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

Hierocles
To the Servant.
[1105] Pour out also for me and give me some of this meat.

Trygaeus
No, the blessed gods won't allow it yet; let us drink; and as for you, get you gone, for that's their will. Mighty Peace! stay ever in our midst.

Hierocles
Bring the tongue hither.

Trygaeus
Relieve us of your own.

Hierocles
[1110] The libation.

Trygaeus
Here! and this into the bargain.

He strikes him.

Hierocles
You will not give me any meat?

Trygaeus
We cannot give you any until the wolf unites with the sheep.

Hierocles
I will embrace your knees.

Trygaeus
'Tis lost labour, good fellow; you will never smooth the rough spikes of the hedgehog. [1115] Come, spectators, join us in our feast.

Hierocles
And what am I to do?

Trygaeus
You? go and eat the Sibyl.

Hierocles
No, by the Earth! no, you shall not eat without me; if you do not give, I shall take; it's common property.

Trygaeus
To the Servant.
Strike, strike this Bacis, this humbugging soothsayer.

Hierocles
I take to witness—

Trygaeus
[1120] And I also, that you are a glutton and an impostor. To the Servant. Hold him tight and I'll beat the impostor with a stick.

Servant
You look to that; I will snatch the skin from him which he has stolen from us. Let go that skin, you priest from hell! [1125] do you hear! Oh! what a fine crow has come from Oreus! Won't you stretch your wings quickly for Elymnium?Hierocles flees. Trygaeus and the Servant go into the house.