Aristophanes, Frogs
Matthew Dillon, Ed.

Dionysus
I knew I'd finally stop you from ko-axing!

Charon
Stop, stop—now bring to with your oar,
Get out and pay your fare.

Dionysus
Here, two obols.
Oh, Xanthias—where is Xanthias? Hey, Xanthias!

Xanthias
Ahoy!

Dionysus
Come here.

Xanthias
Welcome, master.

Dionysus
What's this here?

Xanthias
Darkness and sludge.

Dionysus
Have you met here with any parricides
Or perjurers, as he told us?

Xanthias
Haven't you?

Dionysus
By Poseidon, yes. l think I see some now.
Looking to the audience.
Well now, what do we do next?

Xanthias
We had best go on;
This is the place where wild beasts are,
That fellow said.

Dionysus
He be hanged!
He was pretending, just to frighten me.
He knows that I'm a warrior, and he's jealous.
There's nothing quite so boastful as that Heracles.
Now I should only like to meet with some adventure,
To win some contest worthy of our trip.

Xanthias
Of course. Wait! I think I hear a noise.

Dionysus
Where, where is it?

Xanthias
Behind you.

Dionysus
Get behind me!

Xanthias
But now it's in front.

Dionysus
Get in front then!

Xanthias
And now, by Zeus, l see a monstrous beast.

Dionysus
What kind?

Xanthias
O horrible! it takes all kinds of shapes,
Now it's an ox, and now a mule, and now
A lovely woman.

Dionysus
Where is she? I'll go meet her.

Xanthias
Wait, now it's not a woman, but a bitch.

Dionysus
Why, this must be Empusa.

Xanthias
Ah! her whole face burns like fire.

Dionysus
Does she have a leg of bronze?

Xanthias
By Poseidon, yes—and the other is cow dung,
Be sure of it.

Dionysus
Where can I escape?

Xanthias
And where can I?

Dionysus
Oh priest, preserve me now, to be your drinking buddy.

Xanthias
Oh! we are lost, my royal Heracles.

Dionysus
Don't call me that,
I beg you. Man, never use that name.

Xanthias
Well, Dionysus then.

Dionysus
That's worse than the other.

Xanthias
Well, never mind, come on, my noble master.

Dionysus
What do you mean?

Xanthias
Cheer up, we've done all right,
And we may say just like Hegelochus,
“And from the storm I see once more calm-ari.”
Empusa's gone.

Dionysus
You swear it?

Xanthias
By Zeus.

Dionysus
Swear it again.

Xanthias
I swear by Zeus.

Dionysus
Again.

Xanthias
By Zeus!

Dionysus
Good grief, how I grew pale at the sight of her.

Xanthias
But this thing of yours got stained reddish brown with fear.

Dionysus
Alas, why do these wretched ills befall me?
Now which of all the Gods shall I accuse of my destruction?
“The airy hall of Zeus, or foot of time?”
Sound of a pipe is heard within.

Dionysus
Hey!

Xanthias
What is it?

Dionysus
Didn't you hear?

Xanthias
Hear what?

Dionysus
The puff of pipes.

Xanthias
Oh yes, and now a whiff
of torches wafted over me most mystically.

Dionysus
Let's crouch down here and listen silently.