Aristophanes, Frogs

Ἡρακλῆς

Heracles

ἐν πλοιαρίῳ τυννουτῳί σʼ ἀνὴρ γέρων

In a tiny little boat — about so big — an old man,

ναύτης διάξει δύʼ ὀβολὼ μισθὸν λαβών.

a ferryman, will take you across, for a fee of two obols.

Διόνυσος

Dionysus

φεῦ,

Whew,

αὕτη ʼστὶν ἣν ἔφραζε, καὶ πλοῖόν γʼ ὁρῶ.

this is the one he told me of — and I see a boat, too.

Ξανθίας

Xanthias

νὴ τὸν Ποσειδῶ κἄστι γʼ ὁ Χάρων οὑτοσί.

By Poseidon, yes, and here is Charon himself.

Διόνυσος

Dionysus

χαῖρʼ ὦ Χάρων, χαῖρʼ ὦ Χάρων, χαῖρʼ ὦ Χάρων.

Hail, Charon! Hail, Charon! Hail, Charon!

πρόσθε νυν ἴθι.

Go on ahead, then.

Ξανθίας

Xanthias

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ νὴ τὸν Δία θηρίον μέγα.

Well now, by Zeus, I do see a huge beast.

Διόνυσος

Dionysus

ποῖόν τι;

What sort?

Ξανθίας

Xanthias

δεινόν· παντοδαπὸν γοῦν γίγνεται

A terrible one. At any rate it turns into all sorts of things:

τοτὲ μέν γε βοῦς, νυνὶ δʼ ὀρεύς, τοτὲ δʼ αὖ γυνὴ

now an ox, now a mule, and now again a woman,

ὡραιοτάτη τις.

a real beauty.

Διόνυσος

Dionysus

ποῦ ʼστι; φέρʼ ἐπʼ αὐτὴν ἴω.

Where is she? Come on, let me go for her.

Ξανθίας

Xanthias

ἀλλʼ οὐκέτʼ αὖ γυνή ʼστιν, ἀλλʼ ἤδη κύων.

But she's no longer a woman — now she's a dog.

Διόνυσος

Dionysus

Ἔμπουσα τοίνυν ἐστί.

Then it's Empusa.

Ξανθίας

Xanthias

πυρὶ γοῦν λάμπεται

At any rate it's blazing with fire,

ἅπαν τὸ πρόσωπον.

the whole of its face.

Διόνυσος

Dionysus

καὶ σκέλος χαλκοῦν ἔχει;

And has it got a bronze leg?

Ξανθίας

Xanthias

νὴ τὸν Ποσειδῶ, καὶ βολίτινον θάτερον,

By Poseidon, yes, and the other one's of cow dung,

σάφʼ ἴσθι.

rest assured.

Διόνυσος

Dionysus

ποῖ δῆτʼ ἂν τραποίμην;

Where can I turn, then?