Racine: Phaedra

20O ARISTOPHANES
Chorus.—Thou glorious hill! pre-eminent still
For splendor of empire and honor and worth!
Exhibit him here, for the Greeks to revere
Their patron and master the monarch of earth
Agoracritus.—There, see him, behold ! with the jewels of gold
Entwined in his hair, in the fashion of old
Not dreaming of verdicts or dirty decrees
But lordly, majestic, attired at his ease,
Perfuming all Greece with an odor of peace.
Chorus.—We salute you, and greet you, and bid you rejoice;
With unanimous heart, with unanimous voice,
Our sovereign lord, in glory restored,
Returning amongst us in royal array.
Worthy the trophies of Marathon's day
[Demus comes forward in his splendid old-fashioned attire: the
features of his mask are changed to those of youth, and
his carriage throughout this scene is marked with the
characteristics of youth, warmth, eagerness, and occa-
sional bashfulness and embarrassment.]
Demus.—My dearest Agoracritus, come here
I'm so obliged to you for your cookery
I feel an altered man, you've quite transformed me.
Agoracritus.—What! I? That's nothing; if you did but
know
The state you were in before, you'd worship me.
Demus.—What was I doing? How did I behave?
Do tell me—inform against me—let me know,
Agoracritus.—Why first, then : if an orator in the Assembly
Began with saying, Demus, I'm your friend,
Your faithful zealous friend, your only friend,
You used to chuckle, and smirk, and hold your head up.
Demus.—No sure
Agoracritus.—So he gained his end, and bilked and choused
ye.
Demus.—But did not I perceive it? Was not I told?
Agoracritus.—By Jove, and you wore those ears of yours con-
tinually
Wide open or close shut, like an umbrella.
Demus.— Is it possible? Was I indeed so mere a driveller
In my old age, so superannuated ?