The Knights [10]
dishes the
merchants have." With mouths gaping with admiration, they applauded
me. However, the Paphlagonian winded the matter and, well knowing
the sort of language which pleases the Senate best, said, "Friends,
I am resolved to offer one hundred oxen to the goddess in
recognition of this happy event." The Senate at once veered to his
side. So when I saw myself defeated by this ox dung, I outbade the
fellow, crying, "Two hundred!" And beyond this I moved that a vow be
made to Diana of a thousand goats if the next day anchovies should
only be worth an obol a hundred. And the Senate looked towards me
again. The other, stunned with the blow, grew delirious in his speech,
and at last the Prytanes and the Scythians dragged him out. The
Senators then stood talking noisily about the anchovies. Cleon,
however, begged them to listen to the Lacedaemonian envoy, who had
come to make proposals of peace; but all with one accord cried
"Certainly it's not the moment to think of peace now! If anchovies are
so cheap, what need have we of peace? Let the war take its course!"
And with loud shouts they demanded that the Prytanes should close
the sitting and then they leapt over the rails in all directions. As
for me, I slipped away to buy all the coriander seed and leeks there
were on the market and gave it to them gratis as seasoning for their
anchovies. It was marvellous! They loaded me with praises and
caresses; thus I conquered the Senate with an obol's worth of leeks,
and here I am.
CHORUS (singing)
Bravo! you are the spoilt child of Fortune. Ah! our knave has
found his match in another, who has far better tricks in his sack, a
thousand kinds of knaveries and of wily words. But the fight begins
afresh; take care not to weaken; you know that I have long been your
most faithful ally.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Ah! ah! here comes the Paphlagonian! One would say it was a
hurricane lashing the sea and rolling the waves before it in its fury.
He looks as if he wanted to swallow me up alive! Ye gods! what an
impudent knave!
CLEON (as he rushes in)
To my aid, my beloved lies! I am going to destroy you, or my
name is lost.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Oh! how he diverts me with his threats His bluster makes me laugh!
And I dance the mothon for joy, and sing at the top of my voice,
cuckoo!
CLEON
Ah! by Demeter! if I do not kill and devour you, may I die!
SAUSAGE-SELLER
If you do not devour me? and I, if I do not drink your blood to
the last drop, and then burst with indigestion.
CLEON
I, I will strangle you, I swear it by the front seat which Pylos
gained me.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
By the front seat! Ah! Ah! might I see you fall into the
hindmost seat!
CLEON
By heaven! I will put you to the torture.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
What a lively wit! Come, what's the best to give you to eat?
What do you prefer? A purse?
CLEON
I will tear out your insides with my nails.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
And I will cut off your victuals at the Prytaneum.
CLEON
I will haul you before Demos, who will mete out justice to you.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
And I too will drag you before him and belch forth more
calumnies than you. Why, poor fool, he does not believe you, whereas I
play with him at will.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Is then Demos your property, your contemptible creature?
CLEON
It's because I know the dishes that please him.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
And these are little mouthfuls, which you serve to him like a
clever nurse. You chew the pieces and place some in small quantities
in his mouth, while you swallow three parts yourself.
CLEON
Thanks to my skill, I know exactly how to enlarge or contract this
gullet.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
My arse is just as clever.
CLEON
Well, my friend, you tricked me at the Senate, but take care!
Let us go before Demos.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
That's easily
merchants have." With mouths gaping with admiration, they applauded
me. However, the Paphlagonian winded the matter and, well knowing
the sort of language which pleases the Senate best, said, "Friends,
I am resolved to offer one hundred oxen to the goddess in
recognition of this happy event." The Senate at once veered to his
side. So when I saw myself defeated by this ox dung, I outbade the
fellow, crying, "Two hundred!" And beyond this I moved that a vow be
made to Diana of a thousand goats if the next day anchovies should
only be worth an obol a hundred. And the Senate looked towards me
again. The other, stunned with the blow, grew delirious in his speech,
and at last the Prytanes and the Scythians dragged him out. The
Senators then stood talking noisily about the anchovies. Cleon,
however, begged them to listen to the Lacedaemonian envoy, who had
come to make proposals of peace; but all with one accord cried
"Certainly it's not the moment to think of peace now! If anchovies are
so cheap, what need have we of peace? Let the war take its course!"
And with loud shouts they demanded that the Prytanes should close
the sitting and then they leapt over the rails in all directions. As
for me, I slipped away to buy all the coriander seed and leeks there
were on the market and gave it to them gratis as seasoning for their
anchovies. It was marvellous! They loaded me with praises and
caresses; thus I conquered the Senate with an obol's worth of leeks,
and here I am.
CHORUS (singing)
Bravo! you are the spoilt child of Fortune. Ah! our knave has
found his match in another, who has far better tricks in his sack, a
thousand kinds of knaveries and of wily words. But the fight begins
afresh; take care not to weaken; you know that I have long been your
most faithful ally.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Ah! ah! here comes the Paphlagonian! One would say it was a
hurricane lashing the sea and rolling the waves before it in its fury.
He looks as if he wanted to swallow me up alive! Ye gods! what an
impudent knave!
CLEON (as he rushes in)
To my aid, my beloved lies! I am going to destroy you, or my
name is lost.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Oh! how he diverts me with his threats His bluster makes me laugh!
And I dance the mothon for joy, and sing at the top of my voice,
cuckoo!
CLEON
Ah! by Demeter! if I do not kill and devour you, may I die!
SAUSAGE-SELLER
If you do not devour me? and I, if I do not drink your blood to
the last drop, and then burst with indigestion.
CLEON
I, I will strangle you, I swear it by the front seat which Pylos
gained me.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
By the front seat! Ah! Ah! might I see you fall into the
hindmost seat!
CLEON
By heaven! I will put you to the torture.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
What a lively wit! Come, what's the best to give you to eat?
What do you prefer? A purse?
CLEON
I will tear out your insides with my nails.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
And I will cut off your victuals at the Prytaneum.
CLEON
I will haul you before Demos, who will mete out justice to you.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
And I too will drag you before him and belch forth more
calumnies than you. Why, poor fool, he does not believe you, whereas I
play with him at will.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Is then Demos your property, your contemptible creature?
CLEON
It's because I know the dishes that please him.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
And these are little mouthfuls, which you serve to him like a
clever nurse. You chew the pieces and place some in small quantities
in his mouth, while you swallow three parts yourself.
CLEON
Thanks to my skill, I know exactly how to enlarge or contract this
gullet.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
My arse is just as clever.
CLEON
Well, my friend, you tricked me at the Senate, but take care!
Let us go before Demos.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
That's easily