View:
By Card
Strepsiades.
(running out of the house pursued by his son). Hollo! Hollo! O neighbours, and kinsfolk, and fellow-tribesmen, defend me, by all means, who am being beaten! Ah me, unhappy man, for my head and jaw! Wretch! Do you beat your father?
(running out of the house pursued by his son). Hollo! Hollo! O neighbours, and kinsfolk, and fellow-tribesmen, defend me, by all means, who am being beaten! Ah me, unhappy man, for my head and jaw! Wretch! Do you beat your father?
Phidippides.
Yes, father.
Yes, father.
Strepsiades.
You see him owning that he beats me.
You see him owning that he beats me.
Phidippides.
Certainly.
Certainly.
Strepsiades.
O wretch, and parricide, and house-breaker!
O wretch, and parricide, and house-breaker!
Phidippides.
Say the same things of me again, and more. Do you know that I take pleasure in being much abused?
Say the same things of me again, and more. Do you know that I take pleasure in being much abused?
Strepsiades.
You blackguard!
1330
You blackguard!
1330
Phidippides.
Sprinkle me with roses in abundance.
Sprinkle me with roses in abundance.
Strepsiades.
Do you beat your father?
Do you beat your father?
Phidippides.
And will prove too, by Jupiter! that I beat you with justice.
And will prove too, by Jupiter! that I beat you with justice.
Strepsiades.
O thou most rascally! Why, how can it be just to beat a father?
O thou most rascally! Why, how can it be just to beat a father?
Phidippides.
I will demonstrate it, and will overcome you in argument.
I will demonstrate it, and will overcome you in argument.
Strepsiades.
Will you overcome me in this?
1335
Will you overcome me in this?
1335
Phidippides.
Yea, by much and easily. But choose which of the two Causes you wish to speak.
Yea, by much and easily. But choose which of the two Causes you wish to speak.
Strepsiades.
Of what two Causes?
Of what two Causes?
Phidippides.
The better, or the worse?
The better, or the worse?
Strepsiades.
Marry, I did get you taught to speak against justice, by Jupiter, my friend, if you are
going to persuade me of this, that it is just and honourable for a father to be beaten by his sons!
1340
Marry, I did get you taught to speak against justice, by Jupiter, my friend, if you are
going to persuade me of this, that it is just and honourable for a father to be beaten by his sons!
1340
Phidippides.
I think I shall certainly persuade you; so that, when you have heard, not even you yourself will say anything against it.
I think I shall certainly persuade you; so that, when you have heard, not even you yourself will say anything against it.
Strepsiades.
Well, now, I am willing to hear what you have to say.
Well, now, I am willing to hear what you have to say.
Clouds. Aristophanes. William James Hickie (Translator). London. 1853.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.