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.
730
And who, pray, has been maltreating you?
What a hubhub! To the Devil with you, bawlers! Alas! my olive branch, which they have torn down! Ah! it's you, Paphlagonian.
730
And who, pray, has been maltreating you?
Cleon
You are the cause of this man and these young people having covered me with blows.
You are the cause of this man and these young people having covered me with blows.
Demos
And why?
And why?
Cleon
Because you love me passionately, Demos.
Because you love me passionately, Demos.
Demos
to the Sausage-Seller
And you, who are you?
And you, who are you?
Sausage-Seller
His rival. For many a long year have I loved you, have I wished to do you honor, I
735
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;
740
to earn your favours, one has to be a lamp-seller, a cobbler, a tanner or a currier.
His rival. For many a long year have I loved you, have I wished to do you honor, I
735
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;
740
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.
I am the benefactor of the people.
Sausage-Seller
In what way, please?
In what way, please?
Cleon
In what way? I supplanted the Generals at
Pylos
, I hurried thither and I brought back the Laconian captives.
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,
745
cleared off with a pot from a shop, which another fellow had been boiling.
And I, whilst simply loitering,
745
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.
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.
Yes, yes, provided it be not at the Pnyx.
Demos
750
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.
750
I could not sit elsewhere; it is at the Pnyx that you must appear before me.
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,
755
he is there with mouth agape as if he were hanging up figs by their stems to dry.
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,
755
he is there with mouth agape as if he were hanging up figs by their stems to dry.
Knights. Aristophanes. ed. Eugene O'Neill, Jr.. New York. 1938.
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