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Demos
Faith! here is an excellent citizen indeed, such as has not been seen for a long time. [945] He's truly a man of the lowest scum! As for you, Paphlagonian, who pretend to love me, you only feed me on garlic. Return me my ring, for you cease to be my steward. Cleon
Here it is, but be assured, that if you bereave me of my power, [950] my successor will be worse than I am. Demos
This cannot be my ring; I see another device, unless I am going purblind. Sausage-Seller
What was your device? Demos
A fig-leaf, stuffed with bullock's fat. Sausage-Seller
[955] No, that is not it. Demos
What is it then? Sausage-Seller
It's a gull with beak wide open, haranguing the people from the top of a stone. Demos
Ah! great gods! Sausage-Seller
What is the matter? Demos
Away! away out of my sight! It's not my ring he had, it was that of Cleonymus. To the Sausage-Seller Wait, I'll give you this one; you shall be my steward. Cleon
[960] Master, I adjure you, decide nothing till you have heard my oracles. Sausage-Seller
And mine. Cleon
If you believe him, you will have to prostitute yourself for him. Sausage-Seller
If you listen to him, you'll have to let him peel you to the very stump. Cleon
[965] My oracles say that you are to reign over the whole earth, crowned with chaplets. Sausage-Seller
And mine say that, clothed in an embroidered purple robe, you shall pursue Smicythe and her spouse, standing in a chariot of gold and with a crown on your head. Chorus
[970] Go, fetch me your oracles, that the Paphlagonian may hear them. Demosthenes
By all means. And you fetch yours. Cleon
Here goes.He rushes into the house of Demos.
Sausage-Seller
Here goes, by Zeus! There's nothing to stop us.He departs in haste.
Aristophanes. Knights. The Complete Greek Drama, vol. 2. Eugene O'Neill, Jr. New York. Random House. 1938.
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