Racine: Phaedra

194
ARISTOPHANES
[Cleon sets down his hare-pie, and runs off the stage to in'
tcrcept the supposed envoys.]
Cleon.— Where? Where are they?
Where? Where?
Sausage-Seller.— What's that to you ? Can't ye be civil ?
Why don't you let the foreigners alone?
There's a hare-pie, my dear own little Demus,
A nice hare-pie, I've brought ye! See, look there!
Cleon [returning].—By Jove, he's stolen it, and served it up.
Sausage-Seller.— Just as you did the prisoners at Pylos.
Demus.—Where did ye get it? How did ye steal it? Tell
me.
Sausage-Seller.—The scheme and the suggestion were di-
vine,
The theft and the execution simply mine.
Cleon.—I took the trouble.
Sausage-Seller.— But I served it up.
Demus.—Well, he that brings the thing must get the thanks.
Cleon [aside],—Alas, I'm circumvented and undone
Out-faced and over-impudentified.
Sausage-Seller.—Come, Demus, had not you best decide at
once.
Which is your truest friend, and best disposed
To the interest of the State, to your belly and you.
Demus.—But how can I decide it cleverly?
Which would the audience think is the cleverest way?
Sausage- Seller.—I'll tell ye; take my chest and search it
fairly,
Then search the Paphlagonian's and determine.
Demus.—Let's look ; what's here ?
Sausage-Seller.— It's empty, don't you see?
My dear old man, I've given you everything.
Demus.—Well, here's a chest indeed, in strict accordance
With the judgment of the public; perfectly empty!
Sausage-Seller.—Come now, let's rummage out the Paphla-
gonian's.
See there
Demus.—Oh bless me, what a hoard of dainties
And what a lump of cake the fellow has kept,
Compared with the little tiny slice he gave me.