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第 1 节
作者:男孩不逛街      更新:2021-02-24 22:33      字数:9322
  390 BC
  THE ECCLESIAZUSAE
  by Aristophanes
  anonymous translator
  CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
  PRAXAGORA
  BLEPYRUS; husband of Praxagora
  WOMEN
  A MAN
  CHREMES
  A CITIZEN
  HERALD
  A GIRL
  A YOUNG MAN
  THREE OLD WOMEN
  A SERVANT MAID to PRAXAGORA
  CHORUS OF WOMEN
  ECCLESIAZUSAE
  (SCENE:…The Orchestra represents a public square in Athens; in the
  background are two houses with an alley between them。)
  PRAXAGORA
  (swinging the lantern; which is to be a signal for the other
  women; in high tragic style)
  Oh! Thou shining light of my earthenware lamp; from this high spot
  shalt thou look abroad。 Oh! lamp; I will tell thee thine origin and
  thy future; 'tis the rapid whirl of the potter's wheel that has lent
  thee thy shape; and thy wick counterfeits the glory of the sun;
  mayst thou send the agreed signal flashing afar! In thee alone do we
  confide; and thou art worthy; for thou art near us when we practise
  the various postures in which Aphrodite delights upon our couches; and
  none dreams even in the midst of her sports of seeking to avoid
  thine eye that watches us。 Thou alone shinest into the secret recesses
  of our thighs and dost singe the hair that groweth there; and with thy
  flame dost light the actions of our loves。 If we open some cellar
  stored with fruits and wine; thou art our companion; and never dost
  thou betray or reveal to a neighbour the secrets thou hast learned
  about us。 Therefore thou shalt know likewise the whole of the plot
  that I have planned with my friends; the women; at the festival of the
  Scirophoria。
  (She pauses and looks about her。)
  I see none of those I was expecting; though dawn approaches; the
  Assembly is about to gather and we must take our seats in spite of
  Phyromachus; who forsooth would say; 〃It is meet the women sit apart
  and hidden from the eyes of the men。〃 Why; have they not been able
  then to procure the false beards that they must wear; or to steal
  their husbands' cloaks? Ah! I see a light approaching; let us draw
  somewhat aside; for fear it should be a man。
  (She hides in the alley。 From the right a woman enters; followed
  almost immediately by others。 All are carrying staffs; men's
  sandals; and cloaks over their arms。)
  FIRST WOMAN
  Let us start; it is high time; as we left our dwellings; the
  cock was crowing for the second time。
  PRAXAGORA (to herself)
  And I have spent the whole night waiting for you。 (She emerges
  from the alley。) But come; let us call our neighbour by scratching
  at her door; and gently too; so that her husband may hear nothing。
  SECOND WOMAN
  (coming out of her house; she is dressed like a man; with a staff
  in her hand)
  I was putting on my shoes; when I heard you scratching; for I
  was not asleep; so there! Oh! my dear; my husband (he is a Salaminian)
  never left me an instant's peace; but was at me; for ever at me; all
  night long; so that it was only just now that I was able to filch
  his cloak。
  PRAXAGORA
  I see Clinarete coming too; along with Sostrate and their
  next…door neighbour Philaenete。 (To the women that are just
  arriving; in a loud voice) Hurry yourselves then; for Glyce has
  sworn that the last comer shall forfeit three measures of wine and a
  choenix of pease。
  SECOND WOMAN
  Don't you see Melistice; the wife of Smicythion; hurrying hither
  in her big shoes? I think she is the only one of us all who has had no
  trouble in getting rid of her husband。
  FIRST WOMAN
  And can't you see Geusistrate; the tavern…keeper's wife; with a
  lamp in her hand?
  PRAXAGORA
  And the wives of Philodoretus and Chaeretades; and a great many
  others; all the useful people in the city; in fact。
  THIRD WOMAN
  Oh! my dear; I have had such trouble in getting away! My husband
  ate such a surfeit of sprats last evening that he was coughing and
  choking the whole night long。
  PRAXAGORA
  Take your seats; and; since you are all gathered here at last; let
  us see if what we decided on at the feast of the Scirophoria has
  been duly done。
  FIRST WOMAN
  Yes。 Firstly; as agreed; I have let the hair under my armpits grow
  thicker than a bush; furthermore; whilst my husband was at the
  Assembly; I rubbed myself from head to foot with oil and then stood
  the whole day long in the sun。
  SECOND WOMAN
  So did I。 I began by throwing away my razor; so that I might get
  quite hairy; and no longer resemble a woman。
  PRAXAGORA
  Have you the beards that we had all to get ourselves for the
  Assembly?
  FIRST WOMAN
  Yea; by Hecate! Is this not a fine one?
  SECOND WOMAN
  Aye; much finer even than the one Epicrates has。
  PRAXAGORA (to the other women)
  And you?
  FIRST WOMAN
  Yes; yes; look; they all nod assent。
  PRAXAGORA
  I see that you have got all the rest too; Spartan shoes; staffs
  and men's cloaks; as it was arranged。
  FIRST WOMAN
  I have brought Lamias' club; which I stole from him while he
  slept。
  PRAXAGORA
  What; the club that makes him fart with its weight?
  SECOND WOMAN
  By Zeus the Deliverer; if he had the skin of Argus; he would
  know better than any other how to shepherd the popular herd。
  PRAXAGORA
  But come; let us finish what has yet to be done; while the stars
  are still shining; the Assembly; at which we mean to be present;
  will open at dawn。
  FIRST WOMAN
  Good; you must take up your place at the foot of the platform
  and facing the Prytanes。
  SECOND WOMAN
  I have brought this with me to card during the Assembly。
  (She shows some wool。)
  PRAXAGORA
  During the Assembly; wretched woman?
  SECOND WOMAN
  Surely; by Artemis! shall I hear any less well if I am doing a bit
  of carding? My little ones are all but naked。
  PRAXAGORA
  Think of her wanting to card! whereas we must not let anyone see
  the smallest part of our bodies。 'Twould be a fine thing if one of us;
  in the midst of the discussion; rushed on to the speaker's platform
  and; flinging her cloak aside; showed her Phormisius。 If; on the other
  hand; we are the first to take our seats closely muffled in our
  cloaks; none will know us。 Let us fix these beards on our chins; so
  that they spread all over our bosoms。 How can we fail then to be
  mistaken for men? Agyrrhius has deceived everyone; thanks to the beard
  of Pronomus; yet he was no better than a woman; and you see how he now
  holds the first position in the city。 Thus; I adjure you by this day
  that is about to dawn; let us dare to copy him and let us be clever
  enough to possess ourselves of the management of affairs。 Let us
  save the ship of state; which just at present none seems able either
  to sail or row。
  FIRST WOMAN (in a tragic style)
  But where shall we find orators in an Assembly of women?
  PRAXAGORA
  Nothing simpler。 Is it not said that the cleverest speakers are
  those who get made love to most often? Well; thanks to the gods; we
  are that by nature。
  FIRST WOMAN
  There's no doubt of that; but the worst of it is our inexperience。
  PRAXAGORA
  That's the very reason we are gathered here; in order to prepare
  the speech we must make in the Assembly。 Hasten; therefore; all you
  who know aught of speaking; to fix on your beards。
  SECOND WOMAN
  Oh you stupid thing! is there ever a one among us cannot use her
  tongue?
  PRAXAGORA
  Come; look sharp; on with your beard and become a man。 As for
  me; I will do the same in case I should have a fancy for getting on to
  the platform。 Here are the chaplets。
  (They all put on their beards。)
  SECOND WOMAN
  Oh! great gods! my dear Praxagora; do look here! Is it not
  laughable?
  PRAXAGORA
  How laughable?
  SECOND WOMAN
  Our beards look like broiled cuttle…fishes。
  PRAXAGORA (pretending to be the herald)
  Priest; bring in the cat。 Step forward; please Silence;
  Ariphrades! Come and take your seat。 Now; who wishes to speak?
  SECOND WOMAN
  I do。
  PRAXAGORA
  Then put on this chaplet and success be with you。
  SECOND WOMAN
  There!
  PRAXAGORA
  Well then I begin。
  SECOND WOMAN
  Before drinking?
  PRAXAGORA
  Hah! she wants to drink!
  SECOND WOMAN
  Why; what else is the meaning of this chaplet?
  PRAXAGORA
  Get you hence! you would probably have played us this trick also
  before the people。
  SECOND WOMAN
  Well! don't the men drink then in the Assembly?
  PRAXAGORA
  Now she's telling us the men drink!
  SECOND WOMAN
  Yes; by Artemis; and neat wine too。 That's why their decrees
  breathe of drunkenn