"And after Pericles?" he said.
"Cleon, of course."
"Why not? The man of the people for the people, but no philosophers
nor actors. So, Pericles is sick, is he? Listen, Anytos? Who is
Nicias?"
"He is a grandee who believes in oracles."
"Don't attack the oracles. I certainly do not believe in them, but a
State requires for its stability a certain uniformity in everything
--laws, customs, and religion. Therefore I support the gods of the
State--and what belongs to them."
"I also support the gods of the State, so long as the people do."
The two orators began to be mutually weary, and Cleon wished for
solitude in order to hatch the eggs which Anytos had laid for him.
Therefore he remarked, "You say that Nicias...."
"I am going to bathe," broke in Anytos; "otherwise I will get no
sleep to-night."
"But Alcibiades, who is he?"
"He is the traitor Ephialtes, who will lead the Persian King to
Thermopylae."
"The Persian King in the east, Sparta in the south."
"Macedonia in the north."
"And in the west, new Rome."
"Enemies in all four quarters! Woe to Athens!"
"Woe to Hellas!"
* * * * *
The guests had assembled at the house of Alcibiades, who on his
arrival had immediately gone off, with the laudable object of
procuring flute-players.
Pages:
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52