Aristophanes, Thesmophoriazusae, ed. F. W. Hall, ed. William M. Geldart, 574

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Κλεισθένης

φίλαι γυναῖκες ξυγγενεῖς τοὐμοῦ τρόπου·

ὅτι μὲν φίλος εἴμʼ ὑμῖν, ἐπίδηλος ταῖς γνάθοις·
575

γυναικομανῶ γὰρ προξενῶ θʼ ὑμῶν ἀεί.

καὶ νῦν ἀκούσας πρᾶγμα περὶ ὑμῶν μέγα

ὀλίγῳ τι πρότερον κατʼ ἀγορὰν λαλούμενον,

ἥκω φράσων τοῦτʼ ἀγγελῶν θʼ ὑμῖν, ἵνα

σκοπῆτε καὶ τηρῆτε μὴ καὶ προσπέσῃ
580

ὑμῖν ἀφάρκτοις πρᾶγμα δεινὸν καὶ μέγα.

Χορός

τί δʼ ἔστιν ὦ παῖ; παῖδα γάρ σʼ εἰκὸς καλεῖν,

ἕως ἂν οὕτως τὰς γνάθους ψιλὰς ἔχῃς.

Κλεισθένης

Εὐριπίδην φάσʼ ἄνδρα κηδεστήν τινα

αὑτοῦ γέροντα δεῦρʼ ἀναπέμψαι τήμερον.
585

Χορός

πρὸς ποῖον ἔργον ἢ τίνος γνώμης χάριν;

Κλεισθένης

ἵνʼ ἅττα βουλεύοισθε καὶ μέλλοιτε δρᾶν,

ἐκεῖνος εἴη τῶν λόγων κατάσκοπος.

Χορός

καὶ πῶς λέληθεν ἐν γυναιξὶν ὢν ἀνήρ;

Κλεισθένης

ἀφηῦσεν αὐτὸν κἀπέτιλʼ Εὐριπίδης
590

καὶ τἄλλʼ ἅπανθʼ ὥσπερ γυναῖκʼ ἐσκεύασεν.

Μνησίλοχος

πείθεσθε τούτῳ ταῦτα; τίς δʼ οὕτως ἀνὴρ

ἠλίθιος ὅστις τιλλόμενος ἠνείχετο;

οὐκ οἴομαι ʼγωγʼ ὦ πολυτιμήτω θεώ.

Κλεισθένης

ληρεῖς· ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐκ ἂν ἦλθον ἀγγελῶν,
595

εἰ μὴ ʼπεπύσμην ταῦτα τῶν σάφʼ εἰδότων.

Χορός

τὸ πρᾶγμα τουτὶ δεινὸν εἰσαγγέλλεται.

ἀλλʼ ὦ γυναῖκες οὐκ ἐλινύειν ἐχρῆν,

ἀλλὰ σκοπεῖν τὸν ἄνδρα καὶ ζητεῖν ὅπου

λέληθεν ἡμᾶς κρυπτὸς ἐγκαθήμενος.
600

καὶ σὺ ξυνέξευρʼ αὐτόν, ὡς ἂν τὴν χάριν

ταύτην τε κἀκείνην ἔχῃς ὦ πρόξενε.

Κλεισθένης

φέρʼ ἴδω· τίς ἡ πρώτη σύ;

Μνησίλοχος

ποῖ τις τρέψεται;

Κλεισθένης

ζητητέαι γάρ ἐστε.

Μνησίλοχος

κακοδαίμων ἐγώ.

Γυνὴ Α

ἔμʼ ἥτις εἴμʼ ἤρου; Κλεωνύμου γυνή.
605

Κλεισθένης

γιγνώσκεθʼ ὑμεῖς ἥτις ἔσθʼ ἥδʼ ἡ γυνή;

Χορός

γιγνώσκομεν δῆτʼ. ἀλλὰ τὰς ἄλλας ἄθρει.

Κλεισθένης

ἡδὶ δὲ δὴ τίς ἐστιν ἡ τὸ παιδίον

ἔχουσα;

Γυνὴ Α

τίτθη νὴ Δίʼ ἐμή.

Μνησίλοχος

διοίχομαι.

Κλεισθένης

αὕτη σὺ ποῖ στρέφει; μένʼ αὐτοῦ. τί τὸ κακόν;
610

Μνησίλοχος

ἔασον οὐρῆσαί μʼ.

Κλεισθένης

ἀναίσχυντός τις εἶ.

σὺ δʼ οὖν ποίει τοῦτʼ. ἀναμενῶ γὰρ ἐνθάδε.

Χορός

ἀνάμενε δῆτα καὶ σκόπει γʼ αὐτὴν σφόδρα·

μόνην γὰρ αὐτὴν ὦνερ οὐ γιγνώσκομεν.

Κλεισθένης

πολύν γε χρόνον οὐρεῖς σύ.
615

Μνησίλοχος

νὴ Δίʼ ὦ μέλε·

στραγγουριῶ γάρ· ἐχθὲς ἔφαγον κάρδαμα.

Κλεισθένης

τί καρδαμίζεις; οὐ βαδιεῖ δεῦρʼ ὡς ἐμέ;

Μνησίλοχος

τί δῆτά μʼ ἕλκεις ἀσθενοῦσαν;

Κλεισθένης

εἰπέ μοι,

τίς ἔστʼ ἀνήρ σοι;

Μνησίλοχος

τὸν ἐμὸν ἄνδρα πυνθάνει;

τὸν δεῖνα γιγνώσκεις, τὸν ἐκ Κοθωκιδῶν;
620

Κλεισθένης

τὸν δεῖνα; ποῖον;

Μνησίλοχος

ἔσθʼ ὁ δεῖνʼ, ὃς καί ποτε

τὸν δεῖνα τὸν τοῦ δεῖνα—

Κλεισθένης

ληρεῖν μοι δοκεῖς.

ἀνῆλθες ἤδη δεῦρο πρότερον;

Μνησίλοχος

νὴ Δία

ὁσέτη γε.

Κλεισθένης

καὶ τίς σοὐστὶ συσκηνήτρια;

Μνησίλοχος

ἡ δεῖνʼ ἔμοιγʼ.
625

Κλεισθένης

οἴμοι τάλας, οὐδὲν λέγεις.

Thesmophoriazusae. Aristophanes. ed. F. W. Hall, ed. William M. Geldart. Oxford. 1907.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Θεσμοφοριάζουσαι (Greek) (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 2. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1907.)

Translations (2)

Thesmophoriazusae (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Anonymous; 1938 compilation). Migrated from Perseus legacy XML; source wording and notes retained. See TEI header and migration inventory.) — 574 focus

Enter Cleisthenes, dressed as a woman.

Cleisthenes

Friends, whom I copy in all things, 575 my hairless chin sufficiently evidences how dear you are to me; I am women-mad and make myself their champion wherever I am. Just now on the market-place I heard mention of a thing that is of the greatest importance to you; I come to tell it to you, to let you know it, so that 580 you may watch carefully and be on your guard against the danger which threatens you.

Leader of the Chorus

What is it, my child? I can well call you child, for you have so smooth a skin.

Cleisthenes

They say that Euripides 585 has sent an old man here to-day, one of his relations ...

Leader of the Chorus

With what object? What is his idea?

Cleisthenes

... so that he may hear your speeches and inform him of your deliberations and intentions.

Leader of the Chorus

But how would a man fail to be recognized amongst women?

Cleisthenes

590 Euripides singed and depilated him and disguised him as a woman.

Mnesilochus

This is pure invention! What man is fool enough to let himself be depilated? As for myself, I don't believe a word of it.

Cleisthenes

595 Nonsense! I should not have come here to tell you, if I did not know it on indisputable authority.

Leader of the Chorus

Great gods! what is it you tell us! Come, women, let us not lose a moment; let us search and rummage everywhere! Where 600 can this man have hidden himself to escape our notice? Help us to look, Cleisthenes; we shall thus owe you double thanks, dear friend.

Cleisthenes

Well then! let us see. To begin with you; who are you?

Mnesilochus
aside

Wherever am I to stow myself?

Cleisthenes

Each and every one must pass the scrutiny.

Mnesilochus
aside

Oh! great gods!

First Woman

605 You ask me who I am? I am the wife of Cleonymus.

Cleisthenes
to the Leader of the Chorus

Do you know this woman?

Leader of the Chorus

Yes, yes, pass on to the rest.

Cleisthenes

And she who carries the child?

First Woman

Surely; she's my nurse.

Mnesilochus
aside

This is the end.

He runs off.

Cleisthenes

610 Hi! you there! where are you going? Stop. What are you running away for?

Mnesilochus
dancing on one leg

I want to take a pee, you brazen thing.

Cleisthenes

Well, be quick about it; I shall wait for you here.

Leader of the Chorus

Wait for her and examine her closely; she's the only one we do not know.

Cleisthenes

615 That's a long leak you're taking.

Mnesilochus

God, yes; I am constricted; I ate some cress yesterday.

Cleisthenes

What are you chattering about cress? Come here and be quick.

He starts to pull Mnesilochus back.

Mnesilochus

Oh! don't pull a poor sick woman about like that.

Cleisthenes
looking Mnesilochus square in the eye

Tell me, who is your husband?

Mnesilochus
embarrassed

620 My husband? Do you know a certain individual at Cothocidae ...?

Cleisthenes

Whom do you mean? Give his name.

Mnesilochus

He's an individual to whom the son of a certain individual one day ...

Cleisthenes

You are drivelling! Let's see, have you ever been here before?

Mnesilochus

Why certainly, every year.

Cleisthenes

Who is your tent companion?

Mnesilochus

625 A certain ... Oh! my god!

Cleisthenes

That's not an answer!

English (Sanjaya, generated; selected passages) (OCR draft) Experimental (Source: pnadelofficial/aristophanes-sanjaya, commit c319590c139e5603e71f0699caa0663d823af8ad. Machine-generated source annotations retained; see Sanjaya import audit for coverage and limitations.) — 574 focus

Cleisthenes: dear women, relatives of my character;

Cleisthenes: that I am indeed a friend to you is made plain by my jaws;

575

Cleisthenes: For I always engage in matchmaking, being in love with women.

Cleisthenes: and now having heard a great matter concerning you

Cleisthenes: "just a little while ago, being chattered in the market,

Cleisthenes: I have come to report and announce this to you, so that

Cleisthenes: look out and beware lest he also fall upon you.

580

Cleisthenes: For you, without means of defense, a terrible and great matter.

Chorus: What is it, child? For you are rightly called a child,

Chorus: Until you have your jaws bare in this way.

Cleisthenes: Tell Euripides that he is a certain relative.

Cleisthenes: to send an old man here today.

585

Chorus: for what work or for the sake of whose opinion?

Cleisthenes: so that whatever you may be planning and intend to do,

Cleisthenes: May that man be the spy of those words.

Chorus: And how did he, being a man, escape notice among women?

Cleisthenes: Euripides set him free and sent him off.

590

Cleisthenes: And the rest of it, everything, he prepared just like a woman.

Mnesilochus: Do you obey this man in these matters? Who is such a man?

Mnesilochus: 'Is he a fool, whoever endured being plucked?'

Mnesilochus: I don't think so, most honoured goddess.

Cleisthenes: You are talking nonsense; for I would not have come as a messenger,

595

Cleisthenes: If I had not learned these things from those who know them clearly.

Chorus: This matter is bringing a serious accusation.

Chorus: But, oh women, it was not right to waver,

Chorus: but let us look at the man and search for where

Chorus: A secret intruder has hidden himself among us.

600

Chorus: And you also invented it, so that you might gain the favor

Chorus: You shall have this one as well as that one, O xenos.

Cleisthenes: Come, let me see: who is the first you?

Mnesilochus: Where will someone turn?

Cleisthenes: for you are to be sought.

Mnesilochus: Woe is me.

Woman A: Do you ask who I am? The wife of Kleonymos.

605

Cleisthenes: Do you know what sort of woman this is?

Chorus: We certainly understand. But look at the others.

Cleisthenes: But who is the one now who is the child's?

Cleisthenes: [Do you have] it?

Woman A: By Zeus, it is my nurse!

Mnesilochus: I am gone.

Cleisthenes: Where are you turning, you? Stay right there. What is the harm?

610

Mnesilochus: Let me urinate.

Cleisthenes: You are some shameless person.

Cleisthenes: But you, then, do this. For I shall wait here.

Chorus: Wait, then, and look at her very closely.

Chorus: for we know only her, as it were.

Cleisthenes: You've been pissing for a long time, then.

615

Mnesilochus: By Zeus, oh friends;

Mnesilochus: I am passing a kidney stone, for yesterday I ate watercress.

Cleisthenes: What are you grumbling about? Are you not coming here to me?

Mnesilochus: Why on earth are you dragging me, being weak?

Cleisthenes: tell me,

Cleisthenes: Who is the man to you?

Mnesilochus: Do you ask about my husband?

Mnesilochus: You know that infamous man, the one from Kothokidai?

620

Cleisthenes: the notorious one? Which one?

Mnesilochus: There is one who is truly terrible, who even once

Mnesilochus: 'The so-and-so, the son of so-and-so—'

Cleisthenes: You seem to me to be talking nonsense.

Cleisthenes: Have you already come up here before?

Mnesilochus: by Zeus

Mnesilochus: A true man indeed.

Cleisthenes: And who is your co-actor?

Mnesilochus: It is terribly hard for me.

625

Cleisthenes: Alas, wretch, you are saying nothing.

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Χορός τί δʼ ἔστιν ὦ παῖ; παῖδα γάρ σʼ εἰκὸς καλεῖν, ἕως ἂν οὕτως τὰς γνάθους ψιλὰς ἔχῃς.

Κλεισθένης Εὐριπίδην φάσʼ ἄνδρα κηδεστήν τινα αὑτοῦ γέροντα δεῦρʼ ἀναπέμψαι τήμερον. 585

Χορός πρὸς ποῖον ἔργον ἢ τίνος γνώμης χάριν;

Κλεισθένης ἵνʼ ἅττα βουλεύοισθε καὶ μέλλοιτε δρᾶν, ἐκεῖνος εἴη τῶν λόγων κατάσκοπος.

Χορός καὶ πῶς λέληθεν ἐν γυναιξὶν ὢν ἀνήρ;

Κλεισθένης ἀφηῦσεν αὐτὸν κἀπέτιλʼ Εὐριπίδης 590 καὶ τἄλλʼ ἅπανθʼ ὥσπερ γυναῖκʼ ἐσκεύασεν.

Μνησίλοχος πείθεσθε τούτῳ ταῦτα; τίς δʼ οὕτως ἀνὴρ ἠλίθιος ὅστις τιλλόμενος ἠνείχετο; οὐκ οἴομαι ʼγωγʼ ὦ πολυτιμήτω θεώ.

Κλεισθένης ληρεῖς· ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐκ ἂν ἦλθον ἀγγελῶν, 595 εἰ μὴ ʼπεπύσμην ταῦτα τῶν σάφʼ εἰδότων.

Κλεισθένης φέρʼ ἴδω· τίς ἡ πρώτη σύ;

Μνησίλοχος ποῖ τις τρέψεται;

Κλεισθένης ζητητέαι γάρ ἐστε.

Μνησίλοχος κακοδαίμων ἐγώ.

Γυνὴ Α ἔμʼ ἥτις εἴμʼ ἤρου; Κλεωνύμου γυνή. 605

Κλεισθένης γιγνώσκεθʼ ὑμεῖς ἥτις ἔσθʼ ἥδʼ ἡ γυνή;

Χορός γιγνώσκομεν δῆτʼ. ἀλλὰ τὰς ἄλλας ἄθρει.

Κλεισθένης ἡδὶ δὲ δὴ τίς ἐστιν ἡ τὸ παιδίον ἔχουσα;

Γυνὴ Α τίτθη νὴ Δίʼ ἐμή.

Μνησίλοχος διοίχομαι.

Κλεισθένης αὕτη σὺ ποῖ στρέφει; μένʼ αὐτοῦ. τί τὸ κακόν; 610

Μνησίλοχος ἔασον οὐρῆσαί μʼ.

Κλεισθένης ἀναίσχυντός τις εἶ. σὺ δʼ οὖν ποίει τοῦτʼ. ἀναμενῶ γὰρ ἐνθάδε.

Χορός ἀνάμενε δῆτα καὶ σκόπει γʼ αὐτὴν σφόδρα· μόνην γὰρ αὐτὴν ὦνερ οὐ γιγνώσκομεν.

Κλεισθένης πολύν γε χρόνον οὐρεῖς σύ. 615

Μνησίλοχος νὴ Δίʼ ὦ μέλε· στραγγουριῶ γάρ· ἐχθὲς ἔφαγον κάρδαμα.

Κλεισθένης τί καρδαμίζεις; οὐ βαδιεῖ δεῦρʼ ὡς ἐμέ;

Μνησίλοχος τί δῆτά μʼ ἕλκεις ἀσθενοῦσαν;

Κλεισθένης εἰπέ μοι, τίς ἔστʼ ἀνήρ σοι;

Μνησίλοχος τὸν ἐμὸν ἄνδρα πυνθάνει; τὸν δεῖνα γιγνώσκεις, τὸν ἐκ Κοθωκιδῶν; 620

Κλεισθένης τὸν δεῖνα; ποῖον;

Μνησίλοχος ἔσθʼ ὁ δεῖνʼ, ὃς καί ποτε τὸν δεῖνα τὸν τοῦ δεῖνα—

Κλεισθένης ληρεῖν μοι δοκεῖς. ἀνῆλθες ἤδη δεῦρο πρότερον;

Μνησίλοχος νὴ Δία ὁσέτη γε.

Κλεισθένης καὶ τίς σοὐστὶ συσκηνήτρια;

Μνησίλοχος ἡ δεῖνʼ ἔμοιγʼ. 625

Κλεισθένης οἴμοι τάλας, οὐδὲν λέγεις.

Current edition Perseus

Leader of the Chorus What is it, my child? I can well call you child, for you have so smooth a skin.

Cleisthenes They say that Euripides 585 has sent an old man here to-day, one of his relations ...

Leader of the Chorus With what object? What is his idea?

Cleisthenes ... so that he may hear your speeches and inform him of your deliberations and intentions.

Leader of the Chorus But how would a man fail to be recognized amongst women?

Cleisthenes 590 Euripides singed and depilated him and disguised him as a woman.

Mnesilochus This is pure invention! What man is fool enough to let himself be depilated? As for myself, I don't believe a word of it.

Cleisthenes 595 Nonsense! I should not have come here to tell you, if I did not know it on indisputable authority.

Leader of the Chorus Great gods! what is it you tell us! Come, women, let us not lose a moment; let us search and rummage everywhere! Where 600 can this man have hidden himself to escape our notice? Help us to look, Cleisthenes; we shall thus owe you double thanks, dear friend.

Cleisthenes Well then! let us see. To begin with you; who are you?

Mnesilochus aside Wherever am I to stow myself?

Cleisthenes Each and every one must pass the scrutiny.

Mnesilochus aside Oh! great gods!

First Woman 605 You ask me who I am? I am the wife of Cleonymus.

Cleisthenes to the Leader of the Chorus Do you know this woman?

Leader of the Chorus Yes, yes, pass on to the rest.

Cleisthenes And she who carries the child?

First Woman Surely; she's my nurse.

Mnesilochus aside This is the end.

Cleisthenes 610 Hi! you there! where are you going? Stop. What are you running away for?

Mnesilochus dancing on one leg I want to take a pee, you brazen thing.

Cleisthenes Well, be quick about it; I shall wait for you here.

Leader of the Chorus Wait for her and examine her closely; she's the only one we do not know.

Cleisthenes 615 That's a long leak you're taking.

Mnesilochus God, yes; I am constricted; I ate some cress yesterday.

Cleisthenes What are you chattering about cress? Come here and be quick.

Mnesilochus Oh! don't pull a poor sick woman about like that.

Cleisthenes looking Mnesilochus square in the eye Tell me, who is your husband?

Mnesilochus embarrassed 620 My husband? Do you know a certain individual at Cothocidae ...?

Cleisthenes Whom do you mean? Give his name.

Mnesilochus He's an individual to whom the son of a certain individual one day ...

Cleisthenes You are drivelling! Let's see, have you ever been here before?

Mnesilochus Why certainly, every year.

Cleisthenes Who is your tent companion?

Mnesilochus 625 A certain ... Oh! my god!

Cleisthenes That's not an answer!

Stable identifiers

Χορός

τί δʼ ἔστιν ὦ παῖ; παῖδα γάρ σʼ εἰκὸς καλεῖν,

ἕως ἂν οὕτως τὰς γνάθους ψιλὰς ἔχῃς.

Κλεισθένης

Εὐριπίδην φάσʼ ἄνδρα κηδεστήν τινα

αὑτοῦ γέροντα δεῦρʼ ἀναπέμψαι τήμερον.
585

Χορός

πρὸς ποῖον ἔργον ἢ τίνος γνώμης χάριν;

Κλεισθένης

ἵνʼ ἅττα βουλεύοισθε καὶ μέλλοιτε δρᾶν,

ἐκεῖνος εἴη τῶν λόγων κατάσκοπος.

Χορός

καὶ πῶς λέληθεν ἐν γυναιξὶν ὢν ἀνήρ;

Κλεισθένης

ἀφηῦσεν αὐτὸν κἀπέτιλʼ Εὐριπίδης
590

καὶ τἄλλʼ ἅπανθʼ ὥσπερ γυναῖκʼ ἐσκεύασεν.

Μνησίλοχος

πείθεσθε τούτῳ ταῦτα; τίς δʼ οὕτως ἀνὴρ

ἠλίθιος ὅστις τιλλόμενος ἠνείχετο;

οὐκ οἴομαι ʼγωγʼ ὦ πολυτιμήτω θεώ.

Κλεισθένης

ληρεῖς· ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐκ ἂν ἦλθον ἀγγελῶν,
595

εἰ μὴ ʼπεπύσμην ταῦτα τῶν σάφʼ εἰδότων.

Κλεισθένης

φέρʼ ἴδω· τίς ἡ πρώτη σύ;

Μνησίλοχος

ποῖ τις τρέψεται;

Κλεισθένης

ζητητέαι γάρ ἐστε.

Μνησίλοχος

κακοδαίμων ἐγώ.

Γυνὴ Α

ἔμʼ ἥτις εἴμʼ ἤρου; Κλεωνύμου γυνή.
605

Κλεισθένης

γιγνώσκεθʼ ὑμεῖς ἥτις ἔσθʼ ἥδʼ ἡ γυνή;

Χορός

γιγνώσκομεν δῆτʼ. ἀλλὰ τὰς ἄλλας ἄθρει.

Κλεισθένης

ἡδὶ δὲ δὴ τίς ἐστιν ἡ τὸ παιδίον

ἔχουσα;

Γυνὴ Α

τίτθη νὴ Δίʼ ἐμή.

Μνησίλοχος

διοίχομαι.

Κλεισθένης

αὕτη σὺ ποῖ στρέφει; μένʼ αὐτοῦ. τί τὸ κακόν;
610

Μνησίλοχος

ἔασον οὐρῆσαί μʼ.

Κλεισθένης

ἀναίσχυντός τις εἶ.

σὺ δʼ οὖν ποίει τοῦτʼ. ἀναμενῶ γὰρ ἐνθάδε.

Χορός

ἀνάμενε δῆτα καὶ σκόπει γʼ αὐτὴν σφόδρα·

μόνην γὰρ αὐτὴν ὦνερ οὐ γιγνώσκομεν.

Κλεισθένης

πολύν γε χρόνον οὐρεῖς σύ.
615

Μνησίλοχος

νὴ Δίʼ ὦ μέλε·

στραγγουριῶ γάρ· ἐχθὲς ἔφαγον κάρδαμα.

Κλεισθένης

τί καρδαμίζεις; οὐ βαδιεῖ δεῦρʼ ὡς ἐμέ;

Μνησίλοχος

τί δῆτά μʼ ἕλκεις ἀσθενοῦσαν;

Κλεισθένης

εἰπέ μοι,

τίς ἔστʼ ἀνήρ σοι;

Μνησίλοχος

τὸν ἐμὸν ἄνδρα πυνθάνει;

τὸν δεῖνα γιγνώσκεις, τὸν ἐκ Κοθωκιδῶν;
620

Κλεισθένης

τὸν δεῖνα; ποῖον;

Μνησίλοχος

ἔσθʼ ὁ δεῖνʼ, ὃς καί ποτε

τὸν δεῖνα τὸν τοῦ δεῖνα—

Κλεισθένης

ληρεῖν μοι δοκεῖς.

ἀνῆλθες ἤδη δεῦρο πρότερον;

Μνησίλοχος

νὴ Δία

ὁσέτη γε.

Κλεισθένης

καὶ τίς σοὐστὶ συσκηνήτρια;

Μνησίλοχος

ἡ δεῖνʼ ἔμοιγʼ.
625

Κλεισθένης

οἴμοι τάλας, οὐδὲν λέγεις.

Leader of the Chorus

What is it, my child? I can well call you child, for you have so smooth a skin.

Cleisthenes

They say that Euripides 585 has sent an old man here to-day, one of his relations ...

Leader of the Chorus

With what object? What is his idea?

Cleisthenes

... so that he may hear your speeches and inform him of your deliberations and intentions.

Leader of the Chorus

But how would a man fail to be recognized amongst women?

Cleisthenes

590 Euripides singed and depilated him and disguised him as a woman.

Mnesilochus

This is pure invention! What man is fool enough to let himself be depilated? As for myself, I don't believe a word of it.

Cleisthenes

595 Nonsense! I should not have come here to tell you, if I did not know it on indisputable authority.

Leader of the Chorus

Great gods! what is it you tell us! Come, women, let us not lose a moment; let us search and rummage everywhere! Where 600 can this man have hidden himself to escape our notice? Help us to look, Cleisthenes; we shall thus owe you double thanks, dear friend.

Cleisthenes

Well then! let us see. To begin with you; who are you?

Mnesilochus
aside

Wherever am I to stow myself?

Cleisthenes

Each and every one must pass the scrutiny.

Mnesilochus
aside

Oh! great gods!

First Woman

605 You ask me who I am? I am the wife of Cleonymus.

Cleisthenes
to the Leader of the Chorus

Do you know this woman?

Leader of the Chorus

Yes, yes, pass on to the rest.

Cleisthenes

And she who carries the child?

First Woman

Surely; she's my nurse.

Mnesilochus
aside

This is the end.

Cleisthenes

610 Hi! you there! where are you going? Stop. What are you running away for?

Mnesilochus
dancing on one leg

I want to take a pee, you brazen thing.

Cleisthenes

Well, be quick about it; I shall wait for you here.

Leader of the Chorus

Wait for her and examine her closely; she's the only one we do not know.

Cleisthenes

615 That's a long leak you're taking.

Mnesilochus

God, yes; I am constricted; I ate some cress yesterday.

Cleisthenes

What are you chattering about cress? Come here and be quick.

Mnesilochus

Oh! don't pull a poor sick woman about like that.

Cleisthenes
looking Mnesilochus square in the eye

Tell me, who is your husband?

Mnesilochus
embarrassed

620 My husband? Do you know a certain individual at Cothocidae ...?

Cleisthenes

Whom do you mean? Give his name.

Mnesilochus

He's an individual to whom the son of a certain individual one day ...

Cleisthenes

You are drivelling! Let's see, have you ever been here before?

Mnesilochus

Why certainly, every year.

Cleisthenes

Who is your tent companion?

Mnesilochus

625 A certain ... Oh! my god!

Cleisthenes

That's not an answer!