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BEP(F.768.037
29 Aug 1768:21 (1718)
[Verse given in French, then in translation]
An intendant! What is he?
Here his true description see:
He's an animal, that seems
Pleas'd to fish in troubled streams . Fontaine.
Aristophanes has an odd whim in one of his comedies
[footnote explains, "In Equitibus", Act I., Sc.2.] He
introduces a chief person of his play, endeavoring to
persuade a man that made sausages to resolve upon meddling
with affairs of state. The man was surprised at his
discourse, and asked, why he would despise & laugh at a poor
fellow, who had never employed his tho'ts or time in any
thing but making sausages. Upon which the poet instructs his
other person to speak thus: Behold all these ranks of
people, you shall be a great leader and chief among them,
you shall tread upon the Senate, and tie up the hands of our
rulers. Who I" says the sausage-maker: Yes, you shall do it,
quoth the other person. . . [34 more lines about this scene]
Monsieur leClerc, taking notice of this scene, says "The
character was drawn for Cleon, who was a troublesome orator,
an enemy to the best men of the country, & to the greatest
generals of that government. He says the poet very justly
exposed this person in his play. . . [36 more lines] God
preserve all countries from such Cleons, and such sausage-
makers!
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