• Play by Aristophanes
  • It is in GB Volume 5.
  • People in the play: Two Servants of Trygaeus, Trygaeus, Daughters of Trygaeus, Hermes, War, Riot, Hierocles, A Sickle-Maker, A Crest-Maker, A Breastplate-Seller, A Trumpeter, A Helmet-Seller, A Spear-Burnisher, Son of Lamachus, Son of Cleonymus, Chorus of Farmers

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Great Books Ep 99. Aristophanes - The Peace. Ordinary Citizens Crave Harmony by Rob, a bibliophile

Common people - who bear the costs of wars through lost lives, ruined farms, and broken families - ardently desire peace while leaders and war profiteers perpetuate conflicts for their own gain.

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The Peace - Readwise Highlights

Metadata

  • Author: Aristophanes
  • Full Title: The Peace
  • Category: articles
  • Summary: “The Peace” is a comedic play by Aristophanes that focuses on the importance of peace in society. The story follows a character who journeys to bring an end to war. Through humor and satire, it highlights the struggles and desires of people yearning for harmony.
  • URL: https://readwise.io/reader/document_raw_content/268394234

Highlights

  • “Now, I’ve nae doubt but this is aimed at Cleon, It eats the muck sae unco shamelessly (View Highlight)
  • Can any one of you, I wonder, tell me Where I can buy a nose not perforated ? There’s no more loathly miserable task Than to be mashing dung to feed a beetle. A pig or dog will take its bit of muck Just as it falls: but this conceited brute Gives himself airs, and, bless you, he won’t touch it Unless I mash it all day long, and serve it As for a lady, in a rich round cake. (View Highlight)
  • When I have got in the house not an atom of silver to buy it; But if I ever return with success ye shall soon be enjoying Buns of enormous size, with strong fist-sauce to improve them. (View Highlight)
  • It is the only living thing with wings, So Aesop says, that ever reached the Gods. (View Highlight)
  • O be careful lest you tumble off, And (lame for life) afford Euripides A subject, and become a tragic hero. (View Highlight)
  • I am sorry to see you Calling me dearest papa, and asking me bread for your dinner, (View Highlight)
  • He. I know not if ye e’er again Will see the face of Peace. Tr. Why, where’s she gone to? He. War has immured her in a deep deep pit. Tr. Where? He. Here, beneath our feet. And you may see The heavy stones he piled about its mouth, That none should take her out. (View Highlight)
  • Trygaeus, an Athmonian, skilled in vines; No sycophant, no lover of disputes. (View Highlight)
  • Because, though They were oftentimes for Peace, You always would have War. (View Highlight)
  • Till with levers, cranes, and pulleys once again to light we haul Peace, the Goddess best and greatest, vineyard-lovingest of all. (View Highlight)
  • Who shall bear her, who shall tear her, from these loving arms away, If I once can clasp and grasp her ? O hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! (View Highlight)
  • the hour has come To throw away our troubles and our wars, And, ere another pestle rise to stop us, To pull out Peace, the joy of all mankind. O all ye farmers, merchants, artisans, O all ye craftsmen, aliens, sojourners, O all ye islanders, O all ye peoples, Come with ropes, and spades, and crowbars, come in eager hurrying haste, Now the cup of happy fortune, brothers, it is ours to taste. (View Highlight)
  • the Moon and vile immoral Sun Have long been plotting to your hurt: and now They’re giving Hellas up to the Barbarians. He. Why are they doing that ? Tr. Because, by Zeus! We sacrifice to you, but those Barbarians Only to them. So naturally they Are very anxious that we all should perish, (View Highlight)
  • O may he who labours well to-day Be never forced to bear a shield again! Ch. No; may he spend his happy days in peace, Stirring the fire, his mistress at his side. (View Highlight)
  • Giver of grapes, O how shall I address you ? O for a word ten thousand buckets big Wherewith to accost you: for I’ve none at hand. Good morning, Harvesthome: good morn, Mayfair. O what a lovely charming face, Mayfair! (View Highlight)
  • Think of all the thousand pleasures, Comrades, which to Peace we owe, All the life of ease and comfort Which she gave us long ago: (View Highlight)
  • You can leave your darts behind you: yea, for sword and spear shall cease. All things all around are teeming with the mellow gifts of Peace; Shout your Paeans, march away to labour in your fields to-day. (View Highlight)
  • Butt on butt was dashed and shivered, by revenge and anger stirred; There was none to stay the tumult; Peace in silence disappeared. (View Highlight)
  • And the chief Laconian leaders by enormous bribes they gained. These at once for filthy lucre, guest-deluders as they are, Hustling out this gracious lady, greedily embraced the War (View Highlight)
  • He. She turns away in anger from the people, For taking to itself so vile a leader. (View Highlight)
  • Faith it’s a rare long way. (View Highlight)
  • All men will gaze with delight. Old as you are you’ll be quite Youthful and perfumed and bright. (View Highlight)
  • Sure each design, when God and fortune speed it, Succeeds to our mind, what is wanted we find Just at the moment we need it. (View Highlight)
  • And O put an end to the whispers of doubt, These wonderful clever Ingenious suspicions we bandy about; And solder and glue the Hellenes anew With the old-fashioned true Elixir of love, and attemper our mind With thoughts of each other more genial and kind. (View Highlight)
  • Tr. Nay, but wisely and well spake Homer the excellent poet: “Tribeless, lawless, and hearthless is he that delighteth in bloodshed, Bloodshed of kith and kin, heart-sickening, horrible, hateful!” (View Highlight)
  • And I bless the friendly seasons Which have made a fruit so prime, And I mix a pleasant mixture, Grating in a lot of thyme, —Growing fat and hearty In the genial summer clime. (View Highlight)
  • Ah, there’s nothing half so sweet as when the seed is in the ground, (View Highlight)
  • While our figs in plenty and peace we eat, And our wives are blest with an increase sweet; And we gather back in abundant store The many blessings we lost before; And the fiery steel —be it known no more. (View Highlight)