Aristophanes, Acharnians — Greek text with English translation

Dicaeopolis1 (alone) What cares have not gnawed at my heart and how few have been the pleasures in my life! Four, to be exact, while my troubles have been as countless as the grains of sand on the shore! Let me see of what value to me have been these few pleasures? Ah! I remember that I was delighted in soul when Cleon had to disgorge those five talents;2 I was in ecstasy and I love the Knights for this deed; 'it is an honour to Greece.'3 But the day when I was impatiently awaiting a piece by Aeschylus,4 what tragic despair it caused me when the herald called, "Theognis,5 introduce your Chorus!" Just imagine how this blow struck straight at my heart! On the other hand, what joy Dexitheus caused me at the musical competition, when he played a Boeotian melody on the lyre! But this year by contrast! Oh! what deadly torture to hear Chaeris6 perform the prelude in the Orthian mode!7--Never, however, since I began to bathe, has the dust hurt my eyes as it does to-day. Still it is the day of assembly; all should be here at daybreak, and yet the Pnyx8 is still deserted. They are gossiping in the market-place, slipping hither and thither to avoid the vermilioned rope.9 The Prytanes10 even do not come; they will be late, but when they come they will push and fight each other for a seat in the front row. They will never trouble themselves with the question of peace. Oh! Athens! Athens! As for myself, I do not fail to come here before all the rest, and now, finding myself alone, I groan, yawn, stretch, break wind, and know not what to do; I make sketches in the dust, pull out my loose hairs, muse, think of my fields, long for peace, curse town life and regret my dear country home,11 which never told me to 'buy fuel, vinegar or oil'; there the word 'buy,' which cuts me in two, was unknown; I harvested everything at will. Therefore I have come to the assembly fully prepared to bawl, interrupt and abuse the speakers, if they talk of aught but peace. But here come the Prytanes, and high time too, for it is midday!

As I foretold, hah! is it not so? They are pushing and fighting for the front seats.

HeraldMove on up, move on, move on, to get within the consecrated area.12

AmphitheusOh, Triptolemus and Ceres, do ye thus forsake your own blood?

DicaeopolisPrytanes, in expelling this citizen, you are offering an outrage to the Assembly. He only desired to secure peace for us and to sheathe the sword.