The Frogs Part 4

Or when fleeing the storm, we went Down to the depths, and our choral song Wildly raised to a loud and long Bubble-bursting accompaniment.

FR. and DIO. Brekekekex, ko-ax, ko-ax.

DIO. This timing song I take from you.

FR. That's a dreadful thing to do.

DIO. Much more dreadful, if I row Till I burst myself, I trow.

FR. and DIO. Brekekekex, ko-ax, ko-ax.

DIO. Go, hang yourselves; for what care I?

FR. All the same we'll shout and cry, Stretching all our throats with song, Shouting, crying, all day long.

FR. and DIO. Brekekekex, ko-ax, ko-ax.

DIO. In this you'll never, never win.

FR. This you shall not beat us in.

DIO. No, nor ye prevail o'er me.

Never! never! I'll my song Shout, if need be, all day long, Until I've learned to master your ko-ax.

Brekekekex, ko-ax, ko-ax.

I thought I'd put a stop to your ko-ax.

CHAR. Stop! Easy! Take the oar and push her to now pay your fare and go.

DIO. Here 'tis: two obols. Xanthias! where's Xanthias?

Is it Xanthias there?

XAN. Hoi, hoi!

DIO. Come hither.

XAN. Glad to meet you, master.

DIO. What have you there?

XAN. Nothing but filth and darkness.

DIO. But tell me, did you see the parricides And perjured folk he mentioned?

XAN. Didn't you?

DIO. Poseidon, yes. Why look! (pointing to the audience) I see them now. What's the next step?

XAN. We'd best be moving on.

This is the spot where Heracles declared Those savage monsters dwell.

DIO. O hang the fellow.

That's all his bluff: he thought to scare me off, The jealous dog, knowing my plucky ways.

There's no such swaggerer lives as Heracles.

Why, I'd like nothing better than to achieve Some bold adventure, worthy of our trip.

XAN. I know you would. Hallo! I hear a noise.

DIO. Where? what?

XAN. Behind us, there.

DIO. Get you behind.

XAN. No, it's in front.

DIO. Get you in front directly.

XAN. And now I see the most ferocious monster.

DIO. O, what's it like?

XAN. Like everything by turns.

Now it's a bull: now it's a mule: and now The loveliest girl.

DIO. O, where? I'll go and meet her.

XAN. It's ceased to be a girl: it's a dog now.

DIO. It is Empusa!

XAN. Well, its face is all Ablaze with fire.

DIO. Has it a copper leg?

XAN. A copper leg, yes, one; and one of cow dung.

DIO. O, whither shall I flee?

XAN. O, whither I?

DIO. My priest, protect me, and we'll sup together.

XAN. King Heracles, we're done for.

DIO. O, forbear, Good fellow, call me anything but that.

XAN. Well then, Dionysus.

DIO. O, that's worse again.

XAN. (To the Spectre.) Aye, go thy way.

O master, here, come here.

DIO. O, what's up now?

XAN. Take courage; all's serene.

And, like Hegelochus, we now may say "Out of the storm there comes a new fine wether."

Empusa's gone.

DIO. Swear it.

XAN. By Zeus she is.