The machine brings in Trygaeus astride an enormous figure of a dung beetle with wings spread.
The little daughters of Trygaeus come out.
Trygaeus
intoning.
Gently, gently, go easy, beetle; don't start off so proudly, or trust at first too greatly to your powers;
85
wait till you have sweated, till the beating of your wings shall make your limb joints supple. Above all things, don't let off some foul smell. I adjure you; else I would rather have you stay right in the stable.
Gently, gently, go easy, beetle; don't start off so proudly, or trust at first too greatly to your powers;
85
wait till you have sweated, till the beating of your wings shall make your limb joints supple. Above all things, don't let off some foul smell. I adjure you; else I would rather have you stay right in the stable.
First Servant
intoning.
90
Poor master! Is he crazy?
90
Poor master! Is he crazy?
Trygaeus
intoning.
Silence! silence!
Silence! silence!
First Servant
intoning.
But why start up into the air on chance?
But why start up into the air on chance?
Trygaeus
intoning.
'Tis for the weal of all the Greeks; I am attempting a daring and novel feat.
'Tis for the weal of all the Greeks; I am attempting a daring and novel feat.
First Servant
intoning.
95
But what is your purpose? What useless folly!
95
But what is your purpose? What useless folly!
Trygaeus
intoning.
No words of ill omen! Give vent to joy and command all men to keep silence,
100
to close down their drains and privies with new tiles and to cork up their own arses.
No words of ill omen! Give vent to joy and command all men to keep silence,
100
to close down their drains and privies with new tiles and to cork up their own arses.
First Servant
Speaking.
No, I shall not be silent, unless you tell me where you are going.
No, I shall not be silent, unless you tell me where you are going.
Trygaeus
Why, where am I likely to be going across the sky, if it be not to visit Zeus?
Why, where am I likely to be going across the sky, if it be not to visit Zeus?
First Servant
For what purpose?
For what purpose?
Trygaeus
105
I want to ask him what he reckons to do for all the Greeks.
105
I want to ask him what he reckons to do for all the Greeks.
First Servant
And if he doesn't tell you?
And if he doesn't tell you?
Trygaeus
I shall pursue him at law as a traitor who sells
Greece
to the Medes.
I shall pursue him at law as a traitor who sells
Greece
to the Medes.
First Servant
Death seize me, if I let you go.
Death seize me, if I let you go.
Trygaeus
110
It is absolutely necessary.
110
It is absolutely necessary.
First Servant
loudly.
Alas! alas! dear little girls, your father is deserting you secretly to go to heaven. Ah! poor orphans, entreat him, beseech him.
The little daughters of Trygaeus come out.
Alas! alas! dear little girls, your father is deserting you secretly to go to heaven. Ah! poor orphans, entreat him, beseech him.
Little Daughter
Singing.
Father! father! what is this
115
I hear? Is it true? What! you would leave me, you would vanish into the sky, you would go to the crows? Impossible!
Father! father! what is this
115
I hear? Is it true? What! you would leave me, you would vanish into the sky, you would go to the crows? Impossible!
Little Daughter
Answer, father, if you love me.
Answer, father, if you love me.
Peace. Aristophanes. ed. Eugene O'Neill, Jr.. New York. 1938.
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