按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The multitude is shouting 〃Let them go；〃
Let yourself go。
DIONYSUS
Go！ whither？
HERACLES
To the ground。
DIONYSUS
And lose； forsooth； two envelopes of brain。
I'll not try that。
HERACLES
Which will you try？
DIONYSUS
The way
You went yourself。
HERACLES
A parlous voyage that；
For first you'll come to an enormous lake
Of fathomless depth。
DIONYSUS
And how am I to cross？
HERACLES
An ancient mariner will row you over
In a wee boat； so big。 The fare's two obols。
DIONYSUS
Fie！ The power two obols have； the whole world through！
How came they thither！
HERACLES
Theseus took them down。
And next you'll see great snakes and savage monsters
In tens of thousands。
DIONYSUS
You needn't try to scare me；
I'm going to go。
HERACLES
Then weltering seas of filth
And ever…rippling dung： and plunged therein；
Whoso has wronged the stranger here on earth；
Or robbed his boylove of the promised pay；
Or swinged his mother； or profanely smitten
His father's check； or sworn an oath forsworn；
Or copied out a speech of Morsimus。
DIONYSUS
There too； perdie； should he be plunged； whoe'er
Has danced the sword…dance of Cinesias。
HERACLES
And next the breath of flutes will float around you；
And glorious sunshine； such as ours； you'll see；
And myrtle groves； and happy bands who clap
Their hands in triumph； men and women too。
DIONYSUS
And who are they？
HERACLES
The happy mystic bands；
XANTHIAS
And I'm the donkey in the mystery show。
But I'll not stand it； not one instant longer。
HERACLES
Who'll tell you everything you want to know。
You'll find them dwelling close beside the road
You are going to travel； just at Pluto's gate。
And fare thee well； my brother。
DIONYSUS
And to you Good cheer。
（Exit HERACLES。）
Now sirrah； pick you up the traps。
XANTHIAS
Before I've put them down？
DIONYSUS
And quickly too。
XANTHIAS
No； prithee； no： but hire a body； one
They're carrying out； on purpose for the trip。
DIONYSUS
If I can't find one？
XANTHIAS
Then I'll take them。
DIONYSUS
Good。
And see they are carrying out a body now。
Here a CORPSE； wrapped in its grave…clothes；
and lying on a bier； is carried across the stage。
Hallo！ you there； you deadman； are you willing
To carry down our little traps to Hades？
CORPSE
What are they？
DIONYSUS
These。
CORPSE
Two drachmas for the job？
DIONYSUS
Nay； that's too much。
CORPSE
Out of the pathway； you！
DIONYSUS
Beshrew thee； stop： may…be we'll strike a bargain。
CORPSE
Pay me two drachmas； or it's no use talking。
DIONYSUS
One and a half。
CORPSE
I'd liefer live again I
XANTHIAS
How absolute the knave is！ He be hanged！
I'll go myself。
DIONYSUS
You're the right sort； my man。
Now to the ferry。
Enter CHARON。
CHARON
Yoh； up！ lay her to。
XANTHIAS
Whatever's that？
DIONYSUS
Why； that's the lake； by Zeus；
Whereof he spake； and yon's the ferry…boat。
XANTHIAS
Poseidon； yes； and that old fellow's Charon。
DIONYSUS
Charon！ O welcome； Charon！ welcome； Charon！
CHARON
Who's for the Rest from every pain and ill？
Who's for the Lethe's plain？ the Donkey…shearings？
Who's for Cerberia？ Taenarum？ or the Ravens？
DIONYSUS
I。
CHARON
Hurry in。
DIONYSUS
But where are you going really？
In truth to the Ravens？
CHARON
Aye； for your behoof。 Step in。
DIONYSUS （to XANTHIAS）
Now； lad。
CHARON
A slave？ I take no slave；
Unless he has fought for his bodyrights at sea。
XANTHIAS
I couldn't go。 I'd got the eye…disease。
CHARON
Then fetch a circuit round about the lake。
XANTHIAS
Where must I wait？
CHARON
Beside the Withering stone； Hard by the Rest。
DIONYSUS
You understand？
XANTHIAS
Too well。
O； what ill omen crossed me as I started！ Exit。
CHARON （to DIONYSUS）
Sit to the oar。 （calling） Who else for the boat？ Be quick。
（to DIONYSUS） Hi！ what are you doing？
DIONYSUS
What am I doing？ Sitting
On to the oar。 You told me to； yourself
CHARON
Now sit you there； you little Potgut。
DIONYSUS
Now stretch your arms full length before you。
CHARON
Come； don't keep fooling； plant your feet； Pull with a will。
DIONYSUS
Why； how am I to pull？
I'm not an oarsman； seaman； Salaminian。 I can't。
CHARON
You can。 Just dip your oar in once；
You'll hear the loveliest timing songs。
DIONYSUS
What from？
CHARON
Frog…swans； most wonderful。
DIONYSUS
Then give the word。
CHARON
Heave ahoy！ heave ahoy I
FROGS （off stage）
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax；
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax！
We children of the fountain and the lake
Let us wake
Our full choir…shout； as the flutes are ringing out；
Our symphony of clear…voiced song。
The song we used to love in the Marshland up above；
In praise of Dionysus to produce；
Of Nysaean Dionysus； son of Zeus；
When the revel…tipsy throng； all crapulous and gay；
To our precinct reeled along on the holy Pitcher day；
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
DIONYSUS
O； dear！ O； dear！ now I declare
I've got a bump upon my rump；
FROGS
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
DIONYSUS
But you； perchance； don't care。
FROGS
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
DIONYSUS
Hang you； and your ko…axing tool
There's nothing but ko…ax with you。
FROGS
That is right； Mr。 Busybody； right！
For the Muses of the lyre love us well；
And hornfoot Pan who plays
on the pipe his jocund lays；
And Apollo； Harper bright；
in our Chorus takes delight；
For the strong reed's sake
which I grow within my lake
To be girdled in his lyre's deep shell。
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
DIONYSUS
My hands are blistered very sore；
My stern below is sweltering so；
'Twill soon； I know； upturn and roar
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
O tuneful race； O pray give o'er；
O sing no more。
FROGS
Ah； no！ ah； no！
Loud and louder our chant must flow。
Sing if ever ye sang of yore；
When in sunny and glorious days
Through the rushes and marsh…flags springing
On we swept； in the joy of singing
Myriad…diving roundelays。
Or when fleeing the storm； we went
Down to the depths； and our choral song
Wildly raised to a loud and long
Bubble…bursting accompaniment。
FROGS and DIONYSUS
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
DIONYSUS
This timing song I take from you。
FROGS
That's a dreadful thing to do。
DIONYSUS
Much more dreadful； if I row
Till I burst myself； I trow。
FROGS and DIONYSUS
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
DIONYSUS
Go； hang yourselves； for what care I？
FROGS
All the same we'll shout and cry；
Stretching all our throats with song；
Shouting； crying； all day long；
FROGS and DIONYSUS
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
DIONYSUS
In this you'll never； never win。
FROGS
This you shall not beat us in。
DIONYSUS
No； nor ye prevail o'er me。
Never！ never！ I'll my song；
Shout； if need be； all day Yong；
Until I've learned to master your ko…ax。
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
I thought I'd put a stop to your ko…ax。
CHARON
Stop！ Easy！ Take the oar and push her to。
Now pay your fare and go。
DIONYSUS
Here' tis： two obols。
Xanthias！ where's Xanthias？ Is it Xanthias there？
XANTHIAS （off stage）
Hoi； hoi！
DIONYSUS
Come hither。
XANTHIAS （Entering）
Glad to meet you； master。
DIONYSUS
What have you there？
XANTHIAS
Nothing but filth and darkness。
DIONYSUS
But tell me； did you see the parricides
And perjured folk he mentioned？
XANTHIAS
Didn't you？
DIONYSUS
Poseidon； yes。 Why look！ （pointing to the audience）
I see them now。
What's the next step？
XANTHIAS
We'd best be moving on。
This is the spot where Heracles declared
Those savage monsters dwell。
DIONYSUS
O hang the fellow。
That's all his bluff： he thought to scare me off；
The jealous dog； knowing my plucky ways。
There's no such swaggerer lives as Heracles。
Why； I'd like nothing better than to achieve
Some