Racine: Phaedra

t40
ARISTOPHANES
NiciAS [recovering himself].—Aye, tell me; what do you
think ?
Demosthenes,— No, you tell me
Lest we should disagree.
NiciAS. That's what I won't
Do you speak boldly first, and I'll speak next.
Demosthenes [significantly, as quoting a well-known verse].
" You first might utter, what I wish to tell." *
NiciAS.—Aye, but I'm so down-hearted, I've not spirit
To bring about the avowal cleverly.
In Euripides's style, by question and answer.
Demosthenes.—Well, then, don't talk of Euripides any more.
Or his mother either ; don't stand picking endive : *
But think of something in another style,
To the tune of " Trip and away."
NiciAS. Yes, I'll contrive it
Say " Let us " first put the first letter to it,
;
And then the last, and then put E, R, T.
" Let us A zert." I say, " Let us Azert."
'Tis now your turn—take the next letter to it.
Put B for A.
Demosthenes.— " Let us Bezert," I say
NiciAS. — 'Tis now my turn— " Let us Cezert," I say.
'Tis now your turn.
Demosthenes.— " Let us Dezert,** I say.
NiciAS.—You've said it !—and I agree to it—now repeat it
Once more
Demosthenes.— Let us Dezert! Let us Dezert!
NiciAS.—That's well.
Demosthenes.— But somehow it seems unlucky, rather
An awkward omen to meet with in a morning
" "
To meet with our deserts !
NiciAS. That's very true;
Therefore, I think, in the present state of things.
The best thing for us both, would be, to go
Directly to the shrine of one of the gods
And pray for mercy, both of us together.
»From the tragedy of "Phaedra:" « His mother was said to have been
she is trying to lead her nurse to men- a herb woman,
tion the name of Hippolytus, while she
avoids it herself.