Aristophanes Frogs 185

Charon

Who's bound for the retreat from strife and woe?

235

Who is for Lethe's plain? who comes for donkey's wool?

who for the Cerberians, or the crows, or Taenarus?

Dionysus

That's me.

Charon

Then get in quick.

Dionysus

Where do you think we'll stop?

240

At the crows, really?

Charon

Absolutely, just for you.

Get in.

Dionysus

Here, boy.

Charon

I will not take the Slave,

245

unless he fought at sea, to save his hide.

Xanthias

Oh God, not me—I happened to have an eye infection.

Charon

Then you must run around the lake.

Xanthias

So where should I wait up?

Charon

By the Stone of Withering

250

At the rest-stop.

Dionysus

You hear?

Xanthias

O yes, I hear,

unhappy wretch, whom did I cross when I set out?

Charon

Sit down at the oar,

255

If anyone else is sailing, hurry up!

Hey, you, what are you doing?

Dionysus

What am I doing? What else but

sitting on the oar, where you commanded.

Charon

Come, fatso, just sit down there.

260

Dionysus

See?

Charon

Grasp the oar, stretch out your hands.

Dionysus

See?

Charon

Stop fooling around; lean your body forward,

And pull with a will.

265

Dionysus

How can I row?

Inexperienced, un-seafaring, unSalaminian.

Charon

It's easy. You'll hear songs

most delightful, when once you lay into it.

Dionysus

From whom?

270

Charon

The marvelous music of the frogswans.

Dionysus

Then order away!

Charon

Heave ho, heave ho—