登陆注册
15730000000012

第12章

Another four, three, two days, then the eve, then the day, the fatal day of payment! I tremble, I quake, I shudder, for it's the day of the old moon and the new.Then all my creditors take the oath, pay their deposits, I swear my downfall and my ruin.As for me, I beseech them to be reasonable, to be just, "My friend, do not demand this sum, wait a little for this other and give me time for this third one." Then they will pretend that at this rate they will never be repaid, will accuse me of bad faith and will threaten me with the law.Well then, let them sue me! I care nothing for that, if only Phidippides has learnt to speak fluently.I am going to find out;I'll knock at the door of the school.(He knocks.)....Ho! slave, slave!

SOCRATES (coming out)

Welcome! Strepsiades!

STREPSIADES

Welcome! Socrates! But first take this sack (offers him a sack of flour); it is right to reward the master with some present.And my son, whom you took off lately, has he learnt this famous reasoning?

Tell me.

SOCRATES

He has learnt it.

STREPSIADES

Wonderful! Oh! divine Knavery!

SOCRATES

You will win just as many causes as you choose.

STREPSIADES

Even if I have borrowed before witnesses?

SOCRATES

So much the better, even if there are a thousand of them!

STREPSIADES (bursting into song)

Then I am going to shout with all my might."Woe to the usurers, woe to their capital and their interest and their compound interest!

You shall play me no more bad turns.My son is being taught there, his tongue is being sharpened into a double-edged weapon; he is my defender, the saviour of my house, the ruin of my foes! His poor father was crushed down with misfortune and he delivers him." Go and call him to me quickly.Oh! my child! my dear little one! run forward to your father's voice!

SOCRATES (singing)

Lo, the man himself!

STREPSIADES (singing)

Oh, my friend, my dearest friend!

SOCRATES (singing)

Take your son, and get you gone.

STREPSIADES (as PHIDIPPIDES appears)

Oh, my son! oh! oh! what a pleasure to see your pallor! You are ready first to deny and then to contradict; it's as clear as noon.

What a child of your country you are! How your lips quiver with the famous, "What have you to say now?" How well you know, I am certain, to put on the look of a victim, when it is you who are making both victims and dupes! And what a truly Attic glance! Come, it's for you to save me, seeing it is you who have ruined me.

PHIDIPPIDES

What is it you fear then?

STREPSIADES

The day of the old and the new.

PHIDIPPIDES

Is there then a day of the old and the new?

STREPSIADES

The day on which they threaten to pay deposit against me.

PHIDIPPIDES

Then so much the worse for those who have deposited! for it's not possible for one day to be two.

STREPSIADES

What?

PHIDIPPIDES

Why, undoubtedly, unless a woman can be both old and young at the same time.

STREPSIADES

But so runs the law.

PHIDIPPIDES

I think the meaning of the law is quite misunderstood.

STREPSIADES

What does it mean?

PHIDIPPIDES

Old Solon loved the people.

STREPSIADES

What has that to do with the old day and the new?

PHIDIPPIDES

He has fixed two days for the summons, the last day of the old moon and the first day of the new; but the deposits must only be paid on the first day of the new moon.

STREPSIADES

And why did he also name the last day of the old?

PHIDIPPIDES

So, my dear sir, that the debtors, being there the day before, might free themselves by mutual agreement, or that else, if not, the creditor might begin his action on the morning of the new moon.

STREPSIADES

Why then do the magistrates have the deposits paid on the last of the month and not the next day?

PHIDIPPIDES

I think they do as the gluttons do, who are the first to pounce upon the dishes.Being eager to carry off these deposits, they have them paid in a day too soon.

STREPSIADES

Splendid! (to the audience) Ah! you poor brutes, who serve for food to us clever folk! You are only down here to swell the number, true blockheads, sheep for shearing, heap of empty pots! Hence Iwill sing a song of victory for my son and myself."Oh! happy, Strepsiades! what cleverness is thine! and what a son thou hast here!"Thus my friends and my neighbours will say, jealous at seeing me gain all my suits.But come in, I wish to regale you first.

(They both go in.A moment later a creditor arrives, with his witness.)PASIAS (to the WITNESS)

A man should never lend a single obolus.It would be better to put on a brazen face at the outset than to get entangled in such matters.I want to see my money again and I bring you here to-day to attest the loan.I am going to make a foe of a neighbour; but, as long as I live, I do not wish my country to have to blush for me.Come, Iam going to summon Strepsiades....

STREPSIADES (coming out of his house)

Who is this?

PASIAS

....for the old day and the new.

STREPSIADES (to the WITNESS)

I call you to witness, that he has named two days.What do you want of me?

PASIAS

I claim of you the twelve minae, which you borrowed from me to buy the dapple-grey horse.

STREPSIADES

A horse! do you hear him? I, who detest horses, as is well known.

PASIAS

I call Zeus to witness, that you swore by the gods to return them to me.

STREPSIADES

Because at that time, by Zeus! Phidippides did not yet know the irrefutable argument.

PASIAS

Would you deny the debt on that account?

STREPSIADES

If not, what use is his science to me?

PASIAS

Will you dare to swear by the gods that you owe me nothing?

STREPSIADES

By which gods?

PASIAS

By Zeus, Hermes and Posidon!

STREPSIADES

Why, I would give three obols for the pleasure of swearing by them.

PASIAS

Woe upon you, impudent knave!

STREPSIADES

Oh! what a fine wine-skin you would make if flayed!

PASIAS

Heaven! he jeers at me!

STREPSIADES

It would hold six gallons easily.

PASIAS

By great Zeus! by all the gods! you shall not scoff at me with impunity, STREPSIADESAh! how you amuse me with your gods! how ridiculous it seems to a sage to hear Zeus invoked.

PASIAS

Your blasphemies will one day meet their reward.But, come, will you repay me my money, yes or no? Answer me, that I may go.

STREPSIADES

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 穿越之女尊

    穿越之女尊

    现代杀手穿越女尊王朝,看她与男子们的故事
  • 荣辱利害(中华民族传统美德教育读本)

    荣辱利害(中华民族传统美德教育读本)

    本丛书筛选内容主要遵循以下原则要求:(1)坚持批判继承思想,取其精华、去其糟粕。既不全盘肯定,也不全盘否定。坚持抽象继承、演绎发展、立足当代、为我所用。(2)坚持系统整体的原则。注意各历史时期分布;注意各民族的进步人物;注意各层面人物;注意人物各侧面。做到:竖看历史五千年,纵向成条线;横看美德重实践,横向不漏面。(3)坚持古为今用,为我所用原则。在发掘美德资源时,特别挖掘古代人物故事、言论,注重寻找挖掘各阶层、各民族的传统公德、通德、同德;注重人民性、民主性、进步性、发展性、普遍性、抽象性,不求全古代,不求全个体。
  • 一记重拳

    一记重拳

    在这个世界上,无论人修,兽将,妖神,魔圣,所求大多是世间大道之真。在这个世界上,无论人奴,兽宠,妖灵,魔偶,所求大多是权力大道之巅。在这个世界上,无论修真,求权,求强,求生,所需者万万千千,大到世界元素之法,小到金铁兵器之利。谢清求的是随心意,需者不过...一记重拳!中创元年1173年,妖魔并起,人兽合谋,古仙神推波助澜,今圣魔血洗人间,且看一地球来客除奴籍,踏巅峰,斩仙神圣魔,不求魔,不求佛,不求神仙,只求一条随心大道!天逆我意我逆天,我逆天行天随我!亦正亦邪随心客,拳碎江山乱世魔。
  • 三世桃之夭

    三世桃之夭

    前世众叛亲离!死前她许愿:如有来生,愿现世安稳,岁月静好。重生异世小村,虽然没有疼她的爹,却有爱她入骨的娘亲,和她向往的平静生活。人算不如天算、否则这什么皇室隐族秘辛算什么?……当迷雾剥开阴谋渐显,轻讽一笑她不是那个古韵小村单纯的暮陌,而是来自异世的嗜血九月!有什么招儿?划什么道儿?她接着就是。只是不知道她的回应那些蠢货能否接的下?既然开始那就用生命作为招惹的代价吧!
  • 命运迷雾

    命运迷雾

    茫茫世界,何处是终点?芸芸众生,哪个是我爱的人?
  • 道玉生烟

    道玉生烟

    童年家破人亡,惨遭虐待,她发誓要登上权力的顶峰。然而却在追求强权的路上意外收获爱情,可两者不能并存,她会选择哪一边?
  • 调皮王妃:霸道王爷爱上我

    调皮王妃:霸道王爷爱上我

    二十一世纪的高材生宁嫣雪为保清白从七楼纵身一跃,这一跃既没下地狱也没进天堂,而是去了一个没有任何历史记录的大陆。宁嫣雪本想安安静静的过完一生,可圣命难为,只好从九位皇子中选一位做为夫君。然而让宁嫣雪也没想到的是,她竟然惹上了一个腹黑王爷,而且这王爷还污蔑她偷看他洗澡。此仇不报非君子,宁嫣雪决定要和他纠缠到底了。“娘子,你可还记得咱们夫妻第一次见面的时候?”“记得,是在皇宫的大殿上。”“才不是,为夫就知道娘子你一定不记得了。那是一个骄阳似火的下午,为夫为解暑去到了灵月湖,结果却发现娘子竟然躲在树下......偷看为夫洗澡!”“原来那个人是你!”
  • 执政为帝,君狂胜天

    执政为帝,君狂胜天

    【我有选择困难症啊,为什么要选男文女文!能看不就好了!我都不知道怎么选风格,就选了个猥琐,但愿真的是猥琐文。】成为妖王就是个错误,不对,从出生起,我们的主角就是错误。之后开始了一切的错误,既然一切都已经成为错误,那就扳倒一切,建立自己的政权,让错误成为正确。
  • 龙蛇血爆

    龙蛇血爆

    茫茫天路,尽在红尘争渡。争先问道,只欲握掌乾坤。一个圣世,天骄云起,竞逐天路,热血狂飙!男儿立于世,当顶天立地,豪气倾天!女儿当世,大地盖天,豪情壮志非男儿权!龙蛇起陆,战寰宇!翻天覆地,乱轮回!盖世天骄,竞相争霸,祸八荒万界,乱无极周天!一个时期因他/她们而命名——龙蛇鸿蒙!(QQ群:263久65554)
  • 卡耐基生活的艺术

    卡耐基生活的艺术

    本书共为五个部分,讲解了如何消除你的忧虑、如何改变忧虑的习惯、如何培养快乐的心情、如何获得快乐的生活、如何减少疲劳保持活力。