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My influence there's an end to。
JUP。 ＇looking over precipice＇
What fools to give themselves
so much exertion
DIA。 A government survey I'll make assertion。
AP。 Perhaps the Alpine clubs their diversion。
MER。 They seem to be more like a 〃Cook's〃 excursion。
ALL。 Goodness gracious； etc。
AP。 If； mighty Jove； you value your existence；
Send them a thunderbolt with your regards。
JUP。 My thunderbolts； though valid at a distance；
Are not effective at a hundred yards。
MER。 Let the moon's rays； Diana； strike 'em flighty；
Make 'em all lunatics in various styles。
DIA。 My lunar rays unhappily are mighty
Only at many hundred thousand miles。
ALL。 Goodness gracious； etc。。。
＇Exeunt Jupiter； Apollo； Diana； and Mercury into ruined temple＇
＇Enter Sparkeion and Nicemis climbing mountain at back。＇
SPAR。 Here we are at last on the very summit； and we've left the
others ever so far behind。 Why； what's this？
NICE。 A ruined palace。 A palace on the top of a mountain。 I
wonder who lives here？ Some mighty kind； I dare say； with wealth
beyond all counting who came to live up here
SPAR。 To avoid his creditors。 It's a lovely situation for a
country house though it's very much out of repair。
NICE。 Very inconvenient situation。
SPAR。 Inconvenient。
NICE。 Yes； how are you to get butter； milk； and eggs up here？ No
pigs； no poultry； no postman。 Why； I should go mad。
SPAR。 What a dear little practical mind it is。 What a wife you
will make。
NICE。 Don't be too surewe are only partly marriedthe marriage
ceremony lasts all day。
SPAR。 I have no doubt at all about it。 We shall be as happy as a
king and queen； though we are only a strolling actor and actress。
NICE。 It's very nice of Thespis to celebrate our marriage day by
giving the company a picnic on this lovely mountain。
SPAR。 And still more kind to allow us to get so much ahead of all
the others。 Discreet Thespis。 ＇kissing her＇
NICE；。 There now； get away； do。 Remember the marriage ceremony
is not yet completed。
SPAR。 But it would be ungrateful to Thespis's discretion not to
take advantage of it by improving the opportunity。
NICE。 Certainly not； get away。
SPAR。 On second thought the opportunity's so good it don't admit
of improvement。 There。 ＇kisses her＇
NICE。 How dare you kiss me before we are quite married？
SPAR。 Attribute it to the intoxicating influence of the mountain
air。
NICE。 Then we had better do down again。 It is not right to
expose ourselves to influences over which we have no control。
SPAR。 Here far away from all the world；
Dissension and derision；
With Nature's wonders all unfurled
To our delighted vision；
With no one here
（At least in sight）
To interfere
With our delight；
And two fond lovers sever；
Oh do not free；
Thine hand from mine；
I swear to thee
My love is ever thine
For ever and for ever。
NICE。 On mountain top the air is keen；
And most exhilarating；
And we say things we do not mean
In moments less elating。
So please to wait
For thoughts that crop；
En tete…a…tete；
On mountain top；
May not exactly tally
With those that you
May entertain；
Returning to
The sober plain
Of yon relaxing valley
SPAR。 Very wellif you won't have anything to say to me； I know
who will。
NICE。 Who will？
SPAR。 Daphne will。
NICE。 Daphne would flirt with anybody。
SPAR。 Anybody would flirt with Daphne。 She is quite as pretty as
you and has twice as much back…hair。
NICE。 She has twice as much money； which may account for it。
SPAR。 At all events； she has appreciation。 She likes good looks。
NICE。 We all like what we haven；t got。
SPAR。 She keeps her eyes open。
NICE。 Yesone of them。
SPAR。 Which one。
NICE。 The one she doesn't wink with。
SPAR。 Well； I was engaged to her for six months and if she still
makes eyes at me； you must attribute it to force of habit。
Besidesrememberwe are only half…married at present。
NICE。 I suppose you mean that you are going to treat me as
shamefully as you treated her。 Very well； break it off if you
like。 I shall not offer any objection。 Thespis used to be very
attentive to me。 I'd just as soon be a manager's wife as a fifth…
rate actor's。
＇Chorus heard； at first below； then enter Daphne； Pretteia；
Preposteros； Stupidas； Tipseion； Cymon； and other members of
Thespis's company climbing over rocks at back。 All carry small
baskets。＇
CHO。 ＇with dance＇ Climbing over rocky mountain
Skipping rivulet and fountain；
Passing where the willows quiver
By the ever rolling river；
Swollen with the summer rain。
Threading long and leafy mazes；
Dotted with unnumbered daisies；
Scaling rough and rugged passes；
Climb the hearty lads and lasses；
Til the mountain…top they gain。
FIRST VOICE。 Fill the cup and tread the measure
Make the most of fleeting leisure。
Hail it as a true ally
Though it perish bye and bye。
SECOND VOICE。 Every moment brings a treasure
Of its own especial pleasure；
Though the moments quickly die；
Greet them gaily as they fly。
THIRD VOICE。 Far away from grief and care；
High up in the mountain air；
Let us live and reign alone；
In a world that's all our own。
FOURTH VOICE。 Here enthroned in the sky；
Far away from mortal eye；
We'll be gods and make decrees；
Those may honor them who please。
CHO。 Fill the cup and tread the measure。。。etc。
＇After Chorus and Couples enter； Thespis climbing over rocks＇
THES。 Bless you； my people； bless you。 Let the revels commence。
After all； for thorough； unconstrained unconventional enjoyment
give me a picnic。
PREP。 ＇very gloomily＇ Give him a picnic； somebody。
THES。 Be quiet； Preposteros。 Don't interrupt。
PREP。 Ha。 Ha。 Shut up again。 But no matter。
＇Stupidas endeavors； in pantomime； to reconcile him。 Throughout
the scene Prep shows symptoms of breaking out into a furious
passion； and Stupidas does all he can to pacify and restrain
him。＇
THES。 The best of a picnic is that everybody contributes what he
pleases； and nobody knows what anybody else has brought til the
last moment。 Now； unpack everybody and let's see what there is
for everybody。
NICE。 I have brought youa bottle of soda waterfor the claret…
cup。
DAPH。 I have brought youlettuce for the lobster salad。
SPAR。 A piece of icefor the claret…cup。
PRETT。 A bottle of vinegarfor the lobster salad。
CYMON。 A bunch of burrage for the claret…cup。
TIPS。 A hard boiled eggfor the lobster salad。
STUP。 One lump of sugar for the claret…cup。
PREP。 He has