Take pity on me, oh,
stranger!
Aristophanes
"Oh!
ye gods!
to what barbarian land has my
swift flight taken me? I am Perseus, who cleaves the plains of the air
with my winged feet, and I am carrying the Gorgon's head to Argos. "
SCYTHIAN. What, are you talking about the head of Gorgos,[644] the
scribe?
EURIPIDES. No, I am speaking of the head of the Gorgon.
SCYTHIAN. Why, yes! of Gorgus!
EURIPIDES. "But what do I behold? A young maiden, beautiful as the
immortals, chained to this rock like a vessel in port? "
MNESILOCHUS.
Take pity on me, oh, stranger! I am so unhappy and
distraught! Free me from these bonds.
SCYTHIAN. Don't you talk! a curse upon your impudence! you are going to
die, and yet you will be chattering!
EURIPIDES. "Oh! virgin! I take pity on your chains. "
SCYTHIAN. But this is no virgin; 'tis an old rogue, a cheat and a thief.
EURIPIDES. You have lost your wits, Scythian. This is Andromeda, the
daughter of Cepheus.
swift flight taken me? I am Perseus, who cleaves the plains of the air
with my winged feet, and I am carrying the Gorgon's head to Argos. "
SCYTHIAN. What, are you talking about the head of Gorgos,[644] the
scribe?
EURIPIDES. No, I am speaking of the head of the Gorgon.
SCYTHIAN. Why, yes! of Gorgus!
EURIPIDES. "But what do I behold? A young maiden, beautiful as the
immortals, chained to this rock like a vessel in port? "
MNESILOCHUS.
Take pity on me, oh, stranger! I am so unhappy and
distraught! Free me from these bonds.
SCYTHIAN. Don't you talk! a curse upon your impudence! you are going to
die, and yet you will be chattering!
EURIPIDES. "Oh! virgin! I take pity on your chains. "
SCYTHIAN. But this is no virgin; 'tis an old rogue, a cheat and a thief.
EURIPIDES. You have lost your wits, Scythian. This is Andromeda, the
daughter of Cepheus.
