Peace (cont'd)

CHORUS
You, who remain here, get chopped wood and everything needed for the sacrifice ready.

TRYGAEUS
Don't I look like a diviner preparing his mystic fire?

CHORUS
Undoubtedly. Will anything that it behooves a wise man to know escape you? Don't you know all that a man should know, who is distinguished for his wisdom and inventive daring?

TRYGAEUS
There! the wood catches. Its smoke blinds poor Stilbides.[1] I am now going to bring the table and thus be my own slave.

[1] A celebrated diviner, who had accompanied the Athenians on their expedition to Sicily. Thus the War was necessary to make his calling pay and the smoke of the sacrifice offered to Peace must therefore be unpleasant to him.

CHORUS
You have braved a thousand dangers to save your sacred town. All honour to you! your glory will be ever envied.

SERVANT
Hold! Here are the legs, place them upon the altar. For myself, I mean to go back to the entrails and the cakes.

TRYGAEUS
I'll see to those; I want you here.

SERVANT
Well then, here I am. Do you think I have been long?

TRYGAEUS
Just get this roasted. Ah! who is this man, crowned with laurel, who is coming to me?

SERVANT
He has a self-important look; is he some diviner?

TRYGAEUS
No, I' faith! 'tis Hierocles.

SERVANT
Ah! that oracle-monger from Oreus.[1] What is he going to tell us?

[1] A town in Euboea on the channel which separated that island from Thessaly.

TRYGAEUS
Evidently he is coming to oppose the peace.

SERVANT
No, 'tis the odour of the fat that attracts him.

TRYGAEUS
Let us appear not to see him.

SERVANT
Very well.

HIEROCLES
What sacrifice is this? to what god are you offering it?

TRYGAEUS (TO THE SERVANT)
Silence!--(ALOUD.) Look after the roasting and keep your hands off the meat.

HIEROCLES
To whom are you sacrificing? Answer me. Ah! the tail[1] is showing favourable omens.

[1] When sacrificing, the tail was cut off the victim and thrown into the fire. From the way in which it burnt the inference was drawn as to whether or not the sacrifice was agreeable to the deity.

SERVANT
Aye, very favourable, oh, loved and mighty Peace!

HIEROCLES
Come, cut off the first offering[1] and make the oblation.

[1] This was the part that belonged to the priests and diviners. As one of the latter class, Hierocles is in haste to see this piece cut off.

TRYGAEUS
'Tis not roasted enough.

HIEROCLES
Yea, truly, 'tis done to a turn.

TRYGAEUS
Mind your own business, friend! (TO THE SERVANT.) Cut away. Where is the table? Bring the libations.

HIEROCLES
The tongue is cut separately.

TRYGAEUS
We know all that. But just listen to one piece of advice.