Why, you
wretched
man, 'twill be the end of you if you sing
that.
that.
Aristophanes
Shall you know exactly how to
take up the songs that are started?
PHILOCLEON. Better than any born mountaineer of Attica.
BDELYCLEON. That we shall see. Suppose me to be Cleon. I am the first to
begin the song of Harmodius, and you take it up: "There never was yet
seen in Athens . . .
PHILOCLEON. . . . such a rogue or such a thief. "[141]
BDELYCLEON.
Why, you wretched man, 'twill be the end of you if you sing
that. He will vow your ruin, your destruction, to chase you out of the
country.
PHILOCLEON. Well! then I shall answer his threats with another song:
"With your madness for supreme power, you will end by overthrowing the
city, which even now totters towards ruin. "
BDELYCLEON. And when Theorus, prone at Cleon's feet, takes his hand and
sings, "Like Admetus, love those who are brave,"[142] what reply will you
make him?
PHILOCLEON. I shall sing, "I know not how to play the fox, nor call
myself the friend of both parties. "
BDELYCLEON. Then comes the turn of Aeschines, the son of Sellus, and a
well-trained and clever musician, who will sing, "Good things and riches
for Clitagoras and me and eke for the Thessalians! "
PHILOCLEON. "The two of us have squandered a deal between us. "
BDELYCLEON. At this game you seem at home. But come, we will go and dine
with Philoctemon.
take up the songs that are started?
PHILOCLEON. Better than any born mountaineer of Attica.
BDELYCLEON. That we shall see. Suppose me to be Cleon. I am the first to
begin the song of Harmodius, and you take it up: "There never was yet
seen in Athens . . .
PHILOCLEON. . . . such a rogue or such a thief. "[141]
BDELYCLEON.
Why, you wretched man, 'twill be the end of you if you sing
that. He will vow your ruin, your destruction, to chase you out of the
country.
PHILOCLEON. Well! then I shall answer his threats with another song:
"With your madness for supreme power, you will end by overthrowing the
city, which even now totters towards ruin. "
BDELYCLEON. And when Theorus, prone at Cleon's feet, takes his hand and
sings, "Like Admetus, love those who are brave,"[142] what reply will you
make him?
PHILOCLEON. I shall sing, "I know not how to play the fox, nor call
myself the friend of both parties. "
BDELYCLEON. Then comes the turn of Aeschines, the son of Sellus, and a
well-trained and clever musician, who will sing, "Good things and riches
for Clitagoras and me and eke for the Thessalians! "
PHILOCLEON. "The two of us have squandered a deal between us. "
BDELYCLEON. At this game you seem at home. But come, we will go and dine
with Philoctemon.
