The Knights [5]
tricks; it's an old plot resoled.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
If you know naught of soling, I understand nothing of sausages;
you, who cut bad leather on the slant to make it look stout and
deceive the country yokels. They had not worn it a day before it had
stretched some two spans.
DEMOSTHENES
That's the very trick he played on me; both my neighbours and my
friends laughed heartily at me, and before I reached Pergasae I was
swimming in my shoes.
CHORUS (singing)
Have you not always shown that blatant impudence, which is the
sole strength of our orators? You push it so far, that you, the head
of the State, dare to milk the purses of the opulent aliens and, at
sight of you, the son of Hippodamus melts into tears. But here is
another man who gives me pleasure, for he is a much greater rascal
than you; he will overthrow you; 'tis easy to see, that he will beat
you in roguery, in brazenness and in clever turns. Come, you, who have
been brought up among the class which to-day gives us all our great
men, show us that a liberal education is mere tomfoolery.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Just hear what sort of fellow that fine citizen is.
CLEON
Will you not let me speak?
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Assuredly not, for I too am an awful rascal.
DEMOSTHENES
If he does not give in at that, tell him your parents were awful
rascals too.
CLEON
Once more, will you let me speak?
SAUSAGE-SELLER
No, by Zeus!
CLEON
Yes, by Zeus, you shall!
SAUSAGE-SELLER
No, by Posidon! We will fight first to see who shall speak first.
CLEON
I will die sooner.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
I will not let you....
DEMOSTHENES
Let him, in the name of the gods, let him die.
CLEON
What makes you so bold as to dare to speak to my face?
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Because I know both how to speak and how to cook.
CLEON
Hah! the fine speaker! Truly, if some business matter fell your
way, you would know thoroughly well how to attack it, to carve it up
alive! Shall I tell you what has happened to you? Like so many others,
you have gained some petty lawsuit against some alien. Did you drink
enough water to inspire you? Did you mutter over the thing
sufficiently through the night, spout it along the street, recite it
to all you met? Have you bored your friends enough with it? And for
this you deem yourself an orator. You poor fool!
SAUSAGE-SELLER
And what do you drink yourself then, to be able all alone by
yourself to dumbfound and stupefy the city so with your clamour?
CLEON
Can you match me with a rival? Me? When I have devoured a good hot
tunny-fish and drunk on top of it a great jar of unmixed wine. I say
"to Hell with the generals of Pylos!"
SAUSAGE-SELLER
And I, when I have bolted the tripe of an ox together with a sow's
belly and swallowed the broth as well, I am fit, though slobbering
with grease, to bellow louder than all orators and to terrify Nicias.
DEMOSTHENES
I admire your language so much; the only thing I do not approve is
that you swallow all the broth yourself.
CLEON
Even though you gorged yourself on sea-dogs, you would not beat
the Milesians.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Give me a bullock's breast to devour, and I am a man to traffic in
mines.
CLEON
I will rush into the Senate and set them all by the ears.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
And I will pull out your arse to stuff like a sausage.
CLEON
As for me, I will seize you by the rump and hurl you head foremost
through the door.
DEMOSTHENES
By Posidon, only after you have thrown me there first.
CLEON
(Beginning another crescendo of competitive screeching)
Beware of the carcan!
SAUSAGE-SELLER
I denounce you for cowardice.
CLEON
I will tan your hide.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
I will flay you and make a thief's pouch with the skin.
CLEON
SAUSAGE-SELLER
If you know naught of soling, I understand nothing of sausages;
you, who cut bad leather on the slant to make it look stout and
deceive the country yokels. They had not worn it a day before it had
stretched some two spans.
DEMOSTHENES
That's the very trick he played on me; both my neighbours and my
friends laughed heartily at me, and before I reached Pergasae I was
swimming in my shoes.
CHORUS (singing)
Have you not always shown that blatant impudence, which is the
sole strength of our orators? You push it so far, that you, the head
of the State, dare to milk the purses of the opulent aliens and, at
sight of you, the son of Hippodamus melts into tears. But here is
another man who gives me pleasure, for he is a much greater rascal
than you; he will overthrow you; 'tis easy to see, that he will beat
you in roguery, in brazenness and in clever turns. Come, you, who have
been brought up among the class which to-day gives us all our great
men, show us that a liberal education is mere tomfoolery.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Just hear what sort of fellow that fine citizen is.
CLEON
Will you not let me speak?
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Assuredly not, for I too am an awful rascal.
DEMOSTHENES
If he does not give in at that, tell him your parents were awful
rascals too.
CLEON
Once more, will you let me speak?
SAUSAGE-SELLER
No, by Zeus!
CLEON
Yes, by Zeus, you shall!
SAUSAGE-SELLER
No, by Posidon! We will fight first to see who shall speak first.
CLEON
I will die sooner.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
I will not let you....
DEMOSTHENES
Let him, in the name of the gods, let him die.
CLEON
What makes you so bold as to dare to speak to my face?
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Because I know both how to speak and how to cook.
CLEON
Hah! the fine speaker! Truly, if some business matter fell your
way, you would know thoroughly well how to attack it, to carve it up
alive! Shall I tell you what has happened to you? Like so many others,
you have gained some petty lawsuit against some alien. Did you drink
enough water to inspire you? Did you mutter over the thing
sufficiently through the night, spout it along the street, recite it
to all you met? Have you bored your friends enough with it? And for
this you deem yourself an orator. You poor fool!
SAUSAGE-SELLER
And what do you drink yourself then, to be able all alone by
yourself to dumbfound and stupefy the city so with your clamour?
CLEON
Can you match me with a rival? Me? When I have devoured a good hot
tunny-fish and drunk on top of it a great jar of unmixed wine. I say
"to Hell with the generals of Pylos!"
SAUSAGE-SELLER
And I, when I have bolted the tripe of an ox together with a sow's
belly and swallowed the broth as well, I am fit, though slobbering
with grease, to bellow louder than all orators and to terrify Nicias.
DEMOSTHENES
I admire your language so much; the only thing I do not approve is
that you swallow all the broth yourself.
CLEON
Even though you gorged yourself on sea-dogs, you would not beat
the Milesians.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
Give me a bullock's breast to devour, and I am a man to traffic in
mines.
CLEON
I will rush into the Senate and set them all by the ears.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
And I will pull out your arse to stuff like a sausage.
CLEON
As for me, I will seize you by the rump and hurl you head foremost
through the door.
DEMOSTHENES
By Posidon, only after you have thrown me there first.
CLEON
(Beginning another crescendo of competitive screeching)
Beware of the carcan!
SAUSAGE-SELLER
I denounce you for cowardice.
CLEON
I will tan your hide.
SAUSAGE-SELLER
I will flay you and make a thief's pouch with the skin.
CLEON