the knights-第8章
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AGORACRITUS
Demos； I will care for you to the best of my power； and all
shall admit that no citizen is more devoted than I to this city of
simpletons。
（They all enter the house of DEMOS。）
CHORUS （singing）
What fitter theme for our Muse； at the close as at the beginning
of our work； than this； to sing the hero who drives his swift steeds
down the arena？ Why afflict Lysistratus with our satires on his
poverty； and Thumantis； who has not so much as a lodging？ He is
dying of hunger and can be seen at Delphi； his face bathed in tears；
clinging to your quiver； oh； Apollo and supplicating you to take him
out of his misery。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
An insult directed at the wicked is not to be censured； on the
contrary； the honest man； if he has sense； can only applaud。 Him； whom
I wish to brand with infamy； is little known himself； he's the brother
of Arignotus。 I regret to quote this name which is so dear to me；
but whoever can distinguish black from white； or the Orthian mode of
music from others； knows the virtues of Arignotus； whom his brother；
Ariphrades； in no way resembles。 He gloats in vice； is not merely a
dissolute man and utterly debauched…but he has actually invented a new
form of vice； for he pollutes his tongue with abominable pleasures
in brothels； befouling all of his body。 Whoever is not horrified at
such a monster shall never drink from the same cup with me。
CHORUS （singing）
At times a thought weighs on me at night； I wonder whence comes
this fearful voracity of Cleonymus。 'Tis said that when dining with
a rich host； he springs at the dishes with the gluttony of a wild
beast and never leaves the bread…bin until his host seizes him round
the knees； exclaiming； 〃Go； go； good gentleman； in mercy go； and spare
my poor table！〃
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
It is said that the triremes assembled in council and that the
oldest spoke in these terms； 〃Are you ignorant； my sisters； of what is
plotting in Athens？ They say that a certain Hyperbolus； a bad
citizen and an infamous scoundrel； asks for a hundred of us to take
them to sea against Carthage。〃 All were indignant； and one of them； as
yet a virgin； cried； 〃May god forbid that I should ever obey him！ I
would prefer to grow old in the harbour and be gnawed by worms。 No！ by
the gods I swear it； Nauphante； daughter of Nauson； shall never bend
to his law； that's as true as I am made of wood and pitch。 If the
Athenians vote for the proposal of Hyperbolus； let them！ we will hoist
full sail and seek refuge by the temple of Theseus or the shrine of
the Eumenides。 No！ he shall not command us！ No！ he shall not play with
the city to this extent！ Let him sail by himself for Tartarus； if such
please him； launching the boats in which he used to sell his lamps。〃
（The SAUSAGE…SELLER comes out of the house of DEMOS； splendidly
robed。）
AGORACRITUS （solemnly）
Maintain a holy silence！ Keep your mouths from utterance！ call
no more witnesses； close these tribunals； which are the delight of
this city； and gather at the theatre to chant the Paean of
thanksgiving to the gods for a fresh favour。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Oh！ torch of sacred Athens； saviour of the Islands； what good
tidings are we to celebrate by letting the blood of the victims flow
in our marketplaces？
AGORACRITUS
I have freshened Demos up somewhat on the stove and have turned
his ugliness into beauty。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
I admire your invertive genius； but； where is he？
AGORACRITUS
He is living in ancient Athens； the city of the garlands of
violets。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
How I should like to see him！ What is his dress like； what his
manner？
AGORACRITUS
He has once more become as he was in the days when he lived with
Aristides and Miltiades。 But you will judge for yourselves； for I hear
the vestibule doors opening。 Hail with your shouts of gladness the
Athens of old； which now doth reappear to your gaze； admirable； worthy
of the songs of the poets and the home of the illustrious Demos。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Oh！ noble； brilliant Athens； whose brow is wreathed with
violets； show us the sovereign master of this land and of all Greece。
（DEMOS comes from his house； rejuvenated and joyous。）
AGORACRITUS
Lo！ here he is coming with his hair held in place with a golden
band and in all the glory of his old…world dress； perfumed with myrrh；
he spreads around him not the odour of lawsuits； but that of peace。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Hail！ King of Greece； we congratulate you upon the happiness you
enjoy； it is worthy of this city； worthy of the glory of Marathon。
DEMOS
Come； Agoracritus； come； my best friend； see the service you
have done me by freshening me up on your stove。
AGORACRITUS
Ah！ if you but remembered what you were formerly and what you did；
you would for a certainty believe me to be a god。
DEMOS
But what did I do？ and how was I then？
AGORACRITUS
Firstly； so soon as ever an orator declared in the Assembly；
〃Demos； I love you ardently； it is I alone who dream of you and
watch over your interests〃； at such an exordium you would look like
a cock flapping his wings or a bull tossing his horns。
DEMOS
What； I？
AGORACRITUS
Then； after he had fooled you to the hilt； he would go。
DEMOS
What！ they would treat me so； and I never saw it？
AGORACRITUS
You knew only how to open and close your ears like a sunshade。
DEMOS
Was I then so stupid and such a dotard？
AGORACRITUS
Worse than that； if one of two orators proposed to equip a fleet
for war and the other suggested the use of the same sum for paying out
to the citizens； it was the latter who always carried the day。 Well！
you droop your head！ Why do you turn away your face？
DEMOS
I am blushing at my past errors。
AGORACRITUS
Think no more of them； it's not you who are to blame； but those
who cheated you in this sorry fashion。 But； come； if some impudent
lawyer dared to say； 〃Dicasts； you shall have no wheat unless you
convict this accused man！〃 what would you do？ Tell me。
DEMOS
I would have him removed from the bar； I would bind Hyperbolus
about his neck like a stone and would fling him into the Barathrum。
AGORACRITUS
Well spoken！ but what other measures do you wish to take？
DEMOS
First； as soon as ever a fleet returns to the harbour； I shall pay
up the rowers in full。
AGORACRITUS
That will soothe many a worn and chafed bottom。
DEMOS
Further； the hoplite enrolled for military service shall not get
transferred to another service through favour； but shall stick to that
given him at the outset。
AGORACRITUS
This will strike the buckler of Cleonymus full in the centre。
DEMOS
None shall ascend the rostrum； unless his chin is bearded。
AGORACRITUS
What then will become of Clisthenes and of Strato？
DEMOS
I wish only to refer to those youths who loll about the perfume
shops； babbling at random； 〃What a clever fellow is Phaeax！ How
cleverly he escaped death！ how concise and convincing is his style！
what phrases！ how clear and to the point！ how well he knows how to
quell an interruption！
AGORACRITUS
I thought you were the lover of those fairies。
DEMOS
The gods forefend it！ and I will force all such fellows to go
hunting instead of proposing decrees。
AGORACRITUS
In that case； accept this folding…stool； and； to carry it； this
well…grown； big…balled slave lad。 Besides； you may put him to any
other purpose you please。
DEMOS
Oh！ I am happy indeed to find myself as I was of old！
AGORACRITUS
Aye； you will deem yourself happy； when I have handed you the
truce of thirty years。 Truce！ step forward！
（Enter Truce； in the form of a beautiful young girl； magnificently
attired。）
DEMOS
Great gods！ how charming she is！ Can I do with her as I wish？
where did you discover her； pray？
AGORACRITUS
That Paphlagonian had kept her locked up in his house； so that you
might not enjoy her。 As for myself； I give her to you； take her with
you into the country。
DEMOS
And what punishment will you inflict upon this Paphlagonian； the
cause of all my troubles？
AGORACRITUS
It will not be over…terrible。 I condemn him to follow my old
trade； posted near the gates； he must sell sausages of asses' and
dogs' meat： perpetually drunk； he will exchange foul language with
prostitutes and will drink nothing but the dirty water from the baths。
DEMOS
Well conceived！ he is indeed fit to wrangle with harlots and
bathmen； as for you； in return for so many blessings； I invite you
to take the place at the Prytaneum which this rogue once occupied。 Put
on his frog…green mantle and follow me。 As for the other； let them
take him away； let him go sell his sausages in full view of the
foreigners； whom he used formerly to insult so wantonly。
THE END
。
