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Must the laws not be obeyed then？
CITIZEN
What laws； you poor fellow？
CHREMES
Those that have been decreed。
CITIZEN
Decreed！ Are you mad； I ask you？
CHREMES
Am I mad？
CITIZEN
Oh！ this is the height of folly！
CHREMES
Because I obey the law？
CITIZEN
Is that the duty of a smart man？
CHREMES
Absolutely。
CITIZEN
Say rather of a ninny。
CHREMES
Don't you propose taking what belongs to you to the common stock？
CITIZEN
I'll take good care I don't until I see what the majority are
doing。
CHREMES
There's but one opinion； namely； to contribute every single thing one
has。
CITIZEN
I am waiting to see it； before I believe that。
CHREMES
At least； so they say in every street。
CITIZEN （sardonically）
And they will go on saying so。
CHREMES
Everyone talks of contributing all he has。
CITIZEN （in the same tone）
And will go on talking of it。
CHREMES
You weary me with your doubts and dubitations。
CITIZEN （in the same tone）
Everybody else will doubt it。
CHREMES
The pest seize you！
CITIZEN （in the same tone）
It will take you。 （Then seriously） What？ give up your goods！ Is
there a man of sense who will do such a thing？ Giving is not one of
our customs。 Receiving is another matter； it's the way of the gods
themselves。 Look at the position of their hands on their statues； when
we ask a favour； they present their hands turned palm up so as not
to give； but to receive。
CHREMES
Wretch； let me do what is right。 Come； I'll make a bundle of all
these things。 Where is my strap？
CITIZEN
Are you really going to carry them in？
CHREMES
Undoubtedly； and there are my two tripods strung together already。
CITIZEN
What folly！ Not to wait to see what the others do； and then。。。
CHREMES
Well； and then what？
CITIZEN
。。。wait and put it off again。
CHREMES
What for？
CITIZEN
That an earthquake may come or an ill…omened flash of lightning；
that a black cat may run across the street and no one carry in
anything more； you fool！
CHREMES
It would be a fine thing if I were to find no room left for
placing all this。
CITIZEN
You are much more likely to lose your stuff。 As for placing it；
you can be at ease； for there will be room enough as long as a month
hence。
CHREMES
Why？
CITIZEN
I know these people； a decree is readily passed； but it is not
so easily attended to。
CHREMES
All will contribute their property； my friend。
CITIZEN
But what if they don't？
CHREMES
But there is no doubt that they will。
CITIZEN （insistently）
But anyhow； what if they don't？
CHREMES
Do not worry； they will。
CITIZEN
And what if they oppose it？
CHREMES
We shall compel them to do so。
CITIZEN
And what if they prove the stronger？
CHREMES
I shall leave my goods and go off。
CITIZEN
And what if they sell them for you？
CHREMES
The plague take you！
CITIZEN
And if it does？
CHREMES
It will be a good riddance。
CITIZEN （in an incredulous tone）
You are really bent on contributing； then？
CHREMES
'Pon my soul； yes！ Look； there are all my neighbours carrying in
all they have。
CITIZEN （sarcastically）
Oh yes； it's Antisthenes； he's the type that would contribute！
He would just as soon spend the next month sitting on the can。
CHREMES
The pest seize you！
CITIZEN
Will Callimachus； the chorus…master； contribute anything？
CHREMES
Why； more than Callias！
CITIZEN
The man must want to spend all his money！
CHREMES
How you weary me！
CITIZEN
Ah！ I weary you？ But； wretch； see what comes of decrees of this
kind。 Don't you remember the one reducing the price of salt？
CHREMES
Why； certainly I do。
CITIZEN
And do you remember that about the copper coinage？
CHREMES
Ah！ that cursed money did me enough harm。 I had sold my grapes and
had my mouth stuffed with pieces of copper； indeed I was going to
the market to buy flour； and was in the act of holding out my bag wide
open； when the herald started shouting； 〃Let none in future accept
pieces of copper； those of silver are alone current。〃
CITIZEN
And quite lately； were we not all swearing that the impost of
one…fortieth； which Euripides had conceived； would bring five
hundred talents to the state； and everyone was vaunting Euripides to
the skies？ But when the thing was looked at closely； it was seen
that this fine decree was mere moonshine and would produce nothing；
and you would have willingly burnt this very same Euripides alive。
CHREMES
The cases are quite different； my good fellow。 We were the
rulers then； but now it's the women。
CITIZEN
Whom； by Posidon； I will never allow to piss on my nose。
CHREMES
I don't know what the devil you're chattering about。 Slave； pick
up that bundle。
HERALD （a woman）
Let all citizens come； let them hasten at our leader's bidding！ It
is the new law。 The lot will teach each citizen where he is to dine；
the tables are already laid and loaded with the most exquisite dishes；
the couches are covered with the softest of cushions； the wine and
water are already being mixed in the ewers； the slaves are standing in
a row and waiting to pour scent over the guests； the fish is being
grilled； the hares are on the spit and the cakes are being kneaded；
chaplets are being plaited and the fritters are frying； the youngest
women are watching the pea…soup in the saucepans； and in the midst
of them all stands Smoeus； dressed as a knight； washing the
crockery。 And Geron has come； dressed in a grand tunic and finely
shod； he is joking with another young fellow and has already
divested himself of his heavy shoes and his cloak。 The pantry man is
waiting； so come and use your jaws。
（Exit）
CITIZEN
All right； I'll go。 Why should I delay； since the state commands
me？
CHREMES
And where are you going to； since you have not deposited your
belongings？
CITIZEN
To the feast。
CHREMES
If the women have any wits； they will first insist on your
depositing your goods。
CITIZEN
But I am going to deposit them。
CHREMES
When？
CITIZEN
I am not the man to make delays。
CHREMES
How do you mean？
CITIZEN
There will be many less eager than I。
CHREMES
In the meantime you are going to dine。
CITIZEN
What else should I do？ Every sensible man must give his help to
the state。
CHREMES
But if admission is forbidden you？
CITIZEN
I shall duck my head and slip in。
CHREMES
And if the women have you beaten？
CITIZEN
I shall summon them。
CHREMES
And if they laugh in your face？
CITIZEN
I shall stand near the door。。。
CHREMES
And then？
CITIZEN
。。。and seize upon the dishes as they pass。
CHREMES
Then go there； but after me。 Sicon and Parmeno； pick up all this
baggage。
CITIZEN
Come； I will help you carry it。
CHREMES （pushing him away）
No； no； I should be afraid of your pretending to the leader that
what I am depositing belonged to you。
（Exit with his belongings。）
CITIZEN
Let me see！ let me think of some good trick by which I can keep my
goods and yet take my share of the common feast。 （He reflects for a
moment。） Ha！ that's a fine idea！ Quick！ I'll go and dine； ha！ ha！
（Exit laughing。）
（Interlude of dancing by the CHORUS。）
（The scene shifts to a different section of Athens and the two