Clouds
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
789b
789b
Socrates.
789b
Will you not pack off to the devil, you most forgetful and most stupid old man?
799b
799b
Strepsiades.
799b
Yes, for he is robust in body, and in good health, and is come of the high-plumed dames of Coesyra. I will go for him, and if he be not willing, I will certainly drive him from my house. To Socrates. Go in and wait for me a short time.
820b
820b
Strepsiades.
820b
Reflecting that you are a child, and have antiquated notions. Yet, however, approach, that you may know more; and I will tell you a thing, by learning which you will be a man. But see that you do not teach this to any one.
825b
825b
Strepsiades.
825b
You swore now by Jupiter.
826b
826b
Strepsiades.
826b
Seest thou, then, how good a thing is learning? There is no Jupiter, O Phidippides!
827b
827b
Phidippides.
827b
Who then?
829b
829b
Strepsiades.
829b
Be assured that it is so.
830b
830b
Strepsiades.
830b
Socrates the Melian, and Chaerephon, who knows the footmarks of fleas.
833b
833b
Strepsiades.
833b
Speak words of good omen, and say nothing bad of clever men
848b
848b
Strepsiades.
848b
Right. And what this?
849b
849b
Strepsiades.
849b
Both the same? You are very ridiculous. Do not do so, then, for the future; but call this ἀλεκτρύαινα, and this one ἀλέκτωρ.
868b
868b
Socrates.
868b
For he is still childish, and not used to the baskets here.
887b
887b
Strepsiades.
887b
I will take my departure. Remember this now, that he is to be able to reply to all just arguments.
893b
893b
Unjust Cause.
893b
A cause.
893c
893c
Just Cause.
893c
Ay, the worse.
895b
895b
Just Cause.
895b
By doing what clever trick?
899b
899b
Just Cause.
899b
I will destroy you miserably.
900b
900b
Just Cause.
900b
By speaking what is just.
903b
903b
Unjust Cause.
903b
For come, where is it?
904a
904a
Unjust Cause.
904a
How, then, if justice exists, has Jupiter not perished, who bound his own father?
906b
906b
Just Cause.
906b
Bah! This profanity now is spreading! Give me a basin.
910b
910b
Just Cause.
910b
And a dirty lickspittle.
911b
911b
Just Cause.
911b
And a parricide.
915b
915b
Unjust Cause.
915b
And you are antiquated.
920b
920b
Just Cause.
920b
And you are prosperous. And yet formerly you were a beggar saying that you were the Mysian Telephus, and gnawing the maxims of Pandeletus out of your little wallet.
925b
925b
Just Cause.
925b
Oh, the madness—
939b
939b
Unjust Cause.
939b
I also am willing.
985b
985b
Just Cause.
985b
Yet certainly these are those principles by which my system of education nurtured the men who fought at Marathon. But you teach the men of the present day, so that I am choked, when at the Panathenaia a fellow, holding his shield before his person, neglects Tritogenia, when they ought to dance.
1052b
1052b
Just Cause.
1052b
These are the very things which make the bath full of youths always chattering all day long, but the palaestras empty.
1088b
1088b
Unjust Cause.
1088b
Come, now, tell me; from what class do the advocates come?
1090b
1090b
Unjust Cause.
1090b
I believe you. What then? From what class do tragedians come?
1092b
1092b
Unjust Cause.
1092b
You say well. But from what class do the public orators come?
1094b
1094b
Unjust Cause.
1094b
Then have you perceived that you say nothing to the purpose? And look which class among the audience is the more numerous.
1097b
1097b
Just Cause.
1097b
Well now, I’m looking.
1098a
1098a
Just Cause.
1098a
By the gods, the blackguards to be far more numerous. This fellow, at any rate, I know; and him yonder; and this fellow with the long hair.
1101a
1101a
Unjust Cause.
1101a
What, then, will you say?
1145b
1145b
Socrates.
1145b
Good morning, Strepsiades.
1150b
1150b
Strepsiades.
1150b
Well done, O Fraud, all-powerful queen!
1178b
1178b
Strepsiades.
1178b
The Old and New.
1183b
1183b
Phidippides.
1183b
Certainly not; unless the same woman can be both old and young at the same time.
1185b
1185b
Phidippides.
1185b
For they do not, I think, rightly understand what the law means.
1186b
1186b
Strepsiades.
1186b
And what does it mean?
1192b
1192b
Phidippides.
1192b
In order, my good sir, that the defendants, being present a day before, might compromise the matter of their own accord; but if not,
1221b
1221b
Strepsiades.
1221b
Who’s there?
1222b
1222b
Strepsiades.
1222b
I call you to witness, that he has named it for two days. For what matter do you summon me?
1225b
1225b
Strepsiades.
1225b
A horse? Do you not hear? I, whom you all know to hate horsemanship!
1233b
1233b
Strepsiades.
1233b
What gods?
1234b
1234b
Strepsiades.
1234b
Yes, by Jupiter! And would pay down, too, a three-obol piece besides to swear.
1238b
1238b
Strepsiades.
1238b
He will contain six choae.
1240b
1240b
Strepsiades.
1240b
I like your gods amazingly; and Jupiter, sworn by, is ridiculous to the knowing ones.
1244b
1244b
Strepsiades.
1244b
Keep quiet now, for I will presently answer you distinctly.
1246b
1246b
Witness.
1246b
I think he will pay you.
1248b
1248b
Pasias.
1248b
What is this? A κάρδοπος.
1252b
1252b
Strepsiades.
1252b
Not, as far as I know. Will you not then pack off as fast as possible from my door?
1254b
1254b
Pasias.
1254b
I will depart; and be assured of this, that I will make deposit against you, or may I live no longer!
1263b
1263b
Strepsiades.
1263b
Then follow your own path.
1270b
1270b
Amynias.
1270b
That which he borrowed.
1275b
1275b
Amynias.
1275b
Why, pray?
1278b
1278b
Strepsiades.
1278b
Tell me now, whether you think that Jupiter
1286b
1286b
Strepsiades.
1286b
What sort of animal is this interest?
1289b
1289b
Strepsiades.
1289b
You say well. What then? Is it possible that you consider the sea to be greater now than formerly?
1291b
1291b
Amynias.
1291b
No, by Jupiter, but equal; for it is not fitting that it should be greater.
1292b
1292b
Strepsiades.
1292b
And how then, you wretch does this become no way greater, though the rivers flow into it, while you
1297b
1297b
Amynias.
1297b
I call you to witness these things.
1299b
1299b
Strepsiades.
1299b
Will you move quickly? Pricks him behind with the goad. I’ll lay on you, goading you behind, you outrigger? Do you fly? Amynias runs off. I thought I should stir you, together with your wheels and your two-horse chariots.
1325b
1325b
Phidippides.
1325b
Yes, father.
1326b
1326b
Phidippides.
1326b
Certainly.
1330b
1330b
Phidippides.
1330b
Sprinkle me with roses in abundance.
1331b
1331b
Phidippides.
1331b
And will prove too, by Jupiter! that I beat you with justice.
1332b
1332b
Strepsiades.
1332b
O thou most rascally! Why, how can it be just to beat a father?
1335b
1335b
Phidippides.
1335b
Yea, by much and easily. But choose which of the two Causes you wish to speak.
1337b
1337b
Phidippides.
1337b
The better, or the worse?
1379c
1379c
Phidippides.
1379c
Yes, by Jupiter, with justice.
1410b
1410b
Phidippides.
1410b
Pray tell me, is it not just that I also should be well inclined toward you in the same way, and beat you, since this is to be well inclined-to give a beating? For why ought your body to be exempt from blows and mine not? And yet I too was born free.
1434b
1434b
Strepsiades.
1434b
Since I am justly entitled to chastise you; and you to chastise your son, if you should have one.
1435b
1435b
Phidippides.
1435b
But if I should not have one, I shall have wept for nothing, and you will die laughing at me.
1440b
1440b
Strepsiades.
1440b
No; for I shall perish if I do.
1443b
1443b
Strepsiades.
1443b
What do you say? What do you say? This other, again, is a greater wickedness.
1444b
1444b
Phidippides.
1444b
But what if, having the worst Cause,
1470b
1470b
Strepsiades.
1470b
There is.
1470c
1470c
Phidippides.
1470c
There is not, no; for Vortex reigns having expelled Jupiter.
1495b
1495b
Strepsiades.
1495b
What am I doing? Why, what else, than chopping logic with the beams of your house?
1499b
1499b
Strepsiades.
1499b
For I also wish this very thing;