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They begin to lift the stones.
Trygaeus
Quick, reach me your cup, and let us preface our work by addressing prayers to the gods.
Hermes
Libation! Libation! Silence! Silence! [435]
Trygaeus
Let us offer our libations and our prayers, so that this day may begin an era of unalloyed happiness for Greece and that he who has bravely pulled at the rope with us may never resume his buckler. Chorus
Aye, may we pass our lives in peace, [440] caressing our mistresses and poking the fire. Trygaeus
May he who would prefer the war— Chorus
Be ever drawing barbed arrows out of his elbows, O Lord Dionysus. Trygaeus
If there be a citizen, greedy for military rank and honors, who refuses, [445] oh, divine Peace! to restore you to daylight— Chorus
May he behave as cowardly as Cleonymus on the battlefield. Trygaeus
If a lance-maker or a dealer in shields desires war for the sake of better trade— Chorus
May he be taken by pirates and eat nothing but barely. Trygaeus
[450] If some ambitious man does not help us, because he wants to become a General, or if a slave is plotting to pass over to the enemy— Chorus
Let his limbs be broken on the wheel, may he be beaten to death with rods! Trygaius
As for us, may Fortune favour us! Io! Paean, Io! Chorus
Don't say Paean, but simply, Io. Trygaeus
[455] Very well, then! Io! Io! I'll simply say, Io! To Hermes, the Graces, the Horae, Aphrodite, Eros! But, to Ares? Chorus
No! No! Trygaeus
Not to Enyalius? Chorus
No! Trygaeus
Come, all strain at the ropes to tear off the cover. Pull!
Aristophanes. Peace. The Complete Greek Drama, vol. 2. Eugene O'Neill, Jr. New York. Random House. 1938.
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