This text is part of:
Search the Perseus Catalog for:
Table of Contents:
CHORUS
Listen to your long speeches, after you have treated with the Laconians? No, I will punish you. DICAEOPOLIS
Friends, leave the Laconians out of debate and consider only whether I have not done well to conclude my truce. CHORUS
Done well! when you have treated with a people who know neither gods, nor truth, nor faith. DICAEOPOLIS
We attribute too much to the Laconians; as for myself, I know that they are not the cause of all our troubles. CHORUS
Oh, indeed, rascal! You dare to use such language to me and then expect me to spare you! DICAEOPOLIS
No, no, they are not the cause of all our troubles, and I who address you claim to be able to prove that they have much to complain of in us. CHORUS
This passes endurance; my heart bounds with fury. Thus you dare to defend our enemies. DICAEOPOLIS
Were my head on the block I would uphold what I say and rely on the approval of the people. CHORUS
Comrades, let us hurl our stones and dye this fellow purple. DICAEOPOLIS
What black fire-brand has inflamed your heart! You will not hear me? You really will not, Acharnians? CHORUS
No, a thousand times, no. DICAEOPOLIS
This is a hateful injustice. CHORUS
May I die, if I listen. DICAEOPOLIS
Nay, nay! have mercy, have mercy, Acharnians. CHORUS
You shall die. DICAEOPOLIS
Well, blood for blood! I will kill your dearest friend. I have here the hostages of Acharnae;1 I shall disembowel them. CHORUS
Acharnians, what means this threat? Has he got one of our children in his house? What gives him such audacity? DICAEOPOLIS
Stone me, if it please you; I shall avenge myself on this. (SHOWS A BASKET.) Let us see whether you have any love for your coals. CHORUS
Great Gods! this basket is our fellow-citizen. Stop, stop, in heaven's name!
1 That is, the baskets of charcoal.
Aristophanes. Acharnians. The Eleven Comedies. Anonymous. New York. Liveright. 192?.