TranslationThe next day as soon as the sun rises [in Greek: when the sun first rises], the wife calls her husband and "get up (lift yourself), o husband" she says; "for the sun is rising, and your slave is already leading the oxen to the field and I and our daughter have in mind to walk to the spring. Get up; for
it is time to walk to the field." But Dikaiopolis is very tired and does not want
to get up; and so he says: "Don't be hard, o woman; for I'm very tired
and want to sleep." And his wife, "But it is not possible," she says, "
to go on sleeping; for it is time to work. Get up, you
lazybones."
And so Dikaiopolis reluctantly gets up and walks to the field, while Myrtle and Bee wander towards the spring (Bee is their daughter, a very beautiful girl). And so mother and daughter walk slowly: for they carry the water jars; and the water jars are big so that it is not possible to hurry. When they approach the spring, look! - other women are already present and are filling their jars. So Myrtle calls the women and "greetings! o friends, - she says - are you already filling your jars?" [She must be a bit blind, old Myrtle, and not very bright, because what else would they be doing at the spring?]. And they say: "Greetings to you too; yes, we're already filling our jars; for we're here early [their husbands must have been easier to persuade to get going]. But come here quickly and listen: for a messenger has come from the town; and he says that the Athenians are organizing a festival. And so we intend to go to the town; for we want to watch the dances and the contests. Do you too want to see the festival?" |