To Kaunos if you will: for Athens' sake,
Back must you, though ten pirates blocked the bay!
Second Syracusan.—We want no colony from Athens here,
With memories of Salamis, forsooth,
To spirit up our captives, that pale crowd
I' the quarry, whom the daily pint of corn
Keeps in good order and submissiveness.
Captain.—Oh! Save the innocent on traffic bound,
Or, may be, some Athenian family,
Perishing of desire to die at home,
From that vile foe, still lying on its oars,
Waiting the issue in the distance.
Syracusans (shouting).—Vain!
First Syracusan.—Words to the wind! 'Tis vain to supplicate!
Second Syracusan.—We'll have no colony from Athens here.
Balaustion (beseechingly).—You force us face the foe, like some tired bird
Barbarians pelt at, drive with shouts away—
From shelter in what rocks, however rude
She makes for, to escape the kindled eye,
Split beak, crook'd claw o' the creature, cormorant
Or ossifrage, that, hardly baffled hangs
Afloat i' the foam, to take her if she turn.
First Syracusan.—Back!
Second Syracusan.—Back!
First Syracusan.—Though twenty pirates blocked the bay!
Captain.—Alas! We're at destruction's edge!
Syracusans.—Wait! Wait!
(They gather in a group and discuss among themselves, while those on the boat watch anxiously.)
First Syracusan.—That song was veritable Aischulos!
Familiar to the mouth of man and boy.
Old glory! How about Euripides?
The newer and not yet so famous bard?
