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Waiting for the Barbarians
What are we waiting for, assembled in the forum?
now come the barbarians.
Why is the Senate so sluggish?
goodbye Why the senators no laws?
now come the barbarians.
What laws could adopt the Senators?
When the barbarians come, they will do it.
Why is the Emperor at such an early hour risen
to sit alone at the gates of the city;
on his throne and the crown on his head?
Because today the barbarians come,
and the emperor is waiting to receive their leader.
He even has prepared a parchment
to inform him of this rich, with whom he
will give it many names and titles.
Why are this morning our two consuls and judges in their red-
embroidered toga appeared?
Why wear bracelets, with many amethysts, and rings with
brilliant, glittering emeralds;
and why they consider the special scepter in her hand,
all in gold and fine silver?
now come the barbarians, and these things
dazzle barbarians.
Why are not cheap speakers,
to post shouts as usual?
now come the barbarians, and barbarians
despise Redsamkeit and long speeches.
Why this sudden concern and excitement?
(Oh, how seriously the expressions of the faces were.)
Why empty the streets and squares as quickly
and all go home full of anxiety?
Because it is already evening, and the barbarians have not come.
Some people came from the border,
to communicate that there are no more barbarians.
What do we do now, without the barbarians? Finally, these people were
a solution.
- Constantine Cavafy
