DEMOSTHENES. This way, this way, oh, lucky sausage-seller, come forward, dear friend, our saviour, the saviour of our city. SAUSAGE-SELLER. What is it? Why do you call me? DEMOSTHENES. Come here, come and learn about your good luck, you who are Fortune's favourite! NICIAS. Come! Relieve him of his basket-tray and tell him the oracle of the god; I will go and look after the Paphlagonian. DEMOSTHENES. First put down all your gear, then worship the earth and the gods. SAUSAGE-SELLER. 'Tis done. What is the matter? DEMOSTHENES. Happiness, riches, power; to-day you have nothing, to-morrow you will have all, oh! chief of happy Athens. SAUSAGE-SELLER. Why not leave me to wash my tripe and to sell my sausages instead of making game of me? DEMOSTHENES. Oh! the fool! Your tripe! Do you see these tiers of people?[23] SAUSAGE-SELLER. Yes. DEMOSTHENES. You shall be master to them all, governor of the market, of the harbours, of the Pnyx; you shall trample the Senate under foot, be able to cashier the generals, load them with fetters, throw them into gaol, and you will play the debauchee in the Prytaneum.[24] SAUSAGE-SELLER. What! I? DEMOSTHENES. You, without a doubt. But you do not yet see all the glory awaiting you. Stand on your basket and look at all the islands that surround Athens.[25] SAUSAGE-SELLER. I see them. What then? DEMOSTHENES. Look at the storehouses and the shipping. SAUSAGE-SELLER. Yes, I am looking. DEMOSTHENES. Exists there a mortal more blest than you? Furthermore, turn your right eye towards Caria and your left towards Chalcedon.[26] SAUSAGE-SELLER. 'Tis then a blessing to squint! DEMOSTHENES. No, but 'tis you who are going to trade away all this. According to the oracle you must become the greatest of men. SAUSAGE-SELLER. Just tell me how a sausage-seller can become a great man. DEMOSTHENES. That is precisely why you will be great, because you are a sad rascal without shame, no better than a common market rogue. SAUSAGE-SELLER. I do not hold myself worthy of wielding power. DEMOSTHENES. Oh! by the gods! Why do you not hold yourself worthy? Have you then such a good opinion of yourself? Come, are you of honest parentage? SAUSAGE-SELLER. By the gods! No! of very bad indeed. DEMOSTHENES. Spoilt child of fortune, everything fits together to ensure your greatness. SAUSAGE-SELLER. But I have not had the least education. I can only read, and that very badly. DEMOSTHENES. That is what may stand in your way, almost knowing how to read. The demagogues will neither have an educated nor an honest man; they require an ignoramus and a rogue. But do not, do not let go this gift, which the oracle promises. SAUSAGE-SELLER. But what does the oracle say?