the knights-第2章
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DEMOSTHENES
Oh； Bacis！
NICIAS
But what is in it？
DEMOSTHENES
Quick！ some drink！
NICIAS
Bacis is very dry！
DEMOSTHENES
Oh！ miserable Paphlagonian！ This then is why you have so long
taken such precautions； your horoscope gave you qualms of terror。
NICIAS
What does it say？
DEMOSTHENES
It says here how he must end。
NICIAS
And how？
DEMOSTHENES
How？ the oracle announces clearly that a dealer in oakum must
first govern the city。
NICIAS
That's one tradesman。 And after him； who？
DEMOSTHENES
After him； a sheep…dealer。
NICIAS
Two tradesmen； eh？ And what is this one's fate？
DEMOSTHENES
To reign until a filthier scoundrel than he arises； then he
perishes and in his place the leather…seller appears； the Paphlagonian
robber； the bawler； who roars like a torrent。
NICIAS
And the leather…seller must destroy the sheep…seller？
DEMOSTHENES
Yes。
NICIAS
Oh woe is me！ Where can another seller be found； is there ever a
one left？
DEMOSTHENES
There is yet one； who plies a first…rate trade。
NICIAS
Tell me； pray； what is that？
DEMOSTHENES
You really want to know？
NICIAS
Yes。
DEMOSTHENES
Well then！ it's a sausage…seller who must overthrow him。
NICIAS
A sausage…seller！ Ah！ by Posidon！ what a fine trade！ But where can
this man be found？
DEMOSTHENES
Let's seek him。 But look！ there he is； going towards the
market…place； 'tis the gods； the gods who send him！ （Calling out） This
way； this way； oh； lucky sausage…seller； come forward； dear friend；
our saviour； the saviour of our city。
（Enter AGORACRITUS； a seller of sausages； carrying a basket of his
wares。）
SAUSAGE…SELLER
What is it？ Why do you call me？
DEMOSTHENES
Come here； come and learn about your good luck； you who are
Fortune's favourite！
NICIAS
Come！ Relieve him of his basket…tray and tell him the oracle of
the god； I will go and look after the Paphlagonian。
（He goes into the house。）
DEMOSTHENES
First put down all your gear； then worship the earth and the gods。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
Done。 What is the matter？
DEMOSTHENES
Happiness； riches； power； to…day you have nothing； to…morrow you
will have all； oh！ chief of happy Athens。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
Why not leave me to wash my tripe and to sell my sausages
instead of making game of me？
DEMOSTHENES
Oh！ the fool！ Your tripe！ Do you see these tiers of people？
SAUSAGE…SELLER
Yes。
DEMOSTHENES
You shall be master to them all； governor of the market； of the
harbours； of the Pnyx； you shall trample the Senate under foot； be
able to cashier the generals； load them with fetters； throw them
into gaol； and you will fornicate in the Prytaneum。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
What！ I？
DEMOSTHENES
You； without a doubt。 But you do not yet see all the glory
awaiting you。 Stand on your basket and look at all the islands that
surround Athens。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
I see them。 What then？
DEMOSTHENES
Look at the storehouses and the shipping。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
Yes； I am looking。
DEMOSTHENES
Exists there a mortal more blest than you？ Furthermore； turn
your right eye towards Caria and your left toward Carthage！
SAUSAGE…SELLER
Then it's a blessing to be cock…eyed！
DEMOSTHENES
No； but you are the one who is going to trade away all this。
According to the oracle you must become the greatest of men。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
Just tell me how a sausage…seller can become a great man。
DEMOSTHENES
That is precisely why you will be great； because you are a sad
rascal without shame； no better than a common market rogue。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
I do not hold myself worthy of wielding power。
DEMOSTHENES
Oh！ by the gods！ Why do you not hold yourself worthy？ Have you
then such a good opinion of yourself？ Come； are you of honest
parentage？
SAUSAGE…SELLER
By the gods！ No！ of very bad indeed。
DEMOSTHENES
Spoilt child of fortune； everything fits together to ensure your
greatness。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
But I have not had the least education。 I can only read； and
that very badly。
DEMOSTHENES
That is what may stand in your way； almost knowing how to read。
A demagogue must be neither an educated nor an honest man； he has to
be an ignoramus and a rogue。 But do not； do not let go this gift；
which the oracle promises。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
But what does the oracle say？
DEMOSTHENES
Faith； it is put together in very fine enigmatical style； as
elegant as it is dear： 〃When the eagle…tanner with the hooked claws
shall seize a stupid dragon； a blood…sucker； it will be an end to
the hot Paphlagonian pickled garlic。 The god grants great glory to the
sausage…sellers unless they prefeir to sell their wares。〃
SAUSAGE…SELLER
In what way does this concern me？ Please instruct my ignorance。
DEMOSTHENES
The eagle…tanner is the Paphlagonian。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
What do the hooked claws mean？
DEMOSTHENES
It means to say； that he robs and pillages us with his claw…like
hands。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
And the dragon？
DEMOSTHENES
That is quite clear。 The dragon is long and so also is the
sausage； the sausage like the dragon is a drinker of blood。
Therefore the oracle says； that the dragon will triumph over the
eagle…tanner； if he does not let himself be cajoled with words。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
The oracles of the gods flatter me！ Faith！ I do not at all
understand how I can be capable of governing the people。
DEMOSTHENES
Nothing simpler。 Continue your trade。 Mix and knead together all
the state business as you do for your sausages。 To win the people；
always cook them some savoury that pleases them。 Besides； you
possess all the attributes of a demagogue； a screeching； horrible
voice； a perverse； cross…grained nature and the language of the
market…place。 In you all is united which is needful for governing。 The
oracles are in your favour； even including that of Delphi。 Come；
take a chaplet； offer a libation to the god of Stupidity and take care
to fight vigorously。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
Who will be my ally？ for the rich fear the Paphlagonian and the
poor shudder at the sight of him。
DEMOSTHENES
You will have a thousand brave Knights； who detest him； on your
side； also the honest citizens amongst the spectators； those who are
men of brave hearts； and finally myself and the god。 Fear not； you
will not see his features； for none have dared to make a mask
resembling him。 But the public have wit enough to recognize him。
NICIAS （from within）
Oh！ mercy！ here comes the Paphlagonian！
（CLEON rushes out of the house。）
CLEON
By the twelve gods！ Woe betide you； who have too long been
conspiring against Demos。 What means this Chalcidian cup？ No doubt you
are provoking the Chalcidians to revolt。 You shall be killed and
butchered； you brace of rogues。
DEMOSTHENES （to the SAUSAGE…SELLER）
What！ are you for running away？ Come； come； stand firm； bold
Sausage…seller； do not betray us。 To the rescue； oh； Knights。 Now is
the time。 Simon； Panaetius； get you to the right wing； they are coming
on； hold tight and return to the charge。 I can see the dust of their
horses' hoofs； they are galloping to our aid。 （To the
SAUSAGE…SELLER） Courage！ Attack him； put him to flight。
（The CHORUS OF KNIGHTS enters at top speed。）
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Strike； strike the villain； who has spread confusion amongst the
ranks of the Knights； this public robber； this yawning gulf of
plunder； this devouring Charybdis； this villain； this villain； this
villain！ I cannot say the word too often； for he is a villain a
thous
