Silenus
What kind of a way to hunt is that, bent over and leaning down to the ground? Where are you going? I don't understand. You're lying there like a hedgehog fallen on the ground, or an ape sticking his head forward and having a temper tantrum. What's this? Where on earth did you learn this, and how? Tell me, because I certainly don't understand what you're doing.
Chorus
1
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh!
The chorus are still squealing as he starts to speak.
Silenus
What are you "ooh-ooh"-ing for? What are you afraid of? What do you see? What frightful thing are you looking at? Why are you carrying on like bacchantes? Is there a hawk nearby? From offstage, we hear a lyre being tuned. Since the player is in fact Hermes, it sounds divine, but no mortal has ever heard this instrument before, and the satyrs are terrified. They abruptly stop squealing. Do you want to know what it was? Why are you so quiet, when you were just now babbling away?
Chorus
Be quiet!
Silenus
What is it over there that you're trying to get away from?
Chorus
Listen!
Silenus
I'll listen. He pauses for a moment, listening. But I don't hear any sound.
Chorus
Do what I say!
Silenus
No one is helping me with this hunt.
Chorus
Listen just a moment, will you? When we went over there we were assaulted by a noise like no one ever heard before.
This text is part of:
1 The two halves of the chorus have merged again and speak as a group.
Sophocles. Tracking Satyrs (Ichneutae). Anne Mahoney.
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