Aristophanes

Who are all my creditors? Let me see and reckon up the interest. What is it I owe?. . . . Twelve minae to Pasias. . . . What! twelve minae to Pasias?. . . . Why did I borrow these? Ah! I know! It was to buy that thoroughbred, which cost me so much. How I should have prized the stone that had blinded him! Phidippides: [in his sleep] That's not fair, Philo! Drive your chariot straight, I… Read the rest of this passage →

Maybe, one of you can tell me where I can buy a stopped-up nose, for there is no work more disgusting than to mix food for a dung-beetle and to carry it to him. A pig or a dog will at least pounce upon our excrement without more ado, but this foul wretch affects the disdainful, the spoilt mistress, and won't eat unless I offer him a cake that has been kneaded for an entire day. . . . But let us…

Euelpides [to his jay] Do you think I should walk straight for yon tree? Pithetaerus [to his crow] Cursed beast, what are you croaking to me? . . . to retrace my steps? Euelpides Why, you wretch, we are wandering at random, we are exerting ourselves only to return to the same spot; we're wasting our time. Pithetaerus To think that I should trust to this crow, which has made me cover more…

"Ah! would you but tell me what I should tell you! Nicias I dare not. How could I express my thoughts with the pomp of Euripides? Demosthenes Oh! please spare me! Do not pelt me with those vegetables, but find some way of leaving our master. Nicias Well, then! Say "Let-us-bolt," like this, in one breath. Demosthenes I follow you — "Let-us-bolt." Nicias Now after "Let-us-bolt" say… Read the rest of this passage →

But here come the Prytanes, and high time too, for it is midday! There, just as I said, they are pushing and fighting for the front seats. Herald [officiously] Step forward, step forward; get within the consecrated area. Amphitheus [rising] Has anyone spoken yet? Herald Who asks to speak? Amphitheus I do. Herald Your name? Amphitheus Amphitheus. Herald Are you not a… Read the rest of this passage →

Hurry yourselves then, for Glyce has sworn that the last comer shall forfeit three measures of wine and a choenix of pease. Second woman Don't you see Melistice, the wife of Smicythion, hurrying hither in her big shoes? I think she is the only one of us all who has had no trouble in getting rid of her husband. First woman And can't you see Geusistrate, the tavern-keeper's wife, with a lamp in…

Beware what you do. I too feel soft sleep spreading over my eyes, Xanthias. Are you crazy, like a Corybant? Sosias No! It's Bacchus who lulls me off. Xanthias Then you serve the same god as myself. just now a heavy slumber settled on my eyelids like a hostile Mede; I nodded and, faith! I had a wondrous dream. Sosias Indeed! and so had I. A dream such as I never had before. But first tell…

Who banged the door? How like prancing Centaur He drove against it Mercy o' me, what's this? Dionysus Boy. Xanthias Yes. Dionysus Did you observe? Xanthias What? Dionysus How alarmed he is. Xanthias Aye truly, lest you've lost your wits. Heracles O by Demeter, I can't choose but laugh. Biting my lips won't stop me. Ha! ha! ha! Dionysus Pray you, come hither, I have need of…

It must be something mighty fine and subtle for you to have turned it about so! Lysistrata So fine, it means just this, Greece saved by the women! Cleonice By the women! Why, its salvation hangs on a poor thread then! Lysistrata Our country's fortunes depend on us — it is with us to undo utterly the Peloponnesians. Cleonice That would be a noble deed truly! Lysistrata To exterminate the…

And with what responding tones did the sacred tripod resound? Chremylus You shall know. The god ordered me in plain terms to follow the first man I should meet upon leaving the temple and to persuade him to accompany me home. Cario And who was the first one you met? Chremylus This blind man. Cario And you are stupid enough not to understand the meaning of such an answer! Why, the god was…

Ah! let us step aside; here is one of his slaves bringing a brazier and some myrtle branches; no doubt he is going to offer a sacrifice and pray for a happy poetical inspiration for Agathon. Servant of agathon: [standing on the threshold; solemnly] Silence! oh, people! keep your mouths sedately shut! The chorus of the Muses is moulding songs at my master's hearth. Let the winds hold their breath…