The Knights [21]
unless his chin is bearded.
AGORACRITUS
What then will become of Clisthenes and of Strato?
DEMOS
I wish only to refer to those youths who loll about the perfume
shops, babbling at random, "What a clever fellow is Phaeax! How
cleverly he escaped death! how concise and convincing is his style!
what phrases! how clear and to the point! how well he knows how to
quell an interruption!
AGORACRITUS
I thought you were the lover of those fairies.
DEMOS
The gods forefend it! and I will force all such fellows to go
hunting instead of proposing decrees.
AGORACRITUS
In that case, accept this folding-stool, and, to carry it, this
well-grown, big-balled slave lad. Besides, you may put him to any
other purpose you please.
DEMOS
Oh! I am happy indeed to find myself as I was of old!
AGORACRITUS
Aye, you will deem yourself happy, when I have handed you the
truce of thirty years. Truce! step forward!
(Enter Truce, in the form of a beautiful young girl, magnificently
attired.)
DEMOS
Great gods! how charming she is! Can I do with her as I wish?
where did you discover her, pray?
AGORACRITUS
That Paphlagonian had kept her locked up in his house, so that you
might not enjoy her. As for myself, I give her to you; take her with
you into the country.
DEMOS
And what punishment will you inflict upon this Paphlagonian, the
cause of all my troubles?
AGORACRITUS
It will not be over-terrible. I condemn him to follow my old
trade, posted near the gates, he must sell sausages of asses' and
dogs' meat: perpetually drunk, he will exchange foul language with
prostitutes and will drink nothing but the dirty water from the baths.
DEMOS
Well conceived! he is indeed fit to wrangle with harlots and
bathmen; as for you, in return for so many blessings, I invite you
to take the place at the Prytaneum which this rogue once occupied. Put
on his frog-green mantle and follow me. As for the other, let them
take him away; let him go sell his sausages in full view of the
foreigners, whom he used formerly to insult so wantonly.
THE END
.
AGORACRITUS
What then will become of Clisthenes and of Strato?
DEMOS
I wish only to refer to those youths who loll about the perfume
shops, babbling at random, "What a clever fellow is Phaeax! How
cleverly he escaped death! how concise and convincing is his style!
what phrases! how clear and to the point! how well he knows how to
quell an interruption!
AGORACRITUS
I thought you were the lover of those fairies.
DEMOS
The gods forefend it! and I will force all such fellows to go
hunting instead of proposing decrees.
AGORACRITUS
In that case, accept this folding-stool, and, to carry it, this
well-grown, big-balled slave lad. Besides, you may put him to any
other purpose you please.
DEMOS
Oh! I am happy indeed to find myself as I was of old!
AGORACRITUS
Aye, you will deem yourself happy, when I have handed you the
truce of thirty years. Truce! step forward!
(Enter Truce, in the form of a beautiful young girl, magnificently
attired.)
DEMOS
Great gods! how charming she is! Can I do with her as I wish?
where did you discover her, pray?
AGORACRITUS
That Paphlagonian had kept her locked up in his house, so that you
might not enjoy her. As for myself, I give her to you; take her with
you into the country.
DEMOS
And what punishment will you inflict upon this Paphlagonian, the
cause of all my troubles?
AGORACRITUS
It will not be over-terrible. I condemn him to follow my old
trade, posted near the gates, he must sell sausages of asses' and
dogs' meat: perpetually drunk, he will exchange foul language with
prostitutes and will drink nothing but the dirty water from the baths.
DEMOS
Well conceived! he is indeed fit to wrangle with harlots and
bathmen; as for you, in return for so many blessings, I invite you
to take the place at the Prytaneum which this rogue once occupied. Put
on his frog-green mantle and follow me. As for the other, let them
take him away; let him go sell his sausages in full view of the
foreigners, whom he used formerly to insult so wantonly.
THE END
.