f(1) Theagenes, of the Piraeus, a hideous, coarse, debauched
and evil-living character of the day.
TRYGAEUS What other victim do you prefer then?
SERVANT A sheep.
TRYGAEUS A sheep?
SERVANT Yes.
TRYGAEUS But you must give the word the Ionic form.
SERVANT Purposely. So that if anyone in the assembly says, "We must go
to war," all may start bleating in alarm, "Oi, oi."(1)
f(1) That is the vocative of the Ionic form of the word; in
Attic Greek it is contracted throughout.
TRYGAEUS A brilliant idea.
SERVANT And we shall all be lambs one toward the other, yea, and milder
still toward the allies.
TRYGAEUS Then go for the sheep and haste to bring it back with you; I
will prepare the altar for the sacrifice.
CHORUS How everything succeeds to our wish, when the gods are willing
and Fortune favours us! how opportunely everything falls out.
TRYGAEUS Nothing could be truer, for look! here stands the altar all
ready at my door.
CHORUS Hurry, hurry, for the winds are fickle; make haste, while the
divine will is set on stopping this cruel war and is showering on us the
most striking benefits.
TRYGAEUS Here is the basket of barley-seed mingled with salt, the
chaplet and the sacred knife; and there is the fire; so we are only
waiting for the sheep.
CHORUS Hasten, hasten, for, if Chaeris sees you, he will come without
bidding, he and his flute; and when you see him puffing and panting and
out of breath, you will have to give him something.
TRYGAEUS Come, seize the basket and take the lustral water and hurry to
circle round the altar to the right.
SERVANT There! 'tis done. What is your next bidding?
TRYGAEUS Hold! I take this fire-brand first and plunge it into the
water.
SERVANT Be quick! be quick! Sprinkle the altar.
TRYGAEUS Give me some barley-seed, purify yourself and hand me the
basin; then scatter the rest of the barley among the audience.
SERVANT 'Tis done.
TRYGAEUS You have thrown it?
SERVANT Yes, by Hermes! and all the spectators have had their share.
TRYGAEUS But not the women?