Home > Work > The Acharnians
1 " Comedy too can sometimes discern what is right. I shall not please, but I shall say what is true. "
― Aristophanes , The Acharnians
2 " —¿De verdad crees en los dioses? —Yo sí. —¿En qué te basas? —En que me aborrecen. ¿No es un indicio verosímil? "
3 " How can it ever be right to wreckA man because he’s time by the clockAs an elderly man grizzled and gray,Who long ago struggled at your sideMopping the copiousManly sweat from his browWhen he bravely fought at MarathonIn defense of our city. "
4 " This is the first of the series of three Comedies—'The Acharnians,' 'Peace' and 'Lysistrata'—produced at intervals of years, the sixth, tenth and twenty-first of the Peloponnesian War, and impressing on the Athenian people the miseries and disasters due to it and to the scoundrels who by their selfish and reckless policy had provoked it, the consequent ruin of industry and, above all, agriculture, and the urgency of asking Peace. "
5 " Where is Amphitheus? Come and speak with me. AMPHITHEUSHere I am. DICAEOPOLISTake these eight drachmae and go and conclude a truce with theLacedaemonians for me, my wife and my children; I leave you free,my dear citizens, to send out embassies and to stand gaping in the air. "
6 " DICAEOPOLISWhy, what has happened? AMPHITHEUSI was hurrying to bring your treaty of truce, but some old dotardsfrom Acharnae(1) got scent of the thing; they are veterans of Marathon,tough as oak or maple, of which they are made for sure—rough andruthless. They all started a-crying: "Wretch! you are the bearer ofa treaty, and the enemy has only just cut our vines!" Meanwhile theywere gathering stones in their cloaks, so I fled and they ran afterme shouting. f(1) The deme of Acharnae was largely inhabited by charcoal-burners,who supplied the city with fuel. DICAEOPOLISLet 'em shout as much as they please! But HAVE you brought mea treaty? AMPHITHEUSMost certainly, here are three samples to select from,(1) this one isfive years old; take it and taste. f(1) He presents them in the form of wines contained in three separateskins. DICAEOPOLISFaugh! AMPHITHEUSWell? DICAEOPOLISIt does not please me; it smells of pitch and of the ships they arefitting out.(1) f(1) Meaning, preparations for war. AMPHITHEUSHere is another, ten years old; taste it. DICAEOPOLISIt smells strongly of the delegates, who go around the townsto chide the allies for their slowness.(1) f(1) Meaning, securing allies for the continuance of the war. AMPHITHEUSThis last is a truce of thirty years, both on sea and land. DICAEOPOLISOh! by Bacchus! what a bouquet! It has the aroma of nectar andambrosia; this does not say to us, "Provision yourselves for threedays." But it lisps the gentle numbers, "Go whither you will."(1)I accept it, ratify it, drink it at one draught and consign theAcharnians to limbo. Freed from the war and its ills, I shallkeep the Dionysia(2) in the country. f(1) When Athens sent forth an army, the soldiers were usually orderedto assemble at some particular spot with provisions for three days. f(2) These feasts were also called the Anthesteria or Lenaea; the Lenaemwas a temple to Bacchus, erected outside the city. They took placeduring the month Anthesterion (February). "
7 " DICAEOPOLISFriends, leave the Laconians out of debate and consider onlywhether I have not done well to conclude my truce. CHORUSDone well! when you have treated with a people who know neithergods, nor truth, nor faith. DICAEOPOLISWe attribute too much to the Laconians; as for myself, I know thatthey are not the cause of all our troubles. CHORUSOh, indeed, rascal! You dare to use such language to me and thenexpect me to spare you! DICAEOPOLISNo, no, they are not the cause of all our troubles, and I whoaddress you claim to be able to prove that they have much tocomplain of in us. CHORUSThis passes endurance; my heart bounds with fury. Thus you dare todefend our enemies. DICAEOPOLISWere my head on the block I would uphold what I say and rely onthe approval of the people. CHORUSComrades, let us hurl our stones and dye this fellow purple. DICAEOPOLISWhat black fire-brand has inflamed your heart! You will not hearme? You really will not, Acharnians? CHORUSNo, a thousand times, no. DICAEOPOLISThis is a hateful injustice. CHORUSMay I die, if I listen. DICAEOPOLISNay, nay! have mercy, have mercy, Acharnians. CHORUSYou shall die. DICAEOPOLISWell, blood for blood! I will kill your dearest friend. "