Racine: Phaedra

THE KNIGHTS 193
Cleon.—See this pease-pudding, which the warlike virgin
Achieved at Pylos, and bestows upon you.
Sausage-Seller.—The goddess upholds your whole establish-
ment,
And holds this mess pf porridge over your head.
Demus.—I say the establishment could not subsist
For a single hour, unless the goddess upheld
The porridge of our affairs, most manifestly.
Cleon.—She, the dread virgin who delights in battle.
And storm and battery, sends this batter-pudding.
Sausage-Seller.—This savory stew, with comely sippets
decked,
Is sent you by the Gorgon-bearing goddess,
Who bids you gorge and gormandize thereon.
Cleon.—The daughter of Jove arrayed in panoply
Presents you a pancake to create a panic
Amongst your enemies.
Sausage-Seller.— And by me she sends
For your behoof this dainty dish of fritters,
Well fried, to strike your foemen with affright
And here's a cup of wine—taste it and try.
Demus.— It's capital, faith
Sausage-Seller.— And it ought to be ; for Pallas
Mixed it herself expressly for your palate.
Cleon.—This slice of rich sweet-cake, take it from me.
Sausage-Seller.—This whole great rich sweet-cake, take it
from me.
Cleon [to the Satisage-Scller].—Ah, but hare-pie—where will
you get hare-pie?
Sausage-Seller [aside],—Hare-pie! What shall I do!
Come, now's the time,
Now for a nimble, knowing, dashing trick.
Cleon [to the Sausage-Seller, showing the dish zvhich he is
going to present].—Look there, you poor rap-
scallion,
Sausage-Seller.— Pshaw ! no matter.
I've people of my own there in attendance.
They're coming here— I see them.
Cleon.— Who? What are they?
Sausage-Seller.—Envoys vrith bags of money.