Chorus.
Yes, by Zeus! yes, ’twas well done; the wretches broke a chest for me with stones, which held six medimni of corn.
Hermes.
Then the rural labourers flocked into the city[1] and let themselves be bought over like the others. Not having even a grape-stone to munch and longing after their figs, they looked towards the orators.[2] These well knew that the poor were driven to extremity and lacked even bread; but they nevertheless drove away the Goddess each time she reappeared in answer to the wish of the country with their loud shrieks, that were as sharp as pitchforks; furthermore, they attacked the well-filled purses of the richest among our allies on the pretence that they belonged to Brasidas’ party.[3] And then you would tear the poor accused wretch to pieces with your teeth; for the city, all pale with hunger and cowed with terror, gladly snapped up any calumny that was thrown it to devour. So the strangers, seeing what terrible blows the informers dealt, sealed their lips with gold. They grew rich, while you, alas! you could only see that Greece was going to ruin. ’Twas the tanner who was the author of all this woe.[4]
Trygæus.
Enough said, Hermes, leave that man in Hades, whither he has gone; he no longer belongs to us, but rather to yourself.[5] That he was a cheat, a braggart, a calumniator when alive, why, nothing could be truer; but anything you might say now would be an insult to one of your own folk. Oh! venerated Goddess! why art thou silent?
Hermes.
And how could she speak to the spectators? She is too angry at all that they have made her suffer.
- ↑ Driven in from the country parts by the Laccdæmonian invaders.
- ↑ The demagogues, who distributed the slender dole given to the poor, and by that means exercised undue power over them.
- ↑ Meaning, the side of the Spartans.
- ↑ Cleon.
- ↑ It was Hermes who conducted the souls of the dead down to the lower regions.
