(The YOUNG MAN is dragged off by the two OLD WOMEN, one on each arm.)(Interlude of dancing by the CHORUS.)
A SERVANT-MAID To PRAXAGORA (she comes from the banquet)What happiness is the people's! what joy is mine, and above all that of my mistress! Happy are ye, who form choruses before our house!
Happy are ye, both neighbours and fellow-citizens! Happy am Imyself! I am but a servant, and yet I have poured on my hair the most exquisite essences. Let thanks be rendered to thee, Oh, Zeus! But a still more delicious aroma is that of the wine of Thasos; its sweet bouquet delights the drinker for a long time, whereas the others lose their bloom and vanish quickly. Therefore, long life to the wine-jars of Thasos! Pour yourselves out unmixed wine, it will cheer you the whole night through, if you choose the liquor that possesses most fragrance. (To the CHORUS) But tell me, friends, where is my mistress's husband?
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Wait for him here; he will no doubt pass this way.
MAID-SERVANT
Ah! there he is just going to dinner. Oh! master! what joy! what blessedness is yours!
BLEPYRUS
Mine?
MAID-SERVANT
None can compare his happiness to yours; you have reached its utmost height, you who, alone out of thirty thousand citizens have not yet dined.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Aye, here is undoubtedly a truly happy man.
MAID-SERVANT
Where are you off to?
BLEPYRUS
I am going to dine.
MAID-SERVANT
By Aphrodite, you will be the last of all, far and away the last. Yet my mistress has bidden me take you and take with you these young girls. Some Chian wine is left and lots of other good things.
Therefore hurry, and invite likewise all the spectators whom we have pleased, and such of the judges as are not against us, to follow us;we will offer them everything they can desire.
BLEPYRUS
Generously invite everyone and omit no one, old or young. Dinner is ready for all; they need only go home. As for me, I shall go to the banquet with the customary torch in my hand.
MAID-SERVANT
But why do you tarry, Blepyrus? Take these young girls with you and, while you are away a while, I will whet my appetite with some dining-song.
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
I have but a few words to say: let the wise judge me because of what, ever is wise in this piece, and those who like a laugh by whatever has made them laugh. In this way I address pretty well everyone. If the lot has assigned my comedy to be played first of all, don't let that be a disadvantage to me; engrave in your memory all that shall have pleased you in it and judge the competitors equitably as you have bound yourselves by oath to do. Don't act like vile courtesans, who never remember any but their last lover.
MAID-SERVANT
It is time, friends, high time to go to the banquet, if we want to have our share of it. Open your ranks and let the Cretan rhythms regulate your dances.
BLEPYRUS
That's what I am doing.
MAID-SERVANT
And you others, let your light steps too keep time. Very soon we'll be eating lepadotema choselackogaleokrani oleipsanodrimypotrimmatosil phiotyromelitokatake chymenokicklepikossyphopkat toperisteralektryonoptokeph aliokinklopeleiolagoiosiral obaphetragalopter ygdn. Come, quickly, seize hold of a plate, snatch up a cup, and let's run to secure a place at table. The rest will have their jaws at work by this time.
CHORUS (as they depart, dancing, with BLEPYRUS leading them)Dance gaily! Iai! Iai! We shall dine! Euoi! Euai! Euai! As for a triumph! Euoi! Euoi Euai! Euai!
THE END
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