Aristophanes, Wasps
Eugene O'Neill, Jr., Ed.

Bdelycleon
Let us see. What case shall we bring up first? Is there a slave who has done something wrong? Ah! you Thracian there, you burnt the stew-pot the other day.

Philocleon
Wait, wait! This is a fine state of affairs! [830] You almost made me judge without a bar, and that is the most sacred thing of all for us.

Bdelycleon
There isn't any, by Zeus.

Philocleon
I'll run indoors and get one myself. Exit

Bdelycleon
What does it matter? Terrible thing, the force of habit.

Sosias
coming out of the house
[835] Damn that animal! How can anyone keep such a dog?

Bdelycleon
Hullo! what's the matter?

Sosias
Oh, it's Labes, who has just rushed into the kitchen and seized a whole Sicilian cheese and gobbled it up.

Bdelycleon
Good! this will be the first offence I shall make my father try. To Xanthias [840] Come along and lay your accusation.

Sosias
No, not I; the other dog vows he will be accuser, if the matter is brought up for trial.

Bdelycleon
Well then, bring them both along.

Sosias
That's what we'll have to do.

He goes back into the house. A moment later Philocleon comes out.

Bdelycleon
What is this?

Philocleon
The pig-trough of the swine dedicated to Hestia.

Bdelycleon
[845] Did you steal it from a shrine?

Philocleon
No, no, by addressing Hestia first, I might, thanks to her, crush an adversary. But put an end to delay by calling up the case. My verdict is already settled.

Bdelycleon
Wait! I still have to bring out the tablets and the scrolls.

He goes into the house.

Philocleon
Oh! I am boiling, I am dying with impatience at your delays. [850] I could have traced the sentence in the dust.

Bdelycleon
coming out with tablets and scrolls
There you are.

Philocleon
Then call the case.

Bdelycleon
Right. Who is first on the docket?

Philocleon
My god! This is unbearable! I have forgotten the urns.

Bdelycleon
Now where are you going?

Philocleon
To look for the urns.

Bdelycleon
[855] Don't bother, I have these pots.

Philocleon
Very well, then we have all we need, except the clepsydra.

Bdelycleon
pointing to the thunder-mug
What is this if it is not a clepsydra?

Philocleon
You know how to supply everything.

Bdelycleon
[860] Let fire be brought quickly from the house with myrtle boughs and incense, and let us invoke the gods before opening the sitting.