied with us, he can Assist a friend, or harm a foe? What brings him here, I’d like to know.
HOOPOE Too great, too great, for thought or words, The bliss he promises the birds. All things are yours, he says, whate’er Exists in space, both here and there, And to and fro, and everywhere.
CHORUS Mad a little, eh?
HOOPOE More sane than words can say.
CHORUS Wide awake?
HOOPOE Wide as day. The subtlest cunningest fox, All scheme, invention, craft; wit, wisdom, paradox.
CHORUS His speech, his speech, bid him begin it. The things you show excite me so, I’m fit to fly this very minute.
HOOPOE Now you and you, take back this panoply,
CHORUS And hang it up, God bless it, out of sight Within the kitchen there, beside the Jack. But you (to Pei.) the things we summoned them to hear Expound, declare.
PEISTHETAERUS By Apollo no, not I, Unless they pledge me such a treaty-pledge As that small jackanapes who makes the swords Pledged with his wife, to wit that they’ll not bite me Nor pull me about, nor scratch my—
CHORUS Fie, for shame! Not this? no, no!
PEISTHETAERUS My eyes, I was going to say.
CHORUS I pledge it.
PEISTHETAERUS Swear!
CHORUS I swear on these conditions; So may I win by every judge’s vote, And the whole Theatre’s.
PEISTHETAERUS AND SO YOU SHALL.
CHORUS But if I’m false, then by one vote alone.
HOOPOE O yes! O yes! Hoplites, take up your arms
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