the knights-第6章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 done； come； let's do it right away。
CLEON （loudly）
Oh； Demos！ Come； I adjure you to help me； my father I
SAUSAGE…SELLER （more loudly）
Come； oh； my dear little Demos； come and see how I am insulted。
DEMOS （coming out of his house followed by DEMOSTHENES）
What a hubhub！ To the Devil with you； bawlers！ Alas！ my olive
branch； which they have torn down！ Ah！ it's you； Paphlagonian。 And
who； pray； has been maltreating you？
CLEON
You are the cause of this man and these young people having
covered me with blows。
DEMOS
And why？
CLEON
Because you love me passionately； Demos。
DEMOS （to the SAUSAGE…SELLER）
And you； who are you？
SAUSAGE…SELLER
His rival。 For many a long year have I loved you； have I wished to
do you honour； I and a crowd of other men of means。 But this rascal
here has prevented us。 You resemble those young men who do not know
where to choose their lovers； you repulse honest folks； to earn your
favours； one has to be a lamp…seller； a cobbler； a tanner or a
currier。
CLEON
I am the benefactor of the people。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
In what way； please？
CLEON
In what way？ I supplanted the Generals at Pylos； I hurried thither
and I brought back the Laconian captives。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
And I； whilst simply loitering； cleared off with a pot from a
shop； which another fellow had been boiling。
CLEON
Demos； convene the assembly at once to decide which of us two
loves you best and most merits your favour。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
Yes； yes； provided it be not at the Pnyx。
DEMOS
I could not sit elsewhere； it is at the Pnyx that you must
appear before me。
（He sits down on a stone in the Orchestra；）
SAUSAGE…SELLER
Ah！ great gods！ I am undone！ At home this old fellow is the most
sensible of men； but the instant he is seated on those cursed stone
seats； he is there with mouth agape as if he were hanging up figs by
their stems to dry。
FIRST SEMI…CHORUS （singing）
Come； loose all sail。 Be bold； skilful in attack and entangle
him in arguments which admit of no reply。 It is difficult to beat him；
for he is full of craft and pulls himself out of the worst corners。
Collect all your forces to come forth from this fight covered with
glory。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
But take care！ Let him not assume the attack； get ready your
grapples and advance with your vessel to board him！
CLEON
Oh！ guardian goddess of our city！ oh！ Athene if it be true that
next to Lysicles； Cynna and Salabaccho none have done so much good for
the Athenian people as I； suffer me to continue to be fed at the
Prytaneum without working； but if I hate you； if I am not ready to
fight in your defence alone and against all； may I perish； be sawn
to bits alive and my skin cut up into thongs。
SAUSAGE…SELLER
And I； Demos； if it be not true； that I love and cherish you；
may I be cooked in a stew； and if that is not saying enough； may I
be grated on this table with some cheese and then hashed； may a hook
be passed through my balls and let me be dragged thus to the
Ceramicus！
CLEON
Is it possible； Demos； to love you more than I do？ And firstly； as
long as you have governed with my consent； have I not filled your
treasury； putting pressure on some； torturing others or begging of
them； indifferent to the opinion of private individuals； and solely
anxious to please you？
SAUSAGE…SELLER
There is nothing so wonderful in all that； Demos； I will do as
much； I will thieve the bread of others to serve up to you。 No； he has
neither love for you nor kindly feeling； his only care is to warm
himself with your wood； and I will prove it。 You； who； sword in
hand； saved Attica from the Median yoke at Marathon； you； whose
glorious triumphs we love to extol unceasingly； look； he cares
little whether he sees you seated uncomfortably upon a stone；
whereas I； I bring you this cushion； which I have sewn with my own
hands。 Rise and try t
