ALCIBIADES
Kartaphalos, the shoemaker, sat in his shop by the Acarnanian Gate, and repaired cothurns for the Dionysian theatre, which was about to make a last attempt to revive the tragic drama, which had been eclipsed by the farces of Aristophanes. The Roman Lucillus lounged at the window-sill, and, since philosophy had been brought into fashion by Socrates and the Sophists, the shoemaker and the exiled Decemvir philosophised as well as they could.
“Roman!” said Kartaphalos, “you are a stranger in the city, as I am: what do think of the state and the Government?”
“They are exactly like the Roman. One may sum up the whole past history of Rome in two words—Patricians and Plebeians.”
“Just as it is here.”
“With the difference that Rome has a future. Hellas only a past.”
“What is known of Rome’s future?”
“The Cumaean Sibyl has prophesied that Rome will possess the earth.”
“What do you say? Rome? No, Israel will possess it; Israel has the promise.”
“I do not venture to deny that, but Rome has also the promise.”