Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE PEACE: TO HEAVEN ON A BEETLE, by ARISTOPHANES Poet's Biography First Line: Easy, ned, easy, go soft, an it please 'ee Last Line: From the motions of nature refrain. | ||||||||
TRYGAEUS. SERVANT TRY. (to the beetle) Easy, Ned, easy, go soft, an it please 'ee, Be patient, don't hustle in pride of your muscle And zoom from the mark like a giddy young spark; No, no, you must let yourself work to a sweat, And, as you begin, you will supple the sinew With a regular swing from the joints of the wing. This too I must teach you: -- Not a breath . . . I beseech you! If you're taken that way, it's at home you will stay, For your wind is as foul as your diet. SER. My poor lord and master! what crazy disaster . . . TRY. Be quiet, I tell you, be quiet! SER. O where and O where do you thresh through the air? TRY. I fly for the sake of all Hellas, and take To the perilous skies on a new enterprise. SER. Must you fly? O it's vanity, hopeless insanity . . . TRY. Not a sound should be heard of an ill-omened word, -- Let nothing slip out but a jubilant shout! Bid the whole human race be hushed and replace Good brickwork again at midden and drain; Stop up any crack, and every man jack From the motions of nature refrain. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THESMOPHORIAZUSAE: WOMEN'S CHORUS by ARISTOPHANES BACCHUS AND THE FROGS by ARISTOPHANES CHORUS OF CLOUD-MAIDENS: STROPHE, FR. THE CLOUDS by ARISTOPHANES CHORUS OF THE CLOUD-MAIDEN: ANTISTROPHE, FR. THE CLOUDS by ARISTOPHANES LYSISTRATA: HOW THE WOMEN WILL STOP WAR by ARISTOPHANES LYSISTRATA: HYMN OF PEACE; CHORUSES OF ATHENIANS AND SPARTANS by ARISTOPHANES PARLIAMENT OF WOMEN: PRAXAGORA REHEARSES by ARISTOPHANES THE ACHARNIANS: A PLEA FOR THE ENEMY by ARISTOPHANES THE ACHARNIANS: IN PRAISE OF THE POET by ARISTOPHANES |
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