Page:Acharnians and two other plays (1909).djvu/42

24 Dic. my poor soul, endure it and depart,

And take thy sorrowful leave, without a lettuce.

Yet. knowest thou yet the race which must be run,

Pleading the cause of Sparta: and here you stand

Even at the goal; time urges, arm yourself!

Infuse the spirit of Euripides,

His quirks and quibbles, in thine inmost heart!

'Tis well. Now forward, even to the place

Where thou must pledge thy life, and plead the cause

As may befall thee. Forward, forward yet;

A little more. I'm dreadfully out of spirits.

2nd Semichorus.

Speak, or are ye dumb,

Thou rogue in grain,

Iron brain!

Heart of stone!

Villain, are ye come,

Venturing your head alone,

Singly to support a treason of your own.

1st Semichorus.

He's resolved,

Confident,

Firm in his intent,

Ready to the day.

—Well, my man!

Since that's your plan,

Speak away!

[In the following lines there is an intentional imitation of the dry drawling style of Euripides' harangues. Dic. Be not surprised, most excellent spectators,

If I that am a beggar, have presumed

To claim an audience upon public matters,

Even in a comedy; for comedy

Is conversant in all the rules of justice,

And can distinguish betwixt right and wrong.

The words I speak are bold, but just and true.

Cleon, at least, cannot accuse me now,

That I defame the city before strangers.