Bdel. But, wretched man, here comes another tragedian of the family of Carcinus, his brother.
Phil. Then, by Jove, I have bought fish.[1]
Bdel. Nay, by Jove, nothing else but crabs; for here approaches another again of the sons of Carcinus. [Enter a third boy dressed like a crab.]
Phil. What is this which approaches? a shrimp, or a spider?
Bdel. This is the pinna-guard[2] of the race, the youngest that makes tragedy.
Phil. O Carcinus! happy in your possession of fine children. What a multitude of wrens has fallen down! But I must go down[3] against them, wretch! Mix brine-pickle for these, if I conquer.
Cho. Come now, let us all make a little room for them, that in quiet before us they may whirl themselves about. [Philocleon and the sons of Carcinus dance.] Come, O celebrated offspring of your marine sire, skip along the sand and the shore of the barren sea, ye brothers of shrimps. Whirl round the foot swiftly, and let every one fling up his heels in the manner of Phrynichus, so that the spectators, having seen your legs aloft,[4] may cry out "O!" Whirl round, advance in a circle, and punch yourself in the belly, fling your leg sky-high, let gyrations be made; for the king himself who rules the sea, your father, approaches, delighted with his own children, the noble trio.[5] [Carcinus enters and joins the dance.]
But quickly lead us out of doors, if at all you like to dance; for no one has ever done this before—dismissed a chorus of comedians dancing.[6] [Exeunt omnes.]
- ↑ There is a play upon his father's name, Carcinus, i. e. crab. Cf. vs. 1515. See notes on Nub. 1259. Thesm. 169, 440. The father's name was really Carcīnus, hut the comic writers converted it into Carcĭnus, in order to make a crab of him. He is mentioned by Athenæus (viii. p. 351, F. V. p. 189, D. xiii. p. 559, F.) as a tragic writer, quoting his Semele and his Achilles.
- ↑ Xenocles is meant. See note on Nub. 1259.
- ↑ See Krüger, Gr. Gr. § 56, 18, obs. 3.
- ↑ See Bentley's Phalaris, p. 269.
- ↑ There is also a pun on τρεῖς and ὀρχέομαι.
- ↑ "The Chorus enters dancing, but does not make its exit in that manner." Scholiast.
END OF THE WASPS.
