Aristophanes, Knights
Eugene O'Neill, Jr., Ed.

Sausage-Seller
And that name was mine, nothing can be clearer.

Cleon
Reply and I shall soon see whether you are indeed the man whom the god intended. [1235] Firstly, what school did you attend when a child?

Sausage-Seller
It was in the kitchens, where I was taught with cuffs and blows.

Cleon
What's that you say? aside Ah! this is truly what the oracle said. To the Sausage-Seller And what did you learn from the master of exercises?

Sausage-Seller
I learnt to take a false oath without a smile, when I had stolen something.

Cleon
frightened; aside
[1240] Oh! Phoebus Apollo, god of Lycia! I am undone! To the Sausage-Seller And when you had become a man, what trade did you follow?

Sausage-Seller
I sold sausages and did a bit of fornication.

Cleon
in consternation; aside
Oh! my god! I am a lost man! Ah! still one slender hope remains.to the Sausage-Seller [1245] Tell me, was it on the market-place or near the gates that you sold your sausages?

Sausage-Seller
Near the gates, in the market for salted goods.

Cleon
In tragic despair
Alas! I see the prophecy of the god is verily come true. Alas! roll me home. I am a miserable ruined man. [1250] Farewell, my chaplet. 'Tis death to me to part with you. So you are to belong to another; 'tis certain he cannot be a greater thief, but perhaps he may be a luckier one.

He gives the chaplet to the Sausage-Seller.

Sausage-Seller
Oh! Zeus, protector of Greece! 'tis to you I owe this victory!

Chorus
Hail! illustrious conqueror, but forget not, that [1255] if you have become a great man, 'tis thanks to me; I ask but a little thing; appoint me secretary of the law-court in the room of Phanus.

Demos
to the Sausage-Seller
But what is your name then? Tell me.

Sausage-Seller
My name is Agoracritus, because I have always lived on the agora in the midst of lawsuits.

Demos
Well then, Agoracritus, I stand by you; [1260] as for the Paphlagonian, I hand him over to your mercy.

Sausage-Seller
Demos, I will care for you to the best of my power, and all shall admit that no citizen is more devoted than I to this city of simpletons.