The “Frogs” is also capital. This
Is now, in a German translation,
Perform’d, I am told, on the stage at Berlin
For his Majesty’s edification.
The King likes the piece. This shows his taste
For the old-fashion’d style of joking;
The late King far more amusement found
In modern frogs’ loud croaking.
The King likes the piece. But nevertheless
Were the author still living, I kindly
Would counsel him to trust himself
In Prussia not too blindly.
The genuine Aristophanes
Would find it no subject for laughter;
We should see him move, wherever he went,
With a chorus of gendarmes after.
O King, I really wish thee well
When this piece of advice I’m giving:
Due reverence pay to the poets who’re dead,
And tender be to the living.
Affront the living poets not,
With weapons and flames they are furnish’d,
More terrible far than the lightnings of Jove,
By the poets created and burnish’d.
Affront the gods in Olympus who dwell,
Regardless whether they know it;
Affront the mightiest Lord of all,
But O, affront not the poet!
The deities harshly avenge in truth
Man’s crimes, and allow him no shelter;
The fire of hell is passably hot,
And there he must roast and must swelter.
Yet pious steps can the sinner release
From the flames; for saying masses
And giving to churches with liberal hand
From torment a certain pass is.
When the days are accomplish’d, then Christ will descend,
And burst hell’s gloomy portals;
And though he may sit in judgment strict,
He still will acquit many mortals.