Racine: Phaedra

THE KNIGHTS 177
In nests of the rock where the vultures are bred,
In tubs, and in huts and the towers of the wall
His friend and protector, you witness it all
But where is thy pity, thou friend of the city
To smoke him alive, to plunder his hive?
And when Archeptolemus-'" came on a mission,
With peace in his hand, with a fair proposition
So drive them before you with kicks on the rump,
Peace, treaties and embassies, all in a lump
Cleon.—I did wisely and well ; for the prophecies tell.
That if he perseveres, for a period of years,
He shall sit in Arcadia, judging away
In splendor and honor, at five-pence a day
Meantime I can feed and provide for his need
Maintaining him wholly, fairly and foully.
With jurymen's pay, three-pence a day.
Sausage-Seller.—No vision or fancy prophetic have you,
^•
Nor dreams of Arcadian empire in view ;
A safer concealment is all that you seek
In the hubbub of war, in the darkness and reek,
To plunder at large ; to keep him confined,
Passive, astounded, humbled, blind.
Pining in penun,', looking to thee.
For his daily provision a juryman's fee.
But if he returns to his country concerns,
His grapes and his figs, and his furmety kettle,
You'll find him a man of a different mettle.
When he feels that your fees had debarred him from
these
He'll trudge up to town, looking eagerly down.
And pick a choice pebble, and keep it in view,
As a token of spite,*" for a vote against you.
Peace sinks you forever, you feel it and know.
As your shifts and your tricks and your prophecies show.
Cleon.— 'Tis a scandal, a shame ! to throw slander and blame
On the friend of the people ! a patriot name,
A kinder protector, I venture to say,
•» After the surrender of the Spartans *" " As a token of spite:" that is, as a
at Pylos. memorandum of anticipated vengeance.