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 Accessions No. 
 
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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
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 http://www.archive.org/details/batrachoiOOarisrich 
 
THE 
 
 FROGS OF ARISTOPHANES 
 
Oxford 
 
 HORACE HART, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY 
 
APISTO0ANOY2 BATPAXOI 
 
 THE 
 
 FROGS OF ARISTOPHANES 
 
 ADAPTED FOR PERFORMANCE BY THE 
 
 Oxford (ynivereifg ©tramafic §ocut^ 
 1892 
 
 WITH 
 
 AN ENGLISH VERSION 
 
 PARTLY ADAPTED FROM THAT OF J. HOOKHAM FRERE 
 AND PARTLY WRITTEN FOR THE OCCASION 
 
 D. G. HOGARTH 
 
 AND 
 
 A. D. GODLEY 
 
 (Djcfox^: 116 ^t^g ^ixut 
 London: HENRY FROWDE, Amen Corner, E.C. 
 

 4<t 
 
 bi^ 
 

 PREFACE 
 
 The Greek text of this edition is in the main that 
 adopted by the Rev. W. W. Merry, D.D., in the 
 Clarendon Press Series. In the preparation of a 
 Greek play for acting purposes considerable cuts must 
 always be made ; in the present adaptation, the ex- 
 cisions are more serious perhaps than usual. The 
 witty scenes in which the Maidservant and the Tavern- 
 keeper appear, I cut out with much reluctance in order 
 to relieve the O.U.D.S. from the necessity of filling 
 those parts. Act III. has been shortened by the 
 excision of the first part of the Poets' contest, deal- 
 ing with purely literary criticism, and occupying over 
 200 lines. The other parts of the contest have been 
 curtailed considerably, on the ground that almost all 
 their point lies in sustained parody of plays either lost 
 or not sufficiently known to a modern audience ; or in 
 personal allusions not intelligible now-a-days. 
 
 For the English version I have laid John Hookham 
 Frere under contribution wherever possible \ All the 
 choric parts, however, have been translated de novo, 
 
 ' With the kind permission, promptly accorded, of Messrs, Pickering 
 and Chatto, the most recent publishers of Frere's Frogs. 
 
vi PREFACE. 
 
 and adapted to Dr. Parry's music ; the Parodos ^i^i<x 
 
 a^laKXf) and the final ode of Act II. (^ nov deivov imlipefieTa^, 
 
 K.T.'K.) by Mr. A. D. Godley, of Magdalen College ; the 
 Frogs' chorus, the Parabasts (MoOo-a x^p^^v Upcop, k.tX.), 
 and the short odes in Act III., by myself. Frere's 
 choric odes, though admirable as paraphrases of the 
 originals, cannot be set to the same music as the Greek, 
 nor are they fitted for a parallel edition. Whoever 
 criticizes our translations of the choruses will I trust 
 not forget that we had to set English words to music 
 already in type. 
 
 Some parts of the dialogue I have been forced to 
 adapt, rather than take simply from Frere, owing to 
 the length to which he often expands the Greek 
 original. Other parts he paraphrases, or leaves un- 
 translated, and of these I have had to write versions : 
 for example, the Examination of Prologues in Act III., 
 with its hair-splitting criticism and its untranslateable 
 refrain, XtjkvBiov aTraXea-ev. I must claim indulgence for 
 all work of this kind on the ground of the great haste 
 in which I had to do it, in order to get the edition 
 early through the press. My very best thanks are due 
 to Dr. C. H. Lloyd for much assistance in fitting the 
 translation to the music : this acknowledgement covers 
 but a small part of the debt under which the O.U.D.S. 
 must remain to him and to Dr. Hubert Parry. 
 
 D. G. HOGARTH. 
 
 Magdalen College, 
 Dec. 21, 1891. 
 
Off THB, 
 
 'UHIYBESITTj 
 
 INTRODUCTORY 
 
 / 
 
 The Alexandrine * argument,' prefixed to the Frogs, 
 tells us, on the authority of Dicaearchus, that so greatly 
 admired was the play for its Parabasis, or political chorus 
 (Act II. Scene ii.), that it gained the rare honour of a second 
 representation at Athens, after winning the first prize on its 
 appearance. / 
 
 Much that delighted the Athenians in this Parabasis, and 
 indeed throughout the play, is lost for men of another age 
 and country; but so much point, brilliancy and beauty is 
 still patent to all who read the Frogs, that we can realise 
 faintly the sensation of the Athenian audience, to whom 
 every allusion struck home, every play of words was ob- 
 vious ifi dialogue and chorus, which still, after nearly two 
 thousand three hundred years, sparkles as if written yes- 
 terday. The throne of Tragedy in the nether world may 
 have been disputed again since Aeschylus and Euripides 
 contended before Dionysus ; but surely no poet of any age 
 or clime dares claim that of Comedy from Aristophanes ! 
 --"^he Idea of the play is a search made by the god 
 Dionysus among the dead for a tragic poet more worthy 
 of his own Festivals and of Athens, than any living in the 
 last years of the fifth century before our era. It was sug- 
 gested, no doubt, by the recent deaths of the last of the dii 
 majores, Sophocles and Euripides, whom Dionysus finds 
 newly come to the under-world. Aristophanes had shown 
 
VlU INTRODUCTORY, 
 
 little love for the latter poet in bygone years ; but now, 
 whether because he felt less bitterly towards the dead than 
 the living, or he knew that, bad as Euripides had been, his 
 successors were worse, he treats him with an appreciation, 
 limited indeed and grudgingly expressed, which he had 
 denied to him before. 
 
 Literary criticism, therefore, plays a large part in the 
 Frogs, and probably never have the views of a critic of the 
 first order been presented so effectively. Little disposed as 
 modern judges are to accept Aristophanes' estimate of 
 Euripides, whose subtle delineation, exquisite diction and 
 faultless rh^hm, appeal so strongly to later taste, yet so 
 powerful is the ruthless invective of the contemporary 
 comedian, that it is hard to see for the moment anything 
 more in Euripides' tragedies than that lack of virility, fine- 
 drawn sophistry, and cloying sweetness which undoubtedly 
 can be laid to his charge. 
 
 No one can help feeling, however, that literary criticism is 
 not the real object of the Frogs. Euripides and his school, 
 like Socrates in the Clouds, are attacked not so much for 
 their literary or philosophic faults, as for the political t£ll- 
 d^p.cy which the author conceived them to represent.! 
 Aristophanes is still the same Aristophanes who for more 
 than twenty years had been kicking against the pricks of 
 the Democracy, hating its war-policy, protesting against its 
 new readings of the old creeds, and defending and lauding 
 the aristocratic Opposition. The Athenian audience who 
 demanded the play a second time because of its ' political 
 chorus,' grasped the real motive of the poet : in the vague, 
 covert remonstrance against the preference of the low-born, 
 the new men, over the old families, which runs through 
 epirrhema and antepirrhema, a note is struck repeatedly 
 whose echo an attentive ear can catch in all parts of the 
 play. Vague and covert is this remonstrance compared 
 
INTRODUCTORY, ix 
 
 with the directness and boldness of similar allusions in the 
 poet's earlier plays— the Acharnians, the Knights, and the 
 Wasps ; and it may be said that through the Frogs sounds a 
 pathetic tone of indecision : the poet's faith had been shaken 
 rudely, and the convictions of a life-time sorely tried ; and 
 though he holds them still, he hints and whispers, where 
 in his stormy youth he would have cried aloud. 
 
 The Frogs appeared late in the poet's career, in the year 
 405 B.C. Aristophanes was indeed only thirty-nine, but he 
 had lived through a great deaL He could hardly remember 
 a time when Athens had not oeen strugghng in the hopeless 
 Peloponnesian war, spending vast sums and many lives, 
 losing her dependencies one by one, and earning the 
 jealousy and hatred of half the Grecian world. Like all 
 his party, the poet had never been in sympathy with the 
 war, and he had welcomed at last, in 421, that truce whose 
 expediency he had so often preached in the Theatre. Then 
 came the Sicilian expedition, the offspring of a new ambi- 
 tion for foreign dominion, which was more universal than 
 the old antagonism to Sparta had been, and appealed to 
 most elements in the Athenian State : therefore when the 
 terrible crash came, all parties, and among them that of 
 Aristophanes, felt equally the national character of the 
 calamity which reduced Athens at one stroke from imperial 
 power to a struggle against overwhelming odds for dear 
 existence. 
 
 Close upon that disaster followed the unhappy event of 
 the Revolution of the Four Hundred in Athens itself— a 
 terrible disappointment, perhaps disillusion, for one who 
 had believed all his life in the aristocratic Opposition, and, 
 like many of his countrymen, was a little more of a partizan 
 than a patriot. For the first time in Aristophanes' lifetime 
 fortune had offered power to the party of United Greece, 
 the party who set up the Athens of the Persian War for 
 
X INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 its idol. Never did a faction fail more utterly and hope- 
 lessly : it had neither respectable leaders nor single-hearted 
 followers ; and with the tacit approval of all Athens it 
 retired into disgrace after a reign of months. Six years 
 elapsed before Aristophanes put the Frogs on the stage; 
 but the failure of his party in the hour of their opportunity 
 still weighed on his soul in 405. 
 
 For the rest, the city still maintained the exhausting 
 struggle, growing weaker every day, and the end was not 
 far off \ It is true that with her last strength she had sent 
 out a fleet a few months before (406), and at Arginusae 
 captured or sent to the bottom almost the whole Spartan 
 navy. This is the memorable sea-fight, so often alluded to 
 in the Frogs, the one event of those latter years of which 
 Athens might be proud, but unhappily one which led to the 
 saddest blunder in Athenian history. Whether from care- 
 lessness, whether from stress of weather (it has never been 
 decided), the Athenian admirals, after the battle, neglected 
 to rescue the sailors clinging to their own disabled wrecks, 
 or to take off the dead bodies of their townsmen for burial. 
 Sentiment at Athens, revolted at the omission and inflamed 
 by superstition and malicious agitation, demanded the punish- 
 ment of the six admirals, who had returned in triumph ; and 
 to the lasting shame of the city, they were condemned on the 
 shadow of a trial, and put to death. 
 
 To the battle Aristophanes makes frequent allusions ; to 
 its melancholy sequel he refers hardly at all ; but he harps 
 constantly on a minor consequence, distasteful to his aristo- 
 cratic prejudices, the enfranchisement of the slaves who 
 fought on the Athenian side, which he contrasts in the 
 Parabasis of this play with the harsh treatment meted out 
 to oftenders of his own party by the Democracy. We may 
 guess that he had little heart to allude to the fate of the six 
 * It came at Aegospotami, only seven months later. 
 
INTRO D UCTOR V. xi 
 
 admirals. His own party had been mainly responsible for 
 the pernicious agitation of which it was the evil result. 
 
 In 405 the poet found himself without idols, almost without 
 a party. One by one the heroes, of his youth had passed 
 away ; there were bad men left, like Theramenes and Critias ; 
 but no great man— except Alcibiades, whom no one knew 
 whether to reckon friend or foe. At the moment he was 
 in exile : must he be recalled ? Formerly Aristophanes 
 would have decided such a question out of hand : in 405 
 he dares say only that something must be done, something 
 changed in a city as poor in statesmen as in poets. 
 
 The sorrows of an Athenian, however, sat lightly enough 
 upon him. Only at rare intervals did the wrongs of a party 
 or the outlook of the city sadden the Muse of Comedy, and 
 for the most part the audacious satire and brilliant bur- 
 lesque of Aristophanes seem to flow from a heart as care- 
 less as that of the bright irreverent city whose greatest poet 
 he was. 
 
 D. G. H. 
 
TA TOT APAMAT02 OPOSfinA 
 
 AI0NY202. 
 SANeiAS. 
 HPAKAH2. 
 NEKP02. 
 
 XAPQN. ^ 
 
 HAOYTON. 
 AIAK02. 
 AI2XYA02. 
 EYPiniAH2. 
 
 20$0KAH2 (Kco06v npoa-anov). 
 
 nAPAXOPHPHMA BATPAXGN. 
 
 X0P02 MY2TGN. 
 
 DRAMATIS PERSONA E 
 
 Dionysus, god of the Theatre. 
 Xanthias, slave of Dionysus. 
 Heracles. 
 A Corpse. 
 
 Charon, ferryman of the lower world. 
 Pluto, god of the lower world. 
 Abacus, slave and porter of Pluto. 
 Aeschylus, the poet. 
 Euripides, the poet. 
 Sophocles, the poet (mute character). 
 Chorus of Frogs. 
 Chorus of Mystae or Initiated. 
 Bearers, Slaves, Ghosts, &c. 
 
SYNOPSIS OF THE PLAY 
 
 ACT I. 
 The Journey to the Lower "World. 
 
 Scene I. The god Dionysus, in search of a poet, with his slave 
 Xanthias, comes to the temple of Heracles at Thebes to enquire 
 concerning the way to the Lower World. In order to facilitate 
 his enterprise he has assumed already the garb of the doughty 
 god, who comes to the door, enquires his errand, and directs him. 
 He tries to hire a dead man to carry baggage, but the latter 
 refuses. 
 
 Scene II. The pair arrive at the shore of the Acherusian Lake. Charon 
 takes Dionysus into his ferry-boat, but sends Xanthias round by 
 land. A chorus of frogs taunt Dionysus as he tries to row, 
 coached by Charon. 
 
 Scene III. Dionysus reaches the farther shore and disembarks. Xan- 
 thias rejoins him, and they start forward. Dionysus is terrified 
 by an apparition. As they doubt about the road the Chorus of 
 the Initiated appear, sing the Parodos, and direct them to Pluto's 
 palace. 
 
 ACT II. 
 
 At the Gates of Pluto's Palace. 
 
 Scene I. Dionysus knocks at the palace door and announces himself 
 as Heracles. The porter, Aeacus, still smarting under the loss of 
 his dog, Cerberus, stolen a short time before by the real Heracles, 
 rushes out, abuses the god, and goes back for help, Dionysus, in 
 terror, insists on changing dress with Xanthias, so that the latter 
 may pass for Heracles: and, on Aeacus reappearing, poses as 
 
SYNOPSIS OF THE PLAY, 3 
 
 the slave. Xanthias promptly offers him to Aeacus for vicarious 
 torture : Dionysus tries to resume the god ; and Aeacus, much 
 puzzled, applies an ordeal by flogging to determine which is 
 which, but without success; finally, he hales both away to 
 Pluto. 
 
 Scene II. The Chorus, left alone on the stage, sing the ParabasiSy 
 or political ode, dealing chiefly with grievances of the aris- 
 tocratical party, resultant on the battle of Arginusae. 
 
 Scene III. Meanwhile the identity of Dionysus has been esta- 
 blished, and Xanthias reappears, hob-nobbing with Aeacus. A 
 noise of wrangling is heard within, and Aeacus explains that a 
 dispute is going on as to the Throne of Tragedy in the Lower 
 World. The mob have demanded a public contest between 
 Aeschylus and Euripides, and Dionysus is to arbitrate. 
 
 ACT III. 
 The Contest of the Poets. 
 
 Scene I. The contest takes place in the Palace. After mutual 
 abuse the poets agree to the battle. The Chorus invokes the 
 Muses, and the combatants their respective gods. 
 The contest begins. 
 
 (i) Each poet criticises the other's Prologues. Euripides 
 alleges bombastic verbosity against Aeschylus ; who retaliates 
 by showing the trivial and monotonous character of Euripides' 
 rhythms. 
 
 (2) Choruses are examined next. Each sings a parody of the 
 other's melodies. It is suggested that the verses be weighed as a 
 final test. The poets go off to fetch the balance. 
 
 Scene II. (3) The balance is brought, and each poet speaks a verse 
 into his scale. Twice Aeschylus outweighs his rival, but still 
 Dionysus is not satisfied, and poses the poets wnth test questions 
 on Athenian politics. Both pronounce on the question of how 
 to treat Alcibiades ; and Aeschylus cunningly promises to advise 
 more definitely when on earth again. This decides Dionysus, 
 who is in sore doubt as to the future of Athens ; and, in spite of 
 Euripides' protestations, he declares for Aeschylus. Pluto in- 
 vites the god and his chosen poet to dinner before they go ; and 
 the Chorus give them god-speed to the world above. 
 B 2 
 
BATPAXOI 
 
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 €(f)^ ols ael yeX&a-Lv ol 6e(i>\xevoi ; 
 
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 rovTo 6e (jyvXa^at' ttclw yap kcrr ijbr] axoX'q. 
 
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 etirep TrotTJo-o) ixrjbev Sivnep ^pvvixos 
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 o* aK€VO^opov(T kKacTTOT €V Kco/xwSta ,* 
 
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 orav TL ToiJT(ov t&v o-ocfyia-fjidTaiv Xbo), 
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 avTos ^abi^u) kol novia, tovtov d' o)(w, 
 tya ju^ raA.at7ra)/)otro /xr;8' a^^os (|)epot ; 
 
THE FROGS 
 
 ACT I. . 
 
 SCENE I. 
 Before the Temple of Heracles at Thebes. 
 
 Enter Dionysus with Xanthias, riding on an ass, and 
 carrying bundles. 
 
 Xan. Master, shall I begin with the usual jokes 
 
 That the audience always laugh at? 
 Di. If you please ; 
 
 Any joke you please except ' being overburdened ' ! 
 
 Don't use it yet — we've time enough before us. 
 Xan. Well, something else that 's comical and clever ? 
 Di. I forbid being 'overpress'd and overburden'd.' 
 Xan. What use then in my bearing all these bundles. 
 
 If I 'm to be deprived of the common jokes 
 
 That Phrynichus and Lycis and Ameipsias 
 
 Allow the servants always in their comedies 
 
 Without exception, when they carry bundles? 
 Di. Pray, leave them off— for those ingenious sallies 
 
 Have such an effect upon my health and spirits 
 
 That I feel grown old and dull when I get home. 
 Xan. It 's hard for me to suffer in my neck, 
 
 To be ' overburden'd ' and debarr'd from joking ! 
 Di. Well this is monstrous quite, and insupportable ! 
 
 Such insolence in a servant ! When your master 
 
 Is going afoot and has provided you 
 
 With a beast to carry ye. 
 
6 BATPAXOI. 
 
 SA. ov yap (fyipo) 'yco; 
 
 AL TT&s <f)€p€LS yap, os y o;(€t; 
 
 HA. (fy^pcav ye Tavri. 
 
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 AI. ovKovz^ TO l3dpo9 Tov6^, o av ^epet?, oros (fyepet ; 
 
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 HPAKAH2. 
 
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 AI. OVK eveOvpLTJOrjs ; 
 
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THE FROGS. 7 
 
 Xan. What ! do I carry nothing ? 
 
 Di. You're carried yourself. 
 
 Xc^n. But I carry bundles, don't I ? 
 
 Di. But the beast bears all the bundles that you carry. 
 
 Xan. Not those that I carry myself— 'tis I that carry 'em. 
 
 Di. You're carried yourself, I tell ye. 
 
 Xan. {hopelessly). I can't explain it. 
 
 But I feel it in my shoulders plainly enough. 
 Di. Well, if the beast don't help you, take and try ; 
 
 Change places with the ass, and carry him. 
 Xan. Oh dear ! I wish I had gone for a volunteer \ 
 
 And left you to yourself, I wish I had! 
 Di. Dismount, you rascal! Here we're at the house 
 
 Where Heracles lives— Holloa there! who's within 
 there! {Hammers on the temple door.) 
 
 Heracles looks out. 
 
 Her. Who's there? He has bang'd at the door, whoever 
 he is. 
 
 With the kick of a centaur. What 's the matter there ? 
 Di. {to Xanthias). Ha ! Xanthias- 
 Xan. What ? 
 
 Di. Did ye mind how he was frightened ? 
 
 Xan. I suppose he was afraid you were going mad. 1 
 
 Her. {aside). By Jove. I shall laugh outright ; I'm ready 
 to burst. 
 
 I shall laugh in spite of myself, upon my life ! 
 Di. {to Her) Come hither, friend.— What ails ye ? Step 
 this way, 
 
 I want to speak to ye. 1/ 
 
 Her. But I can't help laughing 
 
 To see the lion's skin with a saffron robe, 
 
 ^ i. e. at Arginusae, always meant whenever a naval battle is 
 alluded to in this play. 
 
8 /BATPAXOI. 
 
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 TTOi yrjs aiT€briiJL€LS ; 
 AI. €7T€j3dT€VOV KXeKT^eWi. 
 
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 HP. o-(/)a> ; 
 
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THE FROGS. - 9 
 
 And the club with the women's sandals— altogether — 
 
 What 's the meaning of it all ? Have you been abroad! 
 Di. I have been aboard— m. the Fleet— with Cleisthenes. 
 Her. You fought — ? 
 Di. Yes, that we did— we gain'd a victory : 
 
 And we sunk the enemies' ships — thirteen of 'em. 
 Her. You two did that? 
 
 Di. So help me, Apollo ! that we did ! 
 
 Her. {ironically). So you woke at last and found it was a 
 
 dream ? 
 Di. But aboard the fleet, as I pursued my studies, 
 
 I read the tragedy of Andromeda ; / 
 
 And then such a violent passion struck my heart, / 
 
 You can't imagine. 
 Her. A small one, I suppose? , / 
 
 My little fellow — a moderate little passion ?^_.,x''''"'^ 
 Di. It 's just as small as Molon ^ is— that 's all. 
 Her. Well, what was it like ? what kind of a thing ? what 
 
 was it ? 
 Di. I can't declare it at once ; but I '11 explain it 
 
 Theatrically and enigmatically : 
 
 Were you ever seized with a sudden passionate longing 
 
 For a mess of porridge ? 
 Her. Often enough, if that 's all. 
 
 Di. Shall I state the matter to you plainly at once; 
 
 Or put it circumlocutorily ? 
 Her. Not about the porridge. I understand your instance. 
 Di. Such is the passion that possesses me 
 
 For poor Euripides — 
 Her. That 's dead and gone ? 
 
 Di. — and it 's all in vain people trying to dissuade me 
 
 From going after him. 
 Her. What, to the shades below ? 
 
 Di. Yes, to the shades below, or the shades beneath 'em. 
 Her. But what's your object? 
 Di. Why, my object is 
 
 That I want a clever poet — 'for the good 
 
 Are gone, the worthless only are alive/^ 
 Her. Is not lophon a good one ? — He 's alive, sure ? 
 * An actor at Athens probably of gigantic stature. 
 
 ^^^ OF THT5 '^t^ 
 
lo BATPAXOI. 
 
 A I. TOVTO yap tol kol [xovov 
 
 €T €(ttI Xolttov CLyaOov, el kol tovt apa' 
 ov yap (rd(f)' ot6' ovb^ avro rovO^ ottcoj ^x^'* 
 
 HP. etr' ov 2o^oKAea, irpoTepov ovt KvpLirCbov, 
 
 /xeAAet? avdyetv, eXirep y eKeWev bei a dyeiv ; 
 
 AI. ov, irpLV y av ^locjiStVT, diroXalBiov avrov fxoi'ov, 
 
 aV€V ^0<PoKk4oVS O TL TTOUl K(i>b(OVL(T(0. 
 
 KaXAcos 6 flip y EvpL7Tib7]s, iiavovpyos cov, 
 kKv ^vvaiTobpavaL bevp* kinyeLpria-eU [xoC 
 6 6* evKoXos ixkv kvOdb\ evKoXos 6' CKct. 
 
 HP. ^AydOiiiv 8e tiov ^cttlv ; 
 
 AI. aiToXiTrcav [x cmoi^eTai, 
 
 dyaOos ttolt]ti]s Kal ttoOclvos toIs (f)ikoLs. 
 
 HP. TTol yijs 6 Tkrjjxoiv ; 
 
 AT. €S fJLaKCLpcctv €V(i)\Cav. 
 
 HP. 6 5e BevoKXi-qs ; 
 
 AI. i^oXoLTo vrj Aia. 
 
 HP. UvedyyeXos bi ; 
 
 HA. irepl iixov 8' ovbels Xoyos 
 
 €T:LTpi^o\iivov rov uiixov ovTOial a(l)6bpa. 
 
 HP. ovKOVv €T€p^ €(TT kvTavOa jieLpaKvXXia 
 Tpayddbias iroLovvra irXeXv rj fjLVpia, 
 KvpLTTibov ttXuv rj trra^to) XaXia-repa; 
 
 AI. eTTt^vAAtSes ravr iarl Kal a-TMjxvXiJLaTaf 
 XeXibovoiV ixova-eXa, Aa)/3T^rat rixyrjs, 
 h (fypovba Oclttov, rjv piovov x^P^^ ^^l^lly 
 yovLpLOv 8e iroirjTriv av ovx evpoLs en 
 Cr]T&v aVf o(TTLs prjpLa yevvalov Aa/cot. 
 
 HP. TTcSj yovip-ov ; 
 
 A I. QibX yovLpioVf oa-TLS (^Qiy^erai 
 
 TOLOVTOvl TL TTapaK€KLvbvV€Vp€VOVf 
 
 aiOipa Atos Sco/xartoz^, rj \p6vov iioba, 
 
THE FROGS. \ I 
 
 Di. If he 's a good one, he 's our only good one ; 
 But it 's a question : I 'm in doubt about him. 
 
 Her. There 's Sophocles : he 's older than Euripides — 
 If you go so far for 'em, you'd best bring him. 
 
 Di. No, first I'll try what lophon can do, 
 
 Without his father, Sophocles, to assist him. 
 — Besides, Euripides is a clever rascal ; 
 A sharp contriving rogue that will make a shift 
 To desert and steal away with me; the other 
 Is an easy-minded soul, and always was. 
 
 Her. Where 's Agathon ? 
 
 Di. He 's gone and left me too. 
 
 Regretted by his friends, a worthy poet— 
 
 Her. Gone ! where, poor soul ? 
 
 Di. To the banquets of the blest ! 
 
 Her. But then you've Xenocles — 
 
 Di. Yes, a plague upon him ! 
 
 Her. Pythangelus too — 
 
 Xan. {aside). But nobody thinks of me ; 
 
 Standing all this while with the bundles on my 
 shoulder. 
 
 Her. But have you not other young ingenious youths 
 That are fit to out-talk Euripides ten times over; 
 To the amount of a thousand, at least, all writing 
 tragedy— ? 
 
 Di. They 're good for nothing — ' Warblers of the Grove ' ^ 
 
 ' Little foolish fluttering things '—poor puny wretches. 
 That dawdle and dangle about with the tragic muse ; 
 Incapable of any serious meaning — 
 — There's not one hearty poet amongst them all 
 That 's fit to risk an adventurous valiant phrase. 
 
 Her. How * hearty ' ? What do you mean by ' valiant 
 phrases * ? 
 
 Di. I mean a . . . kind . . . of a . . . doubtful bold expres- 
 sion — 
 To talk about . . . ' The viewless foot of Time ' — 
 And . . . 'Zeus's secret chamber in the skies' — 
 ^ Quotations from Euripides. 
 
12 BATPAXOI. 
 
 \ 
 7] (fypiva [Jilv ovk eOekovaav djixocrat Ka6^ Up&v, 
 
 yku>TTav 8* iiriopK-qcraa-av Ihia ttjs (ppevos. 
 
 HP. ore h€ TavT apia-Kei ; 
 
 AI. jjiaXXa Trkelv rj [xaCvoixau 
 
 HP. ^ pLTjv KOJSaXd y €(ttIv, wj Kal crol boKd. 
 
 A I. [XT] Tov ifiov otKet vovv' €;)(€t? yap olKiav. 
 
 HP. Ka\ p.j]v arexvcas ye 7Tapi7r6vr]pa (jyad'eraL. 
 
 AT. huTiveiv [xe bChaa-Ke. 
 
 HA. 7r€pl ifJLov 8' o{i§ets \6yos. 
 
 AI. dAX' ojviTep €V€Ka Ti^vbe T-qv (TKevriv €\o)v 
 
 ^KOov Kara arjv ixLpL7]arLV, tva /xot tovs ^ivovs 
 Tovs (Tovs (fypdaetasj el beoifjLijv, otcrt av 
 expcn t66\ rjVLK rjkOes eirl tov Kep/Sepov^ 
 TOVTOvs (ppdaov ixoi, Xifxevas, dpT07T(6kLa, 
 TTOpveff dvaTraijkas, iKTpoiras, KprjvaSi obovSi 
 TTokeis, biaiTas, TravboKevrpias, ottov 
 
 KOpeLS okiyiCTTOL. 
 
 HA. 776/31 e\xov 8' ovbeis Aoyos. 
 
 HP. w (Txerkie, TokpLrjo-eLS yap levai ; 
 
 AI. Kat av ye 
 
 pLTjbev en irpos ravr, dkka cjypd^e t&v ob&v 
 OTTCDS To-xt'O'T dcpL^opieO^ els "Aibov Kara)* 
 Kal pL'qre 6epp.y]V pirjT dyav ^vyjiav (fypdcrrjs. 
 
 HP. (I)epe brj, tiv avTcov (tol (f)pd(Tu> iTpcoTrjv ; riva ; 
 p,ia p,ev yap ea-riv duo Kdko) Kal Opaviov, 
 KpejjLacravTL (ravTov. 
 
 AI. TTave, TTVLyrjpav keyeis. 
 
 HP. dkk* ecTTLV drpaiTos ^vvTOfjLos TerpipLfjievr}, 
 fj bia dveCas. 
 
 AT. apa Kcoveiov keyets ; 
 
 HP. pLakLo-Ta ye, 
 
 AT. yj/vxpdv ye Kal bva-^eiixepov' 
 
THE FROGS. 13 
 
 And about ... * a person's soul . . . not being perjured 
 When . . . the tongue . . . forswears itself ... in spite 
 of the soul.' 
 
 Her. Do you like that kind of stuff? 
 
 Di. I'm crazy after it. 
 
 Her. Why, sure it 's trash and rubbish — Don't you think so ? 
 
 Di, ' Men's fancies are their own — let mine alone ! ' 
 
 Her. But in fact it seems to me quite bad — rank nonsense. 
 
 Dj. You 'U tell me next what I ought to like for supper ! 
 
 Xan. (aside). But nobody thinks of w^ herewith the bundles. 
 
 Di. But now to the business that I came upon 
 
 (With the apparel that you see, the same as yours), 
 To obtain a direction from you to your friends 
 (To apply to them — in case of anything — 
 If anything should occur), the acquaintances 
 That received you there the time you went before 
 — For the business about Cerberus — if you 'd tell me 
 The wharves, the public walks, the public houses, 
 The fountains, aqueducts, and inns and taverns 
 And lodgings — free from bugs and fleas, if possible. 
 If you know any such — 
 
 Xan. (aside). But nobody thinks of me. 
 
 Her. What a notion ! You ! Will you risk it ? are ye mad ? 
 
 Di. I beseech you say no more— no more of that ; 
 
 But inform me briefly and plainly about my journey : 
 The shortest road and the most convenient one. 
 
 Her. Well, which shaH I tell ye first, now.? Let me 
 see now — 
 There's a good convenient road by the Rope and 
 
 Noose ; 
 The Hanging Road. 
 
 Di. No ! that 's too close and stifling. 
 
 Her. Then there's an easy, fair, well-beaten track 
 As you go by the Pestle and Mortar — 
 
 Di. What, the Hemlock? 
 
 Her. To be sure. 
 
 Di. That's much too cold— it will never do. 
 
14 BATPAXOI. 
 
 €vdvs yap cLTTOTTriyvvorL TavTiKvr\\xia. 
 
 ovK av pahLo-aLfjiL ttjv ohbv TavTr]v, 
 HP. Tt hat; 
 
 AT. ^vTT€p (TV t6t€ KaTrjkOes* 
 HP. aXV 6 TT/XoiJ? TToXus. 
 
 €vdvs yap €7rt XCfjLvrjv ii€yaXi]v i^ffetj Trtirv 
 
 A I. €tra irws itepaioaOria-op.ai ; 
 
 HP. €r irXoiapiia tvvvovt(dC <t avrjp yipoav 
 
 vavTTjs 6tafet 8v* o^oXo) fxicrdbv Xa^<av. 
 AI. </)€{;. ws joieya bvvaa-dov iravTa^ov to) 8v' ojSoXw. 
 
 TTws 'qX.Oirrjv KaKctcre ; 
 HP. Grjaevs rjyayev. 
 
 IJL€Ta TaVT 0(f)€LS Kttt 07] pC 0\j/€L [XVpCa 
 
 hcivoTaTa. 
 AT. ixTj fx' €KiTkr]TT€ fjirjbe beLfxaTOV 
 
 ov yap [x CLTTOTpixj/CLS. 
 HP. etra pop^opov irokvv 
 
 Kttt O-KcSp aeCvMV' €V be T0VT(D K€Lp,ivovs 
 
 et 7T0V ^ivov Tis 'qbUrjcrc iranroTCy 
 
 17 ixrjTep' -qkorjaev, ^ Trarpos yvaOov 
 
 cirdra^eVi ^ ^iriopKOv opKov &ijlo(T€v, 
 
 rj MopcTifxov TLs prjcTLV €^€ypd\l/aTO. 
 AT. VT} Tovs Oeovs exprjv y€ Trpbs roiJTOKrL xet 
 
 Tr]v TTvppLxrjv tls efxade Tr}v Kivrja-Lov. 
 HP. evrevdev av\o)v tls (re TTepUi(riv irvorji 
 
 oxj/eL re ^cSs KaAXioroz;, uxnrep evOdbe, 
 
 Kal ixvppivGivas, Ka\ Otdcrovs evbaifiovas 
 
 dvbpQv yvvaiKQiv, Kal Kporov yeip(av ttoXvv, 
 AT. ovToi. be br\ rives eWiv ; 
 HP. 06 ^efJivrjixevoi, — 
 
 HA. VY} rbv At* eyoa yovv ovos ay(ov fjiVorTrjpLa, 
 
THE FROGS, 15 
 
 They tell me it strikes chill to the legs. I '11 not go 
 Such a road upon any account. 
 
 Her. Well, which way then? 
 
 Di. The way you went yourself. 
 
 Her. But it's a long one, 
 
 For first you come to a monstrous bottomless lake. 
 
 Di. And what must I do to pass ? 
 
 Her. You '11 find a boat there ; 
 
 A little tiny boat, as big as that, 
 And an old man that ferries you over in it. 
 Receiving twopence as the usual fee. 
 
 Di. Ah! that same twopence governs everything 
 Wherever it goes. I wonder how it managed 
 To find its way there? 
 
 Her. Theseus introduced it. 
 
 Next you'll meet serpents and wild beasts and 
 
 monsters. 
 Horrific to behold! 
 
 Di. Don't try to frighten me ; 
 
 You '11 not succeed, I promise you. I 'm determined. 
 
 Her. Then there 's an abyss of mire and floating filth 
 
 In which the damn'd lie wallowing and o'erwhelm'd : 
 The unjust, the cruel, the inhospitable, 
 The incestuous, and the parricides, the robbers. 
 The perjurers and assassins, and the wretches 
 That pilfer trash from Morsimus's plays. 
 
 Di. And by Jove ! Cinesias with his Pyrrhic dancers 
 Ought to be there. They 're worse, or quite as bad. 
 
 Her. But after this, your sense will be saluted 
 
 With a gentle breathing sound of flutes and voices. 
 And a beautiful spreading light hke ours on earth, 
 And myrtle glades and happy choirs among 
 Of women and men, and rapid applause and mirth. 
 
 Di. And who are all those folks? 
 
 Her. The Initialed. 
 
 Xan. {throwing down his bundles). I won't stand here, like 
 a mule in their procession, 
 
i6 BATPAXOl. 
 
 CLTCLp ov Kade^d) TavTa Tov TrAeto) \p6vov. 
 HP. ot (TOi <ppa(TOV(T aira^airavO' S>v av bir). 
 
 ovTOL yap eyyvTara irap* avTi]v rrjv obov 
 
 6771 Toia-L TOV YlXovTOivos oIkovotlv Ovpais. 
 
 KOL x^^P^ TToAA.', w8eA(^e. 
 AI. vrj At Kat av ye 
 
 vyiaive. crv 6e ra (TTpdfxaT avdts Xap.^av€. 
 HA. -Trptz^ Kttt KaraOea-QaL ; 
 
 AT. Kat ra^ecos /xeWot 7rdj;v. 
 
 HA. /utr) St}^', tKere^^o) (r\ aWa ixLo-Qcoo-aC Tiva 
 
 T&V €K(f)€pOlxiv(tiV, 0(TTLS CTTt TOVT ipX^TaL. 
 
 AT. eav be /xr) '^o) ; 
 
 HA. rore /u' aye ti'. 
 
 AT. KaXcos A.e'yet5. 
 
 ical yap tlv €K(\)ipov(n. tovtovI veKpov. 
 ovTos, o-e Aeyo) fxevTOL, ae tov TeOvrjKOTa' 
 av6p(0TT€, jSouAet a-KevapC ety "AtSoi; (f)€peiv ; 
 
 NEKP02. 
 
 TToV arra ; 
 A I. raurt. 
 
 NE. bvo bpaxP'OLs iiicrOov reAets ; 
 
 A I. jota At', dAA' ekaTTov. 
 
 NE. virdyeO^ ^/otet? r?)? 68oi>. 
 
 AI. avdpL€LV0Vj a> baipiovC, kav ^vp-^St tl <tol. 
 NE. et /uit) KaTa6r\(T€is bvo bpaxp-as, juir) 8taAeyov. 
 AT. Ad^' ez^i'e' d/3oAovs. 
 
 NE. avapL(v7]v vvv ttoKiv. 
 
 HA. 0)9 (T€p.VOS 6 KaTCLpaTOS' OVK olp.(a^€TaL ; 
 
 eyo) l3abLovp,ai. 
 AT. XP^^'^os €t Kat yerz^dSaj. 
 
 XOip&p-€V IttI rd TrAotor. 
 
THE FROGS. 1 7 
 
 Any longer with these packages and bundles ! 
 Her, They'll tell you everything you want to know, 
 
 For they're established close upon the road, 
 
 By the corner of Pluto's house— so fare you well ; 
 
 Farewell, my little fellow! 
 Di. I wish you better ! 
 
 Exit Heracles. 
 
 You, sirrah, take your bundles up again ! 
 Xan. What, before I 've put them down ? 
 Di. Yes, now, this moment ! 
 
 Xan. Nah ! don't insist ! there 's plenty of people going 
 
 As corpses, with the convenience of a carriage ; 
 
 They'd take it for a trifle gladly enough. 
 Di. But if we meet with nobody .? 
 Xan. Then I'll take 'em, 
 
 Di, Come, come, that 's fairly spoken, and in good time. 
 
 (Enter a Corpse on a bier carried by bearers^) 
 
 HoUoh ! you there — you Deadman — can't you hear ? 
 Would you take any bundles to hell with ye, my 
 good fellow? 
 Corpse. What are they ? 
 Di. These. 
 
 Corpse. Then I must have two drachmas. 
 
 Di. I can't— you must take less. 
 
 Corpse. Bearers! move on! 
 
 Di. No, stop ! we shall settle between us— you 're so 
 
 hasty. 
 Corpse. It's no use arguing: I must have two drachmas. 
 Di. Ninepence ! 
 
 Corpse. I 'd best be alive again at that rate. Exit. 
 
 Xan. Best give him a good beating ! fine airs ! the rascal ! 
 
 Give me the things. 
 Di. You 're a good true-hearted fellow : 
 
 And a willing servant. Let 's move on to the ferry ! 
 
 Exeunt. 
 C 
 
1 8 BATPAXOI. 
 
 XAP12N. 
 
 0)077, Tiapa^aXov. 
 HA. tovtI Ti ean ; 
 AT. TovTo \LjjiVrj VT] Aia 
 
 avTT] ^(tt\v fjv ec^pa^e, koX irkoiov y 6pS>. 
 HA. VT) Tov Yloo-eib&j kclo-tl y 6 Kdpoiv ovtoctL 
 AI. x^V ^ XdpMV, X^V ^ Xapcoi;, x^V ^ Xctpcoz;. 
 XA. rt? ets dvairavkas €k KaK5>v Kal irpayp.dToov ; 
 
 TLs els TO ArfOrjs nehiov, rj 's ovov iroKas, 
 
 7} 's Kepl3€pLovs, ^ 's KopaKas, rj Vt Taivapov ; 
 Al. eyw. 
 
 XA. rax€a)s e/x^ati^e. 
 
 Al. TTOt flrx»ia-eti; SoKets ; 
 
 e? KopaKas ovTcas ; 
 XA. z;at jia At a, o-oi; y' owcKa. 
 
 qifiaivc brj. 
 A I. TTttt, 8ei}/)0. 
 
 XA. bovkov ovK ayo), 
 
 et fXT) vevavp.cv)(y]Ke rt]v irepl tS>v Kpe&v. 
 HA. /xa roz; At", ov yap dkk^ erv^ov o^OakixiStv. 
 XA. ovKovv irepiOpi^u biJTa T7]v kipLV-qv kvkAu) ; 
 HA. TTov biJT dvap.evS> ; 
 XA. irapd tov Avaivov kiOov^ 
 
 67ri rats draTravAats. 
 A I . jxavOdvcLS ; 
 
 HA. TTOLVV fxavOdvo). 
 
 oXp.oi KaKobaiiJL(i)Vf rw ^vviTV)(ov i^icav ; 
 
THE FROGS, 19 
 
 SCENE II. 
 
 Hither shore of the Acherusian Lake. 
 
 Dionysus and Xanthias appear on the shore and look out 
 over the Lake. Charon's voice comes out of the darkness. 
 
 Hoy ! Bear a hand there. Heave ashore ! 
 Xan. What's this? 
 
 Di. The Lake it is— the place he told us of. 
 
 By Jove ! and there 's the boat— and here's old Charon. 
 (Charon's boat comes out of the darkness to the shore.) 
 Di. Well, Charon ! welcome, Charon ! welcome kindly ! 
 Cha. Who wants the ferryman ? Anybody waiting 
 
 To remove from the sorrows of life "i A passage, 
 anybody ? 
 
 To Lethe's Wharf? to Cerberus Reach? 
 
 To Tartarus ? to Taenarus ? to Perdition ! 
 Di. Yes L 
 
 Cha. Get in then. 
 
 Di. {hesitating). Tell me, where are you going? 
 
 To Perdition really — ? 
 Cha. You '11 go anyway ! 
 
 Don't fret yourself. Step in there ! Step in there ! 
 Di. {to Xanthias). Come, Xanthias, come! 
 Cha. {backing off, when Di. has embarked). I take no slaves 
 aboard 
 
 Except they 've volunteered for the naval victory. 
 Xan. {whimpers). I could not, I was suffering from sore eyes. 
 Cha. You must trudge away then, round by the end of 
 
 the Lake there. 
 Xan. And whereabouts shall I wait? 
 Cha. At the Stone of Repentance, 
 
 By the Slough of Despond, beyond the Tribulations ; 
 
 You understand me ? 
 Xan. Yes, I understand you : 
 
 A lucky promising direction truly! {Runs off.) 
 
 C 2, 
 
ao BATPAXOI. 
 
 XA. kclOlC €771 K<aTTr)v. et rts ert TrXet, (nTevbirci), 
 
 OVTOS, TL TTOLels ,* 
 
 AI. o rt TTOid) ; tl 8' aAXo y' ^ 
 
 XA. ovKOVv KaO^bel brJT evOabl, yda-Tpaiv ; 
 
 AI. Ibov. 
 
 XA. OVKOVV TTpopaXel rw x^'-P^ KaKrevels ; 
 
 AI. t'807;. 
 
 XA. ov )ur) (l)\vaprj(T€LS e^wi^, aAX' dvTi^as 
 
 eAas TTpoOvfjicos ; 
 Af. Kara ttw? Sui^^o-o/xat, ^ 
 
 direLpos, dOaXaTTOiTos, d(TaKap.ivios 
 
 cbv, €tr' ikavv€Lv ; 
 XA. pacTT' aKovcrei yap pieXr] 
 
 KaAAtor', eTreiSay e/x^oAr^y aTraf. 
 AI. TLVoiv ; 
 
 XA. ^arpd^ojv KVKvoav OavpLaa-rd. 
 A I. KaraxeAeve 8?i. 
 
 BATPAXOI. 
 
 PpeK€K€K€^ Kod^ Kod^, 
 ^p€K€K€K€^ Kod^ Kod^. 
 
 kiixvala KpTjvcov TeKva, 
 
 ^vvavXov vpiViov (3odv 
 
 (f)6€yi(apt,€6\ €vyr}pvv ipidv doibdv, 
 
 Kod^ Kod^, 
 
 fjv dpL(j)l Nvo-rjtov 
 
 Atos Ata)i^t;a-02/ €v 
 
 AipLvaia-LV la^wapiev, 
 
 r]vC\ 6 Kpat TraA OKco/xos 
 
THE FROGS. 21 
 
 Cha. {to Di.) Sit down to your oar. {To the shore) Come 
 quick if there 's more coming ! 
 {to Di.) Holloh! what's that you're doing? 
 Di. What you told me. 
 
 I 'm sitting to my oar. 
 Cha. Sit there, I tell you, 
 
 You Fatguts, that's your place. 
 Di. Well, so I do. 
 
 Cha. Come out there with your hands ! 
 Di. Well, so I do. 
 
 Cha. You 'd best leave off your fooling. Off your stretcher ! 
 
 And pull away. 
 Di. But how shall I contrive? 
 
 I 've never served on board — I 'm only a landsman, 
 
 I'm quite unused to it. 
 Cha. We can manage it. 
 
 As soon as you begin you shall have some music 
 
 That will teach you to keep time. 
 Di. What music's that? 
 
 Cha. A chorus of Frogs — uncommon musical Frogs. 
 Di. Well, give me the word and the time. 
 Cha. Ahoy there ! ahoy there ! hoy ! ahoy ! 
 
 {Voices are heard singing.) 
 
 Frogs. Brekekekex ! Koax ! Koax ! 
 
 Brekekekex ! Koax ! Koax ! 
 Ye spawn of marsh and fountain 
 Come sing a lay harmonious, 
 Our song, our hymn, with clearest notes melodious, 
 Koax ! Koax ! 
 Such once did we sing around 
 Indian Dionysus, born 
 Holy, in the Marshes^ there, 
 When on the high day of Pitchers'^ 
 Rollicking drunken in riot 
 
 ^ The swamp of the Ilissus. 
 
 ^ The third part of the Festival of the Anthesteria. 
 
%% BATPAXOr, 
 
 rots tep'owrt x^Tpoiat 
 
 X^ypcZ KaT €fAov TCjievos XaStv o)(\os, 
 
 l3p€K€K€K€$ KOCL^ Kod^. 
 
 A\. eyw 8e y' aXyetr apyoixai 
 Tov oppov, a> Koa^ Kod^' 
 vpxv 8' tcro)? ovbev p,e\€i, 
 
 BA. ^p€K€K€K€^ KOU^ KOttf. 
 
 AI. dAA.' k^.6koi(rQ^ avr^ Kod^. 
 
 ovbev ydp €<tt aAA' t) Koa^, 
 BA. etKorcJs y', w TroAAa irpdr- 
 
 T(t>v' €/Ae yap ecrrep^av pkv evXvpoL t€ Movcrai 
 
 Koi Kepo^dras llav, 6 Ka\ap.6(^6oyya 7Tai((»v' 
 
 TTpoareTuripTieTaL 8' 6 (f)opixiKTd<s ^AttoWqov, 
 
 €V€Ka bovaKOs, ov viroXvpiov 
 
 tvvhpov iv XC^vaLs rpe^o), 
 
 /3peK€KeKef Koaf Kod^. 
 AI. eyo) 8e (fyXvKTaCvas y iyoa' 
 
 dXA', w ^tXwSor yeVos, 
 
 BA. /xaXAor /xer ovv 
 
 (f>6€y(6pL€(T6\ et 8?} ttot' ev- 
 
 7}XCoLS iv ap.ipaia^iv 
 
 rikdpi€(Fda biOL KvneCpov 
 
 Kol ^A€a>, \aLpovT€s wStJ? 
 
 TrokvKoXvix^oiarLv p-iXea-cnv, 
 
 ^ Ai6$ (l)€vyovT€S op^pov 
 
 ivvbpov ey /Qir^o) \op^lav 
 
 aloXav €(p6€y^dpe(Tda 
 
 'jrop(f)oXvyo'Ka(f)XdcrpLa(nv, 
 A I. /3p€KeK€K€^ Koaf Koaf, 
 
 tovtI -Trap' v/xw2^ Xap^dvco. 
 BA. 8etra rapa 7r€L(T6p,€(r9a, 
 
THE FROGS. 2$ 
 
 Swept through our own sanctuary the rude rabble. 
 Brekekekex ! Koax ! Koax ! Koax ! 
 Dt. [easies). Every part of me is rawing. 
 But of course 
 That's no consequence to you. 
 Frogs. Brekekekex ! KOax ! KOax ! 
 
 Dt. {rows on). Confound your Koax! 
 
 Nothing but eternal Koax ! 
 Frogs. Justly so, thou busy meddler ! 
 
 For me the Muses all, sweet of song, loved and 
 
 cherished, 
 Me, too, horny-hoofed Pan, who plays on the sounding 
 
 reed-pipe ; 
 In me rejoices too, lord of all harps, Apollo, 
 For the sake of the reed, wherewith his lyre he fits. 
 Which in the waters deep I rear. 
 
 Brekekekex! Koax! Koax! 
 Di. {easies again). Here 's a blister on my hand ! 
 Stop, ye tuneful creatures ! 
 Stop, I say! 
 Frogs. Brekekekex ! Koax ! Koax ! 
 
 Nay ! nay ! the more 
 Sing we, sing we, if ever 
 Leaped we happy, diving, diving, 
 Through the sedges and galingale, 
 Singing still our song melodious 
 From sunny morn to sunny evening. 
 Or if ever fled we showers 
 And deep below the water chanted 
 Various strains of merry music 
 While the bubbles all broke above. 
 Di. {stands up). Brekekekex ! Koax ! Koax ! 
 
 I thank ye. Frogs, for that word. 
 Frogs. Fearful then will be our fortune ! 
 
34 BATPAXOI. 
 
 AT. havoTepa 6' €y(oy\ kXavvmv 
 €t btappayqa-Ofxai, 
 
 BA. /3p€K€K€K€^ KOOL^ Kod^. 
 
 Al. ot/xcofer'* ov yap pioi /uteAet. 
 BA. dWa fxrjv K€Kpa^6ix€(r6d y 
 
 OTTocrov 7) (f)dpvy^ au rjfx&v 
 
 Xavhdvrj 8t' rjjjL^pas. 
 
 AI. ftp€K€K€K€^ KOCL^ Kod^, 
 
 TOVT(o yap ov vLKrja-eTe. 
 BA. ovbe pLr]v rjixas (tv TidvTcoi. 
 AT. ovbeiTOTe' KeKpd^ofiaL yap, 
 
 Kav /ute hfj hi rjfjiepas, 
 
 €(09 av vjjL&v iTTLKparria-o) ro) Kod$, 
 
 l3p€K€K€K€^ K0d( Kod^. 
 
 eixcXXov dpa irava-eiv tto6' vfias rod Kod^. 
 
THE FROGS. 25 
 
 Di. [rows on). More fearful mine, who must row on \ 
 E'en till I burst. 
 
 Frogs. Brekekekex ! Koax ! Koax ! 
 
 Di. Confound you ! I don't care ! 
 
 Frogs. Nay ! the more we '11 cry and clamour, 
 Every throat to the widest opening. 
 Straining all the livelong day! 
 
 Di. {easies and stands up again)' Brekekekex ! Koax ! 
 Koax! 
 Ye shall not get over me in Koax 1 
 
 Frogs. Never shall you get over us ! over us ! over us ! 
 
 Di. Nor you me : for I will shout and I '11 bawl 
 Even all a summer's day, 
 Till I vanquish you all in the 'Koax.' 
 Brekekekex ! Koax ! Koax ! [Splashes with the oar.) 
 I thought I 'd not be long before I stopped your 
 damned Koax I [Sits down and goes on rowing.) 
 
26 BATPAXOI. 
 
 XA. o) nave irave, irapa^aXov rw kcotti^. 
 
 €K^aLVj cLTTobos TOP vavkov. 
 AI. €\€ br] TO)^oX(a. 
 
 6 BavOCas. ttov BavOias ; ^ BavOtas. 
 HA. lav. 
 
 SA. X^V' ^ Seo-TTora. 
 
 AT. rt eoTt ravTavOi ; 
 
 HA. (TKOTOs Kat (36pl3opos. 
 
 A I. KaretSes oui; -Trou tovs TrarpaAotas avTodi 
 
 KOL TOVS €7n6pK0vs, otjs i\€y€v r)puv ; 
 zA. (TV ov ; 
 
 A I. vr\ TOP IToo-etSa) 'yo)y€, kol vvvi y 6p&. 
 
 ay€ br}, ri bp&fxev ; 
 HA. " TTpdUvai ^iX.TL(TTa v(^v, 
 
 0)9 ovTos 6 TOTTos (otIv ov TO, 6r]pLa 
 
 Ta oeLV €(paaK eK€Lvos. 
 AT. &)S olfxca^eraL. 
 
 riXaCov€V€6' , tva (f)0^7)d€Lr]V eyo), 
 
 etSws jU€ ixa\iixov ovra, ^tAort/xou/xeros. 
 
 ovSei; yap ovrto yaiJpoz; ecr^' a)s *lipaKkijs. 
 
 cyo) 8e y' ev^ai\xr]v hv kvTV){(Eiv tlvl, 
 
 XajSelv T ay(avi(T[i a^tov tl ttjs obov. 
 HA. VT] Tov Ata Kat pirjv alo-ddvofjiaL xj/oifiov tlvos. 
 
THE FROGS. 27 
 
 SCENE III. ^ 
 
 Farther shore of the Acherusian Lake. 
 
 (Charon's boat, with Dionysus rowing, appears and puts to 
 
 shore.) 
 
 Cha. Hold ! we 're ashore just — ship your oar ! Get out. 
 
 Now pay your fare. 
 Di. There — there it is— the twopence. 
 
 Charon pushes off again and disappears, 
 [shouting). Ho ! Xanthias ! Xanthias, I say ! Where's 
 Xanthias ? 
 Xan. [heard off). A-hoy ! 
 Di. ' Come here. 
 
 Xanthias runs on and embraces Dionysus. 
 
 Xan. I'm glad to see you, master. 
 
 Di. What's that before us there? [pointing). 
 
 Xan. The mire and darkness. 
 
 Di. Did you see the villains and the perjurers 
 That he told us of? 
 
 Xan. Yes, plain enough, and you ? 
 
 Di. [looking round the theatre). Ah, now I see them, indeed, 
 quite plain— and now too ! 
 Well, what shall we do next? 
 
 Xan. We 'd best move forward : 
 
 For here's the place that Heracles there informed us 
 Was haunted by those monsters. 
 
 Di. Oh ! confound him ! 
 
 He vapoured and talked at random to deter me 
 From venturing. He's amazingly conceited 
 And jealous of other people is Heracles ; 
 He reckoned I should rival him, and in fact 
 (Since I 've come here so far) I should rather like 
 To meet with an adventure in some shape. 
 
 Xan. [listening). By Jove ! and I think I hear a kind of 
 a noise. 
 
28 BATPAXOI. 
 
 A I. TTOV TTOV ''(TTLV ,' 
 
 HA. k^o-nia-Q^v, 
 
 AI. ^foVto-^' Wi. 
 
 HA. dXX' €(rrti; er rw TrpoaOe. 
 
 AI. TTpocrOe vvv lOl, 
 
 HA. Kat jui^z; opw i;^ roi' Ata OrjpLov [xiya. 
 
 AI. 770 toV rt ; 
 
 HA. bcLvoV iravTobairbv yovv yiyv^TaC 
 
 t:ot^ fxiv ye fiovs, vvvl 6' opevs, irore 6' au yvvri 
 
 oipaLOTarr} rt?. 
 AI. TTOu crrt ; 96/) ctt avTr}V lo). 
 
 HA. aA.X' ovK^T av yvvr\ ^cttlv, dA\' ^817 kvohv. 
 AI. "E/^TTOuo-a Toivvv ka-ri. 
 HA. TTupt yow AajHTTerat. 
 
 aTraz^ ro Trpoa-coTrov. 
 A I. Kttl or/ceAo? x^^'^ow ^xet. 
 
 HA. z;^ ror Iloo-eiSw, Kat ^oXltlvov OoTepov, 
 
 adcj) t(r6i. 
 AI. TTot 8^r' hv TpaTroCpLrfv ; 
 
 s,A. TTOt eycD ; 
 
 AI. Up€v, biacfyvka^ov /u', tr* S o-ot fu/XTToVr/s. 
 HA. a7ToXovpL€0\ a)va^ *HpclKA.€ts. 
 AI. ov fjLT} KttAets jot', 
 
 wvOpaxf)', lK€T€V(t), pi-qbe Karepets rovvofxa. 
 HA. Atovva-e toivvv. 
 
 A I. rovr' 1^' riTTov Oaripov. 
 
 HA. t^' ^Trep fpx^^* Sf^^po 6e{;p', S 8eo-7rora. 
 A I. rt 8' Icrrt ; 
 HA. Odppei' "TTavT^ dyaOa TreTrpdya^er, 
 
 €^€(TTL 6* co(nT€p *Hy€Ao)(Os 17)01,12; Xiyeiv' 
 
 €K KVfxdTcov yap av^tj aS yaX^i; 6pa>. 
 
 rjixTTOvaa (f)povhr}. 
 
THE FROGS. 29 
 
 Di. {anxiously). Where ? where ? \ 
 
 Xan. There just behind us. \ 
 
 Di. Go behind then ! \ 
 
 Xaii. There it 's before us now. — There ! 
 
 Di. Go before then ! 
 
 Xan. Ah, now I see it — a monstrous beast indeed ! 
 
 Di. What kind ? 
 
 Xan. A dreadful kind — all kinds at once. 
 
 It changes and transforms itself about 
 
 To a mule and an ox — and now to a beautiful creature ; 
 
 A woman ! 
 Di. {eagerly rushing forward). Where? where is she.'' 
 
 Let me seize her! 
 Xan. But now she 's turned to a mastijEf all of a sudden. 
 Di. {retiring precipitately). Its the Weird hag ! the Vam- 
 
 pyre! 
 Xan. Like enough 
 
 She's all of a blaze about the mouth. 
 Di. Has she got the brazen foot ! 
 Xan. Yes, there it is — 
 
 By Jove ! — and the cloven hoof to the other leg, 
 
 Distinct enough— that 's she ! 
 Di. But what shall I do? 
 
 Xan. And I too ? 
 Di. {stretching out his hands to the audience) \ 
 
 Save me, Priest, protect and save me, 
 
 That we may drink and be jolly together hereafter. 
 Xan. We 're ruined, Master Heracles ! 
 Di. Don't call me so, I beg! 
 
 Don't mention my name, good friend, upon any account. 
 Xan. Dionysus then? 
 
 Di. That's worse, ten thousand times! 
 
 Xan. Come, Master, move along — come, come this way. 
 Di. What's happened? 
 Xan. Why, we 're prosperous and victorious : 
 
 The storm of fear and danger, has subsided 
 
 And (as the actor said the other day) 
 
 Has only left a gentle qualm behind^ 
 
 The Vampyre's vanished.' ^ 
 
 ^ Where sat his own Priest in the front row. 
 
30 BATPAXOI. 
 
 A[. KaTOfiocrov. 
 
 HA. VT} rov Ata. 
 
 AT. Kavdis KaTOfjLOcrov, 
 
 HA. VT] AC. 
 
 Al. O[10(T0V, 
 
 HA. vrj Ata. 
 
 AT. otjuot raAas, o)? a>;(pta(r' avTrjv ibcov' 
 
 HA. 68l 8e beCaas vTtepeTivppiaa-i (rov. 
 
 Al. otjuot, TTodev /xot ra KaKa raurt Trpoa-iTTea-ev ; 
 
 TLv alTidacoixaL Oe^v fJL aTToXXyvai ; 
 HA. aidepa Atos bcofidrLov, 17 \p6vov TToba ; 
 
 OVTOS. ' 
 
 AT. rt eo-rii; ; 
 
 HA. ov KaTrJKOV(ras ; 
 
 AT. rivos ; 
 
 HA. avXcDr TTVo^j. 
 
 AT. lycoye, Kai babcDV yk jute 
 
 avpa rts €l(rii:v€V(re fjivaTLKMrdrr]. 
 
 d\y ripepX TTTri^avT€S CLKpoaa-co^eda. 
 
 X0P02 MT2T12N. 
 
 "'TttKx'} ^ ''IaK)(e. 
 
 "TttKx'j ot) "TaK^^e. 
 HA. roi3r eor' ckciz;*, S SeVTTo^', ot \i€p.vr\]xivoi 
 
 kvravdd irov iraiCova-LV, oxjs €(f)pa(e v^v. 
 
 abovai yovv tov "laK^ov ovnep Aiayopas, 
 AT. Ka/zot boKOva-Lv. r)(rv\iav tolvvv dyeiv 
 
 ^ikTKTTOV eCTTLV, 0)9 CLV €lb&fJL€V (ra(f)5>'S. 
 
 XO. "laKX, S TToAvrt/xots ei' eSpats ivOdbe vaCoDv, 
 
 (KOe Tovb^ dva Keip.5iva xop€va-(aVy 
 oaLovs is Oiaa-QiTas, 
 
THE FROGS, 31 
 
 Di. Has she ? upon your oath ? 
 
 Xan. By Zeus, she has! 
 Di. No, swear again. 
 
 Xan. By Zeus. 
 
 Di. Well, swear once more! 
 
 Xan. Once more I swear by Zeus ! 
 
 Di. Oh dear ! what a fright I was in with the very sight 
 of her : 
 
 It turned me sick and pale — 
 Xan. But see the priest here ! 
 
 He has coloured up quite with the same alarm. 
 Di. What has brought me to this pass V^^ 
 Xan. It must be Zeus himself 
 
 With his * chamber in the skies ' and * foot of Time.' 
 Music is heard. 
 
 HoUoh you ! 
 Di. What? 
 
 Xan. Why, did you not hear? 
 
 Di. Why, what? 
 
 Xan. The sound of a flute. 
 Di. Indeed ! and there 's a smell too, 
 
 A pretty mystical ceremonious smell 
 
 Of torches. We '11 watch here, and keep quite quiet ! 
 The Chorus of the Initiated enters with torches^ singing 
 lacchus ! lacchus ! 
 lacchus ! lacchus ! 
 Xan. There, Master, there they are, the initiated : 
 
 All sporting about as he told us we should find 'em. 
 
 They sing in praise of lacchus, like Diagoras ! 
 Di. Indeed, and so they are ; but we '11 keep quiet 
 
 Till we make them out a little more distinctly. 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 Parodos. 
 
 lacchus! who dwellest in a glorious habitation, 
 lacchus, lacchus I 
 
 Come, O come here to our dance in the meadow, 
 Come to lead the sacred revel, — 
 
32 BATPAXOI. 
 
 TToXvKapirov [xev Tivaaauiv 
 
 Trept K/oart a<2 jSpvovra 
 
 (TTecfyavov ixvpTOiV Opaaei 8' eyKaraKpovcav 
 
 TTobl rav CLKoXacTTov 
 
 (jaXoTTaiyiJLOva rtjuar, 
 
 XapLT(ov TrXetoTOz; ^yovaav /xe/yoj, ayvav, Upav 
 
 oaioLs [JLVCTTats yopeiav. 
 
 HA. S TlOTVia TTOkVTLJJL'qTe A^lXrjTpOS KOpT], 
 
 a)S r]hv fxoL irpoa-iiTveva-e \oipei(iiv Kpecov. 
 AI. ovKovv aTp^jx e^et?, i]v tl kol xopbijs Xd^rjs ; 
 XO. eyetpe <l)\oy4as XapLTrdbas iv x^P^' 7^9 ^'^^t^ Tivda-- 
 
 "laKX*, 0) "la/cxe, 
 
 vvKTepov T€\€T^s (f)a}(r(f)6pos d(TTrip. 
 (jiXoyl cf)iyy^TaL 8e keipLcaV 
 yovv TTaWeraL yepovTcaV 
 aiTO(T€LovTaL be Xviras 
 
 XPOVLOVS T €T&V TTokaL&V iviaVTOVSy 
 
 upas viTo TLfias. 
 
 (TV be XapLTTabi (fyeyycav 
 
 irpojBdbrjv e^ay eTT.,dv67]pdv eXeiov bdnebov 
 
 yopoTToiov, [xcLKap, 7]j3av. 
 
 evcl)rjjxeliJ Xprj Ka^LcrTacrOaL tols rjpieTipoLa-L yopoicTLv 
 
 odTis direLpos TOL&vbe koycav, rj yv(oiJiri fxri KaOapevet, 
 
 rj yevvaiinv opyta Mov(r&v ixrjT elbev fj^rjT exopev- 
 
 (Tevj 
 fjLYjbe KpaTLvov rod Tavpo(l)dyov yXwrrTjs /SaKx^t' ere- 
 
 keaOr], 
 7} jBcopLoXoxoLS eiTea-Lv xatpet, [xi] V Kaipw tovto iroLOvaLv, 
 rj orrda-Lv exOpdv /x^ Karakvei, jurjS' evKokos ea-ri 
 
 TToklTaLS, 
 
 oAA' dveyeipei kol pmi^ei. Kepbo^v lbC(ov eTriOvpLiav, 
 
THE FROGS. 33 
 
 And around thy brow for garland 
 
 Be the leafage fair, luxuriant, of a green myrtle, — 
 
 In cadence to the measure 
 
 Of thy wanton adorers, the delight of their dancing, 
 
 Where with most delicate grace the bands devout 
 
 Move solemnly in the rite divine and holy. 
 Xan. O glorious virgin, daughter of the goddess ! 
 
 What a scent of roasted griskin reached my senses ! 
 Di. Keep quiet and watch for a chance of a piece of the 
 
 haslets. 
 Cho. 'Tis time now for the waking of the torches that thou 
 bearest ; come hither, 
 
 lacchus, lacchus! 
 
 Thou the star of our orgies in the night time. 
 
 See, the mead's with fire a-blazing! 
 
 See, the old men's knees are nimble ! 
 
 And they cast off care and sorrow 
 
 And the weary load of years that they are bearing, 
 
 In the zeal of devotion. 
 
 Then with torches a-glowing 
 
 Come and lead us going forward to the flower- 
 strewn level mead, 
 
 Blest one ! lead us, thy glad dancers. 
 
 Coryphaeus. 
 Let him be mute and stand aside nor join in our 
 
 sacred procession. 
 Who never has heard our mystical words, or is not 
 
 righteously minded. 
 Who never has seen and never has danced in the 
 
 Muses' high ceremonial. 
 Nor ever has learnt the magical spell of old beef- 
 eating Cratinus, 
 Or who takes delight in ribald abuse when ribald 
 
 abuse is improper; 
 Whoever is not his citizen's friend, nor strives to 
 
 conciliate faction, 
 But kindles and fans the flame of hate, and all for 
 
 his private advantage : 
 D 
 
34 BATPAXOI. 
 
 rj TTJs TTokecdS \(EiiJLaCoyLivr]s 6.p\(iiv KaTah(opoboK€tTaL. 
 rj irpobibioa-Lv (ppovptov rj vavs, rj ranoppriT aTTOiripiTTCL 
 €^ Atytrr/y GcDpvKCoav obv, etKOcrroXoyoj KaKobaifxaiV, 
 a(TK(tiixara koli Xiva koX nirTav bLaTrifXTKov ets 'Etti- 
 
 bavpoVf 
 rj ■)(j)'qixaTa rats rwi; avTnr6X(i>v vavalv Tiapi^^iv tlvol 
 
 T] KaraTLXa rStv *F>KaTaloiv, kvkXColctl \opdicnv viraboiv, 
 rj Tovs ^XLO-Qovs t&v 'jTOLr]T&v p'qTOdp (iiV eiT aTTOTpcoyfLj 
 Ka)[jL(Dbr]6€ls €v rais 'narpiois reXcrais rat? rov Ato- 
 
 vvaov' 
 tovTOLs avb<a kovOls aTravSd) KavOis to rpirov jua\' 
 
 e^Ca-Taa-OaL pLvcTraLcn ^opots' vfxetj 6' aveycCpcTC 
 
 PloXtttjv 
 KOL TTavw\ibas ras rjficTipaSf aX rfibc irpiirova-LV eoprfj. 
 Xwpet wv Tras aibpeicos 
 e? TOVS €vav0€L9 koXttovs 
 X€LpL(ai'(t)V €yKpov(ov 
 KaTna-KiaTTTOiv 
 
 Kal TTaCCdiP Koi xXfvd^div. 
 rjpiarTTjTai 8' k^apKovvroas. 
 dW €p.^a )(c!>7ra)s dpets 
 Tr]V '2(aT€Lpav ycvvatois 
 TTJ (})(tivfj pLokTraCcov, 
 rj Trjv x(apav 
 
 (Tco^eLV (\)r\(T ej tols copaSy 
 Kav 0oi>pVKL(i>v fxr] ^ovXrjTai. 
 
 6,y€ vvv €T€pav v}xv(tiv Ibiav rrjv Kap'no(p6pov 
 ^aaCXeiav, 
 
THE FROGS. 35 
 
 Whoever takes bribes when guiding the State, and 
 
 steers her on rocks in a tempest, 
 Or plays the traitor with fort or ship, or smuggles 
 
 goods from Aegina 
 To help our foes— as Thorycion did, that wretched 
 
 collector of taxes— 
 Ropes and sails and timbers and pitch, to a Pelo- 
 
 ponnesian harbour: 
 Or tries his best to persuade us to send supplies to 
 
 the enemy's navy; 
 Or dares to defile great Hecate's shrine, while writing 
 
 a Cyclical Hymnbook ; 
 Or who by base rhetorical arts would dock the pay 
 
 of a poet 
 For a harmless gibe in our national feast, in the 
 
 rites of great Dionysus ; — 
 Once I warn such, and twice I warn such, and thrice 
 
 do I sternly admonish — 
 Avoid you quite our mystical rite : but we, as the 
 
 darkness advances, 
 Rejoice the night through ('tis the festival's due) 
 
 with rh5rthmical singing and dances. 
 
 Now boldly march we onward 
 To the flowery meadows 
 And valleys, time keeping. 
 Jesting, mocking. 
 With sport and gibe in concert. 
 Now that we have freely feasted. 
 Onward then ! and loudly sing 
 The Saving Goddess' praises. 
 Well marking the measure — 
 Hers who ever 
 
 Guards our country the year through, 
 'Spite Thorycion's evil will. 
 
 So raise we again a different strain to the goddess 
 benignant of harvest, 
 D % 
 
36 BATPAXOr. 
 
 Arj/xrjrpa Oeav, €iTLKO(rixovvT€S C^^O^ols fxoATratj 
 
 KeAa8 etre. 
 Ai]fjir]T€p, ayvcdv opyicnv 
 avaor(ra, avixirapacTTdTeLy 
 KOL (T&C^ Tov (ravTrjs \op6v' 
 Kal p! aa^a\(os iravripL^pov 
 TTaiaai re koI ^op^vaaC 
 KOI 77oXka pAV yi\oia pH et- 
 ireti^, TToAXa 8e (nrovhaia^ koX 
 
 TTJS (TTJ'S €OpTrjS CL^LOiS 
 
 TTaLcravra kol crK(a\j/ai'Ta vi- 
 KYjaavTa TaLviova-dat. 
 
 vvv KOL TOV cbpoLov Oeov TrapaKaA-etre bevpo 
 <abaL(n, tov ^vv^pLTTopov TTJabe Trjs )(opetas. 
 
 '']aK)(^€ 7T0\VTLpir]T€, /xeA-OJ €0pT7JS 
 
 rjbL(TTOv €vpojv, bevpo orvvaKoXovdeL 
 irpos Tr]V Oebv Koi bel^ov a)S 
 avev TTovov iroW-qv obov TrepaCveLS. 
 "laK^e (^iAoxopeura, avpLTrpoirep.TTi p.e, 
 (TV yap Kare(r)(to-a) pkv eirl yeXcoTL 
 kott' evTeXeia tov re a-avbakiaKOV 
 
 Kol TO pOLKOS, KCL^evpeS UXTT 
 
 aCriP'^ovs TiaiC^iv re koi -yopevuv. 
 "laKyjE ^iKo)(op^vTa, avpupoii^p.'ne fxe. 
 Ka\ yap Trapal^k^xj/as tl peipaKLo-K-qs 
 vvv 5r) KaTelbov, Kal pd)C evTipocrcaTrov, 
 (TvpLTTaLa-TpCas yjLToaviov 
 irapappayivTos tltOlov irpoKvyj/av. 
 "la/c^f (fyikoxop^VTCL, avp.'npo'Kep.'ne p.€. 
 AI kytii b' d€L ttco? (pikaKokovdos dpn Kal /ixer' avTris 
 TTatfcDz; yop€veiv ^ovkopLat. 
 
THE FROGS. 37 
 
 Demeter the queen be our theme of song, as we 
 
 chant it aloud in her honour. 
 Demeter, thou that rulest o'er 
 Our holy rites, be present now, 
 And guard thy chorus constantly, 
 And grant that I the livelong day may sport and 
 
 dance unfearing : 
 And grant, O queen, that I may speak 
 Both wittily and wisely, and 
 As thy most holy feast deserves. 
 May sport and jeer and win the victor's glorious 
 
 crown for wearing. 
 Now sing we 
 Songs for the hilarious wine-god — let us invite him 
 
 hither. 
 Invoke with song the jovial god, partner of our dances, 
 lacchus, honoured of all men, who didst devise this 
 
 our festal measure, 
 Hither, follow, we pray thee, approach the shrine, 
 And show us that thou fearest not a long and weary 
 
 journey, 
 lacchus, be thou my leader, lover of the dance ! 
 For thou, by sportive jest frugality teaching. 
 Hast clad us all in shoes that need repairing 
 And tattered clouts. 
 And grantest to thy crew devout to sport and dance 
 
 in freedom, 
 lacchus, be thou my leader, lover of the dance ! 
 For late glancing sideways a little maiden 
 Mine 'twas to see — fair was the girl to look on — 
 Who sports with us, 
 And through her bodice torn I saw her bosom bare 
 
 was peeping, 
 lacchus, be thou my leader, lover of the dance. 
 Di. Well, I 'm always hearty, disposed to mirth and ease, 
 I'm ready to join the party. 
 
3« BATPAXOI. 
 
 HA. Kaya)y€ irpos- 
 
 XO. j3ovk€a-6€ brJTa Koivfj 
 
 (rKco\l/(i}iJL€v ^Ap)(^ibr]iJLov ; 
 
 OS kTTTirrjs oiv ovk €(l)V(r€ (ppdrcpas, 
 
 vvvl 8e 8?j/xaya)yet 
 
 iu Tols avo) VCKpolcTL, 
 
 kclo-tIv tcl Trpwra ttjs exet p.oydripias. 
 Al. e^oLT av ovv (f)pd(TaL vi^v 
 
 YlkovTdiv oTTov ^vddb' otKet ; 
 
 ^€V(o yap €(TpL€v dpTLMS a(f)Ly[jL€V(ti. 
 XO. fjir}h€v fJLaKpav diTekOrjs, 
 
 fji-qb^ avOis eiravepT] fxe, 
 
 aXk L(r6' ctt' avTr}v rrjv Ovpav d<piyp.ivo<s, 
 A I. aipoC hv ovOls, S ttol. 
 HA. tovtI tC -qv TO TTpayfjia 
 
 dAA' 17 Atos KopLvOos h rois (TTpcafiaa-tv 
 XO. x.^p(aix€V ey iTokvppobovs 
 
 TOV rjlJL€T€pOV TpOTTOV, 
 
 rov KoXXixopcaTarov, 
 TTaiCovTes, ov oX^tat 
 Molpai ^vvdyovcTLv. 
 fjLovoLs yap ijiuv ijkLos 
 Kal (f)€yyos Ikapov €(rTLVj 
 
 6(T0L pL€pLVrifJL€d^ €V- 
 
 (refSij re bLriyo[Ji€v 
 
 TpOTTOV TT€pL TOVS fcVoUS 
 
 Kal TOVS IbtcaTas. 
 
THE FROGS. 39 
 
 Xan. And I will, if you please. 
 
 Cho. O shall we then in chorus 
 
 Deride old Archedemus ? 
 
 For all his seven years he ne*er has got a clan, 
 
 Yet leads the Liberal Party 
 
 Up there among the dead men, 
 
 And with the ruffians there is quite the foremost man. 
 Di. Prithee, my good fellows, would you please to tell 
 me which is Pluto's door ? 
 
 I'm an utter stranger, never here before. 
 Coryphaeus. 'Tis not far from hither : ye shall not have 
 reason to ask me any more. 
 
 Know ye come directly to the very door. 
 Di. {to Xanthias). Take up your bundles, Xanthias. 
 Xan. Hang all bundles ! 
 
 A bundle has no end, and these have none ! 
 
 {Exeunt Di. and Xan.) 
 Cho. Then haste we to the flowery meads where bloom 
 abundant roses, 
 
 And sport in the way we know. 
 
 With song and with fairest dance, 
 
 E'en such as propitious Fates 
 
 Still aid in arraying. 
 
 For us alone the day is glad, and glad the heavenly 
 sunlight, 
 
 Who learnt of Eleusis' rite, 
 
 And holily lived withal, 
 
 Still just to our countrymen 
 
 And just to the stranger. 
 
A10NT202. HAN0IA2. X0P02. 
 
 AI. aye hi] riva Tpoirov ttjv Ovpav Koxj/oi ; riva ; 
 
 TTws €v6ab^ apa kotttovo-lv ovTnyoipLoi ; 
 HA. ov p.!] bLaTpL\f/eLS, akXa yexxrei rrjs 6vpas, 
 
 Kad^ ^HpaKXia to oxvixa koI to KijpL ^xoiv ; 
 
 AI. TTOL TTOL. 
 
 A1AK02. 
 
 Tis ovTos ; 
 
 AI. *HpaK\^s 6 KapT€p6s. 
 
 AlA. u) ^beXvpe KavaicryyvTe koX ToXp.-qpe av 
 KOi pLtape Kol T:ap.p.iape kolX pLiapcaraTe, 
 OS Tov Kvv TjpL&v €^€\dcras Tov KepfBepov 
 CLTrfj^as ay\(xiv KCLTTohpas ^X^^ Xa^ayv, 
 ov eyo) ^(f)vXaTT0V. aXka vvv e^fi /xeVos* 
 Toia ^Tvyos ce pLeXavoKaphLOs ireTpa 
 *Ax€p6vTL6s T€ (TKOireXos alpiaToo-Tayrjs 
 (jypovpovaL, K(okvtov tc 'nepihpop.oi Kvves, 
 'E^tSra 6' kKaToyK€(f)aXos, rj tcl aiiXayyva aov 
 hiacTTiapa^ei, 'nXevp.ovoav r avOdxj/eTaL 
 TapTrjaia p^vpaiva' ro> vecppo) hi aov 
 avTolcriv ivTepoLatv ypLaTO)pL&(o 
 bLaa-Trda-ovTai Topyoves Tt^pdcrtat, 
 €0' hs iyo) hpop.aiov 6pp,-qa(o iroba 
 
ACT II. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 Before Pluto's Palace. 
 
 Enter Dionysus and Xanthias. The Chorus come on 
 and watch. 
 
 Di. Well, how must I knock at the door now? Can't 
 ye tell me? 
 How do the native inhabitants knock at doors? 
 
 Xan. Pah ! don't stand fooling there ; but smite it smartly, 
 With the very spirit and air of Heracles. 
 
 Di. {knocks). Holloh ! ! 
 
 Aeacus. {from within). Who 's there ? 
 
 Di. 'Tis I, the valiant Heracles ! 
 
 Ae. {rushing out). Thou brutal, abominable, detestable, 
 Vile, villainous, infamous, nefarious scoundrel ! 
 How durst thou, villain that thou wert, to seize 
 Our watch-dog, Cerberus, whom I kept and tended. 
 Hurrying him off, half strangled in your grasp. 
 But now, be sure, we have you safe and fast, 
 Miscreant and villain ! Thee the Stygian cliffs. 
 With stern adamantine durance, and the rocks 
 Of inaccessible Acheron, red with gore. 
 Environ ; and the circling hounds of hell : 
 And Hydra with her hundred heads shall rend and 
 
 tear thee, 
 Wrenching thy vitals forth with the heart and midriff. 
 Tartesian monsters and Tithrasian gorgons 
 Shall toss and scatter thine entwined intestines. 
 To them with hasty steps I will repair. 
 
 {Exit tragically.) 
 
42 BATPAXOl. 
 
 HA. avbpeLa ye a> UocreLbov. 
 
 A I. (TV b* ovK ebetaas rbv \j/6(f)ov tQv prjixoLTcav 
 KOL ras aTT€L\as. 
 
 HA. ov pLCL At' ovb^ i(f)p6vTL(ra. 
 
 A I. L0L vvv, €TT€Lbr} Ar/juarttts Kavbpe'ios ct, 
 
 (TV fxkv yevov 'ya>, to poiraXov tovtI Xa^chv 
 KOL Ti]v \eovTrjv, €LTT€p a(\)o^6(Ti:Xayyj)o^ et* 
 eyo) 8' ecrojxaC col crK€VO(f)6pos iv rw /xepet. 
 
 HA. ^e/)€ br} ra)(ea)9 avr'* ov yap akXa tt€L(tt€ov' 
 Kol ftkixj/ov et? Tov 'HpaKketo^avOCav, 
 et 8etA6s eo-o/xat Kat Kara (re to A^/x' €\a}v. 
 
 A I. /xa Ar aAA.' ak-qO&s ovk MeAtrr^j pLacrTiyias. 
 (pipe vvvj eyo) ra (TTputpiaT alpcuixai rabi. 
 
 A I A. fui^Setre raxe'foy rouroi/l rov KwoKkoiroVy 
 Xva 8(5 buK-qv' avv€Tov. 
 
 AI. ^fcet T<i) KaKov. 
 
 HA. OVK es KopaKas ; ov /ur) irpoa-LTov ; 
 
 AlA. etez;, /ua^et ; 
 
 6 AtrvAas yj^ 2K€(3kvas x^ FlapSoKas 
 X^petre bevpl kol iiayea-Be Tovnai. 
 
 Af. etr' ovyj. beiva ravra, tvittuv tovtovI 
 
 KkilTTOVTa 77/905 TokkoTpLa ,* 
 
 HA. jLtdAA' vTr€p<t)va. 
 
 AIA. o-xeVXta jotez/ ovz; Kat Setrci. 
 
 HA. Kat pLTiv VT} Aia, 
 
 et TTcaTTor' tJA^oi; fievp', e^e'A.a> TeOvrjKevaiy 
 r) \ke\lfa rStv a&v a^Lov tl kol rpixos. 
 KaC o-ot iroL-qa-o) lipayfxa yevvaiov irdw 
 (^aa-dviCe yap rbv Traiba tovtovI ka^(>)V, 
 . K&v TTori fx ekrjs dbiKovvT, clitoktclvov /x' ayiav, 
 
 AIA. Kat TTws pa(TavL(T(t) ; 
 
THE FROGS. 43 
 
 Xan. {ironically^ to the cowering Dionysus). 
 
 Most manfully done ! 
 Di. By Jove, and I think it was : 
 
 But tell me, weren 't you frightened with that speech ? 
 
 Such horrible expressions ! 
 Xan. No, not I : 
 
 I took no notice. 
 Di. Well, I '11 tell you what, 
 
 Since you 're such a valiant-spirited kind of fellow. 
 
 Do you be me — with the club and lion's skin, 
 
 Now you 're in this courageous temper of mind ; 
 
 And 1 '11 go take my turn and carry the bundles. 
 Xan. Well, give us hold — I must humour you forsooth. 
 
 Make haste ! {Changes dress.) And now behold the 
 Xanthian Heracles ! 
 
 And see if I won 't display more heart and spirit ! 
 Di. Indeed and you look the character completely, 
 
 Like that heroic Melitensian hang-dog — 
 
 Come, now for my bundles. I must mind my bundles. 
 
 Re-enter Aeacus with slaves. 
 
 Ae. Arrest me there that fellow that stole the dog. 
 There! pinion him! quick! 
 
 Di. {to Xanthias tauntingly). There 's somebody in a scrape. 
 
 Xan. Keep off, be hanged t 'ye 1 {Squares up.) 
 
 Ae. Oho ! do you mean to fight for it ? 
 
 Here, Pardokas and SkabUas and the rest of ye. 
 Make up to the rogue and settle him. Come, be quick. 
 {Scuffle. Xanthias gets the best of it.) 
 
 Di. Well, is not this quite monstrous and outrageous. 
 To steal the dog, and then to make an assault 
 In justification of it ! 
 
 Xan. {ironically). Quite outrageous ! 
 
 Ae. An aggravated case ! 
 
 Xan. Well now— by Jupiter 
 
 May I die ; but I never saw this place before — 
 
 Nor ever stole the amount of a farthing from you : 
 
 Not a hair of your dog's tail. But you shall see now, 
 
 I'll settle all this business nobly and fairly. 
 
 This slave of mine — you may take and torture him ; 
 
 And if you make out anything against me 
 
 You may take and put me to death for aught I care. 
 
 Ae. {softened). But which way would you please to have 
 him tortured? 
 
44 BATPAXOI. 
 
 EA. 'jTOLvra rpoTrov, Iv KXCfMaKi 
 
 br}(ras, Kp^iiaa-as, ixTTpi^ihi /xao-rtywi^, bepoov, 
 (TTpel^Xcov, €TL 8' €S TCLS plvas o^os ^y^iwVy 
 ttXCvOovs iiTLTLOels, iravra raXAa, 7rAr)i^ 7r/3(i(r<a 
 p}] TviTTC Tovrov fjLTjbe yrjretia v€io. 
 
 A I A. 8tKaioj 6 \6yos' kolv tl 7Tr]p(a(r(i) yi aroL 
 
 TOV TToiba TVTTTMV, TCipyvpiOV (TOL K€L(reTaL. 
 
 HA. jur) bi]T ipLOLy\ ovtu) b€ ^aaaviC cmayay^v. 
 A! A. avTov p.'kv ovv, tva (rot Kar d(f)6aXfxovs X^yrj. 
 
 KardOov av ra aK^vr] Ta\€it}9, ^wttcoj epets 
 
 ivravda pirjbev yf/evbos. 
 AT. . a/opevdi tlvl 
 
 eM€ jw.r) l3a(TavL^€LV aOdvarov ovv' €t Se ju^, 
 
 avTos (T^avTov alTiSi. 
 AlA. Aeyeis 8e rt ; 
 
 A I. d^ai'aros ^Xvai cfiripa Alovvctos A toy, 
 
 roDroi' be bovXov. 
 AlA. ra5r' a/cove i s ; 
 
 HA. 0^//^' ^y&). 
 
 Kat TToA.?^ ye piaWov eort pLacTTLyoiTeos' 
 
 etTrep ^eo? yap kariv, ovk ol(Tdr\(TeTai. 
 A I. rt 8flr', €7T€Lbr} Kal av (pjjs elvat ^€oy, 
 
 ov Ktti o-y ri;7rrei raj to-as Trkrjyas €p.oi ; 
 HA. blKaiQ<s 6 Aoyos* ^(WTrorepor ai' z^wi^ iSr/j 
 
 KXavaavTa irpoTepov rj TTpoTLpLrjcravTa tl 
 
 TVTTTopievov, etvai TovTov i]yov pLTj Oeov. 
 AiA. OVK €(T&* 0770)9 OVK €t (TV y^wdbas dvr\p' 
 
 y^ijdpeis yap els to bUaiov. dirobvecrOe b-q. 
 HA. TTcos ovv ^acravie'is voi biKaCois ; 
 AIA. pabiois' 
 
 TiX-qyrjv irapa irkrjyip kKOLTepov. 
 HA. Kak&s Ae/ets. 
 
THE FROGS, 4.5 
 
 Xan. In your own way— with . . . the lash — with . . . knots 
 and screws, 
 
 With . . . the common usual customary tortures. 
 
 With the rack— with . . . the water-torture— any way— 
 
 With fire and vinegar— not as a child 
 
 To be whipt with fennel or with lettuce-leaves. 
 Ae. That 's fair, and if so be . . . he 's maim'd or crippled 
 
 In any respect— the value shall be paid you. 
 Xan. To me ? by no means ! Take him to the torture. 
 Ae. It had better be here, and under your own eye. 
 
 {to Di.) Come you— put down your bundles and 
 make ready. 
 
 And mind, let me hear no lies ! 
 Di. I'll tell you what : 
 
 I 'd advise people not to torture me. 
 
 I 'm a god ! and you '11 have nobody to blame 
 
 But your own self— 
 Ae. What's that you're saying there? 
 
 Di. I'm Dionysus, son of Zeus himself! 
 
 That fellow there's the slave. 
 Ae. {to Xan.) Do ye hear? 
 
 Xan. I hear him — 
 
 A reason the more to give him a good beating; 
 
 If he 's immortal he need never mind it. 
 Di. Why should you not be beat as well as I then, 
 
 \{ you''re immortal, as you say you are? 
 Xan. Agreed ! and him, the first that you see flinching, 
 
 Or seeming to mind it at all, you may set him down 
 
 For an impostor and no real deity. 
 Ae. Ah ! you 're a worthy gentleman, I '11 be bound 
 for't: 
 
 You're all for the truth and the proof. Come, 
 strip then both o'ye. 
 Xan. How will ye question fairly? 
 Ae. Easily enough; 
 
 Each in your turn a lash ! so, one by one ! 
 Xan. That's right {standing round). Now mind if you 
 see me flinch or swerve. 
 
46 BATPAXOl. 
 
 ATA. t'SoiJ. 
 
 HA. (TKOTTei vvv rjv fx v-noKivrirravT Xhr\'s. 
 
 A I A. -^ht] ^TTCLTa^a cr. 
 
 HA. ov fxa AC ovb^ iiiol boKeh. 
 
 AIA. dAX' etjix' cm Tovbl kol Trara^o). 
 
 A I. TTTJVLKa ; 
 
 A [A. KoX bi] ^TTCLTa^a, 
 
 AI. Kara ttws ovk cirrapov ; 
 
 AIA. OVK olba' rovbl 8' avdis aTroTTeipda-ofxaL. 
 
 HA. ovKovv av6(T€is ; laTraTOL. 
 
 AIA. TL TOLTTaTal ; 
 
 liwv b)bvvri6r)s ; 
 HA. ov fxa AC, a\)C k(pp6vTi(Ta 
 
 OTToO^ *HpaKX€ia tclv AiofxcCois yiyverai. 
 AIA. avOpcoTTos Upos. bevpo Trdkiv ^abiCTTeoV' 
 A I. lov lov. 
 AIA. TL icTTLV ; 
 
 AT « / t « 
 
 AIA. Tt 8^Ta KAdets ; 
 
 Al. KpopLfivoiV da^paivoiiai. 
 
 AIA. e-JTel TTpoTLpias y ovbiv. 
 
 A I. oiiScr /not fxi\€i. 
 
 AIA. ^abi(TT€ov TCLp' (otIv cttI roz;8t TrdAtz;. 
 
 HA. otjuiot. 
 
 AIA. rt eo-rt ; 
 
 HA. Tr]v cLKavOav efeAe. 
 
 AIA. TL TO irpayfjia tovtl ; bevpo ttclXlv ^abia-Tiov. 
 
 AI. "AiToWov, OS irov Arj\ov rf IlvOoiv' e^et?. 
 
 HA. ri\.yr](Tev' ovk riKovaas ; 
 
 A I. OVK €yo)y\ iirel 
 
 tafxISov '^lTnra>vaKTos dv€[XLfxvT]<TK6iJirjv. 
 HA. ovbev TTOteis yap, dAAa tcls kayovas (TirobeL, 
 
THE FROGS, 47 
 
 Ae. {strikes him). I 've struck. 
 
 Xan. Not you. 
 
 Ae. Why, it seems as if I had not. 
 
 I'll smite this other fellow. {Strikes Di.) 
 Di. {pretending not to feel it.) When will you do it? 
 Ae. I 've done it. 
 
 Di. Why, I didn't even sneeze ! 
 
 Ae. I can't explain it ! I '11 try him again. 
 Xan. Well, quick about it ! {Ae. strikes.) Oh ! ah ! 
 Ae. Why 'oh! ah!'? 
 
 Weren't you hurt then? 
 Xan. No, no ! I did but think 
 
 Of Heracles' feast, held in Diomeia! 
 Ae. What piety ! Well, here goes for the other. {Strikes Di.) 
 Di. Ho, ho ! ah, ah ! 
 Ae. What's that? 
 
 Di. {pointing eagerly at the audience). Here come the 
 
 knights ! 
 Ae. Why do you blub then? 
 
 Di. Sure I 'm smelling onions ! 
 
 Ae. You count it nothing? 
 
 Di. I don't care a straw ! 
 
 Ae. Then here goes for the other once again. {Strikes Xan.) 
 Xan. Good heavens ! 
 Ae. Well? 
 
 Xan. Just pull that thorn out there ! 
 
 Ae. What does this mean ? Well, there 's another shot I 
 
 {Strikes Di.) 
 Di. Apollo ! ! ! — * who in Delos, or the Pythian . . .' 
 Xan. {to Ae.) He felt it ! did you hear ? . 
 Di. Not I indeed ! 
 
 I did but quote that line of Hipponax's. 
 Xan. {to Ae.) That 's no good : hit him on the flanks, I 
 say! 
 
48 BATPAXOL 
 
 AIA. fxa Tov At', dA\' 7/6r; Trapeze ttjv yacrripa. 
 
 A I. Yl6(T€Lb0l\ 
 
 HA. rjXyrja-iv tls. 
 
 A I. 6? Atyatou irp&vas rj ykavKas fxibets 
 
 AIA. ov Toi pxL T7]v ArjfjL-qrpa hvvafjLaC ttg) jxaO^Zv 
 OTTorepos vfxo^v eort Oeos. aAX' eXaiTov' 
 6 b€(T'ir6Tr]s yap avros vfJLas yv(acr€TaL 
 X^ ^€p(^^(l>CLT6\ ar 6vt€ KaK€LV(o Oeca. 
 
 AI. opO&s X^yets' i^ovXofxriv 6' av tovto ere 
 
 TTpOTspov TTOLrja-aij TTplv efjik Tcis irXrjyas Xa^^iv. 
 
THE FROGS. 49 
 
 Ae. You 're right there : {to DL) turn your stomach 
 
 round, you fellow! {Strikes.) 
 Di. Poseidon ! ! ! 
 
 Xan. Someone felt that! 
 
 Di. * — thou that rulest 
 
 Aegean headlands and the deep gray sea ! ' 
 Ae. {giving it up). Well, after all my pains I'm quite 
 at a loss 
 To discover which is the true real deity! 
 I must take you before Proserpine and Pluto; 
 Being gods themselves, they're likeliest to know. 
 Di. Why, that's a lucky thought! I only wish 
 It had happened to occur before you beat us. 
 
 {Exeunt into the palace.) 
 
 The Chorus remain on the stage, turn towards the audience 
 and sing the Parabasis, 
 
50 BATPAXOl. 
 
 XOPOS. 
 
 Mov(Ta )(0pQiV UpQv iTTL^rjdL kol ^XO ^ttl repyj/LV 
 
 aoibas e/xas, 
 Tov TTokvv 6y\ro}xiv7] Xa&v ox^Kov, ov (ro^iai 
 [xvpiai KaOrjvraL, 
 (fyiXoTLfjiOTepaL KXeo^wiros, e^' ov brj yjeikecnv afx- 
 
 (piXdkoLs 
 betvov kTri^peixeTai 
 (r)prjKLa X€kLbo)V, 
 €7tI fidp^apov k^o\xivy] TiiraXov' 
 pvC^L 5' iiTLKXavTov dr]b6vLov vofxov, wj dTTokelrai, 
 Khv Xaai yivoavrai. 
 
 TOV Upov x.opov biKaiov cort y^p-qaTa rfj TroAet 
 ^vpLTTapatve'LV kol btbdcrK^Lv. irpoiTov ovv rjijuv boKcl 
 k^iaGiaai rovs 'noXiras Kd(j)€Xeiv tcl beifxaTa. 
 Ket TLS rjjJLapTe acfiaXeis tl ^pvviyov iraXaLo-pLaa-LV, 
 fKy€vi(r6ai (f)rjpLl \privai rot? oXiadovaiv t6t€ 
 aiTLav eK^eto-t Ai;o-at rds irpoTepov a/xaprtas. 
 etr' CLTLpLOv (prjpLL \pr\vaL pLrjbiv elv ev Tjj iroXeL. 
 KOI yap ala-xpov eort tovs /xey vavpiaxrio-avTas ixiav 
 Kol UXaraias evOvs etvaL kclvtI bovXoiv becnroTas, 
 Kovbe TavT eyu>y e)(oi/x' av jxr] ov KaXu>s (f)da-K€iv 
 
 dXX^ knaivS)' ixova yap avrd vovv eyovr ebpacrare. 
 TTpos be TOVTOLS etKos vixas, ot /xe^' vp.(ov, iroXXa brj 
 \ol TTaripes kvavixd)(r]a-av koi irpoa-i^KOva-iv yiv€L, 
 T7JV fJLLav TavTYjv TTap^lvai ^vpLcjiopav alTOVjJLevoLS. 
 
THE FROGS, 51 
 
 SCENE JI. 
 
 Parahasis, 
 Strophe, 
 
 Muse of the dances divine, come advance, take thy 
 
 joy of my music, come hither to me ! 
 Look on the myriad people, behold all wisdom around 
 
 In her countless thousands 
 Who are keener for glory than Cleophon ^, upon 
 whose chattering, chattering, chattering lips 
 Hovers a swallow from Thrace — 
 
 Roars like any lion ! 
 On a leaf of a barbarous tree it alights, 
 And intones a sad dirge as a sorrowful nightingale, 
 that death awaits him 
 Though the votes be equal! 
 Epirrhema. 
 
 Now 'tis our part, as sacred chorus, jointly to advise 
 
 the State 
 What may best befit her honour. Firstly then we 
 
 advocate 
 Equal rights for all our townsmen, amnesty for all 
 
 their fears; 
 Phrynichus — that arch-intriguer— tripped up many in 
 
 past years — 
 Let not those who slipped aforetime be denied the 
 
 grace to plead 
 Should they ask to make atonement for a past and 
 
 gone misdeed ! 
 Further hold we, no Athenian should be stripped of 
 
 civil right ; 
 While 'tis plainly shame that all who fought in just 
 
 one naval fight 
 Earned at once Plataean status — slaves before, but 
 
 masters now : 
 After all may be 'twas better— rather will I e'en avow 
 That the action is to your credit ; that alone was 
 
 shrewdly done ! 
 All the more then for your townsmen, whose mis- 
 fortune was but one. 
 Pass it over! they entreat you, they whose fathers 
 
 all have stood 
 By your side in many a sea-fight, through whose 
 
 veins flows common blood ! - 
 
 ^ The latest demagogue, of Thracian extraction and a keen sup- 
 porter of the War party. 
 
 E ij 
 
 
52 BATPAXOI. 
 
 aWa rrjs opyrjs avevTes, a> ao(f)(aTaTOL (jyvcrei, 
 irdvTas avOpodirovs kKovres (rvyyeve'is KTr]a-(ayLe6a 
 
 KaTTLTLfJiOVS Kol TToXiTaS, OCTTLS OLV ^VVVaVlXaXT]. 
 
 €t 6e TOVT oyKcoaoiieo-da Ka7TO<T€[xvvvoviJL€6a, 
 
 T-qv TTokiv KOL TavT ^^ovT€S KVfJLaTOdv €V ayKaXais, 
 
 v(TT€p(a Xpo'^<P '^o'"' o,v6ls (V cjipovelv ov bo^ofxev. 
 
 €1 8* eyo) opObs Ibelv ^lov avipos rj rpoirov ooTt? 
 
 €T olpLCCt^^TaL, 
 
 ov TToXvv ovb^ 6 ttlOtjkos ovtos 6 VVV kvO)(kSiV, 
 
 KXfiyevrjs 6 [XLKpbs, 
 
 6 TTovr]p6TaTOS I3akav€vs ottoo-ol KpaTovcn KVKr](TiTi^pov 
 
 yjfevboXLTpov KovCas 
 
 KOL KijucoAta? yrjs, 
 
 Xpovov ivbiaTpLxj/^L' lb(bv bk rdb^ ovk 
 
 eiprjvLKos €(r6\ tva firj ttotc KairobvOfj^ yi.M(uv a- 
 
 V€V fuAov l3abCC(iiv. 
 
 TToXXcLKLs y rjiMv ebo^ev rj ttoAis ircirovOivai 
 ravTov €S T€ tS>v ttoXltwv tovs KaXovs kol tovs 
 
 KaKOVS, 
 
 es re rapyaiov vojiia-jia koX to Kaivov xpvaiov. 
 ovT€ yap TovTOKTLv ovdiv OV KeKL^b-qkevpievoLS, 
 aXXa KaXXCaTOLs airavrcov, ws boKeX, vopaapidTaiv, 
 KOL ixovois opOSis KOTretort KoX KeKaib(ovL(Tix4voLS 
 iv re rots "EXXrjo-L kol rot? fiap^dpoKTi iravToyov, 
 Xp(oix€6^ ovbev, dXXa tovtols rots irovrjpols xaXKLOis, 
 X^es re kol irpdi-qv KoireXai rw KaKL(TT(^ KOjjLfJLarLf 
 
THE FROGS. ^'>^ 
 
 Nay ! remit your anger ! heaven made you wisest 
 of mankind — 
 
 Welcome every man as kinsman, grant him with 
 an equal mind 
 
 All the rights of free Athenians, if he fought on 
 Athens' side. 
 
 Boast not overmuch your City, swell not in vain- 
 glorious pride ! 
 
 Still the angry waves embrace our ship : I charge 
 you all take care. 
 
 Some day we may know our folly, some day prove 
 it, so beware ! 
 
 Antistrophe. 
 
 If I can judge of the life and the ways of a man, 
 
 who shall suffer for them, sure as fate. 
 Verily this pestilent ape who ventures to trouble 
 us now, 
 
 Cleigenes, the puny, 
 Is not destined to stay very long with us, vilest bath- 
 man of all who dispense 
 
 Soap of soda badly boiled, 
 Fullers' earth and mere dust? 
 Though he knows he is foredoomed yet still he's 
 
 rowdy, 
 He fears that some night in his cups, if he walks 
 with his bludgeon forgot, 
 
 His foes may meet and strip him ! 
 
 Antepirrhema. 
 
 Often have we thought the City's case was truly much 
 
 alike 
 Both regarding older coinage and the novel gold we 
 
 strike. 
 So regarding these our townsmen, here the lowest, 
 
 there the best: 
 Never do we use pure metal, all submitted to the test, 
 Unalloyed and stamped precisely with an image 
 
 straight and fair, 
 Best of all that's coined in Hellas, best abroad, 
 
 best everywhere. 
 This we use not — rather use we all the basest bronze 
 
 we may. 
 Stamped awry with vile impression, minted, issued 
 
 yesterday ! 
 Thus we treat our fellow-townsmen ! heap indignities 
 
 and scorn 
 
54 BATPAXOl. 
 
 avbpas ovras koX biKaCovs kol KaXovs re KayaOovs, 
 Kol Tpacf)4vTas iv irakaiaTpais koi \opois kol fxova-LKrj, 
 TTpovarekovfjiev, rots be ^aXKols kol pivots kol TrvppCais 
 Kol TTOvqpols KCLK TTOvqp&v CIS OLTTavTa y^pu>p.e6a 
 VGTaroLS acpLyfxevoLa-Lv, olcnv rj irokis irpb tov 
 ovbe cf)apixaKOi(nv elKrj paStcos e^pT^o-ar* av. 
 akXa KOL vvv, covot^tol, pLera^aXovTes tovs Tpoirovs, 
 y^pTjcrOe toIs Xpr](TTol(nv avOts' kol KaTOpOiacraai yap 
 evXoyov' KOLV TL a^aXriT , k^ a^iov yovv tov ^vXov, 
 
 T]V TL KOL '7Tdor\lf]T€, TTdor^eiV Tols (TOCpols boKr]Cr€T€. 
 
THE FROGS. 55 
 
 Ever on the wise of Athens, those we know are 
 
 gentle born; 
 Those we know are men^ the best and noblest, trained 
 
 in manly wise. 
 Fit to tread a holy measure, fit to win a poet's prize ! 
 Yes ! the men we use are strangers, brazen rufSans 
 
 every one. 
 Each the last-arrived among us, vilest father's viler son ! 
 Such we call to every service— men the City long ago 
 Scarce had used for very scape-goats, scarce had 
 
 deigned, right well I know ! 
 Come, ye men of little wisdom, leave at last your 
 
 foolish ways. 
 Use again the good among you : should you prosper, 
 
 all will praise : 
 Should perchance mishap befall you, know the wise 
 
 will say that 'God 
 In that he is pleased to smite you, smites you with 
 
 a worthy rod ! ' 
 
 The Chorus turn again towards the stage^ as the actors 
 re-enter. 
 
S6 BATPAXOI. 
 
 AIAKOS. HAN0IA2. X0P02 MT2T12N. 
 
 AIA. vrj Tov Ata tov a-coTrjpaj y€vvdbas avrjp 
 
 6 bea-TTOTTjs (tov. 
 HA. 770)9 yap ov)(l yevvdbas ; 
 
 AIA. TO 6e pJr] Trarafat cr' k^€X^y)(divT avTiKpvs^ 
 
 OT^ hovkos (iiV €(f)a(TK€S €LVaL SeO-TTOTT]?, 
 
 HA. w/xco^e \xivTdv, 
 
 AIA. TOVTO p,€VTOL bovklKOV 
 
 €vdvs 7r€7T0LT]Kas, on^p cyo) ^aip(£i ttol&v. 
 HA. x^tpet?, LKeTevo) ; 
 AIA. joiaXA.' CTTOTTTe-veLV boKca, 
 
 oTav Karapd(T(a\xai Xddpa rw 8€cr77orr/. 
 HA. rt be rovOopv^o^v^ rjvLK h,v TrX-qyas Xa^oiv 
 
 TToXXas dTTLTjs Ovpa^€ ; 
 AIA. Kat Tov6* rjbojjLai. 
 
 HA. tC be TToXXa TrpaTTuiv ; 
 
 AIA. 0)5 /iza At' ovSez; ot8' eyw 
 
 HA. bjxoyvie Zev' kol irapaKoiJOiv bea-iroT&v 
 
 CLTT hv XaX&a-L ; 
 AIA. pLaXXa irXelv rj /uatVo/xai. 
 
 HA. 0) <I>ot/3' "AttoXXov, eixjSaXe ijlol ttjv be^iav, 
 
 Kau bos Kxxrai KavTos k-vctov^ KaC p.oi (fypdaov, 
 
 TTpos Aids, OS TjiJilv eariv opLOixaa-TLyCas, 
 
 TLs ovTos ovvbov eoTt dopv^os XV l^^l 
 
 )(0) Xoiboprjo-pLos ; 
 AIA. Al(TxvXov KevpLirCbov. 
 
 HA. a. 
 AIA. TTpayfjLa irpayfjia [xeya KeKLvqTaL fxeya 
 
 ev Tols veKpoldL koX orao-ts iioXXr] ttclvv. 
 
THE FROGS. 57 
 
 SCENE III, 
 
 Re-enter Aeacus and Xanthias arm in arm. 
 
 Ae. By Jupiter, but he's a gentleman 
 
 That master of yours. 
 Xan. A gentleman ! to be sure he is ! 
 
 Ae. His never striking you when you took his name — 
 
 Outfacing him and contradicting him ! — 
 Xan. It might have been worse for him if he had ! 
 Ae. Well, that's well spoken, like a true-bred slave. 
 
 It's just the sort of language I delight in. 
 Xan. You love excuses ? 
 Ae. Yes, but I prefer 
 
 Cursing my master quietly in private. 
 Xan. What think ye of muttering as you leave the room 
 
 After a beating ? 
 Ae. Why, that's pleasant too. 
 
 Xan. Mischief you 're fond of? 
 Ae, Very- fond indeed. 
 
 Xan. By Jove, so 'm I ! But listening at the door 
 
 To hear their secrets ? 
 Ae. Why, I 'm mad to do it. 
 
 Xan. Well, give me your hand. And there, take mine — 
 and kiss me, 
 
 And there again ! —and now for Jupiter's sake — 
 
 (For he 's the patron of our cuffs and beatings) 
 
 Do tell me what 's that noise of people quarrelling 
 
 And abusing one another there within. 
 Ae. Aeschylus and Euripides only ! 
 Xan. , Heh ?— ?— ? 
 
 Ae. Why, there's a desperate business has broke out 
 
 Among these here dead people; quite a tumult 
 
58 BATPAXOI. 
 
 SA. eK Tov ; 
 
 A I A. voixos TLs €v6db' eo-rt Acet/xez/os 
 
 aiTo tG>v r€\v(aVf oaai /xeyaAat koI he^LoX^ 
 TOV apidTov ovra tS>v kavTov avvri^yoiv 
 (TiT7](Tiv avTov €V TTpvTaveico XafxISdveiVf 
 Opovov re rov YlXovrodvos e^rjSf 
 
 HA. [xavOdvoo. 
 
 A FA. ecos dcjiLKOLTO rrjv Tiyvr]v cro(j)u>T€pos 
 
 €T€p6s rt? avTOv' t6t€ be 'napaxciipelv ebet 
 
 SA. TL bijra tovtI reOopv^rjKev Ala-^vXov ; 
 
 AlA. €Kelvos et)(€ TOV TpayddbiKov Opovov, 
 
 0)S 0)V KpCLTLG-TOS TT^V Ti\Vr]V. 
 
 SA. vvvX 5e rty ; 
 
 AIA. oTe brj KaTTJXO' EvpnTibrjs, iiTebeiKvvTo 
 
 rot? XuiTTobvTaLs kol toIo-l ^aXXavTioToixoLS 
 /cat roto-t TiaTpaXoiaKTL Kal ToiyjiiipV')(oi<Si 
 oTTep eW iv "Atbov irXrjOos, ol 8' aKpocafxevoL 
 tS>v dvTiXoyL&v kol Xvyi(Tpi.G)v Kal (TTpo^^v 
 v7T€p€ixdvr]a-av, KavopiLa-av (ro(p(oTaTov' 
 KOLireLT eirapOels dvTeXdfSeTo tov Opovov, 
 LV Aia-xvXos KaOrja-TO. 
 
 SA. KOVK ijSdXXeTo ; 
 
 AIA. fia At', dXX' 6 brjpios dve^oa KpLortv ttolcIv 
 OTTOTepos €Lrj TTjv T€)(^vr}v ao(j>(aT€pos. 
 
 HA. 6 T^v iravovpyoiv ; 
 
 AIA. V7] At', ovpdvLov y ocrov. 
 
 SA. /uter AlcrxyXov 8' ovk. -^(rav ere/)ot avpiia\0L ; 
 
 AIA. oXCyov to \pi](tt6v ka-TiVy cocynep kvOdbe. 
 
 SA. rt briQ^ 6 YlXovTOiv bpav irapaa-Kevd^eTai ; 
 
 AIA. dyi£>va iroLelv avTiKa fxaXa kol Kpicnv 
 KdXey\ov avT&v ttjs rexz^i]?. 
 
THE FROGS. 59 
 
 Xan. As how? 
 
 Ae. First there's a custom we have establish'd 
 
 In favour of professors of the arts. 
 
 When anyone, the first in his own line, 
 
 Comes down amongst us here, he stands entitled 
 
 To privilege and precedence, with a seat 
 
 At Pluto's royal board. 
 Xan. I understand you. 
 
 Ae. So" he maintains it, till there comes a better 
 
 Of the same sort, and then he gives it up. 
 Xan. But why should Aeschylus be disturbed at this? 
 Ae. He held the seat for tragedy, as the master 
 
 In that profession. 
 Xan. Well, and who 's there now ? 
 
 Ae. He kept it till Euripides appeared 
 
 And flourished to the thieves, house-breakers, rogues, 
 
 Cutpurses, cheats and vagabonds and villains 
 
 That make the mass of population here. 
 
 {Pointing to the audience^ 
 
 And they, being quite transported and delighted 
 
 With his equivocations and evasions, 
 
 Hailed him Arch-poet : and, with that, grown proud. 
 
 He laid a claim to the seat where Aeschylus sat. 
 Xan. And did he not get pelted for his pains? 
 Ae. Why no— the mob call'd out, and it was carried 
 
 To have a public trial of skill between them. 
 Xan. You mean the mob of scoundrels that you mention 'd ? 
 Ae. Scoundrels indeed ! Ay, scoundrels without number. 
 Xan. But Aeschylus must have had good friends and hearty ? 
 Ae. Yes, but good men are scarce, both here and else- 
 where. 
 Xan. Well, what has Pluto settled to be done ? 
 Ae. To have an examination and a trial 
 
 In public. 
 
6o BATPAXOI. 
 
 HA. Kaireira ttws 
 
 ov Kal 2o(^OKA.erj9 avTcXd^eTO tov Opovov ; 
 
 AIA. jxa At' ovK CKelvos, ak)C ^Kva-e fxcv Ai(Txu\ov 
 0T€ bri KarrjXOcy Kavi^ake ttjv be^Lav, 
 KaKeHvos VTT€X(apr](r€V avT(a rod OpovoV 
 vvvl 5' e/xeAAez^, ws I^tj KAetSr^/xtSry?, 
 €(j)€bpos KaOebelaOai' kclv fxkv Ala-xykos Kparfj^ 
 efeti' Kara \<s)pav' d be /x^, TtepX r?}? rixy-qs 
 bLay(ovL€'L(T9' e^ao-Ke irpos y EvpLiTLbrjv, 
 
 HA. ro XPVH'' ^P* ^<^7'ctt ; 
 
 AIA. VT] At', okiyov varepov, 
 
 KCLvravOa brj to. beiva KLvr]6ri(r€Tai. 
 KOL yap TakdvT(a [xovaiKri GTa6ixr\a€Tai. 
 
 HA. rt 5e ; ixeLayooyrjorovcn ttjv rpayi^hiav ; 
 
 ATA, Kat Kavovas i^oiaovcrt kol uriyjELS €7T(av, 
 Kal Tikaiaia ^vfjLTTrjKTa, 
 
 Ha. irkivdcva-ovai yap ; 
 
 AIA. Kat btaixeTpovs Kal a(l)rjvas. 6 yap EvpLiribr^i 
 Kar Ittos ^aa-avidv (f)rj(rL ras Tpay(obLas. 
 
 HA. ?5 irov ^apiois oLjiai tov Al(r)(ykov (p^p^LV, 
 
 AIA. ipkeyjfc 6' ovv Tavprjbov eyKVxjfas kclto). 
 
 HA. KpLvel 6e 8^ rt? ravra ; 
 
 AIA. rour' ^i; bvcrKokov' 
 
 (To^SiV yap avbpcov diiopiav evpi(TKiTr]v. 
 ovre yap ^ kdr]vaioia-i avvi^atv Atcr^^vAos, 
 
 HA. TTOkkovS LCrCOS €v6iJLl(€ TOVS TOL)(Ci}pVXOVS. 
 
 AIA. krjpov re raAA.' rjyelTo tov yv&vai Trept 
 (pvaeLs 'noi7]TGiV' eiTa rw o-w becmoTrj 
 
 €7T€Tp€\lfaV, OTLT] Tjjs T^X^TJ^ €}JL7r€LpOS ^V. 
 
 dkk^ da-LOijjLCv' 0)5 oTav y ot SecrTToVat 
 eo-TTOuSciKcoo-t, KkavpLaO^ rjpXv yCyveTau 
 
THE FROGS. 6l 
 
 Xan. But how comes it ? — Sophocles ?— 
 
 Why does not he put forth his claim amongst them ? 
 
 Ae. No, no, not he ! the moment that he came. 
 
 He gave his hand to Aeschylus and kissed him. 
 And Aeschylus edged a little from his seat 
 To give him room; and now Cleidemides 
 Says, he'll attend there to take up the winner. 
 If Aeschylus gets the better, well and good ! 
 He gives up his pretensions — but if not 
 He'll stand a trial, he says, against Euripides. 
 
 Xan. There'll be strange doings. 
 
 Ae. That there will, and shortly 
 
 Here — in this place — strange things I promise you: 
 Why you '11 see poetry weighed out and measured. 
 
 Xan. What, will they bring their tragedies to the steel- 
 yards ? 
 
 Ae. Yes, will they — with their rules and compasses 
 They'll measure and they'll square— 
 
 Xan. Will they make bricks ? 
 
 Ae. — and bring their plummets— for Euripides 
 
 Says that he '11 make a survey, word by word. 
 
 Xan. Aeschylus takes the thing to heart, I doubt ? 
 
 Ae. He bent his brows and pored upon the ground ; 
 I saw him. 
 
 Xan. Well, but who decides the business? 
 
 Ae. Why there the difficulty lies — for judges. 
 
 True learned judges are grown scarce, and Aeschylus 
 Objected to the Athenians absolutely. 
 
 Xan. Considering them as rogues and villains mostly? 
 
 Ae. As being ignorant and empty generally; 
 
 And in their judgement of the stage particularly. 
 In fine they 've fixed upon that master of yours. 
 As having had some practice in the business. 
 But we must wait within — for when our masters 
 Are warm and eager, stripes and blows ensue. 
 
 {Exeunt into the palace.) 
 
 Chorus comes forward. 
 
6z BATPAXOI. 
 
 XO. ^ TTov betvbv ept^pe/xeVa? )(oA.oi; €vho6ev efet, 
 7]VLK hv o^KoKov TTapibri OriyovTos ohovTas 
 avTiriyvov' Tore hr] \xavias vtto beivrjs 
 ojjLjjLara (TTpo^r](r^Tai. 
 
 ecrrat 8' linTokocfxov re \6yoiv KopvOaioXa v^lkt], 
 (TKLvbaXcLfJioov re Tiapa^ovia, apaXevixaTd r epyoDv, 
 ^coro? aixwofxivov cfypevoriKToyos avbpos 
 pruiaB* iinrojSdiJLova. 
 
 (})pi^as 5' avTOKOfxov Xo(f)ias Xacnavxeva \aiTav, 
 beivov €7TL(rKVVL0v ^vvdyiov ^pv\(d)p,evos rjcrei 
 prjfJLaTa yoixcfyoirayr], iTLvaKrjbdv aTToa-TT&v 
 yrjyevel (jyvaT^jJiaTL' 
 
 €v6€V brj aTOfjLarovpybs kirSiV (Bao-avCa-rpia Xiai^r] 
 yX5i(T(T\ dveXio-aoiJiivr] cpdovepovs Kivovaa \aXLvovs, 
 priixara baiojxivr] KaraXcT^ToXoyrja-eL 
 
 TTXeVpLOVCtiV TTOXVV TfOVOV. 
 
THE FROGS. 6^ 
 
 CHORUS. 
 
 Dread and terrible sight will the Thunderer be in his anger, 
 Seeing his chattering rival his tusks for battle a-whetting ; 
 
 Then will his eyeballs in fiery fiiry tremendous 
 
 Roll and glare upon the foe. 
 He with crested battalions of sheenily-helmeted phrases, 
 He with his chisellings dainty and subtle workmanship 
 polished, 
 
 Work of a wight who is warding the mighty creator 's 
 
 Words like warring cavalry : 
 Here, with leonine crest and with horror of bristles erected, 
 Knitting his terrible brows, with a roar the poet will utter 
 
 Verses uptorn with a crash as of splitting of timber, 
 
 Huge Titanic bellowings : 
 There th' artificer glib, with a tongue for the testing of 
 
 verses 
 Freely unrolled to its length, letting loose the reins of his 
 mahce. 
 
 Words that are wrought by the lungs of his labouring 
 foeman 
 
 Shrewdly will refine away. 
 
ETPiniAH2. A10NT202. Ar2XTA02. X0P02. 
 
 ET. ovK. av ixeOeCixrjv tov Opovov, fxr] vovOirei. 
 
 Kp€LTT(£tv yap elvai ^r]ixi tovtov t]]v Ti\vr]v. 
 AI. Ato^vAe, t(. criyas ; ala-Odvei yap tov Xoyov. 
 ET. a-noa-ep.vvva.Tai irpSiToVj airep e/caorore 
 
 €v rats rpayd^htaicTLV €T€paT€V€TO, 
 AI. 0) SatjutoVi' avhpSiv^ pj] pL€yd\a kiav \iye. 
 ET. iyt^ba tovtov Kal biia-KepipiaL Trdkai, 
 
 avdpodTTOv dypiOTTOiov, avOaboarTOfxov, 
 
 €yovT dydXivov aKpaTes dOvpcoTov oro/xaj 
 
 direpLXaXrjToVj Kop.no^aKeXopprip.ova. 
 A 1 2. akr\6€S, S) iral Trjs dpovpaias Oeov ; 
 
 (TV hr\ p,€ TavT\ w o-TOiixvkioa-vWeKTdbrj 
 
 Kal '7rra))(0'7rote Kal paKioa-vppaiTTdhr] ; 
 
 aXS! ov Ti \aip(jiiv avT epeis. 
 AI. 7rai5'^ Ato-x^A.e, 
 
 Kal /XT) Tipbs 6pyi]v cniKdyyva OeppL-qvps k6t(o, 
 AI2. ov brJTai irpCv y av tovtov diro^rivoii o-a^ws 
 
 TOV yoiXonoibvy olos oov OpaaijveTaL. 
 
ACT III. 
 
 SCENE I. 
 
 A Hall in Pluto's Palace. 
 
 Dionysus, Aeschylus, and Euripides discovered. Sophocles 
 is seated near them. The Chorus watches the action. 
 
 Eur. Don't give me your advice. I claim the seat. 
 
 As being a better and superior artist. 
 Di. What, Aeschylus ! don't you speak ? You hear his 
 
 language. 
 Evir. He 's mustering up a grand commanding visage — 
 
 A silent attitude— the common trick 
 
 That he begins with in his tragedies. 
 Di. Come, have a care, my friend— you '11 say too much. 
 Eur. I know the man of old — I 've scrutinized 
 
 And shown him long ago for what he is, 
 
 A rude unbridled tongue, a haughty spirit; 
 
 Proud, arrogant and insolently pompous ; 
 
 Rough, clownish, boisterous and overbearing. 
 Aes. Say'st thou me so ? Thou bastard of the earth. 
 
 With thy patched robes and rags of sentiment. 
 
 Raked from the streets and stitched and tacked 
 together ! 
 
 Thou mumping, whining, beggarly hypocrite ! 
 
 But you shall pay for it. 
 Di. There now, Aeschylus, 
 
 You grow too warm. Restrain your ireful mood. 
 Aes. Yes, but I'll seize that sturdy beggar first. 
 
 And search and strip him bare of his pretensions. 
 F 
 
66 BATPAXOI. 
 
 Al. apv apva [likava TTolbes €^€viyKaT€' 
 rv^cos yap kK^aivuv irapacrK^va^^Tai. 
 
 A 12. 0) KprjTiKas iJi€v a-vWiyuiv jxoviabias, 
 
 ydjjLOVS §' avocriovs €l(r(f)€p(tiv els rrjv Ti^vr]V, 
 
 Al. CTTtO-XeS OVTOS, 0) TloX-VTipL-qT Ala")(yK€. 
 
 aiTo t5)v \a\a^(jiv b\ o) novrip EvpiTTibrj, 
 
 airaye (reavrbv (KiTobcav, €t (r(ii<ppov€LSi 
 
 Lva fXT] K€(f)a\aC(D tov Kp6Ta(f)6v aov prolan 
 
 Oevcav vtt opyrjs ^<X^V '^^^ TriX€(pov' 
 
 (TV be IXT] TTpos dpyi]v, Ala-)(y\\ aXka TrpaoVcoj 
 
 eKeyx^i eXiyxov koLbopela-Oai 8' ov Oifjus 
 
 avbpas TTOL-qras axrirep apTOTTcakibas. 
 
 (TV 8' evOvs coa-irep irplvos efXTTprja-Oeh /3oas. 
 
 ET. iroLixos dpi eycaye, kovk avabvopiaL, 
 
 boLKveiv, bcLKvea-QaL irporepoSj el TOVT(a boKei, 
 TOLTTT], TO, pLekrj, TO, vevpa Trjs rpaywStas, 
 Kol vr] At TOV Ylr]kea ye kol tov Atokov 
 Kol TOV Mekeaypov, k&tl jJLoXa tov Trike(f)ov. 
 
 Al. (TV be bi] TL ^ovkeveL TToie'iv ; key, Al(Txvke. 
 
 A 1 2. e(3ovk6pir}v piev ovk epi^eiv evOdbe' 
 ovK e^ taov yap eaTiv ay^v v^v, 
 
 Al. rt bai ; 
 
 A 12. oTi f) 'TTOLrjcTLs ov)(l (rvvTe6vr}Ke /xot, 
 
 TOVTca be avvTe6vr]Kev, &(rd' e^ei keyeiv. 
 opiois 8' €776187] (TOL boKei, bpcLV TavTa xpr\. 
 
 A I. Wi vvv kifSaviOTov bevpo tls Kal irvp boTco, 
 0770)5 av ev^(3dp.ai irpo t&v aocpiapidTcov, 
 ay&va nplvai Tovbe piovcTLKcaTaTa' 
 vp^els be rats Mouo-ats rt /xeAo? VTraa-aTe. 
 
 XO. ui Atos evvea Tiapdevoi ayval 
 
 MovaaL, keiTTokoyovs (vveTas (fypevas a\ KaOopaTe 
 dvbpoiv yviopiOTVTTCiiVf OTav €ts epLV 6^vp.epip.voi.s 
 
THE FROGS. 6 J 
 
 Di. Quick ! quick ! a sacrifice to the winds ! Make ready ; 
 The storm of rage is gathering. Bring a victim. 
 
 Aes. A wretch that has corrupted everything; 
 Our music with his melodies from Crete ; 
 Our morals with incestuous tragedies ! 
 
 Di. Dear, worthy Aeschylus, contain yourself: 
 And as for you, Euripides, move oif 
 This instant if you 're wise, and 'scape the storm. 
 Or else, with one of his big thumping phrases. 
 He '11 crack your crown and let out all your notions. 
 And thee, most noble Aeschylus, I beseech 
 With mild demeanour calm and affable 
 To hear and answer ; for it ill beseems 
 Illustrious bards to scold like market-women. 
 But you roar out and bellow like a furnace. 
 
 Eur. I 'm up to it — I 'm resolved, and here I stand ! 
 Let him attack me first, or else let me. 
 I '11 match the very sinews of my plays, 
 My words, my rhythm ; ay ! my Meleager, 
 My Aeolus and my Telephus and all ! 
 
 Di. Well, Aeschylus, determine ! what say you ? 
 
 Aes. I wish the place of trial had been elsewhere ; 
 I stand at disadvantage here. 
 
 Di. As how? 
 
 Aes. Because my poems live on earth above, i/ 
 
 And his died with him, so he has them here. 'I 
 But you decide the matter; I submit. 
 
 Di. Come — let them bring me fire and frankincense, 
 That I may offer vows and make oblations 
 For an ingenious critical conclusion 
 To this same elegant and clever trial. 
 (7b the Chorus). And you too— sing me a hymn there 
 — to the Muses. 
 
 (Chorus comes forward.) 
 Chorus. 
 
 Daughters of Zeus, ye pure Nine, who from highest 
 
 heaven 
 Look on the wits of mankind very subtle and clever. 
 Wits that make many saws— come preside o'er the 
 battle, whenever 
 
 F 2 
 
68 BATPAXOI. 
 
 eXOcaa-L (TTpe^XoLcn iraXaLcrfiaa-LV avTiXoyovvres, 
 ^XOer €7ro\lr6fi€vaL bvvajjuv 
 beivordroLV (ttoijl6,tolv TTopiaaa-Oai 
 prjixara kol TrapaTrptV/xar' iiroiv. 
 vvv yap ayoiv cro^ias 6 [xiyas X^P^^ irpos €pyov yjbr]. 
 AI. €VX€(r6€ bt] KOL crcfxi^ tl, Trplv toltit] Aeyetr. 
 AIS. ArjpLTjTep rj Bpi^acra ttjv e/x^r (ppiva, , 
 
 etrat jue t&v (t&v cl^lov fiva-TrjpLdiv, 
 Al. X6l vvv €TtC6€s brj kol crv Xi^av^rov. 
 ET. KaXm' 
 
 irepoL yap ela-iv olaiv ^vxpixai Oeols. 
 AI. tbiOL TLvis croVj KOjJiixa Kaivov ; 
 ET. Kal pidXa. 
 
 AT. Wl vvv irpoa-evxov toictlv IbicaTats 6€o1s. 
 ET. aiOrjp, epov fioa-Krjpa, Kal yXcoTTtjs aTp6(\)iy^, 
 Kol ^VV€(TL Kal pvKTrjp€S 6(T^pavTr]pioi^ 
 opOSiS p^ kXiyyj^iv &v hv aTTTOipai Xoyoiv. 
 XO. Kal p7]v ^/uteij €Tn6vpovp.€v 
 
 Tiapa (To^oiv dvbpoiv cLKOvaai riva Xoycav ipipiX^Lav, 
 
 €inTe batav obov. 
 
 yXQxTcra p.\v yap rjypLOdTai, 
 
 Xrjpa b' ovK droXpov dpi(j)olv, 
 
 ovh* aKLvqTOL (fypive^. 
 
 irpoaboKCLV p€v et/cos €(ttl 
 
 Tov pikv daT^Lov n Xefat 
 
 Kal KaT€ppLvr]pivov, 
 
 TOV 6' dvaaTTOiVT avTOTipip.vois 
 
 rot? XoyoKTiv 
 
 ffiTTea-ovra crvcrK^bdv ttoX- 
 
 Xds dXivbrjOpas eiTwv. 
 
THE FROGS. 69 
 
 Such face one another, Hke wrestlers evading and 
 gripping. 
 Come and direct all their prowess and skill. 
 Mark the keen words that they grind for their using. 
 Mark the word-fihngs that fly from their stones. 
 Come, for the sages are arming, the battle will be 
 soon decided. 
 
 (Chorus retires.) 
 Di. Come, say your prayers, you two, before the trial. 
 Aes. {offering incense). Demeter, nourisher of my soul, 
 maintain me, 
 A worthy follower of thy mysteries. 
 Di. {to Eur.) There, you there ! make your offering. 
 Eur. Well, I will ; 
 
 But I direct- myself to other deities. 
 Di. Heh ! what ? your own ? some new ones ? 
 Eur. Most assuredly. 
 
 Di. Well, pray away then to your own new deities. 
 Eur. {offering incense). Thou foodful air, the nurse of all 
 my notions ? 
 And ye, the organic powers of sense and speech. 
 And keen refined olfactory discernment, 
 Assist my present search for faults and errors. 
 (Chorus comes forward.) 
 Chorus. Come then, tell us, every one prays you, 
 
 Wisest of men, what wordy warfare, what a path of 
 disputation 
 Hostile and awful ye venture. 
 Tongues have now been lashed to fury. 
 Neither spirit shirks the battle, 
 Nor sluggard soul is either. 
 Be we sure then one will utter 
 Something neatly turned and clever, 
 
 Something polished daintily. 
 While the other, falling on him, 
 
 Pulling phrases 
 From the roots up, rends and tears. 
 Shakes and tosses rolling verse&. 
 (Chorus retires.) 
 
70 BATPAXOI. 
 
 KT. Koi fxrjv €TT* avTovs tovs irpoXoyovs crov Tpiy\royi.ai, 
 
 OTTO)? TO irp&Tov TTJs Tpayiobtas fxipos 
 
 irpcoTLCTTov avTov l3acravL(o tov be^iov. 
 
 a(Ta(f)r}s yap rjv iv rf/ (^paaei t&v irpayyiaTiav. 
 Al. Kttt Tioiov avTov ^aaavuls ; 
 ET. TToWoi)? Trdvv. 
 
 TTp&Tov 8e fjLOL TOV ff 'OpeoTetas Xiye. 
 AT. ay€ br) crtcoTra iras avrjp. Xey', Ato-)(uA.e. 
 A12. *E/3/x77 x66vL€, Trarpw' k-noiiTevuiv KpaTt], 
 
 (T(iiTr}p yevov {xoi <n)p,p.a)(6^ t atroD/xez/o). 
 
 i)K(ii yap h yrjv nfivbe Kal KaTepyoiiai. 
 AT. T0VT()iv e^ets y\riy^iv tl ; 
 ET. Ttkuv rj ba>b€Ka» 
 
 AT. aAA' ovb€ iravTa TavTo, y eaT dXA.' rj TpCa. 
 ET. ex^' ^' GKacTTOv elKoa-Cv y apLapTias. 
 AT. Ato-;(^Ae, irapaivcd aoi a-KoiTav' et 5e fx^, 
 
 77/909 rptcrli; lafx/SeLOLGri TTpocro^eLkciiv (f)avet 
 AI2. eyct) o-tcoTrw r<S8' ; 
 AT. eaz; tt^lOt] y €fX0L. 
 
 ET. ev^i>9 yap i]\xapTr]Ktv ovpdvLov y oaov. 
 AI^. Spas OTL krjpeXs ; 
 
 ET. dAA.' okiyov yi [xol jmeXet. 
 
 AI^. 7ra>s ^ifs /x' afxapT^lv ; 
 
 ET. aS^t? e^ ^PX^^ A.^ye. 
 
 AI2. Ep/x?} x^oVte, Trar/jw* eTroTrrevcoz; KpoLTT]. 
 ET. ovKouz; *Opi(TTris tovt (ttI rw Tvix/Sia key a 
 
 T(a TOV TraTpos TeOv^Gtros ; 
 AI5. ovK ^AAa)s kiyoa. 
 
 ET. TTOTep', OVV TOV 'EpjJLTJv, 0)9 6 7TaT7]p a7T(ak€T0 
 
 avTov (SiaCios €k yvvaiK^ias X^pos 
 ooAois kaOpaCoLS, TavT iiroTTTevfLv ^<prj ; 
 AI. ov 8^r' €K€troi^5 dAAa ror (piovviov 
 
THE FROGS. 71 
 
 Eur. Now we '11 begin : I '11 take your prologues first 
 And scrutinize your precious tragedies 
 First in the very opening passages, 
 {to Di.) For even there he states his plots obscurely. 
 
 Di. Which will you first examine? 
 
 Eur. Any one ! 
 
 Well, first recite the opening of th' Oresteia. 
 
 Di. Ho ! silence in the theatre ! {To Aes.) Say on ! 
 
 Aes. ' Terrestrial Hermes with supreme espial, 
 Inspector of thy old paternal realm, 
 Aid and assist me now, thy suppliant, 
 Revisiting and returning to my country.' 
 
 Di. Well, what's to blame there? 
 
 Eur. More than a dozen things ! 
 
 Di. In only three lines altogether? 
 
 Eur. Still 
 
 There are twenty faults at least in every line. 
 
 Di. {to Aes. who is about to burst in). Now, Aeschylus, I 
 counsel you, keep silence ! 
 In those three lines you've sinned enough already. 
 
 Aes. Keep silence ? I ! 
 
 Di. Yes, if you '11 be advised. 
 
 Eur. The line begins with a gigantic blunder. 
 
 Aes. Thou drivelling fool ! 
 
 Eur. Your language won't deter me. 
 
 Aes. Well, where 's the blunder? 
 
 Eur. Say it over again. 
 
 Aes. * Terrestrial Hermes with supreme espial, 
 Inspector of thy old paternal realm ' — 
 
 Eur. Orestes says this, don't he, on the tomb 
 
 Of his dead father ? ' 
 
 Aes. Well, that 's so ; what then ? 
 
 Eur. So, though his father died a cruel death, 
 Murdered in secret by a woman's hand, 
 It was ^terrestrial^ Hermes that he prayed to? 
 
 Di. Well, no, not that one ; by * terrestrial ' 
 
72 BATPAXOI. 
 
 ^Ftpixrjv x.66viov Trpocrel'iTe, Kabrikov Xiyoov 
 OTLT} 7TaTp<2ov TovTo K€KTriTaL yepas. 
 
 ET. ert pLel^ov €^r\p,apT^s rj 'yco ^ ^ovX6ix7]v' 
 el yap T^arpi^ov to \66vlov e)(€t yipas, 
 
 A I. ovro) y** hv etr] irpos Trarpos Tvp-^Ciipv^os. 
 
 AI2. Ai6vva€, irCvets olvov ovk avdoapiiav. 
 
 Kol jjL-qv jxa Tov AC ov KQT Ittos ye orov KvCaoi 
 TO pijfjL eKaaTov, aXka (tvv toIctiv Oeols 
 aiTO krjKvOiov aov tovs irpoXoyovs Sta^^epw. 
 
 ET. a-nb XtjkvOlov (tv tovs ipiovs ; 
 
 AIS. €VOS fJLOVOV. 
 
 -Trotetj yap ovtcos uxtt evapfxoTTeLV airav, 
 
 Kal KcobdpLOv Kal kr]Kv6iov Ka\ OvXclklov, 
 
 €v Tols iaixlBeCoLo-L. Setfco 6' avTUKa. 
 ET. ibov, (TV bei^ets ; 
 AIS. (f)r][jLL. 
 
 AI. Kal br} XPV Xiyeiv. 
 
 ET. AtyVTTTo?, 0)9 6 irXelcrTos ecnrapTai Xoyos, 
 
 ^vv TiaKrl TTevTrjKovTa vavTiXco TrXcLTrj 
 
 "Apyos KaTaaryJiiv 
 A12. XrjKijdLOV aTCUiXecrev. 
 
 Al. tovtX tC -qv TO Xr}Kv6Lov ; ov KXava-eTai ; 
 
 Xiy €T€pov ai'Tio irpoXoyov, tva Kal yvSi iraXiv. 
 ET. Alovvctos, OS Ovpcroio-L Kal ve^pSiv bopaXs 
 
 KaOaiTTos €V irevKaLcn Ylapvaaov koltu 
 
 TTTjba yop€V(av 
 A 12. Xr]Kvdiov a7r(aX€(r€v. 
 
 AT, otpLOL 7T€TTXi]ypi€6^ avdis virb ttjs XyikvOov. 
 ET. fxa TOV At' ovtto) y' ert yap eicrl pLOi crv^voL 
 
 Olv€.vs HOT €K yrjs 
 AIS. XtjkvOlov aTTcaXecrev. 
 
 ET. tacrov eimlv irpcaO^ oXov fxe tov (TTiyov. 
 
THE FROGS, J^ 
 
 He meant the Helping Hermes— by * paternal' 
 
 Showed the god drew his power from his father. 
 Eur. Worse ! twenty times worse ! if ' terrestrial ' power 
 
 Is drawn by Hermes from his father's side — 
 Di. — Then he's a tomb-breaker on his father's side! 
 Aes. {in disgust). The wine thou drink 'st, Dionysus, reeks 
 not flowers ! 
 {to Eur.) Now, by Great Zeus ! I will not carp and 
 catch 
 
 At every word of thine ; the gods shall help me, 
 
 I '11 kill thy prologues with a ' rumty-tumty.' 
 Eur. With ' rumty-tumty ' kill them ? 
 Aes. Just with that : 
 
 For that will fit to every line thou 'st written. 
 
 Ay ! ' rumty-tumty '— ' tiddity ' — what thou wilt ! 
 
 To each iambic. Come, I '11 prove it now. 
 Eur. You prove it? 
 Aes. So. 
 
 Di. {to Eur.) Well, well, go on ! recite ! 
 
 Eur. ' Aegyptus, so the common story runs. 
 
 Sailed o'er the ocean with his fifty sons 
 
 And touched at Argos . . . 
 Aes. ... Rum-ty-tum-ty-tum ! 
 
 Di. Why, there 's that ' rumty-tum ' — a murrain on it ! 
 
 Recite another prologue : try again. 
 Eur. ' Great Dionysus, o'er Parnassus heights 
 
 With wand and fawnskin, 'mid encircling lights. 
 
 Thou leap'st and dancest . . .' 
 Aes. Rum-ty tum-ty tum ! 
 
 Di. Hullo! that 'rumty's on our track again ! 
 Eur. {desperately). I 'm not done yet : I 've got a hundred 
 more. 
 
 * Oeneus aforetime . . .' 
 Aes. Rum-ty tum-ty tum ! 
 
 Eur. {angrily). Well, let me say the whole line, I protest, 
 
74 BATPAXOI. 
 
 OlveVS TTOT €K yrjs TToXvfJLCTpOV \a^(tiV (TTCLXW, 
 
 6v(t)v airapx^as 
 A IS. \r]Kv6iov cLTTUiXecrev. 
 
 AI. juerafv 6v(t)v ; kol tls avd' vfjy^LXeTo ; 
 ET. iacrov, w rav' irpos Tobl yap ctTrdro). 
 
 Zeu?, &)? AeXe/crat r^s akrjOeCas vtto, 
 AT. aTToXei tr'* ipel yap, XriKvOiov airoiXecrfv. 
 
 TO krjKvOiov yap tovt €ttI tols TTpokoyoia-i crov 
 
 UXTirep TCL (TVK €7tI Tol(TLV 6(f)6aXpLOLS €<pV» 
 
 aAX' is TCL fxikrj irpbs tu>v OeStv avTov Tpanov. 
 ET. Kat ix7]v €\(ii y ws avTov aTTobet^io KaKov 
 
 jjiekoTTOibv ovTa Kal iroiovvTa TavT aei. 
 X(). Ti TTOTe TTpayfjia yevrjcriTai ; 
 
 (jypovTL^eLV yap eymy €)(a), 
 
 rtV apa fxiixyj/LV kiroicrei 
 
 avhpX rw iiokv TikeiaTa hr] 
 
 Kal KoXkia-Ta txikrj TTOt?/- 
 
 aavTL tS>v €TI. vvvi, 
 
 davpid^co yap eycoy' onrj 
 
 fJLipL\lr€TaL TTOTe TOVTOV 
 
 Tov ^aKX^iov avaKTa, 
 
 KOL bibOLX VTT€p aVTOV. 
 
 ET. 7:dvv ye piikrj 6avp,aaTd' 8etfet hi] rdya. 
 €ts kv yap avTov iravTa Ta pLekrj ^vvT€pi&. 
 A I. Kat [xrjv koyiovp-ai TavTa t&v xj/rjcfxov kafScov. 
 
THE FROGS. y^ 
 
 ' Oeneus aforetime reaped a mighty crop 
 
 And oifered first-fruits . . .' 
 ^es. . . . Rum-ty tum-ty tum ! 
 
 Di. * Rumty ' in the sacrifice ? what 's it doing there ? 
 Eur. {impatiently). Tut ! tut ! good Sir !— Now let him 
 speak to this — 
 
 * Zeus, as Great Truth hath spoken . . .' 
 Di. {interposing and pressing Eur. back). He '11 kill you with 
 his * rumty tumty tum'! 
 
 This cursed * rumty' grows on every line 
 
 Like styes upon your eye-lids ! Let it be ! 
 
 For heaven's sake leave it ! try his melodies. 
 Eur. {sulkily). - Well, well ! I shall now proceed to expose 
 him 
 
 As a bad composer, awkward, uninventive, 
 
 Repeating the same strain perpetually ! 
 
 (Chorus comes forward.) 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 Say, can ye tell what the end shall be? 
 For much we ponder, much we doubt ; 
 How will he censure a poet 
 First of all that have sung before 
 Singer sweet of sweetest music 
 Singer of many rhythms ? 
 We wonder much how that will be: 
 Will he censure our poet, 
 Our god-inspired monarch ? 
 We tremble for his safety. 
 (Chorus retires.) 
 
 Eur. Mighty fine music, truly ! I '11 give ye a sample ; 
 
 It 's every inch cut out to the same pattern. 
 Di. I '11 mark — I 've picked these pebbles up for counters. 
 
76 BATPAXOI. 
 
 (biavKiov TTpoa-avXel.) 
 ET. ^6l&t *A\LX\€Vf tC ttot avbpohd'CKTOv aKovuiv 
 
 ii] KOTTOV ov TreXa^ets €7r' apcaydv ; 
 
 ^Epixav pJkv irpoyovov tLoix^v yivos ol irepl kifJLvav. 
 
 It] KOTTOV ov irekdOeis ctt' dpo^ydv, 
 A I. hvo crol KOTTca, Ato-x^Ae, tovto). 
 ET. Kvbio-T *A')(aL(av 'Arpecos TTokvKolpave p,dv6avi ^ov 
 
 TTOl. 
 
 It] KOTTOV ov TreAa^eiy ctt' apoaydv. 
 AI. Tpiros, Ato7(vAej crot kottos ovtos. 
 ET. €V(f)afJL€LT€' iJL€\L<T(rov6ixoL bojjiov 'Aprc/xtdoj TreAas 
 otyetr. 
 
 tr) KOTTOV ov TTeXdOets €7r' dpcoydv. 
 
 KvpLos etjuti Opoelv ohiov Kpdros atcnov dvhp&v. 
 
 irj KOTTOV ov TTcAa^etj ctt' dpoiydv. 
 AI. 0) ZeS ftaa-iXev^ to XPW^ ^^^ kottcov oaov. 
 AI2. ci^eyKaro) rt? ro Xvpiov. Kairoi tC Set 
 
 kvpas €ttI tovtov ; ttov ^(ttlv rj rot? oarpaKots 
 
 avTYj KpoTovaa ; bevpo MoCSo-' EvpiTTLboVj 
 
 TTpbs ijvTTep eTTLTrjbeia rdb^ eor' abeiv [x^kr]. 
 
 akKVoves, a\ Trap' devdots 6akd(T(rr]S 
 
 KVixaa-L (TTOipLvkkeTe, 
 
 Tiyyovcrai votlols TTT€p(av 
 
 pavLori xpoa bpoa-L^opievaL' 
 
 at 6^ vTTcopocjiLOL Kara yoivtas 
 
 eUtetetetetAtVo-ere baKTvkoLs (\)dkayy^s 
 
 laroTova TT-qvLo-pLara, 
 
 K€pKLbos doibov /xeAeVay, 
 
 tv 6 (plkavkos cTTaAAe 8eA- 
 
 (JHS TTptopaLS KVavepL^okoiS 
 
 pLavTila Koi a-TabCovs, 
 
 olvdvdas ydvos afXTrcAou, 
 
THE FROGS. 77 
 
 Euripides sings to the accompaniment of a flute a nonsense 
 song, or cento of Aeschylean phrases : the sense, or non- 
 sense may be represented thus — ^ 
 
 Noble Achilles! Forth to the rescue! 
 Forth to the rescue with ready support ! 
 Hasten and go, 
 There is havoc and woe. 
 Hasty defeat 
 And a bloody retreat, 
 Confusion and rout, 
 And the terrible shout 
 Of a conquering foe, 
 Tribulation and woe ! 
 
 Dionysus has interrupted twice, and now exclaims in disgust 
 What, woa there ! we 've had * woes ' enough, I reckon. 
 Euripides retires, and Aeschylus comes forward. 
 
 Aes. A lyre ! a lyre ! ho ! bring me a lyre here somebody! 
 What signifies a lyre ? the castanets. 
 With Euripides' Muse to snap her fingers 
 In cadence to her master's compositions. 
 
 Sings a similar nonsense song to the accompaniment of 
 castanets. 
 Gentle halcyons, ye that lave 
 
 Your snowy plume. 
 Sporting on the summer wave; 
 
 Ye too that round the room. 
 On the rafters of the roof 
 Strain aloft your airy woof; 
 Ye spiders, spiders, ever spinning. 
 Never ending, still beginning — 
 Where the dolphin loves to follow, 
 Weltering in the surges hollow, 
 Dear to Neptune and Apollo ; 
 By the seamen understood 
 Ominous of harm or good ; 
 1 Frere. 
 
;« BATPAXOI. 
 
 ^orpvos e'AtKa Tiava-iirovov. 
 iTcpC^aky J S T€KV0V, wA-eVay. 
 
 AI. Travaao-Oov yhrj tS>v /xeAwz'. 
 
 A IS. Ka\xoiy aAts. 
 
 kiil Tov cTTaOixbv yap avTov ayayeiv /3ovAo/xai, 
 oTTcp efeXeyfet rr)z^ TToirja-Lv v^v fjLovov' 
 TO yap jBdpos V(^v fiacravLei t&v pr}[xaT(ov. 
 
 A I. tre 8€t3po vvv, etTrep ye Set Kat tovto /cte 
 avbpQv TTOLTjTOiv TvpoiTbiKr\(Tai rix^vqv. 
 
 \0. ilTLITOVOL y OL be^LOL. 
 
 Tobe yap erepov av repas 
 i'eo)(jxbv, OLTOirias TrXecoz/, 
 6 r^j av €TT€v6r]a-€V aWos ; 
 fxa TOV, eyo) [xev ovb^ av et rtj 
 eAeye /ixot tS>v iTnTv^ovTaiv, 
 (TnOoiJLrjv, dAA' (oopujv hv 
 avTov avTCL Xrjpelv. 
 
THE FROGS. 79 
 
 In capricious eager sallies, 
 Chasing, racing round the galleys. 
 
 Di. Come, no more songs ! 
 
 Aes. I 've had enough of 'em ; 
 
 For my own part I shall bring him to the balance, 
 
 As a true test of our poetic merit. 
 
 To prove the weight of our respective verses. 
 
 DL Well then, so be it — if it must be so, 
 
 That I 'm to stand here like a cheesemonger. 
 Retailing poetry with a pair of scales. 
 
 Chorus comes forward. 
 Mightily toil the clever bards! 
 Here is the last, newest marvel, 
 A marvel most strange and wonderful. 
 Who in the world would have thought it would pass? 
 Not we, not we ! nor, 'faith, had someone, 
 One of our chance acquaintances, told us, 
 We 'd not beheved him, rather thought him 
 Jesting out of season ! 
 
8o BATPAXOI. 
 
 AI0NT202. A12XTA0S. ETPiniAHS. nAOTTON. 
 
 AI. tOi vvv -napiaTaa-Oov irapa ro) TrXdortyy', 
 
 A [2. Kal ET. Ibov' 
 
 A I. KOI \aj3o[jiivo} to prjfi €K6,T€pos etiraTOv, 
 
 Kol jxi] ix^Oija-Qov, TTplv av eyo) crcfx^v kokkCo-oh, 
 
 A 1 2. Kttt ET. kxoii^ea. 
 
 AI. TovTTos VVV XiyeTov ets rov (TTadpiov* 
 
 ET. et^' c5</)eA.' 'Apyo{;s /x^ 8ta7rrao-^at aKd(f)os. 
 
 A12. 27rep)(ete Trora/xe jSovvofjiOL t eiTLa^Tpo(pai. 
 
 AI. KOKKV, pLeOelrc' kol ttoKv ye KaT(OT€p(o 
 X^opet ro roi;6e. 
 
 ET. Kttt rt TTor' eort Tatrtov ; 
 
 AI. ort il(Ti6r]K€. TroTapidv, ejOtoTrooAtKws 
 vypov TToiT^o-as roi;7ros axnrep Tapca, 
 (TV 8' elaeOrfKas tovttos iirTepcapiivov. 
 
 ET. dAA.' €T€pov etTrdrco rt KavTiaTrja-cLTa). 
 
 AT. \dl3€(T0€ TOivvv avOis. 
 
 A 1 2. Kat ET. T/i; t8ou. 
 
 A I. Aeye. 
 
 ET. o^AC lo-rt Det^oOj tpoi; dAAo TrAr/z^ Adyo?. 
 
 AI2. ./otdros ^ewi' yap Qdvaros ov bcopoiv ipa. 
 
 AI. fxcO^lre pLeOtlre' kol to Tovbi y ai) pkn^C 
 6dvaT0v yap clcridijK^ jSapVTaTOv KaK&v. 
 
 Al!i. Kat pLTjKiT ep^oiye KaT €tios, dK\^ is tov crTaBpLOv 
 avTos, TO, TTaibC, rj yvvrj, Kr)(f)L(ro(f)(av, 
 6/>i/3a9 KaO-qo-Od) avWa/Scav tcl /8t/3Afca' 
 eyw be bv €717] tS>v ifJLwv ipS> p.6vov. 
 
THE FROGS. 8i 
 
 SCENE a. 
 
 The same. 
 
 Dionysus, Aeschylus, and Euripides as before. Pluto 
 on his throne. Chorus as before. 
 
 Di. Move up ; stand close to the balance ! 
 
 A es. and Eur. Here are we. 
 
 Di. Take hold now and each of you repeat a verse, 
 And don't leave go before I call to you ! 
 
 Aes. and Eur. We 're ready. 
 
 Di. Now then, each repeat a verse. 
 
 Eur. {speaking info his scale). * I wish that Argo with her 
 woven wings . . . ' 
 
 Aes. {speaking into his scale). *0 streams of Spercheius, 
 and ye pastured plains . . . ' 
 
 Di. Let go ! see now— this scale outweighs the other 
 Very considerably. 
 
 Eur. How did it happen ? 
 
 Di. He slipt a river in, like th' wool-jobbers, 
 
 To moisten his metre : but your line was light, 
 A thing with wings— ready to fly away. 
 
 Eur. Let him try once again then, and take hold. 
 
 Di. Take hold once more ! 
 
 Aes. and Eur. We're ready. 
 
 Di. Now repeat. 
 
 Eur. ' Speech is the temple and altar of persuasion . . . ' 
 
 Aes. ' Death is a god that loves not sacrifice ... * 
 
 Di. Let go ! See there again ! This scale sinks down. 
 No wonder that it should with Death put into it, 
 The heaviest of all calamities. 
 
 Aes. {triumphantly). Come, no more single lines! let him 
 bring all — 
 His wife, his children, his Cephisophon, 
 His books and everything, himself to boot — 
 I '11 counterpoise them with a couple of lines, 
 
 tr G 
 
«2 BATPAXOI. 
 
 AI, avbpes </)iA.ot, Kayoi) fjicv avrovs ov KpivSt, 
 ov yap hi' ex^pas ovberepia yevi](Top.ai, 
 Tov iikv yap TjyoviJLaL crocfyov, t<3 8' rjbopiaL. 
 
 riA. ovbkv apa irpd^eL^ (avirep T/A^es ovv€Ka ; 
 
 AT. kav 8e Kpivoa ; 
 
 WA. TOV €T€pOV Xafi^V &TT€L, 
 
 OTTOTCpOV hv KpCvriS, tv i\6r}S /X^ IXCLTrjV, 
 
 AT, evSat/xorotryy. </)e/oe, TivO^crdi p.ov rabt. 
 
 (yot) KaTTjkdov iirl TroLrjTrjV, 
 YIA. 70V xdpLV ; 
 
 AI. Xv T) TToAi? (TOiOe'La-a tovs x^povs ^y?/. 
 
 oTTorepo'i ovv av tt} TroAei 7rapaivi(r€LV 
 
 fl€Wr} TL \plf](rTOV, TOVTOV a^€LV pLOL boK(a. 
 TTp&TOV pi€V OVV TT€p\ ^AXKi^ldhoV TiV ^X^TOV 
 
 yv(oixr]v eKcirepos ; rj Trokis yap bva-roKtl. 
 
 ET. €x^t be TT€pl avTov rtva yvcoixrjv ; 
 
 A I. TLva ; 
 
 TTodel pikv, ^xOaipei fie, ftovXeiai K €\€iv, 
 a\)C 6 TL voelrov, ei-narov tovtov Trept. 
 
 ET. \ii(T& TroXiT-qv, ooTts dtcpeXeZv irdrpav 
 
 ppabvs (f)av€'LTaL, fxcydXa 8e ^Xdirreiv Ta\vs, 
 Kal Tiopip.ov avT(a, Trj iroXeL 8' dp^rjxavov. 
 
 AI. cv y, o) Il6(r€ibov' av be riva yvu>p.i]v ^x^*^ » 
 
 A12. ov xp-q XiovTos (TKvpLvov €V TToAet rpii^eiv. 
 yidXicTTa \x\v Xiovra pirj V iroXei Tp€(f)€iv, 
 rjv b' €KTpa<j)f] TLS, rots TpoiroLS vnripereiv, 
 
 AI. V7] TOV ACa TOV o-oiTTJpaj bva-KptTODS y exW 
 6 \i.\v (ro(f)&s yap eiTrer, 6 8' crepoj aa(f)&i. 
 dXV en pLiav yv(op,r]v exarepoj etiraTov 
 Trepl Trjs -TroAecosr ijvTLv ex^TOv a-onTqpiav, 
 
 ET. et TUiV TroXiT&v ola-t vvv Trtoreuo^ej^, 
 
 TovTois 0.77 LO-TijaaLfxev, ols V ov xp^/^€0a, 
 
THE FROGS. 83 
 
 Di. Well, they 're both friends of mine. I shan't decide 
 To get myself ill-will from either party ; 
 One's clever, but the other I most like. 
 
 PL Won't you decide then, and conclude the business? 
 
 Di. Suppose then I decide, what then? 
 
 PL Then take him 
 
 Away with you, whichever you prefer. 
 As a present for your pains in coming down here. 
 
 Di. Heaven bless you! well, let's see now — can't ye 
 advise me? 
 This is the case— I'm come in search of a poet. 
 
 PL With what design? 
 
 Di. With this design, to see 
 
 The City again restored to peace and wealth, 
 Exhibiting tragedies in a proper style. 
 Therefore whichever gives the best advice 
 On public matters, I shall take him with me. 
 (7b the poets) First, then, of Alcibiades, what think ye? 
 The City is in hard labour with the question. 
 
 Eiir. What are her sentiments towards him? 
 
 Di. What ? 
 
 *She loves and she detests and longs to have him.' 
 But tell me both of you your own opinions. 
 
 Eur. I hate the man that in his country's service 
 
 Is slow, but ready and quick to work her harm ; 
 Unserviceable except to serve himself. 
 
 Di. Well said, by Jove! {To Aes.) Now you, give us a 
 sentence. 
 
 Aes. 'Tis rash and idle policy to foster 
 
 A lion's whelp within the City walls, 
 But when he's reared and grown you must indulge 
 him. 
 
 Di. By Jove, then ! I 'm quite puzzled : one of them 
 Has answered clearly, and the other sensibly ; 
 But give us both of ye one more opinion ; 
 What means are left of safety for the State ? 
 
 Etir. If we withdraw the confidence we placed 
 
 In these our present statesmen, and transfer it 
 To those whom we mistrusted heretofore, 
 G 2 
 
84 BATPAXOI 
 
 rouroto-t y^pr](raiiX^(TBa, auiOeLrjfxev av. 
 
 €1 vvv ye bva-TvxovjJiev ev tovtolctl, ttws 
 
 TCLvavTia TTpd^avres ov o-cofot/xe^' av ; 
 AI. €u y', a> Ilakdixrjbes, w o-o^oDrar?; (^vais. 
 
 tC bal kiyeis (tv ; 
 A 12. Tr}v TToXiv vvv fioi (fipdcrov 
 
 TTpStTOV, TL(TL ^pTJTat* TTOTipa TOLS X.pr](TTols ,' 
 
 A I. TToOev ; 
 
 /mto-et KcxKio-Ta. 
 AI2, rots TTovTjpoLs 8' ijbeTat ; 
 
 A I. ov 5^r' €KeLVT] y\ dkXa ^p)\TaL irpos fitav, 
 A 1 2. ttQs ovv tls av (tu>(T€L€ roiavTiqv ttoXiv, 
 
 fl fxriTe x^alva \xrire. aicrvpa av\i(l>ipei ; 
 AI. €vpL(TKe VT] At', etirep dvabvcreL ttixXlv. 
 AI2. €K€i (fypdaraiiX' dv- hdabl 8' ov ^ovXofxai, 
 AI. fji-t] br]Ta av y', dAA* f.vQkv^ dvUi rdyada. 
 AI2, Tr}V yrjv orav vofJiLcraiCTL ti^v tS>v TToAe/xtcoz; 
 
 etvat (T^€T€pav, Tr}V 8e (Kperipav Tcav TroAe/x/coi^, 
 
 Tiopov be 70,9 vavs, diropiav be tov iropov. 
 AI. ev, TrAT/y y 6 biKaaTijs avrd Karaiiivei jjiovos. 
 riA. Kpu'OLs dv. 
 AI. avTT] (Ti^^v KpL(TLS yevri(T€Tai. 
 
 alprj(TOfxaL yap ov7:ep tj v//vx?) 6e\eL. 
 ET. fXcpLvrjpLevos vvv tS>v Oewv, ovs wjuioa-a?, 
 
 ?7 /ut?)i> dird^eiv p^ otKaS', atpou rous (fyiXovs. 
 AI. 77 ykSiTT dpi(ap.0K\ Al(T)(y\ov 8' atprio-o/xat. 
 ET. Tt bebpaKas, w ixiapcaTar dvdp(a7r(t)v ; 
 A I. eyoe) ; 
 
 eKptva VLKCLV Ai(T'^v\ov, tltj yap ov ; 
 ET. aL<T)(L(TTov epyov TrpoajSXeTreLS pi* elpyaapiivos ; 
 AI. Tt 8* ala^pov, riv p}] tols Oeo^piivoLs 8okt/ ; 
 ET. o) a-)(£TAte, Tre/atox/'-ei fxe 8r) TedvrjKOTa ; 
 
THE FROGS. 85 
 
 This seems, I think, our fairest chance of safety : 
 
 If with our present counsellors we fail. 
 
 Then with their opposites we might succeed. 
 Di. That's capitally said, my Palamedes. 
 
 {To Aes.) Now you, what say you? 
 Aes. Inform me about the City — 
 
 What kind of persons has she placed in office ? 
 
 Does she promote the worthiest? 
 Dt. No, not she, 
 
 She can't abide 'em. 
 Aes. Rogues then she prefers? 
 
 Dt. Not altogether ; she makes use of 'em, 
 
 Perforce as it were. 
 Aes. Then who can hope to save 
 
 A state so wayward and perverse, that finds 
 
 No sort of habit fitted for her wear? 
 
 Drugget or superfine, nothing will suit her! 
 Dt. Do think a little how she can be saved. 
 Aes. Not here ! when I return there, I shall speak. 
 Di. No, do pray send some good advice before you. 
 Aes. When they regard their lands as enemy's ground, 
 
 Their enemies' possessions as their own, 
 
 Their fleet their purse ; their purse their poverty — 
 Di. That's well, but juries eat up everything. 
 PI. Decide then ! 
 Di. You '11 decide for your own selves ; 
 
 I '11 make a choice according to my fancy. 
 Eur. Remember then your oath to your poor friend ; 
 
 And as you swore and promised, rescue me. 
 Di. * It was my tongue that swore.' I fix on Aeschylus. 
 Eur. Oh, wretch ! what have you done ? 
 Di. Me ? done ? what should I ? 
 
 Voted for Aeschylus to be sure, why not ? 
 Eur. And after such a villainous act you dare 
 
 To view me face to face. Art not ashamed ? 
 Di. What 's shame ? if once the audience approves ? 
 Eur. O cruel ! will you abandon me to death ? 
 
86 BATPAXOI. 
 
 AI. rts otbiv et to ^rjv [x4v kari KarOavelv, 
 
 TO TTvelv §€ beiTTveiv, to be KaOevbeuv Ktabuov ; 
 
 HA. xoopeiT^ TOLVvv, a> AtoVuo-', eto-o). 
 
 AI. TL bai ; 
 
 HA. Lva ^evLCTO) a-cpGi rrplv aTTOTiXelv, 
 
 AI. ev rot A^yeis 
 
 vr] Tov AC' ov yap ayOoixai rw upayp-aTi. 
 
 XO. ptaKapios y' di^r/p €)(a)i; 
 
 ^VVeCTLV riKpL^(OfJL€VrjV. 
 
 TTapa 6e TroXAoto-iz; pLadclv. 
 o8e yap ev (fypovelv boK'qaas 
 TiaXiv a7T€i(Tiv OLKab^ av, 
 eTr' aya^cp piev toIs TToAtrais, 
 €7r' aya6(a be rot? laurov 
 ^vyyeviai re Kat ^tAoto-t, 
 8ta ro orvveTo'i elvat, 
 \apUv ovv pLT} ScoKparet 
 irapaKaOripievov Xakeiv, 
 ano^akovTa pLOVcnKi]v, 
 Ta re f/e'yto"ra TrapaXbTTOvTa 
 Trjs TpayiabiKrjs re;(rr^9. 
 ro 8' eTTt (TepLvolo-Lv Xoyoicn 
 Kttl (rKapL(pr](rpLoi(TL Xrjpaiv 
 biaTpi^i]V apybv Troulardat, 
 TrapacfypovovvTos avbpos. 
 YIA, aye bij \aipodv, AI(T)(v\€, x^P^t, 
 Kat o-a>fe TroAti^ ti]v rjpieTepav 
 yv(Lp.aLs ayaOals, Kal Traibevaov 
 Tovs avor]Tovs' noWol 8' etVtV* 
 Kat bos TovTi Kkeo<f>(avTi (f>ep(iiVy 
 Kal tovtI rotcrt TTopiaTals, 
 Mvppii]Ki 6' opLov Kal NtKo/uiax<{>* 
 
THE FROGS. 87 
 
 Di. Why, perhaps death is hfe, and hfe is death, 
 
 And does not Hfe consist in eating and sleeping ? 
 PI. Now, Dionysus, come with us within. 
 Di. What for? 
 PL To be received and entertain'd 
 
 With a feast before you go. 
 Di. That's well imagined. 
 
 With all my heart : I 've not the least objection. 
 Chorus. 
 
 How blest, whoever truly holds 
 
 Accurate knowledge and assured, 
 
 We may tell, from many a case. 
 
 He who is judged the wisest poet 
 
 Now to his home returns again ; 
 
 Well will it be for all the city. 
 
 Well will it be for all his kinsmen, 
 
 Well for all his friends, for he is 
 
 Proved to have understanding true. 
 
 Best not to sit by Socrates, 
 
 Chattering all the livelong day. 
 
 Casting away the poet's crown, 
 
 All that is best and greatest neglecting, 
 
 All the art of Tragedy. ^ 
 
 Verily the contentious quibbler 
 
 The trifler with words sonorous, 
 
 Loitering long, for ever idling. 
 
 Is but a fool and madman ! 
 PL Go forth with good wishes and hearty good will. 
 
 And salute, the good people on Pallas's hill ; 
 
 Let them hear and admire father Aeschylus' skill 
 
 In his office of old which again he must fill : 
 
 You must guide and direct them, instruct and correct 
 them 
 
 With a lesson in verse, for you'll find them much 
 worse : 
 
 Greater fools than before, and their folly much more 
 
 And more numerous far than the blockheads of yore. 
 
 And give Cleophon this, and bid him not miss. 
 
 But be sure to attend to the summons I send ; 
 
 To Nicomachus too and the rest of the crew 
 
88 BATPAXOI. 
 
 KOL (fipa^^ avTOLs raxewy 7Jk€LV 
 0)5 €/>te bevpl kol ijli] fx^WeiV 
 Kav fJLT] raxea)S ^/ccoo-ti^, eyo) 
 VI] Tov 'AttoAAo) (TTL^aS aVTOVS 
 KOL avixTTobio-as 
 
 fX€T ^Ab^LlxdvTOV TOV A€VK0X6(f)0V 
 
 KaTOL yrjs rax^ecos aTTOTreju^w. 
 A12< Tavra TrotTJfTco* o-i; be tov Oclkov 
 
 TOV €fJLOV Trapdbos 2o<^OKAet Trjpeiv, 
 
 KCLixol (T<a^€LV, ^v CLp* €y(a TTore 
 
 bevp^ dcpLKcofxai. tovtov yap eyo) 
 
 (ro(j)La Kpivui bevTepov elvai. 
 
 IJLepLvrj(TO §', OTTO)? 6 iravovpyos dvi]p 
 
 KoX -^evbokoyos Ka\ fi(OfJiok6\os 
 
 fxr}b€7roT ety tov Oclkov tov kp.ov 
 
 jjL-qb^ cLKOiv cyKaOebeiTai. 
 DA. (})aLV€T€ TOLvvv v/xets rovro) 
 
 XapLirdbas t/)as, x^M" it poire ix7T€T€ 
 
 TolaiV TOVTOV TOVTOV fiiXeaLV 
 
 KOL [xoXnalcriv KeKabovvTes. 
 XO. TTp&Ta fxev evobCav dyaOrjv aTTLOvTi TTOirjTrj 
 
 h (pdos dpvvpLivca boTe, baCfMOves oi KaTa yaUs, 
 Trj be TToAet fxeydXiov dyaOGiv dyadas eiTLVoLas. 
 -Trdyxv yap ex fxeydkcav dyiinv Trava-aLfxeO^ hv ovtm^ 
 dpyaXecDv t ev oirXois ^vvobaiv, K\eo<p(ov be /xa- 
 
 XeV^o) 
 KaWos 6 ^ovkofxevos tovtohv naTpiois ev dpovpais. 
 
THE FROGS. 89 
 
 That devise and invent new taxes and tribute 
 Are summonses sent which you '11 mind to distribute. 
 Bid them come to their graves, or, like runaway 
 
 slaves, 
 If they linger and fail we shall drag them to jail ; 
 Down here in the dark with a brand and a mark. 
 Aes. I shall do as you say : but the while I 'm away 
 Let the seat that I held be by Sophocles filled ; 
 As deservedly reckoned my pupil and second 
 In learning and merit and tragical spirit. 
 And take special care, . . . 
 
 Keep that reprobate there far aloof from the chair ; 
 Let him never sit in it an hour or a minute, 
 By chance or design to profane what was mine. 
 PI. {to the Chorus). Bring forward the torches ! the Chorus 
 
 shall wait 
 And attend on the Poet with triumph and state, 
 With a thundering chant of majestical tone, 
 To wish him farewell with a tune of his own. 
 (Chorus comes forward waving torches as the actors go ojff.) 
 Chorus. 
 
 Gods of the shadows below, to the bard who leaves us 
 
 and hastens 
 Up to the light of the heaven, give good success on his 
 
 journey : 
 Grant to the City above noble thoughts of the noblest 
 
 of blessings : 
 So may we utterly cease from our dire and terrible 
 
 sufferings. 
 Cease from the clashing of militant men : and if any 
 
 desire it, 
 Cleophon's self or another, let them fight on the fields 
 
 of their fathers. 
 
 THE END 
 
 H 
 
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