First Episode
DIO. What's the right way to knock? I wonder howThe natives here are wont to knock at doors.
XAN. No dawdling: taste the door. You've got, remember,The lion-hide and pride of Heracles.
DIO. Boy! boy!
AEAC. Who's there?
DIO. I, Heracles the strong!
AEAC. O, you most shameless desperate ruffian, you!O, villain, villain, arrant vilest villain!Who seized our Cerberus by the throat, and fled,And ran, and rushed, and bolted, haling offThe dog, my charge! But now I've got thee fast.So close the Styx's inky-hearted rock,The blood-bedabbled peak of AcheronShall hem thee in: the hell-hounds of CocytusProwl round thee; whilst the hundred-headed AspShall rive thy heart-strings: the Tartesian Lamprey,Prey on thy lungs: and those Tithrasian GorgonsMangle and tear thy kidneys, mauling them,Entrails and all, into one bloody mash.I'll speed a running foot to fetch them hither.
XAN. Hallo! what now?
DIO. I've done it: call the god.
XAN. Get up, you laughing-stock; get up directly,Before you're seen.
DIO. What, I get up?I'm fainting.Please dab a sponge of water on my heart.
XAN. Here!
DIO. Dab it, you.
XAN. Where? O, ye golden gods, Lies your heart THERE?
DIO. It got so terrifiedIt fluttered down into my stomach's pit.
XAN. Cowardliest of gods and men!
DIO. The cowardliest?I? What I, who asked you for a sponge, a thingA coward never would have done!
XAN. What then?
DIO. A coward would have lain there wallowing;But I stood up, and wiped myself withal.
XAN. Poseidon! quite heroic.
DIO. 'Deed I think so.But weren't you frightened at those dreadful threatsAnd shoutings?
XAN. Frightened? Not a bit. I cared not.
DIO. Come then, if you're so very brave a man,Will you be I, and take the hero's clubAnd lion's skin, since you're so monstrous plucky?And I'll be now the slave, and bear the luggage.
XAN. Hand them across. I cannot choose but take them.And now observe the Xanthio-heraclesIf I'm a coward and a sneak like you.
DIO. Nay, you're the rogue from Melite's own self.And I'll pick up and carry on the traps.
MAID. O welcome, Heracles! come in, sweetheart.My Lady, when they told her, set to work,Baked mighty loaves, boiled two or three tureensOf lentil soup, roasted a prime ox whole,Made rolls and honey-cakes. So come along.
XAN. (Declining.) You are too kind.
MAID. I will not let you go.I will not LET you! Why, she's stewing slicesOf juicy bird's-flesh, and she's making comfits,And tempering down her richest wine.Come, dear, Come along in.
XAN. (Still declining.) Pray thank her.
MAID. O you're jesting, I shall not let you off: there's such a lovelyFlute-girl all ready, and we've two or threeDancing-girls also.
XAN. Eh! what! Dancing-girls?
MAID. Young budding virgins, freshly tired and trimmed.Come, dear, come in. The cook was dishing upThe cutlets, and they are bringing in the tables.
XAN. Then go you in, and tell those dancing-girlsOf whom you spake, I'm coming inMyself. Pick up the traps, my lad, and follow me.
DIO. Hi! stop! you're not in earnest, just becauseI dressed you up, in fun, as Heracles?Come, don't keep fooling, Xanthias, but liftAnd carry in the traps yourself.
XAN. Why! what! You are never going to strip me of these togsYou gave me!
DIO. Going to? No, I'm doing it now.Off with that lion-skin.
XAN. Bear witness allThe gods shall judge between us.
DIO. Gods indeed!Why how could you (the vain and foolish thought!)A slave, a mortal, act Alcmena's son?
XAN. All right then, take them; maybe, if God will,You'll soon require my services again.
CHOR. This is the part of a dexterous cleverMan with his wits about him ever,One who has travelled the world to see;Always to shift, and to keep through allClose to the sunny side of the wall;Not like a pictured block to be,Standing always in one position;Nay but to veer, with expedition,And ever to catch the favouring breeze,This is the part of a shrewd tactician,This is to be a--THERAMENES!
DIO. Truly an exquisite joke 'twould be,Him with a dancing girl to see,Lolling at ease on Milesian rugs;Me, like a slave, beside him standing,Aught that he wants to his lordship handing;Then as the damsel fair he hugs,Seeing me all on fire to embrace her,He would perchance (for there's no man baser),Turning him round like a lazy lout,Straight on my mouth deliver a facer,Knocking my ivory choirmen out.
HOS. O Plathane! Plathane! Here's that naughty man,That's he who got into our tavern once,And ate up sixteen loaves.
PLA. O, so he is! The very man.
XAN. Bad luck for somebody!
HOS. O and, besides, those twenty bits of stew,Half-obol pieces.
XAN. Somebody's going to catch it!
HOS. That garlic too.
DIO. Woman, you're talking nonsense.You don't know what you're saying.
HOS. O, you thought I shouldn't know you with your buskins on!Ah, and I've not yet mentioned all that fish,No, nor the new-made cheese: he gulped it down,Baskets and all, unlucky that we were.And when I just alluded to the price,He looked so fierce, and bellowed like a bull.
XAN. Yes, that's his way: that's what he always does.
HOS. O, and he drew his sword, and seemed quite mad.
PLA. O, that he did.
HOS. And terrified us soWe sprang up to the cockloft, she and I.Then out he hurled, decamping with the rugs.
XAN. That's his way too; but something must be done.
HOS. Quick, run and call my patron Cleon here!
PLA. O, if you meet him, call Hyperbolus!We'll pay you out to-day.
HOS. O filthy throat, O how I'd like to take a stone, and hackThose grinders out with which you chawed my wares.
PLA. I'd like to pitch you in the deadman's pit.
HOS. I'd like to get a reaping-hook and scoopThat gullet out with which you gorged my tripe.But I'll to Cleon: he'll soon serve his writs;He'll twist it out of you to-day, he will.
DIO. Perdition seize me, if I don't love Xanthias.
XAN. Aye, aye, I know your drift: stop, stop that talking.I won't be Heracles.
DIO. O, don't say so, Dear, darling Xanthias.
XAN. Why, how can I, A slave, a mortal, act Alcmena's son!
DIO. Aye, aye, I know you are vexed, and I deserve it,And if you pummel me, I won't complain.But if I strip you of these togs again,Perdition seize myself, my wife, my children,And, most of all, that blear-eyed Archedemus.
XAN. That oath contents me: on those terms I take them.
CHOR. Now that at last you appear once more,Wearing the garb that at first you wore,Wielding the club and the tawny skin,Now it is yours to be up and doing,Glaring like mad, and your youth renewing,Mindful of him whose guise you are in.If, when caught in a bit of a scrape, youSuffer a word of alarm to escape you,Showing yourself but a feckless knave,Then will your master at once undrape you,Then you'll again be the toiling slave.
XAN. There, I admit, you have given to me aCapital hint, and the like idea,Friends, had occurred to myself before.Truly if anything good befellHe would be wanting, I know full well,Wanting to take to the togs once more.Nevertheless, while in these I'm vested,Ne'er shall you find me craven-crested,No, for a dittany look I'll wear,Aye and methinks it will soon be tested,Hark! how the portals are rustling there.
AEAC. Seize the dog-stealer, bind him, pinion him,Drag him to justice!
DIO. Somebody's going to catch it.
XAN. (Striking out.) Hands off! get away! stand back!
AEAC. Eh? You're for fighting.Ho! Ditylas, Sceblyas, and Pardocas,Come hither, quick; fight me this sturdy knave.
DIO. Now isn't it a shame the man should strikeAnd he a thief besides?
AEAC. A monstrous shame!
DIO. A regular burning shame!
XAN. By the Lord Zeus,If ever I was here before, if everI stole one hair's-worth from you, let me die!And now I'll make you a right noble offer,Arrest my lad: torture him as you will,And if you find I'm guilty, take and kill me.
AEAC. Torture him, how?
XAN. In any mode you please.Pile bricks upon him: stuff his nose with acid:Flay, rack him, hoist him; flog him with a scourgeOf prickly bristles: only not with this,A soft-leaved onion, or a tender leek.
AEAC. A fair proposal. If I strike too hardAnd maim the boy, I'll make you compensation.
XAN. I shan't require it. Take him out and flog him.
AEAC. Nay, but I'll do it here before your eyes.Now then, put down the traps, and mind you speakThe truth, young fellow.
DIO. (In agony.) Man! don't torture ME!I am a god. You'll blame yourself hereafterIf you touch ME.
AEAC. Hillo! What's that you are saying?
DIO. I say I'm Bacchus, son of Zeus, a god,And he's the slave.
AEAC. You hear him?
XAN. Hear him?Yes. All the more reason you should flog him well.For if he is a god, he won't perceive it.
DIO. Well, but you say that you're a god yourself.So why not you be flogged as well as I?
XAN. A fair proposal. And be this the test,Whichever of us two you first beholdFlinching or crying out--he's not the god.
AEAC. Upon my word you're quite the gentleman,You're all for right and justice. Strip then, both.
XAN. How can you test us fairly?
AEAC. Easily, I'll give you blow for blow.
XAN. A good idea.We're ready! Now! (Aeacus strikes him), see if you catch me flinching.
AEAC. I struck you.
XAN. (Incredulously.) No!
AEAC. Well, it seems "no," indeed.Now then I'll strike the other (Strikes DIO.).
DIO. Tell me when?
AEAC. I struck you.
DIO. Struck me? Then why didn't I sneeze?
AEAC. Don't know, I'm sure. I'll try the other again.
XAN. And quickly too. Good gracious!
AEAC. Why "good gracious"? Not hurt you, did I?
XAN. No, I merely thought of The Diomeian feast of Heracles.
AEAC. A holy man! 'Tis now the other's turn.
DIO. Hi! Hi!
AEAC. Hallo!
DIO. Look at those horsemen, look!
AEAC. But why these tears?
DIO. There's such a smell of onions.
AEAC. Then you don't mind it?
DIO. (Cheerfully.) Mind it? Not a bit.
AEAC. Well, I must go to the other one again.
XAN. O! O!
AEAC. Hallo!
XAN. Do pray pull out this thorn.
AEAC. What does it mean? 'Tis this one's turn again.
DIO. (Shrieking.) Apollo! Lord! (Calmly) of Delos and of Pytho.
XAN. He flinched! You heard him?
DIO. Not at all; a jollyVerse of Hipponax flashed across my mind.
XAN. You don't half do it: cut his flanks to pieces.
AEAC. By Zeus, well thought on. Turn your belly here.
DIO. (Screaming.) Poseidon!
XAN. There! he's flinching.
DIO. (Singing) who dost reignAmongst the Aegean peaks and creeksAnd o'er the deep blue main.
AEAC. No, by Demeter, still I can't find outWhich is the god, but come ye both indoors;My lord himself and Persephassa there,Being gods themselves, will soon find out the truth.
DIO. Right! right! I only wish you had thought of thatBefore you gave me those tremendous whacks.
Words in this poem 50
- desperate a.
- Without hope; given to despair; hopeless. [L. desperatus, p. p. of desperare. See Despair, and cf. Desperado.]
- arrant a.
- Notoriously or preëminently bad; thorough or downright, in a bad sense; shameless; unmitigated; as, an arrant rogue or coward. [OE. erraunt, errant, errand, equiv. to E. errant wandering, which was first applied to vagabonds, as an errant rogue, an errant thief, and hence passed graduall]
- cerberus n.
- A monster, in the shape, of a three-headed dog, guarding the entrance into the infernal regions, Hence: Any vigilant custodian or guardian, esp. if surly.
- rushed a.
- Abounding or covered with rushes.
- acheron n.
- A river in the Nether World or infernal regions; also, the infernal regions themselves. By some of the English poets it was supposed to be a flaming lake or gulf.
- shall v. i.
- To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
- prowl v. t.
- To rove over, through, or about in a stealthy manner; esp., to search in, as for prey or booty. [OE. prollen to search about; of uncertain origin, perh. for proglen, a dim. of prog to beg, or proke to poke. Cf. Proke.]
- mauling n.
- A severe beating with a stick, cudgel, or the fist.
- withal adv.
- With this; with that. [With + all.]
- dreadful a.
- Full of dread or terror; fearful.
- luggage n.
- That which is lugged; anything cumbrous and heavy to be carried; especially, a traveler's trunks, baggage, etc., or their contents. [From 4th Lug.]
- lentil n.
- A leguminous plant of the genus Ervum (Ervum Lens), of small size, common in the fields in Europe. Also, its seed, which is used for food on the continent. [F. lentille, fr. L. lenticula, dim. of lens, lentis, lentil. Cf. Lens.]
- thank n.
- A expression of gratitude; an acknowledgment expressive of a sense of favor or kindness received; obligation, claim, or desert, or gratitude; -- now generally used in the plural. [AS. Þanc, Þonc, thanks, favor, thought; akin to OS. thank favor, pleasure, thanks, D. & G. dank thanks, Icel. Þ\'94kk, Dan. tak, Sw. tack, Goth. Þagks thanks; -]
- dishing a.
- Dish-shaped; concave.
- togs n.
- Clothes; garments; toggery.
- maybe adv.
- Perhaps; possibly; peradventure. [For it may be.]
- sunny a.
- Of or pertaining to the sun; proceeding from, or resembling the sun; hence, shining; bright; brilliant; radiant.
- pictured a.
- Furnished with pictures; represented by a picture or pictures; as, a pictured scene.
- shrewd a.
- Inclining to shrew; disposing to curse or scold; hence, vicious; malicious; evil; wicked; mischievous; vexatious; rough; unfair; shrewish. [Originally the p. p. of shrew, v.t.]
- tactician n.
- One versed in tactics; hence, a skillful maneuverer; an adroit manager. [Cf. F. tacticien.]
- milesian a.
- Of or pertaining to Miletus, a city of Asia Minor, or to its inhabitants.
- aught n.
- Property; possession. [AS. , fr. agan to own, p. p. ahte.]
- damsel n.
- A young person, either male or female, of noble or gentle extraction; as, Damsel Pepin; Damsel Richard, Prince of Wales. [OE. damosel, damesel, damisel, damsel, fr. OF. damoisele, damisele, gentlewoman, F. demoiselle young lady; cf. OF. damoisel young nobleman, F. damoiseau; fr. LL]
- facer n.
- One who faces; one who puts on a false show; a bold-faced person.
- naughty a.
- Having little or nothing.
- somebody n.
- A person unknown or uncertain; a person indeterminate; some person.
- cockloft n.
- An upper loft; a garret; the highest room in a building. [Prop., a loft where cocks roost.]
- gorged a.
- Having a gorge or throat.
- perdition n.
- Entire loss; utter destruction; ruin; esp., the utter loss of the soul, or of final happiness in a future state; future misery or eternal death. [F., fr. L. perditio, fr. perdere, perditum, to ruin, to lose; per (cf. Skr. para away) + -dere (only in comp.) to put; akin to Gr. do. See Do.]
- garb n.
- External appearance, as expressive of the feelings or character; looks; fashion or manner, as of speech. [OF. garbe looks, countenance, grace, ornament, fr. OHG. garawi, garwi, ornament, dress. akin to E. gear. See Gear, n.]
- wielding n.
- Power; authority; rule.
- glaring a.
- Clear; notorious; open and bold; barefaced; as, a glaring crime.
- mindful a.
- Bearing in mind; regardful; attentive; heedful; observant.
- feckless a.
- Spiritless; weak; worthless. [Perh. a corruption of effectless.]
- knave n.
- A boy; especially, a boy servant. Wyclif. [OE., boy, servant, knave, AS. cnafa boy, youth; cf. AS. cnapa boy, youth, D. kna, G. knabe boy, knappe esquire, Icel. knapi, Sw. knape esquire, knäfvel knave.]
- undrape v. t.
- To strip of drapery; to uncover or unveil. [1st pref. un- + drape.]
- methinks v.
- It seems to me; I think. See Me. [AS. þyncan to seem, me þynceedh, me þuhte, OE. me thinketh, me thoughte; akin to G. dünken to seem, denken to think, and E. think. See Me, and Think.]
- pinion n.
- A moth of the genus Lithophane, as L. antennata, whose larva bores large holes in young peaches and apples.
- stole n.
- A long, loose garment reaching to the feet. [AS. stole, L. stola, Gr. stall. See Stall.]
- scourge n.
- A lash; a strap or cord; especially, a lash used to inflict pain or punishment; an instrument of punishment or discipline; a whip. [F. escourgée, fr. L. excoriata (sc. scutica) a stripped off (lash or whip), fr. excoriate to strip, to skin. See Excoriate.]
- hereafter adv.
- In time to come; in some future time or state. [AS. hræfter.]
- whichever pron.
- Whether one or another; whether one or the other; which; that one (of two or more) which; as, whichever road you take, it will lead you to town.
- fairly adv.
- In a fairmanner; clearly; openly; plainly; fully; distinctly; frankly.
- incredulously adv.
- In an incredulous manner; with incredulity.
- cheerfully adv.
- In a cheerful manner, gladly.
- screaming a.
- Uttering screams; shrieking.
- amongst prep.
- Mixed or mingled; surrounded by. [OE. amongist, amonges, amonge, among, AS. onmang, ongemang, gemang, in a crowd or mixture. For the ending -st see Amidst. See Mingle.]
- creeks n.
- A tribe or confederacy of North American Indians, including the Muskogees, Seminoles, Uchees, and other subordinate tribes. They formerly inhabited Georgia, Florida, and Alabama.
- indoors adv.
- Within the house; -- usually separated, in doors.
- tremendous a.
- Fitted to excite fear or terror; such as may astonish or terrify by its magnitude, force, or violence; terrible; dreadful; as, a tremendous wind; a tremendous shower; a tremendous shock or fall. [L. tremendus that is to be trembled at, fearful, fr. tremere to tremble. See Tremble.]
Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.
About this text
First Episode is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Frogs of Aristophanes, translated by Benjamin Bickley Rogers (Harvard Classics vol. 8, 1909; Rogers's translation first published 1902), Project Gutenberg ebook #7998, the Benjamin Bickley Rogers translation; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.
Cite as: Aristophanes, First Episode, in The Frogs (1902), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #7998, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/aristophanes-frogs/first-episode.html, id L28743.
Form and metre
First Episode is 271 lines in 123 stanzas. The metre is trochaic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 74%).
See other poems in trochaic pentameter.
Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.
Rhyme words, stanza by stanza
The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm. The first 120 of 123 stanzas.
- 27 ---AA go · slices · comfits · wineA · inA
- 39 AABCCBDD-D- cleverA · everA · seeB · allC · wallC · beB · positionD · expeditionD · breeze · tacticianD · theramenes
- 40 AABCCB-DEDE beA · seeA · rugsB · standingC · handingC · hugsB · her · baserD · loutE · facerD · outE
- 63 -AAA- it · complainA · againA · childrenA · archedemus
- 65 AABCCBDDEDE moreA · woreA · skinB · doingC · renewingC · inB · youD · youD · knaveE · youD · slaveE
- 66 --ABBACCDCD a · idea · beforeA · befellB · wellB · moreA · vestedC · crestedC · wearD · testedC · thereD
- 74 --A--A zeus · ever · dieA · offer · will · meA
- 80 A-A meA · hereafter · meA
Scansion, line by line
Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against trochaic pentameter. How this is done.
| Line | Syl. | Stress |
|---|---|---|
| DIO. What's the right way to knock? I wonder how | 11 | ········/˘· |
| The natives here are wont to knock at doors. | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| XAN. No dawdling: taste the door. You've got, remember, | 12 | ··/˘·····˘/˘ |
| The lion-hide and pride of Heracles. | 9 | ·/˘······ |
| DIO. Boy! boy! | 3 | ··· |
| AEAC. Who's there? | 3 | ··· |
| DIO. I, Heracles the strong! | 6 | ······ |
| AEAC. O, you most shameless desperate ruffian, you! | 11 | ····/˘/˘/˘· |
| O, villain, villain, arrant vilest villain! | 11 | ·/˘/˘/˘··/˘ |
| Who seized our Cerberus by the throat, and fled, | 11 | ··//˘˘····· |
| And ran, and rushed, and bolted, haling off | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| The dog, my charge! But now I've got thee fast. | 10 | ·········· |
| So close the Styx's inky-hearted rock, | 10 | ···/˘/˘/˘· |
| The blood-bedabbled peak of Acheron | 10 | ····˘··/˘˘ |
| Shall hem thee in: the hell-hounds of Cocytus | 11 | ··········· |
| Prowl round thee; whilst the hundred-headed Asp | 10 | ·····/˘/˘· |
| Shall rive thy heart-strings: the Tartesian Lamprey, | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| Prey on thy lungs: and those Tithrasian Gorgons | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| Mangle and tear thy kidneys, mauling them, | 10 | /˘···/˘/˘· |
| Entrails and all, into one bloody mash. | 10 | /˘·····/˘· |
| I'll speed a running foot to fetch them hither. | 11 | ···/˘····/˘ |
| XAN. Hallo! what now? | 5 | ····· |
| DIO. I've done it: call the god. | 7 | ······· |
| XAN. Get up, you laughing-stock; get up directly, | 12 | ····/˘···˘/˘ |
| Before you're seen. | 4 | ···· |
| DIO. What, I get up? | 5 | ····· |
| I'm fainting. | 3 | ·/˘ |
| Please dab a sponge of water on my heart. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| XAN. Here! | 2 | ·· |
| DIO. Dab it, you. | 4 | ···· |
| XAN. Where? O, ye golden gods, Lies your heart THERE? | 11 | ····/˘····· |
| DIO. It got so terrified | 7 | ····/˘· |
| It fluttered down into my stomach's pit. | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| XAN. Cowardliest of gods and men! | 8 | ········ |
| DIO. The cowardliest? | 5 | ····· |
| I? What I, who asked you for a sponge, a thing | 11 | ··········· |
| A coward never would have done! | 8 | ·/˘/˘··· |
| XAN. What then? | 3 | ··· |
| DIO. A coward would have lain there wallowing; | 11 | ··/˘····/˘˘ |
| But I stood up, and wiped myself withal. | 10 | ·······/˘/ |
| XAN. Poseidon! quite heroic. | 8 | ·˘/˘·˘/˘ |
| DIO. 'Deed I think so. | 5 | ····· |
| But weren't you frightened at those dreadful threats | 11 | ·/˘·/˘··/˘· |
| And shoutings? | 3 | ·/˘ |
| XAN. Frightened? Not a bit. I cared not. | 10 | ·/˘˘······ |
| DIO. Come then, if you're so very brave a man, | 11 | ······/˘··· |
| Will you be I, and take the hero's club | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| And lion's skin, since you're so monstrous plucky? | 11 | ·/˘····/˘/˘ |
| And I'll be now the slave, and bear the luggage. | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| XAN. Hand them across. I cannot choose but take them. | 12 | ···˘/·/˘···· |
| And now observe the Xanthio-heracles | 9 | ··˘/····· |
| If I'm a coward and a sneak like you. | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| DIO. Nay, you're the rogue from Melite's own self. | 10 | ·········· |
| And I'll pick up and carry on the traps. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| MAID. O welcome, Heracles! come in, sweetheart. | 10 | ··/˘····/· |
| My Lady, when they told her, set to work, | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Baked mighty loaves, boiled two or three tureens | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Of lentil soup, roasted a prime ox whole, | 10 | ·/˘·/˘···· |
| Made rolls and honey-cakes. So come along. | 10 | ···/˘···˘/ |
| XAN. (Declining.) You are too kind. | 8 | ·˘/˘···· |
| MAID. I will not let you go. | 7 | ······· |
| I will not LET you! Why, she's stewing slices | 11 | ·······/˘/˘ |
| Of juicy bird's-flesh, and she's making comfits, | 11 | ·/˘····/˘·· |
| And tempering down her richest wine. | 9 | ·/˘˘··/˘· |
| Come, dear, Come along in. | 6 | ···˘/· |
| XAN. (Still declining.) Pray thank her. | 8 | ··˘/˘··· |
| MAID. O you're jesting, I shall not let you off: there's such a lovely | 16 | ···/˘·········/˘ |
| Flute-girl all ready, and we've two or three | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Dancing-girls also. | 5 | /˘·/˘ |
| XAN. Eh! what! Dancing-girls? | 6 | ···/˘· |
| MAID. Young budding virgins, freshly tired and trimmed. | 11 | ··/˘/˘/˘/·· |
| Come, dear, come in. The cook was dishing up | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| The cutlets, and they are bringing in the tables. | 12 | ······/˘··/˘ |
| XAN. Then go you in, and tell those dancing-girls | 11 | ········/˘· |
| Of whom you spake, I'm coming in | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| Myself. Pick up the traps, my lad, and follow me. | 12 | ·/·······/˘· |
| DIO. Hi! stop! you're not in earnest, just because | 11 | ······/˘··· |
| I dressed you up, in fun, as Heracles? | 10 | ··˘······· |
| Come, don't keep fooling, Xanthias, but lift | 9 | ···/˘···· |
| And carry in the traps yourself. | 8 | ·/˘···˘/ |
| XAN. Why! what! You are never going to strip me of these togs | 13 | ·····//······ |
| You gave me! | 3 | ··· |
| DIO. Going to? No, I'm doing it now. | 10 | ·/˘···/˘·· |
| Off with that lion-skin. | 6 | ···/˘· |
| XAN. Bear witness all | 5 | ··/˘· |
| The gods shall judge between us. | 7 | ······· |
| DIO. Gods indeed! | 4 | ··˘/ |
| Why how could you (the vain and foolish thought!) | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| A slave, a mortal, act Alcmena's son? | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| XAN. All right then, take them; maybe, if God will, | 11 | ······/˘··· |
| You'll soon require my services again. | 10 | ···/·/˘˘˘/ |
| CHOR. This is the part of a dexterous clever | 12 | ·······/˘˘/˘ |
| Man with his wits about him ever, | 9 | ·······/˘ |
| One who has travelled the world to see; | 10 | ···/˘˘···· |
| Always to shift, and to keep through all | 9 | /········ |
| Close to the sunny side of the wall; | 9 | ···/˘···· |
| Not like a pictured block to be, | 9 | ···/˘˘··· |
| Standing always in one position; | 9 | /˘/˘··˘/˘ |
| Nay but to veer, with expedition, | 9 | ······˘/˘ |
| And ever to catch the favouring breeze, | 10 | ·/˘···/˘˘· |
| This is the part of a shrewd tactician, | 10 | ·······˘/˘ |
| This is to be a--THERAMENES! | 8 | ········ |
| DIO. Truly an exquisite joke 'twould be, | 10 | ·/˘·/˘˘··· |
| Him with a dancing girl to see, | 8 | ···/˘··· |
| Lolling at ease on Milesian rugs; | 9 | /˘···˘/˘· |
| Me, like a slave, beside him standing, | 9 | ····˘/·/˘ |
| Aught that he wants to his lordship handing; | 10 | ······/˘/˘ |
| Then as the damsel fair he hugs, | 8 | ···/˘··· |
| Seeing me all on fire to embrace her, | 10 | /···/˘·˘/· |
| He would perchance (for there's no man baser), | 10 | ··˘/····/˘ |
| Turning him round like a lazy lout, | 9 | /˘····/˘· |
| Straight on my mouth deliver a facer, | 10 | ····˘/˘·/˘ |
| Knocking my ivory choirmen out. | 9 | /˘·/˘˘··· |
| HOS. O Plathane! Plathane! Here's that naughty man, | 11 | ········/˘· |
| That's he who got into our tavern once, | 10 | ······//˘· |
| And ate up sixteen loaves. | 6 | ···˘/· |
| PLA. O, so he is! The very man. | 9 | ······/˘· |
| XAN. Bad luck for somebody! | 7 | ····/˘˘ |
| HOS. O and, besides, those twenty bits of stew, | 11 | ···˘/·/˘··· |
| Half-obol pieces. | 5 | ···/˘ |
| XAN. Somebody's going to catch it! | 9 | ·/·˘/˘··· |
| HOS. That garlic too. | 5 | ··/˘· |
| DIO. Woman, you're talking nonsense. | 8 | ·/˘·/˘/˘ |
| You don't know what you're saying. | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| HOS. O, you thought I shouldn't know you with your buskins on! | 14 | ·····/˘······· |
| Ah, and I've not yet mentioned all that fish, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| No, nor the new-made cheese: he gulped it down, | 10 | ·········· |
| Baskets and all, unlucky that we were. | 10 | /˘··˘/˘··· |
| And when I just alluded to the price, | 10 | ····˘/˘··· |
| He looked so fierce, and bellowed like a bull. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| XAN. Yes, that's his way: that's what he always does. | 11 | ········/·· |
| HOS. O, and he drew his sword, and seemed quite mad. | 11 | ··········· |
| PLA. O, that he did. | 5 | ····· |
| HOS. And terrified us so | 7 | ··/˘··· |
| We sprang up to the cockloft, she and I. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Then out he hurled, decamping with the rugs. | 10 | ····˘/˘··· |
| XAN. That's his way too; but something must be done. | 11 | ······/˘··· |
| HOS. Quick, run and call my patron Cleon here! | 10 | ······/˘·· |
| PLA. O, if you meet him, call Hyperbolus! | 11 | ··········· |
| We'll pay you out to-day. | 6 | ······ |
| HOS. O filthy throat, O how I'd like to take a stone, and hack | 15 | ··/˘··········· |
| Those grinders out with which you chawed my wares. | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| PLA. I'd like to pitch you in the deadman's pit. | 11 | ··········· |
| HOS. I'd like to get a reaping-hook and scoop | 11 | ······/˘··· |
| That gullet out with which you gorged my tripe. | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| But I'll to Cleon: he'll soon serve his writs; | 9 | ········· |
| He'll twist it out of you to-day, he will. | 10 | ·········· |
| DIO. Perdition seize me, if I don't love Xanthias. | 12 | ·˘/˘········ |
| XAN. Aye, aye, I know your drift: stop, stop that talking. | 12 | ··········/˘ |
| I won't be Heracles. | 5 | ····· |
| DIO. O, don't say so, Dear, darling Xanthias. | 10 | ······/˘·· |
| XAN. Why, how can I, A slave, a mortal, act Alcmena's son! | 15 | ········/˘····· |
| DIO. Aye, aye, I know you are vexed, and I deserve it, | 13 | ··········˘/· |
| And if you pummel me, I won't complain. | 10 | ···/˘···˘/ |
| But if I strip you of these togs again, | 10 | ········˘/ |
| Perdition seize myself, my wife, my children, | 11 | ˘/˘··/···/˘ |
| And, most of all, that blear-eyed Archedemus. | 11 | ··········· |
| XAN. That oath contents me: on those terms I take them. | 12 | ···/˘······· |
| CHOR. Now that at last you appear once more, | 10 | ······˘/·· |
| Wearing the garb that at first you wore, | 9 | /˘······· |
| Wielding the club and the tawny skin, | 9 | /˘····/˘· |
| Now it is yours to be up and doing, | 10 | ········/˘ |
| Glaring like mad, and your youth renewing, | 10 | /˘·····˘/˘ |
| Mindful of him whose guise you are in. | 9 | /˘······· |
| If, when caught in a bit of a scrape, you | 10 | ·········· |
| Suffer a word of alarm to escape you, | 11 | /˘···˘/·˘/· |
| Showing yourself but a feckless knave, | 9 | /˘/˘··/˘· |
| Then will your master at once undrape you, | 10 | ···/˘··˘/· |
| Then you'll again be the toiling slave. | 9 | ··˘/··/˘· |
| XAN. There, I admit, you have given to me a | 11 | ···˘/··/··· |
| Capital hint, and the like idea, | 10 | /˘˘····˘/˘ |
| Friends, had occurred to myself before. | 10 | ··˘/˘··/·· |
| Truly if anything good befell | 9 | /˘·/˘··˘/ |
| He would be wanting, I know full well, | 9 | ···/˘···· |
| Wanting to take to the togs once more. | 9 | /˘······· |
| Nevertheless, while in these I'm vested, | 10 | ·˘˘/····/˘ |
| Ne'er shall you find me craven-crested, | 9 | ·····/˘/˘ |
| No, for a dittany look I'll wear, | 9 | ···/˘˘··· |
| Aye and methinks it will soon be tested, | 10 | ··˘/····/˘ |
| Hark! how the portals are rustling there. | 9 | ···/˘·/˘· |
| AEAC. Seize the dog-stealer, bind him, pinion him, | 11 | ····/˘··/˘· |
| Drag him to justice! | 5 | ···/˘ |
| DIO. Somebody's going to catch it. | 9 | ·/·˘/˘··· |
| XAN. (Striking out.) Hands off! get away! stand back! | 11 | ·/˘····˘/·· |
| AEAC. Eh? You're for fighting. | 6 | ····/˘ |
| Ho! Ditylas, Sceblyas, and Pardocas, | 10 | ·········· |
| Come hither, quick; fight me this sturdy knave. | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| DIO. Now isn't it a shame the man should strike | 11 | ··/˘······· |
| And he a thief besides? | 6 | ····˘/ |
| AEAC. A monstrous shame! | 5 | ··/˘· |
| DIO. A regular burning shame! | 8 | ··/˘˘/˘· |
| XAN. By the Lord Zeus, | 5 | ····· |
| If ever I was here before, if ever | 11 | ·/˘······/˘ |
| I stole one hair's-worth from you, let me die! | 10 | ·········· |
| And now I'll make you a right noble offer, | 11 | ·······/˘/˘ |
| Arrest my lad: torture him as you will, | 10 | ˘/··/˘···· |
| And if you find I'm guilty, take and kill me. | 11 | ·····/˘···· |
| AEAC. Torture him, how? | 5 | ·/˘·· |
| XAN. In any mode you please. | 7 | ··/˘··· |
| Pile bricks upon him: stuff his nose with acid: | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| Flay, rack him, hoist him; flog him with a scourge | 10 | ·········· |
| Of prickly bristles: only not with this, | 10 | ·/˘/˘/˘··· |
| A soft-leaved onion, or a tender leek. | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| AEAC. A fair proposal. If I strike too hard | 11 | ···˘/˘····· |
| And maim the boy, I'll make you compensation. | 11 | ········˘/˘ |
| XAN. I shan't require it. Take him out and flog him. | 12 | ····/······· |
| AEAC. Nay, but I'll do it here before your eyes. | 11 | ··········· |
| Now then, put down the traps, and mind you speak | 10 | ·········· |
| The truth, young fellow. | 5 | ···/˘ |
| DIO. (In agony.) Man! don't torture ME! | 10 | ··/˘˘··/˘· |
| I am a god. You'll blame yourself hereafter | 11 | ······˘/˘/˘ |
| If you touch ME. | 4 | ···· |
| AEAC. Hillo! What's that you are saying? | 9 | ·······/˘ |
| DIO. I say I'm Bacchus, son of Zeus, a god, | 11 | ····/˘····· |
| And he's the slave. | 4 | ···· |
| AEAC. You hear him? | 4 | ···· |
| XAN. Hear him? | 3 | ··· |
| Yes. All the more reason you should flog him well. | 11 | ····/˘····· |
| For if he is a god, he won't perceive it. | 11 | ········˘/· |
| DIO. Well, but you say that you're a god yourself. | 11 | ·········˘/ |
| So why not you be flogged as well as I? | 10 | ·········· |
| XAN. A fair proposal. And be this the test, | 11 | ···˘/˘····· |
| Whichever of us two you first behold | 10 | ˘/˘·····˘/ |
| Flinching or crying out--he's not the god. | 10 | /˘·/˘····· |
| AEAC. Upon my word you're quite the gentleman, | 11 | ········/˘˘ |
| You're all for right and justice. Strip then, both. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| XAN. How can you test us fairly? | 8 | ······/˘ |
| AEAC. Easily, I'll give you blow for blow. | 10 | ·/˘˘······ |
| XAN. A good idea. | 6 | ···˘/˘ |
| We're ready! Now! (Aeacus strikes him), see if you catch me flinching. | 15 | ·/˘··········/˘ |
| AEAC. I struck you. | 4 | ···· |
| XAN. (Incredulously.) No! | 7 | ·˘/˘˘˘· |
| AEAC. Well, it seems "no," indeed. | 7 | ·····˘/ |
| Now then I'll strike the other (Strikes DIO.). | 9 | ·····/˘·· |
| DIO. Tell me when? | 4 | ···· |
| AEAC. I struck you. | 4 | ···· |
| DIO. Struck me? Then why didn't I sneeze? | 9 | ·····/˘·· |
| AEAC. Don't know, I'm sure. I'll try the other again. | 12 | ········/˘˘/ |
| XAN. And quickly too. Good gracious! | 8 | ··/˘··/˘ |
| AEAC. Why "good gracious"? Not hurt you, did I? | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| XAN. No, I merely thought of The Diomeian feast of Heracles. | 14 | ···/˘········· |
| AEAC. A holy man! 'Tis now the other's turn. | 11 | ··/˘····/˘· |
| DIO. Hi! Hi! | 3 | ··· |
| AEAC. Hallo! | 3 | ··· |
| DIO. Look at those horsemen, look! | 7 | ····/˘· |
| AEAC. But why these tears? | 5 | ····· |
| DIO. There's such a smell of onions. | 8 | ······/˘ |
| AEAC. Then you don't mind it? | 6 | ······ |
| DIO. (Cheerfully.) Mind it? Not a bit. | 9 | ·/˘˘····· |
| AEAC. Well, I must go to the other one again. | 12 | ·······/˘·˘/ |
| XAN. O! O! | 3 | ··· |
| AEAC. Hallo! | 3 | ··· |
| XAN. Do pray pull out this thorn. | 7 | ······· |
| AEAC. What does it mean? 'Tis this one's turn again. | 11 | ·········˘/ |
| DIO. (Shrieking.) Apollo! Lord! (Calmly) of Delos and of Pytho. | 16 | ·/˘˘/˘·/˘·/˘···· |
| XAN. He flinched! You heard him? | 6 | ······ |
| DIO. Not at all; a jolly | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| Verse of Hipponax flashed across my mind. | 10 | ······˘/·· |
| XAN. You don't half do it: cut his flanks to pieces. | 12 | ··········/˘ |
| AEAC. By Zeus, well thought on. Turn your belly here. | 11 | ········/˘· |
| DIO. (Screaming.) Poseidon! | 6 | ·/˘˘/˘ |
| XAN. There! he's flinching. | 5 | ···/˘ |
| DIO. (Singing) who dost reign | 6 | ·/˘··· |
| Amongst the Aegean peaks and creeks | 9 | ···˘/˘··· |
| And o'er the deep blue main. | 6 | ······ |
| AEAC. No, by Demeter, still I can't find out | 11 | ···˘/˘····· |
| Which is the god, but come ye both indoors; | 10 | ········/· |
| My lord himself and Persephassa there, | 10 | ··˘/······ |
| Being gods themselves, will soon find out the truth. | 10 | /·˘/······ |
| DIO. Right! right! I only wish you had thought of that | 12 | ····/˘······ |
| Before you gave me those tremendous whacks. | 10 | ······˘/˘· |
The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.