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Strepsiades.
Hail therefore, O mistresses! And now, if ever ye did to any other, to me also utter a voice reaching to heaven, O all-powerful queens.
Hail therefore, O mistresses! And now, if ever ye did to any other, to me also utter a voice reaching to heaven, O all-powerful queens.
Chorus.
Hail, O ancient veteran, hunter after learned speeches! And thou, O priest of most subtle trifles! Tell us what you require?
For we would not hearken to any other of the recent meteorological sophists, except to Prodicus; to him, on account of his wisdom and intelligence; and to you, because you walk proudly in the streets, and cast your eyes askance, and endure many hardships with bare feet, and in reliance upon us lookest supercilious.
360
Hail, O ancient veteran, hunter after learned speeches! And thou, O priest of most subtle trifles! Tell us what you require?
For we would not hearken to any other of the recent meteorological sophists, except to Prodicus; to him, on account of his wisdom and intelligence; and to you, because you walk proudly in the streets, and cast your eyes askance, and endure many hardships with bare feet, and in reliance upon us lookest supercilious.
360
Strepsiades.
O Earth, what a voice! How holy and dignified and wondrous!
O Earth, what a voice! How holy and dignified and wondrous!
Socrates.
For, in fact, these alone are goddesses; and all the rest is nonsense.
365
For, in fact, these alone are goddesses; and all the rest is nonsense.
365
Strepsiades.
But come, by the Earth, is not Jupiter, the Olympian, a god?
But come, by the Earth, is not Jupiter, the Olympian, a god?
Socrates.
What Jupiter? Do not trifle. There is no Jupiter.
What Jupiter? Do not trifle. There is no Jupiter.
Strepsiades.
What do you say? Who rains then? For first of all explain this to me.
What do you say? Who rains then? For first of all explain this to me.
Socrates.
These to be sure. I will teach you it by powerful evidence. Come, where have you ever seen him raining at any time without Clouds? And yet he ought to rain in fine weather, and these be absent.
These to be sure. I will teach you it by powerful evidence. Come, where have you ever seen him raining at any time without Clouds? And yet he ought to rain in fine weather, and these be absent.
Strepsiades.
By Apollo, of a truth you have rightly confirmed this by your present argument. And yet, before this, I really thought that Jupiter caused the rain. But tell me who is it that thunders. This makes me tremble.
By Apollo, of a truth you have rightly confirmed this by your present argument. And yet, before this, I really thought that Jupiter caused the rain. But tell me who is it that thunders. This makes me tremble.
Socrates.
These, as they roll, thunder.
375
These, as they roll, thunder.
375
Strepsiades.
In what way? you all-daring man!
In what way? you all-daring man!
Socrates.
When they are full of much water, and are compelled to be borne along, being necessarily precipitated when full of rain, then they fall heavily upon each other and burst and clap.
When they are full of much water, and are compelled to be borne along, being necessarily precipitated when full of rain, then they fall heavily upon each other and burst and clap.
Strepsiades.
Who is it that compels them to borne along? Is it not Jupiter?
Who is it that compels them to borne along? Is it not Jupiter?
Socrates.
By no means, but aethereal Vortex.
380
By no means, but aethereal Vortex.
380
Strepsiades.
Vortex? It had escaped my notice that Jupiter did not exist, and that Vortex now reigned in his stead. But you have taught me nothing as yet concerning the clap and the thunder.
Vortex? It had escaped my notice that Jupiter did not exist, and that Vortex now reigned in his stead. But you have taught me nothing as yet concerning the clap and the thunder.
Socrates.
Have you not heard me, that I said that the Clouds, when full of moisture, dash against each other and clap by reason of their density?
Have you not heard me, that I said that the Clouds, when full of moisture, dash against each other and clap by reason of their density?
Strepsiades.
Come, how am I to believe this?
385
Come, how am I to believe this?
385
Socrates.
I’ll teach you from your own case. Were you ever, after being stuffed with broth at the Panathenaic festival, then disturbed in your belly, and did a tumult suddenly rumble through it?
I’ll teach you from your own case. Were you ever, after being stuffed with broth at the Panathenaic festival, then disturbed in your belly, and did a tumult suddenly rumble through it?
Strepsiades.
Yes, by Apollo! And immediately the little broth plays the mischief with me, and is disturbed and rumbles like thunder, and grumbles dreadfully:
at first gently pappax, pappax; and then it adds papa-pappax; and finally, it thunders downright papapappax, as they do.
390
Yes, by Apollo! And immediately the little broth plays the mischief with me, and is disturbed and rumbles like thunder, and grumbles dreadfully:
at first gently pappax, pappax; and then it adds papa-pappax; and finally, it thunders downright papapappax, as they do.
390
Clouds. Aristophanes. William James Hickie (Translator). London. 1853.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.