aeschylus - Conscious Evolution TV

THE THESMOPHORIAZUSAE
I was going to say he is going to lay covered, surrounded by the most effeminate
The stocks and the scaffolds for building a play. luxuries, and in the act of writing a tragic play.
And neatly he hews them, and sweetly he glues He has just composed, and is now about to
them, recite, a little lyrical dialogue between his
And a proverb he takes, and an epithet makes, Chorus and one of his actors.
And he moulds a most waxen and delicate song, Eu. 0, hush!
And he tunnels, and funnels, and - Mn. What now?
Mn. Does what is wrong. Eu. Here's Agathon himself.
Se. What clown have we here, so close to our Mn. Where? Which?
eaves? Eu. Why there: the man in the machine.
Mn. Why, one who will take you and him, by your Mn. ° dear, what ails me? Am I growing blind?
leaves, I see Cyrene; but I see no man.
Both you and your terse professor of verse, Eu. Do, pray, be silent; he's just going to sing.
And with blows and with knocks set you both on AGATHON now gives a fantastic little trill.
the stocks, Mn. Is it 'the Pathway of the Ants," or what?
And tunnel and funnel, and pummel, and worse. AGATHON now sings his little dialogue in a soft
Se. Old man, you must have been a rare pert womanly voice and with pretty, effeminate gesyoungster.
tures.
Eu. 0, heed not him; but quickly call me out Agathon. (As actor) Move ye slowly, with the holy
Your master Agathon; do pray make haste. Torchlight dear to Awful Shades,
Se. No need of prayer: he's coming forth Singing sweetly, dancing featly,
directly. Yes, and neatly, freeborn maids.
He's moulding odes; and in the cold hard winter (As Chorus) Whose the song of festal praise?
He cannot turn, and twist, and shape his strophes Only tell us, we are zealous
Until they are warmed and softened in the sun. Evermore our hymns to raise.
The SERVANT goes back into the house. (As actor) Sing of Leto, sing of Thee too,
Mn. And what am I to do? Archer of the golden bow,
Eu. You're to keep quiet. Bright Apollo, in the hollow
o Zeus! the Hour is come, and so's theMan! Glades where Ilian rivers flow,
Mn. 0, what's the matter? what disturbs you so? Building buildings, long ago.
0, tell me what: I really want to know. (As Chorus) Raise the music, softly swelling
Corne, I'm your cousin; won't you tell your cousin? To the fame of Leto's name,
Eu. There's a great danger brewing for my life. To the God in song excelling,
Mn. 0, tell your cousin what. Brightest he, of all there be,
Eu. This hour decides Giving gifts of minstrelsy.
Whether Euripides shall live or die. (As actor) Sing the maiden, quiver-laden,
Mn.·Why, how is that? There's no tribunal sitting, From the woodland oaks emerging,
No Court, no Council, will be held to-day. Haunted shades of mountain glades,
'Tis the Mid-Fast, the third Home-Festival. Artemis, the ever Virgin.
Eu. It is! it is! I wish enough it wasn't. (As Chorus) We rejoice, heart and voice,
For on this day the womankind have sworn Hymning, praising, gently phrasing,
To hold a great assembly, to discuss c Her, the maiden quiver-laden.
How best to serve me out. (As actor) Soft pulsation of the Asian
Mn. Good gracious! Why? Lyre, to which the dancers go,
Eu. (with the mild surprise of injured innocence) When the high and holy Graces
Because, they say, I write lampoons upon them. Weave their swiftly whirling paces,
Mn. Zeus and Poseidon! they may well say that. Phrygian measure, to and fro.
But tell your cousin what you mean to do. (As Chorus) Lyre Elysian, heavenly vision,
Eu. I want to get the poet Agathon When thy witching tones arise,
To go among them. Comes the light of joy and gladness
Mn. Tell your cousin why. Flashing from immortal eyes.
Eu. To mingle in the Assembly, perhaps to speak Eyes will glisten, ears will listen,
On my behalf. When our manful numbers ring.
Mn. What, openly, do you mean? Mighty master, Son ofLeto,
Eu. 0 no, disguised: dressed up in women's Thine the glory, Thou the King.
clothes. MNESILOCHUS utters a cry of delight.
Mn. A bright idea that, and worthy you: Mn. Wonderful! Wonderful!
For in all craftiness we take the cake. How sweet, how soft, how ravishing the strain!
By a contrivance very common in ancient theatres, What melting words! and as I heard them sung,
a portion of AGATHON'S house is here wheeled Ye amorous Powers, there crept upon my soul
forward, turning on a pivot, so as to disclose A pleasant, dreamy, rapturous titillation.
the interior of an apartment. The poet is dis- And now, dear youth, for I would question thee
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