TRYGAEUS Now the cup of happy fortune, brothers, it is ours to taste.
CHORUS Come then, heart and soul, my comrades, haste to win this great salvation, Now or never, now if ever, come, the whole Hellenic nation! Throw away your ranks and squadrons, throw your scarlet plagues away, Lo, at length the day is dawning, Lamachus-detesting day! O be thou our guide and leader, managing, presiding o’er us, For I think I shan’t give over in this noble task before us, Till with levers, cranes, and pulleys once again to light we haul Peace, the Goddess best and greatest, vineyard-lovingest of all.
TRYGAEUS O be quiet! O be quiet! by your noisy loud delight You will waken War, the demon, who is crouching out of sight.
CHORUS O we joy, we joy, we joy, to hear your glorious proclamations, So unlike that odious Wanted at the camp with three days’ rations.
TRYGAEUS Yet beware, beware, remember! Cerberus is down below:
TRYGAEUS He may come with fuss and fury (as when he was here you know), Every obstacle and hindrance in the way of Peace to throw.
CHORUS Who shall bear her, who shall tear her, from these loving arms away, If I once can clasp and grasp her? O hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!
TRYGAEUS Zounds! you’ll surely be our ruin: stop your clamour, I entreat: War will by and bye come trampling everything beneath his feet.
CHORUS Let him stamp, and tramp, and trample, let him do whate’er he will, I am so immensely happy that I really can’t be still.
TRYGAEUS What the mischief! what’s the matter? do not, by the Gods, I pray, With your dancings and your prancings spoil our noble work to-day.
CHORUS Really now I didn’t mean to: no I didn’t, I declare: Quite without my will my ankles will perform this joyous air.
TRYGAEUS Well, but don’t go on at present; cease your dancing or you’ll rue it.
CHORUS Look, observe, I’ve really ceased it.
TRYGAEUS So you say, but still you do it.
CHORUS Only once, I do beseech you; only just a single hop.
TRYGAEUS Well then, one: make haste about it; only one, and then you stop.
CHORUS Stop? of course we stop with pleasure if ’twill your designs assist.
TRYGAEUS Well, but look: you’re still proceeding.
CHORUS Just, by Zeus, one other twist, Let me fling my right leg upwards, and I’ll really then refrain.
TRYGAEUS This indulgence too I’ll grant you, so you don’t offend again.
CHORUS Hah! but here’s my left leg also: it must have its turn, ’tis plain. (Dancing vigorously with both legs.)
CHORUS I’m so happy, glad, delighted, getting rid of arms at last, More than if, my youth renewing, I the slough of Age had cast.
TRYGAEUS Well, but don’t exult at present, for we’re all uncertain still, But, when once we come to hold her, then be merry if you will; Then will be the time for laughing, Shouting out in jovial glee, Sailing, sleeping, feasting, quaffing, All the public sights to see. Then the Cottabus be playing, Then be hip-hip-hip-hurrahing, Pass the day and pass the night Like a regular Sybarite.
CHORUS Oh that it were yet my fortune those delightful days to see! Woes enough I’ve had to bear, Sorry pallets, trouble, care, Such as fell to Phormio’s share, I would never more thereafter so morose and bitter be,
CHORUS
Nor a judge so stubborn-hearted, unrelenting, and severe; You shall find me yielding then, Quite a tender youth again, When these weary times depart. Long enough we’ve undergone Toils and sorrows many a one, Worn and spent and sick at heart, From Lyceum, to Lyceum, trudging on with shield and spear. Now then tell us what you would Have us do, and we’ll obey, Since by fortune fair and good You’re our sovereign Lord to-day.
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