Racine: Phaedra

THE KNIGHTS 187
Sausage- Seller.— About the Athenians
About pease-pudding and porridge—about the Spar-
tans
About the war—about the pilchard fishery
About the state of things in general
About short weights and measures in the market
About all things and persons whatsoever
About yourself and me. Bid him go whistle.
Demus.—Come, read thi;m out then ! that one in particular,
My favorite one of all, about the eagle
About my being an eagle in the clouds.
Cleon.—Listen then! Give your attention to the Oracle!
" Son of Erechtheus, mark and ponder well,
This holy warning from Apollo's cell.
It bids thee cherish, him the sacred whelp
Who for thy sake doth bite and bark and yelp.
Guard and protect him from the chattering jay;
So shall thy juries all be kept in pay."
Erechtheus and a whelp
Demus.—That's quite above me !
What should Erechtheus do with a whelp or a jay ?
What does it mean ? *''
Cleon.— The meaning of it is this
I am presignified as a dog, who barks
And watches for you. Apollo therefore bids you
Cherish the sacred whelp—meaning myself.
Sausage-Seller.—I tell ye, the Oracle means no such thing:
This whelp has gnawed the corner off ; but here,
I've a true perfect copy.
Demus.— Read it out then!
Meanwhile I'll pick a stone up for the nonce.
For fear the dog in the Oracle should bite me.
Sausage-Seller.— " Son of Erechtheus, 'ware the gap-toothed
dog,
The crafty mongrel that purloins thy prog
Fawning at meals, and filching scraps away,
The whilst you gape and stare another way
He prowls by night, and pilfers many a prize,
Amidst the sculleries and the colonies."
"Discussions on the genuine and cor- quent; we find an instance in Thucydrupt
copies of oracles were not unfre- ides.