"The two of us have
squandered
a deal between us.
Aristophanes
.
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. --Slave! slave! place our dinner in a basket, and let us
go for a good long drinking bout.
PHILOCLEON. By no means, it is too dangerous; for after drinking, one
breaks in doors, one comes to blows, one batters everything. Anon, when
the wine is slept off, one is forced to pay.
BDELYCLEON. Not if you are with decent people. Either they undertake to
appease the offended person or, better still, you say something witty,
you tell some comic story, perhaps one of those you have yourself heard
at table, either in Aesop's style or in that of Sybaris; all laugh and
the trouble is ended.
PHILOCLEON. Faith! 'tis worth while learning many stories then, if you
are thus not punished for the ill you do.
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. --Slave! slave! place our dinner in a basket, and let us
go for a good long drinking bout.
PHILOCLEON. By no means, it is too dangerous; for after drinking, one
breaks in doors, one comes to blows, one batters everything. Anon, when
the wine is slept off, one is forced to pay.
BDELYCLEON. Not if you are with decent people. Either they undertake to
appease the offended person or, better still, you say something witty,
you tell some comic story, perhaps one of those you have yourself heard
at table, either in Aesop's style or in that of Sybaris; all laugh and
the trouble is ended.
PHILOCLEON. Faith! 'tis worth while learning many stories then, if you
are thus not punished for the ill you do.
