Who is the
defendant?
Aristophanes
Oh!
god of Delphi!
oh!
Phoebus Apollo!
convert into the greatest
blessing for us all what is now happening before this house, and cure us
of our error, oh, Paean,[96] our helper!
BDELYCLEON. Oh! Powerful god, Apollo Aguieus,[97] who watchest at the
door of my entrance hall, accept this fresh sacrifice; I offer it that
you may deign to soften my father's excessive severity; he is as hard as
iron, his heart is like sour wine; do thou pour into it a little honey.
Let him become gentle like other men, let him take more interest in the
accused than in the accusers, may he allow himself to be softened by
entreaties; calm his acrid humour and deprive his irritable mind of all
sting.
CHORUS. We unite our vows and chants to those of this new magistrate. [98]
His words have won our favour and we are convinced that he loves the
people more than any of the young men of the present day.
BDELYCLEON. If there be any judge near at hand, let him enter; once the
proceedings have opened, we shall admit him no more. [99]
PHILOCLEON.
Who is the defendant? Ha! what a sentence he will get!
XANTHIAS (_Prosecuting Council_). Listen to the indictment. A dog of
Cydathenea doth hereby charge Labes of Aexonia with having devoured a
Sicilian cheese by himself without accomplices. Penalty demanded, a
collar of fig-tree wood. [100]
PHILOCLEON. Nay, a dog's death, if convicted.
BDELYCLEON. This is Labes, the defendant.
PHILOCLEON. Oh! what a wretched brute! how entirely he looks the rogue!
He thinks to deceive me by keeping his jaws closed.
blessing for us all what is now happening before this house, and cure us
of our error, oh, Paean,[96] our helper!
BDELYCLEON. Oh! Powerful god, Apollo Aguieus,[97] who watchest at the
door of my entrance hall, accept this fresh sacrifice; I offer it that
you may deign to soften my father's excessive severity; he is as hard as
iron, his heart is like sour wine; do thou pour into it a little honey.
Let him become gentle like other men, let him take more interest in the
accused than in the accusers, may he allow himself to be softened by
entreaties; calm his acrid humour and deprive his irritable mind of all
sting.
CHORUS. We unite our vows and chants to those of this new magistrate. [98]
His words have won our favour and we are convinced that he loves the
people more than any of the young men of the present day.
BDELYCLEON. If there be any judge near at hand, let him enter; once the
proceedings have opened, we shall admit him no more. [99]
PHILOCLEON.
Who is the defendant? Ha! what a sentence he will get!
XANTHIAS (_Prosecuting Council_). Listen to the indictment. A dog of
Cydathenea doth hereby charge Labes of Aexonia with having devoured a
Sicilian cheese by himself without accomplices. Penalty demanded, a
collar of fig-tree wood. [100]
PHILOCLEON. Nay, a dog's death, if convicted.
BDELYCLEON. This is Labes, the defendant.
PHILOCLEON. Oh! what a wretched brute! how entirely he looks the rogue!
He thinks to deceive me by keeping his jaws closed.
