Friends, leave the Laconians out of debate and
consider
only
whether I have not done well to conclude my truce.
whether I have not done well to conclude my truce.
Aristophanes
You ask that, you impudent rascal, traitor to your country; you
alone amongst us all have concluded a truce, and you dare to look us in
the face!
DICAEOPOLIS. But you do not know _why_ I have treated for peace. Listen!
CHORUS. Listen to you? No, no, you are about to die, we will annihilate
you with our stones.
DICAEOPOLIS. But first of all, listen. Stop, my friends.
CHORUS. I will hear nothing; do not address me; I hate you more than I do
Cleon,[197] whom one day I shall flay to make sandals for the Knights.
Listen to your long speeches, after you have treated with the Laconians!
No, I will punish you.
DICAEOPOLIS.
Friends, leave the Laconians out of debate and consider only
whether I have not done well to conclude my truce.
CHORUS. Done well! when you have treated with a people who know neither
gods, nor truth, nor faith.
DICAEOPOLIS. We attribute too much to the Laconians; as for myself, I
know that they are not the cause of all our troubles.
CHORUS. Oh, indeed, rascal! You dare to use such language to me and then
expect me to spare you!
DICAEOPOLIS. No, no, they are not the cause of all our troubles, and I
who address you claim to be able to prove that they have much to complain
of in us.
CHORUS. This passes endurance; my heart bounds with fury. Thus you dare
to defend our enemies.
DICAEOPOLIS. Were my head on the block I would uphold what I say and rely
on the approval of the people.
alone amongst us all have concluded a truce, and you dare to look us in
the face!
DICAEOPOLIS. But you do not know _why_ I have treated for peace. Listen!
CHORUS. Listen to you? No, no, you are about to die, we will annihilate
you with our stones.
DICAEOPOLIS. But first of all, listen. Stop, my friends.
CHORUS. I will hear nothing; do not address me; I hate you more than I do
Cleon,[197] whom one day I shall flay to make sandals for the Knights.
Listen to your long speeches, after you have treated with the Laconians!
No, I will punish you.
DICAEOPOLIS.
Friends, leave the Laconians out of debate and consider only
whether I have not done well to conclude my truce.
CHORUS. Done well! when you have treated with a people who know neither
gods, nor truth, nor faith.
DICAEOPOLIS. We attribute too much to the Laconians; as for myself, I
know that they are not the cause of all our troubles.
CHORUS. Oh, indeed, rascal! You dare to use such language to me and then
expect me to spare you!
DICAEOPOLIS. No, no, they are not the cause of all our troubles, and I
who address you claim to be able to prove that they have much to complain
of in us.
CHORUS. This passes endurance; my heart bounds with fury. Thus you dare
to defend our enemies.
DICAEOPOLIS. Were my head on the block I would uphold what I say and rely
on the approval of the people.
