Racine: Phaedra

lyo
ARISTOPHANES
But more in manly deed,
Hast merited, and to fair achievement brought
Relate at length and tell
The event as it befell
So would I gladly pass a weary way
Nor weary would it seem,
Attending to the theme,
Of all the glories of this happy day.
Come, my jolly worthy fellow, never fear!
We're all delighted with you—let us hear!
Sausage- Seller.—Aye, aye—It's well worth hearing, I cai?
tell ye
I followed after him to the Senate House
And there was he, storming, and roaring, driving
His thunderbolts about him, bowling down
His biggest words, to crush the cavaliers.
Like stones from a hill-top ; calling them traitors,
Conspirators—what not ? There sat the Senate
With their arms folded, and their eyebrows bent.
And their lips puckered, with the grave aspect
Of persons utterly humbugged and bamboozled.
Seeing the state of things, I paused awhile,
Praying in secret with an under voice
" Ye influential impudential powers
Of sauciness and jabber, slang and jaw
Ye spirits of the market-place and street.
Where I was reared and bred—befriend me now!
Grant me a voluble utterance, and a vast
Unbounded voice, and steadfast impudence !
Whilst I thus thought and prayed, on the right hand,
I heard a sound of wind distinctly broken
I seized the omen at once ; and bouncing up,
I burst among the crowd, and bustled through,
And bolted in at the wicket, and bawled out
" News ! news ! I've brought you news ! the best of
news
Yes, Senators, since first the war began,
There never has been known, till now this morning,
Such a haul of pilchards." Then they smiled and seemed
All tranquillized and placid at the prospect
"