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CHARON
You can。 Just dip your oar in once；
You'll hear the loveliest timing songs。
DIONYSUS
What from？
CHARON
Frog…swans； most wonderful。
DIONYSUS
Then give the word。
CHARON
Heave ahoy！ heave ahoy I
FROGS （off stage）
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax；
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax！
We children of the fountain and the lake
Let us wake
Our full choir…shout； as the flutes are ringing out；
Our symphony of clear…voiced song。
The song we used to love in the Marshland up above；
In praise of Dionysus to produce；
Of Nysaean Dionysus； son of Zeus；
When the revel…tipsy throng； all crapulous and gay；
To our precinct reeled along on the holy Pitcher day；
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
DIONYSUS
O； dear！ O； dear！ now I declare
I've got a bump upon my rump；
FROGS
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
DIONYSUS
But you； perchance； don't care。
FROGS
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
DIONYSUS
Hang you； and your ko…axing tool
There's nothing but ko…ax with you。
FROGS
That is right； Mr。 Busybody； right！
For the Muses of the lyre love us well；
And hornfoot Pan who plays
on the pipe his jocund lays；
And Apollo； Harper bright；
in our Chorus takes delight；
For the strong reed's sake
which I grow within my lake
To be girdled in his lyre's deep shell。
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
DIONYSUS
My hands are blistered very sore；
My stern below is sweltering so；
'Twill soon； I know； upturn and roar
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
O tuneful race； O pray give o'er；
O sing no more。
FROGS
Ah； no！ ah； no！
Loud and louder our chant must flow。
Sing if ever ye sang of yore；
When in sunny and glorious days
Through the rushes and marsh…flags springing
On we swept； in the joy of singing
Myriad…diving roundelays。
Or when fleeing the storm； we went
Down to the depths； and our choral song
Wildly raised to a loud and long
Bubble…bursting accompaniment。
FROGS and DIONYSUS
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
DIONYSUS
This timing song I take from you。
FROGS
That's a dreadful thing to do。
DIONYSUS
Much more dreadful； if I row
Till I burst myself； I trow。
FROGS and DIONYSUS
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
DIONYSUS
Go； hang yourselves； for what care I？
FROGS
All the same we'll shout and cry；
Stretching all our throats with song；
Shouting； crying； all day long；
FROGS and DIONYSUS
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
DIONYSUS
In this you'll never； never win。
FROGS
This you shall not beat us in。
DIONYSUS
No； nor ye prevail o'er me。
Never！ never！ I'll my song；
Shout； if need be； all day Yong；
Until I've learned to master your ko…ax。
Brekekekex； ko…ax； ko…ax。
I thought I'd put a stop to your ko…ax。
CHARON
Stop！ Easy！ Take the oar and push her to。
Now pay your fare and go。
DIONYSUS
Here' tis： two obols。
Xanthias！ where's Xanthias？ Is it Xanthias there？
XANTHIAS （off stage）
Hoi； hoi！
DIONYSUS
Come hither。
XANTHIAS （Entering）
Glad to meet you； master。
DIONYSUS
What have you there？
XANTHIAS
Nothing but filth and darkness。
DIONYSUS
But tell me； did you see the parricides
And perjured folk he mentioned？
XANTHIAS
Didn't you？
DIONYSUS
Poseidon； yes。 Why look！ （pointing to the audience）
I see them now。
What's the next step？
XANTHIAS
We'd best be moving on。
This is the spot where Heracles declared
Those savage monsters dwell。
DIONYSUS
O hang the fellow。
That's all his bluff： he thought to scare me off；
The jealous dog； knowing my plucky ways。
There's no such swaggerer lives as Heracles。
Why； I'd like nothing better than to achieve
Some bold adventure； worthy of our trip。
XANTHIAS
I know you would。 Hallo！ I hear a noise。
DIONYSUS
Where？ what？
XANTHIAS
Behind us； there。
DIONYSUS
Get you behind。
XANTHIAS
No； it's in front。
DIONYSUS
Get you in front directly。
XANTHIAS
And now I see the most ferocious monster。
DIONYSUS
O； what's it like？
XANTHIAS
Like everything by turns。
Now it's a bull： now it's a mule： and now
The loveliest girl。
DIONYSUS
O； where？ I'll go and meet her。
XANTHIAS
It's ceased to be a girl： it's a dog now。
DIONYSUS
It is Empusa！
XANTHIAS
Well； its face is all
Ablaze with fire。
DIONYSUS
Has it a copper leg？
XANTHIAS
A copper leg？ yes； one； and one of cow dung。
DIONYSUS
O； whither shall I flee？
XANTHIAS
O； whither I？
DIONYSUS
My priest； protect me； and we'll sup together。
XANTHIAS
King Heracles； we're done for。
DIONYSUS
O； forbear； Good fellow； call me anything but that。
XANTHIAS
Well then； Dionysus。
DIONYSUS
O； that's worse again；
XANTHIAS （to the SPECTRE）
Aye； go thy way。 O master；
here； come here。
DIONYSUS
O； what's up now？
XANTHIAS
Take courage； all's serene。
And； like Hegelochus； we now may say
〃Out of the storm there comes a new wether。〃
Empusa's gone。
DIONYSUS
Swear it。
XANTHIAS
By Zeus she is。
DIONYSUS
Swear it again。
XANTHIAS
By Zeus。
DIONYSUS
Again。
XANTHIAS
By Zeus。
O dear； O dear； how pale I grew to see her；
But he； from fright has yellowed me all over。
DIONYSUS
Ah me； whence fall these evils on my head？ on
Who is the god to blame for my destruction？
Air； Zeus's chamber； or the Foot of Time？
（A flute is played behind the scenes。）
XANTHIAS
What's the matter？
DIONYSUS
The breath of flutes。
XANTHIAS
Aye； and a whiff of torches
Breathed o'er me too； a very mystic whiff。
DIONYSUS
Then crouch we down； and mark what's going on。
CHORUS （in the distance）
O lacchus！ O lacchus！ O Iacchus！
XANTHIAS
I have it； master： 'tis those blessed Mystics；
Of whom he told us； sporting hereabouts。
They sing the Iacchus which Diagoras made。
DIONYSUS
I think so too： we had better both keep quiet
And so find out exactly what it is。
Enter CHORUS； who had chanted the songs of the FROGS； as initiates。
CHORUS
O Iacchus！ power excelling；
here in stately temples dwelling。
O Iacchus！ O lacchus！
Come to tread this verdant level；
Come to dance in mystic revel；
Come whilst round thy forehead hurtles
Many a wreath of fruitful myrtles；
Come with wild and saucy paces
Mingling in