Racine: Phaedra

THE KNIGHTS 185
Demus.— Away with it!
That was Cleonymus's seal, not mine *^—
But here take this, act with it as my steward.
Cleon.—Not yet, sir ! I beseech you. First permit me
To communicate some oracles I possess. ~^
Sausage-Seller,—And me too, some of mine.
Cleon.— Beware of them!
His oracles are most dangerous and infectious
They strike ye with the leprosy and the jaundice.
Sausage-Seller.—And his will give you the itch, and a scald
head;
And the glanders and mad-staggers! take my word for
it!
Cleon.—My oracles foretell, that you shall rule
Over all Greece, and wear a crown of roses.
Sausage-Seller.—And mine foretell, that you shall wear a
robe
With golden spangles, and a crown of gold,
And ride in a golden chariot over Thrace
In triumph with king Smicythes and his queen.
Cleon [to the Sausage-Seller] .—Well, go for 'em ! and bring
'em ! and let him hear 'em
Sausage-Seller.—Yes, sure—and you too—go fetch yours
Cleon.— Heigh-day
Sausage-Seller.—Heigh-day! Why should not ye? What
should hinder ye?
[Exeunt Cleon and Sausage-Seller.
Chorus.— Joyful will it be and pleasant
To the future times and present.
The benignant happy day.
Which will shine on us at last,
Announcing with his genial ray,
That Cleon is condemned and cast!
Notwithstanding we have heard
From the seniors of the city,"
Jurymen revered and feared.
An opinion deep and pithy
** Cleonymus's emblem is a bird, to class of citizens who conceived that the
mark his cowardice. The bird is also State had an interest in supporting the
one of voracious habits. tyrannical exactions of Cleon.
*• There was a portion of the lower