Interlude of dancing by the Chorus.
An Old Woman enters, dressed as a young girl and trying to walk in a youthful and alluring manner. She carries a plate of food.
Old Woman
coyly
My dear old men,
960
am I near the house where the new god lives, or have I missed the road?
My dear old men,
960
am I near the house where the new god lives, or have I missed the road?
Leader of the Chorus
You are at his door, my pretty little maid, who question us so sweetly.
You are at his door, my pretty little maid, who question us so sweetly.
Old Woman
Then I will summon someone in the house.
Then I will summon someone in the house.
Chremylus
965
No need. I am here myself. But what brings you here?
965
No need. I am here myself. But what brings you here?
Old Woman
Ah! a cruel, unjust fate! My dear friend, this god has made life unbearable to me through ceasing to be blind.
Ah! a cruel, unjust fate! My dear friend, this god has made life unbearable to me through ceasing to be blind.
Chremylus
970
What does this mean? Can you be a female informer?
970
What does this mean? Can you be a female informer?
Old Woman
Most certainly not.
Most certainly not.
Chremylus
Have you drunk up your money then?
Have you drunk up your money then?
Old Woman
You are mocking me! No! I am being devoured with a consuming fire.
You are mocking me! No! I am being devoured with a consuming fire.
Chremylus
Then tell me what is consuming you so fiercely.
Then tell me what is consuming you so fiercely.
Old Woman
975
Listen! I loved a young man, who was poor, but so handsome, so well-built, so honest! He readily gave way to all I desired and acquitted himself so well! I, for my part, refused him nothing.
975
Listen! I loved a young man, who was poor, but so handsome, so well-built, so honest! He readily gave way to all I desired and acquitted himself so well! I, for my part, refused him nothing.
Chremylus
980
And what did he generally ask of you?
980
And what did he generally ask of you?
Old Woman
Very little; he bore himself towards me with astonishing discretion! perchance twenty drachmae for a cloak or eight for footwear; sometimes he begged me to buy tunics for his sisters
985
or a little mantle for his mother; at times he needed four bushels of corn.
Very little; he bore himself towards me with astonishing discretion! perchance twenty drachmae for a cloak or eight for footwear; sometimes he begged me to buy tunics for his sisters
985
or a little mantle for his mother; at times he needed four bushels of corn.
Chremylus
That's very little, in truth; I admire his modesty.
That's very little, in truth; I admire his modesty.
Old Woman
And it wasn't as a reward for his complacency
990
that he ever asked me for anything, but as a matter of pure friendship; a cloak I had given would remind him from whom he had got it.
And it wasn't as a reward for his complacency
990
that he ever asked me for anything, but as a matter of pure friendship; a cloak I had given would remind him from whom he had got it.
Chremylus
It was a fellow who loved you madly.
It was a fellow who loved you madly.
Old Woman
But it's no longer so, for the faithless wretch has sadly altered!
995
I had sent him this cake with the sweetmeats you see here on this dish and let him know that I would visit him in the evening ...
But it's no longer so, for the faithless wretch has sadly altered!
995
I had sent him this cake with the sweetmeats you see here on this dish and let him know that I would visit him in the evening ...
Chremylus
Well?
Well?
Old Woman
He sent me back my presents and added this tart to them,
1000
on condition that I never set foot in his house again. Besides, he sent me this message, “Once upon a time the Milesians were brave.”
He sent me back my presents and added this tart to them,
1000
on condition that I never set foot in his house again. Besides, he sent me this message, “Once upon a time the Milesians were brave.”
Wealth. Aristophanes. ed. Eugene O'Neill, Jr.. New York. 1938.
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