Knights' Attack on Cleon, The. "The Knights"

" THE Knights . "

The C HORUS OF C AVALIERS with their hobby-horses enter and occupy their position in the orchestra .

Knights . Close around him, and confound him, the confounder of us all.
Pelt him, pummel him and maul him; rummage, ransack, overhaul him.
Overbear him and out-bawl him; bear him down and bring him under.
Bellow like a burst of thunder, robber! harpy! sink of plunder!
Rogue and villain! rogue and cheat! rogue and villain, I repeat!
Oftener than I can repeat it, has the rogue and villain cheated.
Close around him left and right; spit upon him; spurn and smite:
Spit upon him as you see; spurn and spit at him like me.
But beware, or he'll evade ye, for he knows the private track
Where Eucrates was seen escaping with the mill dust on his back.
Cleon . Worthy veterans of the jury, you that either right or wrong,
With my threepenny provision, I've maintained and cherished long,
Come to my aid! I'm here waylaid — assassinated and betrayed!
Knights . Rightly served! we serve you rightly, for your hungry love of pelf,
For your gross and greedy rapine, gormandizing by yourself;
You that ere the figs are gathered, pilfer with a privy twitch
Fat delinquents and defaulters, pulpy, luscious, plump, and rich;
Pinching, fingering, and pulling — tampering, selecting, culling,
With a nice survey discerning, which are green and which are turning,
Which are ripe for accusation, forfeiture, and confiscation.
Him besides, the wealthy man, retired upon an easy rent,
Hating and avoiding party, noble-minded, indolent,
Fearful of official snares, intrigues and intricate affairs;
Him you mark; you fix and hook him, whilsThe's gaping unawares;
At a fling, at once you bring him hither from the Chersonese,
Down you cast him, roast and baste him, and devour him at your ease.
Cleon . Yes! assault, insult, abuse me! this is the return, I find,
For the noble testimony, the memorial I designed:
Meaning to propose proposals, for a monument of stone,
On the which, your late achievements, should be carved and neatly done.
Knights . Out, away with him! the slave! the pompous empty fawning knave!
Does he think with idle speeches to delude and cheat us all?
As he does the doting elders, that attend his daily call.
Pelt him here, and bang him there; and here and there and everywhere.
Cleon . Save me, neighbours! O the monsters! O my side, my back, my breast!
Knights . What, you're forced to call for help? You brutal overbearing pest.
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Author of original: 
Aristophanes
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