A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Embassy from Sparta 197
Loathing the city, longing for a peace,
To return to my poor village and my farm.
That never used to cry "Come buy my charcoal!"
Nor "Buy my oil" nor "Buy my anything!"
But gave me what I wanted, freely and fairly,
Clear of all cost, with never a word of buying,
Or such buy-words. So here I'm come, resolved
To bawl, to abuse, to interrupt the speakers,
Whenever I hear a word of any kind
Except for an immediate peace. Ah there!
The Presidents at last; see, there they come!
All scrambling for their seats—I told you so!
Herald. Move forward there! ISIove forward all of ye
Further! within the consecrated ground.
Halfgod. Has anybody spoke?
Her.
Prepared to speak?
Half. Yes, I.
Her.
Is anybody
WTio are you and what?
Half. Halfgod, the demigod.
Her.
Not a man?
Half. No I'm immortal; for the first Halfgod
Was born of Ceres and Triptolemus,
His only son was Celeus, Celeus married
Phsenarete my grandmother; Lycinus
My father, was their son; that's proof enough
Of the immortality in our family.
The gods moreover have despatched me here
Commissioned specially to arrange a peace
Betwixt this city and Sparta—notwithstanding
I find myself rather in want at present
Of a little ready money for my journey.
The magistrates won't assist me.
Her.
Constables!
Half. O Celeus and Triptolemus, don't forsake me!
Ji{si. You Presidents, I say! you exceed your powers;
You insult the Assembly, dragging off a man
That offered to make terms and give us peace.
Her. Keep silence there.
The war
keeps him in
the city
against his
wiU.
The Presidents
enter
and take their
seats.
Religious
ceremony of
consecration.
The proceedings
begin.
The haughty
pride of
ancestry.
Halfgod has
come on a
peace mission.
The herald
calls the constables
to
drag Halfgod
out; there is
to be no talk
of peace with
Sparta.