The Knights [16]
that oracle is about to be fulfilled.
CLEON
Do not believe it; these are but jealous crows, that caw against
me; but never cease to cherish your good hawk; never forget that he
brought you those Lacedaemonian fish, loaded with chains.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Ah! if the Paphlagonian ran any risk that day, it was because he
was drunk. Oh, too credulous son of Cecrops, do you accept that as a
glorious exploit? A woman would carry a heavy burden if only a man had
put it on her shoulders. But to fight! Go to! he would empty his
bowels before he would ever fight.
CLEON
Note this Pylos in front of Pylos, of which the oracle speaks,
"Pylos is before Pylos."
DEMOS
How "in front of Pylos"? What does he mean by that?
SAUSAGE-SELLER
He says he will seize upon your bath-tubs.
DEMOS
Then I shall not bathe to-day.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
No, as he has stolen our baths. But here is an oracle about the
fleet, to which I beg your best attention.
DEMOS
Read on! I am listening; let us first see how we are to pay our
sailors.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
"Son of Aegeus, beware of the tricks of the dog-fox, he bites from
the rear and rushes off at full speed; he is nothing but cunning and
perfidy." Do you know what the oracle intends to say?
DEMOS
The dog-fox is Philostratus.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
No, no, it's Cleon; he is incessantly asking you for light vessels
to go and collect the tributes, and Apollo advises you not to grant
them.
DEMOS
What connection is there between a galley and dog-fox?
SAUSAGE-SELLER
What connection? Why, it's quite plain-a galley travels as fast as
a dog.
DEMOS
Why, then, does the oracle not say dog instead of dog-fox?
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Because he compares the soldiers to young foxes, who, like them,
eat the grapes in the fields.
DEMOS
Good! Well then! how am I to pay the wages of my young foxes?
SAUSAGE-SELLER
I will undertake that, and in three days too! But listen to this
further oracle, by which Apollo puts you on your guard against the
snares of the greedy fist.
DEMOS
Of what greedy fist?
SAUSAGE-SELLER
The god in this oracle very clearly points to the hand of Cleon,
who incessantly holds his out, saying, "Fill it."
CLEON
That's a lie! Phoebus means the hand of Diopithes. But here I have
a winged oracle, which promises you shall become an eagle and rule
over all the earth.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
I have one, which says that you shall be King of the Earth and
of the Red Sea too, and that you shall administer justice in Ecbatana,
eating fine rich stews the while.
CLEON
I have seen Athen& in a dream, pouring out full vials of riches
and health over the people.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
I too have seen the goddess, descending from the Acropolis with an
owl perched upon her helmet; on your head she was pouring out
ambrosia, on that of Cleon garlic pickle.
DEMOS
Truly Glanis is the wisest of men. I shall yield myself to you;
guide me in my old age and educate me anew.
CLEON
Ah! I adjure you! not yet; wait a little; I will promise to
distribute barley every day.
DEMOS
Ah! I will not hear another word about barley; you have cheated me
too often already, both you and Theophanes.
CLEON
Well then! you shall have flour-cakes all piping hot.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
I will give you cakes too, and nice cooked fish; all you'll have
to do is eat.
DEMOS
Very well, mind you keep your promises. To whichever of you
shall treat me best I hand over the reins of state.
CLEON
I will be first.
(He rushes into the house.)
SAUSAGE-SELLER
No, no, I will.
(He runs off.)
CHORUS (singing)
Demos, you are our all-powerful sovereign lord; all tremble
CLEON
Do not believe it; these are but jealous crows, that caw against
me; but never cease to cherish your good hawk; never forget that he
brought you those Lacedaemonian fish, loaded with chains.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Ah! if the Paphlagonian ran any risk that day, it was because he
was drunk. Oh, too credulous son of Cecrops, do you accept that as a
glorious exploit? A woman would carry a heavy burden if only a man had
put it on her shoulders. But to fight! Go to! he would empty his
bowels before he would ever fight.
CLEON
Note this Pylos in front of Pylos, of which the oracle speaks,
"Pylos is before Pylos."
DEMOS
How "in front of Pylos"? What does he mean by that?
SAUSAGE-SELLER
He says he will seize upon your bath-tubs.
DEMOS
Then I shall not bathe to-day.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
No, as he has stolen our baths. But here is an oracle about the
fleet, to which I beg your best attention.
DEMOS
Read on! I am listening; let us first see how we are to pay our
sailors.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
"Son of Aegeus, beware of the tricks of the dog-fox, he bites from
the rear and rushes off at full speed; he is nothing but cunning and
perfidy." Do you know what the oracle intends to say?
DEMOS
The dog-fox is Philostratus.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
No, no, it's Cleon; he is incessantly asking you for light vessels
to go and collect the tributes, and Apollo advises you not to grant
them.
DEMOS
What connection is there between a galley and dog-fox?
SAUSAGE-SELLER
What connection? Why, it's quite plain-a galley travels as fast as
a dog.
DEMOS
Why, then, does the oracle not say dog instead of dog-fox?
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Because he compares the soldiers to young foxes, who, like them,
eat the grapes in the fields.
DEMOS
Good! Well then! how am I to pay the wages of my young foxes?
SAUSAGE-SELLER
I will undertake that, and in three days too! But listen to this
further oracle, by which Apollo puts you on your guard against the
snares of the greedy fist.
DEMOS
Of what greedy fist?
SAUSAGE-SELLER
The god in this oracle very clearly points to the hand of Cleon,
who incessantly holds his out, saying, "Fill it."
CLEON
That's a lie! Phoebus means the hand of Diopithes. But here I have
a winged oracle, which promises you shall become an eagle and rule
over all the earth.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
I have one, which says that you shall be King of the Earth and
of the Red Sea too, and that you shall administer justice in Ecbatana,
eating fine rich stews the while.
CLEON
I have seen Athen& in a dream, pouring out full vials of riches
and health over the people.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
I too have seen the goddess, descending from the Acropolis with an
owl perched upon her helmet; on your head she was pouring out
ambrosia, on that of Cleon garlic pickle.
DEMOS
Truly Glanis is the wisest of men. I shall yield myself to you;
guide me in my old age and educate me anew.
CLEON
Ah! I adjure you! not yet; wait a little; I will promise to
distribute barley every day.
DEMOS
Ah! I will not hear another word about barley; you have cheated me
too often already, both you and Theophanes.
CLEON
Well then! you shall have flour-cakes all piping hot.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
I will give you cakes too, and nice cooked fish; all you'll have
to do is eat.
DEMOS
Very well, mind you keep your promises. To whichever of you
shall treat me best I hand over the reins of state.
CLEON
I will be first.
(He rushes into the house.)
SAUSAGE-SELLER
No, no, I will.
(He runs off.)
CHORUS (singing)
Demos, you are our all-powerful sovereign lord; all tremble