Aristophanes, Clouds, ed. F. W. Hall, ed. William M. Geldart, 776

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Σωκράτης

ὅπως ἀποστρέψαιʼ ἂν ἀντιδικῶν δίκην

μέλλων ὀφλήσειν μὴ παρόντων μαρτύρων.

Στρεψιάδης

φαυλότατα καὶ ῥᾷστʼ.

Σωκράτης

εἰπὲ δή.

Στρεψιάδης

καὶ δὴ λέγω.

εἰ πρόσθεν ἔτι μιᾶς ἐνεστώσης δίκης,

πρὶν τὴν ἐμὴν καλεῖσθʼ, ἀπαγξαίμην τρέχων.
780

Σωκράτης

οὐδὲν λέγεις.

Στρεψιάδης

νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς ἔγωγʼ, ἐπεὶ

οὐδεὶς κατʼ ἐμοῦ τεθνεῶτος εἰσάξει δίκην.

Σωκράτης

ὑθλεῖς· ἄπερρʼ, οὐκ ἂν διδάξαιμʼ ἄν σʼ ἔτι.

Στρεψιάδης

ὁτιὴ τί; ναὶ πρὸς τῶν θεῶν ὦ Σώκρατες.

Σωκράτης

ἀλλʼ εὐθὺς ἐπιλήθει σύ γʼ ἅττʼ ἂν καὶ μάθῃς·
785

ἐπεὶ τί νυνὶ πρῶτον ἐδιδάχθης; λέγε.

Στρεψιάδης

φέρʼ ἴδω τί μέντοι πρῶτον ἦν; τί πρῶτον ἦν;

τίς ἦν ἐν ᾗ ʼματτόμεθα μέντοι τἄλφιτα;

οἴμοι τίς ἦν;

Σωκράτης

οὐκ ἐς κόρακας ἀποφθερεῖ,

ἐπιλησμότατον καὶ σκαιότατον γερόντιον;
790

Στρεψιάδης

οἴμοι τί οὖν δῆθʼ ὁ κακοδαίμων πείσομαι;

ἀπὸ γὰρ ὀλοῦμαι μὴ μαθὼν γλωττοστροφεῖν.

ἀλλʼ ὦ Νεφέλαι χρηστόν τι συμβουλεύσατε.

Χορός

ἡμεῖς μὲν ὦ πρεσβῦτα συμβουλεύομεν,

εἴ σοί τις υἱός ἐστιν ἐκτεθραμμένος,
795

πέμπειν ἐκεῖνον ἀντὶ σαυτοῦ μανθάνειν.

Στρεψιάδης

ἀλλʼ ἔστʼ ἔμοιγʼ υἱὸς καλός τε κἀγαθός·

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐθέλει γὰρ μανθάνειν. τί ἐγὼ πάθω;

Χορός

σὺ δʼ ἐπιτρέπεις;

Στρεψιάδης

εὐσωματεῖ γὰρ καὶ σφριγᾷ,

κἄστʼ ἐκ γυναικῶν εὐπτέρων τῶν Κοισύρας.
800

ἀτὰρ μέτειμί γʼ αὐτόν· ἢν δὲ μὴ ʼθέλῃ,

οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως οὐκ ἐξελῶ κʼ τῆς οἰκίας.

ἀλλʼ ἐπανάμεινόν μʼ ὀλίγον εἰσελθὼν χρόνον.

Clouds. Aristophanes. ed. F. W. Hall, ed. William M. Geldart. Oxford. 1906.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Νεφέλαι (Greek) (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 1. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906.)

Translations (2)

Clouds Perseus (Aristophanes. The Comedies of Aristophanes, Vol. I. Hickie, William James, translator. Bohn: London, 1853.) — 776 focus

Socrates.

How, when engaged in a lawsuit, you could overturn the suit, when you were about to be cast, because you had no witnesses.

Strepsiades.

Most readily and easily.

Socrates.

Tell me, pray.

Strepsiades.

Well now, I’ll tell you. If, while one suit was still pending, before mine was called on, I were to run away and hang myself.

Socrates.

You talk nonsense.

Strepsiades.

By the gods, would I! For no one will bring action against me when I am dead.

Socrates.

You talk nonsense. Begone; I can’t teach you any longer.

Strepsiades.

Why so? Yea, by the gods, O Socrates!

Socrates.

You straightaway forget whatever you learn. For what now was the first thing you were taught? Tell me.
785

Strepsiades.

Come, let me see: nay, what was the first? What was the fist? Nay, what was the thing in which we knead our flour? Ah me! What was it?

Socrates.

Will you not pack off to the devil, you most forgetful and most stupid old man?

Strepsiades.

Ah me, what then, pray will become of me, wretched man? For I shall be utterly undone, if I do not learn to ply the tongue. Come, O ye Clouds, give me some good advice.

Chorus.

We, old man, advise you, if you have a son grown up, to send him to learn in your stead.

Strepsiades.

Well, I have a fine, handsome son, but he is not willing to learn. What must I do?

Chorus.

But do you permit him?

Strepsiades.

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.

Exit.

English (Sanjaya, generated; selected passages) (OCR draft) Experimental (Source: pnadelofficial/aristophanes-sanjaya, commit c319590c139e5603e71f0699caa0663d823af8ad. Machine-generated source annotations retained; see Sanjaya import audit for coverage and limitations.) — 776 focus

Socrates: so that, while disputing, he might escape a lawsuit.

Socrates: about to incur [a fine] when witnesses are not present.

Strepsiades: very badly and easily.

Socrates: Tell, then.

Strepsiades: And now I speak.

Strepsiades: if before yet another present lawsuit,

Strepsiades: before my name is called, may I choke myself while running.

780

Socrates: You are saying nothing.

Strepsiades: By the gods, I myself, since

Strepsiades: No one will bring a lawsuit against me after I am dead.

Socrates: You are a fool; begone, I would not teach you any longer.

Strepsiades: What? Yes, by the gods, O Socrates.

Socrates: But you will immediately forget whatever you learn.

785

Socrates: since what have you been taught first? Speak.

Strepsiades: Come, let me see: what was it first? What was it first?

Strepsiades: Where was it that we were threshing the barley, then?

Strepsiades: Alas, who was it?

Socrates: He will not perish to the crows,

Socrates: the most forgetful and clumsy little old man?

790

Strepsiades: Alas! What then, indeed, shall the wretch suffer?

Strepsiades: For I shall be ruined, having not learned to twist my tongue.

Strepsiades: But oh, Clouds, advise me to do something good.

Chorus: We, sir, advise you,

Chorus: if you have a son who has been reared,

795

Chorus: to send him in your place to learn.

Strepsiades: But he is my son, handsome and good.

Strepsiades: But he will not learn, for he is unwilling. What am I to suffer?

Chorus: But do you permit?

Strepsiades: for he is well-built and vigorous,

Strepsiades: And now from the winged women of Coisura.

800

Strepsiades: But I shall steal him; but if he does not wish,

Strepsiades: It is not possible that I will not drive them out of the house.

Strepsiades: But, having entered, wait for me a little while.

Aristophanes Clouds 776

ed. F. W. Hall, ed. William M. Geldart

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Σωκράτης

ὅπως ἀποστρέψαιʼ ἂν ἀντιδικῶν δίκην

μέλλων ὀφλήσειν μὴ παρόντων μαρτύρων.

Στρεψιάδης

φαυλότατα καὶ ῥᾷστʼ.

Σωκράτης

εἰπὲ δή.

Στρεψιάδης

καὶ δὴ λέγω.

εἰ πρόσθεν ἔτι μιᾶς ἐνεστώσης δίκης,

πρὶν τὴν ἐμὴν καλεῖσθʼ, ἀπαγξαίμην τρέχων.
780

Σωκράτης

οὐδὲν λέγεις.

Στρεψιάδης

νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς ἔγωγʼ, ἐπεὶ

οὐδεὶς κατʼ ἐμοῦ τεθνεῶτος εἰσάξει δίκην.

Σωκράτης

ὑθλεῖς· ἄπερρʼ, οὐκ ἂν διδάξαιμʼ ἄν σʼ ἔτι.

Στρεψιάδης

ὁτιὴ τί; ναὶ πρὸς τῶν θεῶν ὦ Σώκρατες.

Σωκράτης

ἀλλʼ εὐθὺς ἐπιλήθει σύ γʼ ἅττʼ ἂν καὶ μάθῃς·
785

ἐπεὶ τί νυνὶ πρῶτον ἐδιδάχθης; λέγε.

Στρεψιάδης

φέρʼ ἴδω τί μέντοι πρῶτον ἦν; τί πρῶτον ἦν;

τίς ἦν ἐν ᾗ ʼματτόμεθα μέντοι τἄλφιτα;

οἴμοι τίς ἦν;

Σωκράτης

οὐκ ἐς κόρακας ἀποφθερεῖ,

ἐπιλησμότατον καὶ σκαιότατον γερόντιον;
790

Στρεψιάδης

οἴμοι τί οὖν δῆθʼ ὁ κακοδαίμων πείσομαι;

ἀπὸ γὰρ ὀλοῦμαι μὴ μαθὼν γλωττοστροφεῖν.

ἀλλʼ ὦ Νεφέλαι χρηστόν τι συμβουλεύσατε.

Χορός

ἡμεῖς μὲν ὦ πρεσβῦτα συμβουλεύομεν,

εἴ σοί τις υἱός ἐστιν ἐκτεθραμμένος,
795

πέμπειν ἐκεῖνον ἀντὶ σαυτοῦ μανθάνειν.

Στρεψιάδης

ἀλλʼ ἔστʼ ἔμοιγʼ υἱὸς καλός τε κἀγαθός·

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐθέλει γὰρ μανθάνειν. τί ἐγὼ πάθω;

Χορός

σὺ δʼ ἐπιτρέπεις;

Current edition Perseus

Socrates.

How, when engaged in a lawsuit, you could overturn the suit, when you were about to be cast, because you had no witnesses.

Strepsiades.

Most readily and easily.

Socrates.

Tell me, pray.

Strepsiades.

Well now, I’ll tell you. If, while one suit was still pending, before mine was called on, I were to run away and hang myself.

Socrates.

You talk nonsense.

Strepsiades.

By the gods, would I! For no one will bring action against me when I am dead.

Socrates.

You talk nonsense. Begone; I can’t teach you any longer.

Strepsiades.

Why so? Yea, by the gods, O Socrates!

Socrates.

You straightaway forget whatever you learn. For what now was the first thing you were taught? Tell me.
785

Strepsiades.

Come, let me see: nay, what was the first? What was the fist? Nay, what was the thing in which we knead our flour? Ah me! What was it?

Socrates.

Will you not pack off to the devil, you most forgetful and most stupid old man?

Strepsiades.

Ah me, what then, pray will become of me, wretched man? For I shall be utterly undone, if I do not learn to ply the tongue. Come, O ye Clouds, give me some good advice.

Chorus.

We, old man, advise you, if you have a son grown up, to send him to learn in your stead.

Strepsiades.

Well, I have a fine, handsome son, but he is not willing to learn. What must I do?

Chorus.

But do you permit him?

Strepsiades.

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.

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Σωκράτης ὅπως ἀποστρέψαιʼ ἂν ἀντιδικῶν δίκην μέλλων ὀφλήσειν μὴ παρόντων μαρτύρων.

Στρεψιάδης φαυλότατα καὶ ῥᾷστʼ.

Σωκράτης εἰπὲ δή.

Στρεψιάδης καὶ δὴ λέγω. εἰ πρόσθεν ἔτι μιᾶς ἐνεστώσης δίκης, πρὶν τὴν ἐμὴν καλεῖσθʼ, ἀπαγξαίμην τρέχων. 780

Σωκράτης οὐδὲν λέγεις.

Στρεψιάδης νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς ἔγωγʼ, ἐπεὶ οὐδεὶς κατʼ ἐμοῦ τεθνεῶτος εἰσάξει δίκην.

Σωκράτης ὑθλεῖς· ἄπερρʼ, οὐκ ἂν διδάξαιμʼ ἄν σʼ ἔτι.

Στρεψιάδης ὁτιὴ τί; ναὶ πρὸς τῶν θεῶν ὦ Σώκρατες.

Σωκράτης ἀλλʼ εὐθὺς ἐπιλήθει σύ γʼ ἅττʼ ἂν καὶ μάθῃς· 785 ἐπεὶ τί νυνὶ πρῶτον ἐδιδάχθης; λέγε.

Στρεψιάδης φέρʼ ἴδω τί μέντοι πρῶτον ἦν; τί πρῶτον ἦν; τίς ἦν ἐν ᾗ ʼματτόμεθα μέντοι τἄλφιτα; οἴμοι τίς ἦν;

Σωκράτης οὐκ ἐς κόρακας ἀποφθερεῖ, ἐπιλησμότατον καὶ σκαιότατον γερόντιον; 790

Στρεψιάδης οἴμοι τί οὖν δῆθʼ ὁ κακοδαίμων πείσομαι; ἀπὸ γὰρ ὀλοῦμαι μὴ μαθὼν γλωττοστροφεῖν. ἀλλʼ ὦ Νεφέλαι χρηστόν τι συμβουλεύσατε.

Χορός ἡμεῖς μὲν ὦ πρεσβῦτα συμβουλεύομεν, εἴ σοί τις υἱός ἐστιν ἐκτεθραμμένος, 795 πέμπειν ἐκεῖνον ἀντὶ σαυτοῦ μανθάνειν.

Στρεψιάδης ἀλλʼ ἔστʼ ἔμοιγʼ υἱὸς καλός τε κἀγαθός· ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐθέλει γὰρ μανθάνειν. τί ἐγὼ πάθω;

Χορός σὺ δʼ ἐπιτρέπεις;

Current edition Perseus

Socrates. How, when engaged in a lawsuit, you could overturn the suit, when you were about to be cast, because you had no witnesses.

Strepsiades. Most readily and easily.

Socrates. Tell me, pray.

Strepsiades. Well now, I’ll tell you. If, while one suit was still pending, before mine was called on, I were to run away and hang myself.

Socrates. You talk nonsense.

Strepsiades. By the gods, would I! For no one will bring action against me when I am dead.

Socrates. You talk nonsense. Begone; I can’t teach you any longer.

Strepsiades. Why so? Yea, by the gods, O Socrates!

Socrates. You straightaway forget whatever you learn. For what now was the first thing you were taught? Tell me. 785

Strepsiades. Come, let me see: nay, what was the first? What was the fist? Nay, what was the thing in which we knead our flour? Ah me! What was it?

Socrates. Will you not pack off to the devil, you most forgetful and most stupid old man?

Strepsiades. Ah me, what then, pray will become of me, wretched man? For I shall be utterly undone, if I do not learn to ply the tongue. Come, O ye Clouds, give me some good advice.

Chorus. We, old man, advise you, if you have a son grown up, to send him to learn in your stead.

Strepsiades. Well, I have a fine, handsome son, but he is not willing to learn. What must I do?

Chorus. But do you permit him?

Strepsiades. 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.

Stable identifiers

Σωκράτης

ὅπως ἀποστρέψαιʼ ἂν ἀντιδικῶν δίκην

μέλλων ὀφλήσειν μὴ παρόντων μαρτύρων.

Στρεψιάδης

φαυλότατα καὶ ῥᾷστʼ.

Σωκράτης

εἰπὲ δή.

Στρεψιάδης

καὶ δὴ λέγω.

εἰ πρόσθεν ἔτι μιᾶς ἐνεστώσης δίκης,

πρὶν τὴν ἐμὴν καλεῖσθʼ, ἀπαγξαίμην τρέχων.
780

Σωκράτης

οὐδὲν λέγεις.

Στρεψιάδης

νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς ἔγωγʼ, ἐπεὶ

οὐδεὶς κατʼ ἐμοῦ τεθνεῶτος εἰσάξει δίκην.

Σωκράτης

ὑθλεῖς· ἄπερρʼ, οὐκ ἂν διδάξαιμʼ ἄν σʼ ἔτι.

Στρεψιάδης

ὁτιὴ τί; ναὶ πρὸς τῶν θεῶν ὦ Σώκρατες.

Σωκράτης

ἀλλʼ εὐθὺς ἐπιλήθει σύ γʼ ἅττʼ ἂν καὶ μάθῃς·
785

ἐπεὶ τί νυνὶ πρῶτον ἐδιδάχθης; λέγε.

Στρεψιάδης

φέρʼ ἴδω τί μέντοι πρῶτον ἦν; τί πρῶτον ἦν;

τίς ἦν ἐν ᾗ ʼματτόμεθα μέντοι τἄλφιτα;

οἴμοι τίς ἦν;

Σωκράτης

οὐκ ἐς κόρακας ἀποφθερεῖ,

ἐπιλησμότατον καὶ σκαιότατον γερόντιον;
790

Στρεψιάδης

οἴμοι τί οὖν δῆθʼ ὁ κακοδαίμων πείσομαι;

ἀπὸ γὰρ ὀλοῦμαι μὴ μαθὼν γλωττοστροφεῖν.

ἀλλʼ ὦ Νεφέλαι χρηστόν τι συμβουλεύσατε.

Χορός

ἡμεῖς μὲν ὦ πρεσβῦτα συμβουλεύομεν,

εἴ σοί τις υἱός ἐστιν ἐκτεθραμμένος,
795

πέμπειν ἐκεῖνον ἀντὶ σαυτοῦ μανθάνειν.

Στρεψιάδης

ἀλλʼ ἔστʼ ἔμοιγʼ υἱὸς καλός τε κἀγαθός·

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐθέλει γὰρ μανθάνειν. τί ἐγὼ πάθω;

Χορός

σὺ δʼ ἐπιτρέπεις;

Socrates.

How, when engaged in a lawsuit, you could overturn the suit, when you were about to be cast, because you had no witnesses.

Strepsiades.

Most readily and easily.

Socrates.

Tell me, pray.

Strepsiades.

Well now, I’ll tell you. If, while one suit was still pending, before mine was called on, I were to run away and hang myself.

Socrates.

You talk nonsense.

Strepsiades.

By the gods, would I! For no one will bring action against me when I am dead.

Socrates.

You talk nonsense. Begone; I can’t teach you any longer.

Strepsiades.

Why so? Yea, by the gods, O Socrates!

Socrates.

You straightaway forget whatever you learn. For what now was the first thing you were taught? Tell me.
785

Strepsiades.

Come, let me see: nay, what was the first? What was the fist? Nay, what was the thing in which we knead our flour? Ah me! What was it?

Socrates.

Will you not pack off to the devil, you most forgetful and most stupid old man?

Strepsiades.

Ah me, what then, pray will become of me, wretched man? For I shall be utterly undone, if I do not learn to ply the tongue. Come, O ye Clouds, give me some good advice.

Chorus.

We, old man, advise you, if you have a son grown up, to send him to learn in your stead.

Strepsiades.

Well, I have a fine, handsome son, but he is not willing to learn. What must I do?

Chorus.

But do you permit him?

Strepsiades.

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.