DIONYSUS Nay, that’s too much.
CORPSE Out of the pathway, you!
DIONYSUS Beshrew thee, stop: may-be we’ll strike a bargain,
CORPSE Pay me two drachmas, or it’s no use talking.
DIONYSUS One and a half.
CORPSE I’d liefer live again!
XANTHIAS How absolute the knave is! He be hanged! I’ll go myself.
DIONYSUS You’re the right sort, my man. Now to the ferry.
CHARON Yoh, up! lay her to.
XANTHIAS Whatever’s that?
DIONYSUS Why, that’s the lake, by Zeus, Whereof he spake, and yon’s the ferry-boat.
XANTHIAS Poseidon, yes, and that old fellow’s Charon.
DIONYSUS Charon! O welcome, Charon! welcome, Charon.
CHARON Who’s for the Rest from every pain and ill?
CHARON Who’s for the Lethe’s plain? the Donkey-shearings? Who’s for Cerberia? Taenarum? or the Ravens?
DIONYSUS I,
CHARON Hurry in.
DIONYSUS But where are you going really? In truth to the Ravens?
CHARON Aye, for your behoof. Step in.
DIONYSUS (To Xan) Now, lad.
CHARON A slave? I take no slave, Unless he has fought for his bodyrights at sea.
XANTHIAS I couldn’t go. I’d got the eye-disease.
CHARON Then fetch a circuit round about the lake.
XANTHIAS Where must I wait?
CHARON Beside the Withering stone, Hard by the Rest.
DIONYSUS You understand?
XANTHIAS Too well. O, what ill omen crost me as I started!
CHARON (To Dio.) Sit to the oar. (Calling.) Who else for the boat? Be quick. (To Dio) Hi! what are you doing?
DIONYSUS What am I doing? Sitting On to the oar. You told me to, yourself.
CHARON Now sit you there, you little Potgut.
DIONYSUS So?
CHARON Now stretch your arms full length before you.
DIONYSUS So?
CHARON Come, don’t keep fooling; plant your feet, and now Pull with a will.
DIONYSUS Why, how am I to pull? I’m not an oarsman, seaman, Salaminian. I can’t!
CHARON You can. Just dip your oar in once, You’ll hear the loveliest timing songs.
DIONYSUS What from?
CHARON Frog-swans, most wonderful.
DIONYSUS Then give the word.
CHARON Heave ahoy! heave ahoy!
FROGS Brekekekex, ko-ax, ko-ax, Brekekekex, ko-ax, ko-ax!
Cite This Text