“An Ancient Contract” / A Memorable Fancy #084

We agree to pay Kleanthos ten plates of meat from the civic feast, and not all the worst parts, or deer found rotting in the hills.

And we agree to pay him fifty jugs of wine put up in harvest (but ten in a bad year), to be memory among us when our old men forget.

Recall the battles of our kings, their lineage and strength! Relate our deeds of war and wealth and tell our daughters’ freshness to our listening eyes.

We inscribe our names below (some of us with doubts) but if Kleanthos agrees to do these things, and fails, may his own daughters die before his eyes and may he remember the sight – forever.