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Line 218

φέρε τίς γὰρ οὗτος οὑπὶ τῆς κρεμάθρας ἀνήρ;

The phrase 'οὑπὶ τῆς κρεμάθρας' presents a crux of textual criticism and syntactic interpretation. While 'κρεμάθρα' (a hanging basket or sieve) is attested, the prepositional phrase 'οὑπὶ' (a crasis of 'ὁ ἐπί') followed by the genitive is highly irregular for Aristophanes' typical usage, where 'ἐπί' usually governs the accusative for motion toward or the dative for location. Some editors, following a conjecture by Hermann, have suggested emending 'οὑπὶ' to 'ἐν' or reinterpreting the case as a rare dative construction implying 'under the influence of' the basket, reflecting a metaphorical 'hanging' state of confusion or intoxication. This syntactic irregularity is compounded by the ambiguity of 'κρεμάθρα' itself: while literally a hanging basket, in this comedic context it may allude to a specific prop or a metaphorical device for the 'Clouds' themselves, whose suspended nature is central to the play's satire of Socratic natural philosophy.

Clouds. Aristophanes. . 2026-09-08.

Current edition Experimental

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

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Νεφέλαι Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 1. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906.) — 261b-355 focus

Στρεψιάδης

μὰ τὸν Δίʼ οὐ ψεύσει γέ με·

καταπαττόμενος γὰρ παιπάλη γενήσομαι.

Σωκράτης

εὐφημεῖν χρὴ τὸν πρεσβύτην καὶ τῆς εὐχῆς ἐπακούειν.

ὦ δέσποτʼ ἄναξ ἀμέτρητʼ Ἀήρ, ὃς ἔχεις τὴν γῆν μετέωρον,

λαμπρός τʼ Αἰθὴρ σεμναί τε θεαὶ Νεφέλαι βροντησικέραυνοι,
265

ἄρθητε φάνητʼ ὦ δέσποιναι τῷ φροντιστῇ μετέωροι.

Στρεψιάδης

μήπω μήπω γε πρὶν ἂν τουτὶ πτύξωμαι, μὴ καταβρεχθῶ.

τὸ δὲ μηδὲ κυνῆν οἴκοθεν ἐλθεῖν ἐμὲ τὸν κακοδαίμονʼ ἔχοντα.

Σωκράτης

ἔλθετε δῆτʼ ὦ πολυτίμητοι Νεφέλαι τῷδʼ εἰς ἐπίδειξιν·

εἴτʼ ἐπʼ Ὀλύμπου κορυφαῖς ἱεραῖς χιονοβλήτοισι κάθησθε,
270

εἴτʼ Ὠκεανοῦ πατρὸς ἐν κήποις ἱερὸν χορὸν ἵστατε Νύμφαις,

εἴτʼ ἄρα Νείλου προχοαῖς ὑδάτων χρυσέαις ἀρύτεσθε πρόχοισιν,

ἢ Μαιῶτιν λίμνην ἔχετʼ ἢ σκόπελον νιφόεντα Μίμαντος·

ὑπακούσατε δεξάμεναι θυσίαν καὶ τοῖς ἱεροῖσι χαρεῖσαι.

275

Χορός

ἀέναοι Νεφέλαι
275

ἀρθῶμεν φανεραὶ δροσερὰν φύσιν εὐάγητον,

πατρὸς ἀπʼ Ὠκεανοῦ βαρυαχέος

ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων κορυφὰς ἐπὶ

δενδροκόμους, ἵνα
280

τηλεφανεῖς σκοπιὰς ἀφορώμεθα,

καρπούς τʼ ἀρδομέναν ἱερὰν χθόνα,

καὶ ποταμῶν ζαθέων κελαδήματα,

καὶ πόντον κελάδοντα βαρύβρομον·

ὄμμα γὰρ αἰθέρος ἀκάματον σελαγεῖται
285

μαρμαρέαις ἐν αὐγαῖς.

ἀλλʼ ἀποσεισάμεναι νέφος ὄμβριον

ἀθανάτας ἰδέας ἐπιδώμεθα

τηλεσκόπῳ ὄμματι γαῖαν.
290

291

Σωκράτης

ὦ μέγα σεμναὶ Νεφέλαι φανερῶς ἠκούσατέ μου καλέσαντος.

ᾔσθου φωνῆς ἅμα καὶ βροντῆς μυκησαμένης θεοσέπτου;

Στρεψιάδης

καὶ σέβομαί γʼ ὦ πολυτίμητοι καὶ βούλομαι ἀνταποπαρδεῖν

πρὸς τὰς βροντάς· οὕτως αὐτὰς τετρεμαίνω καὶ πεφόβημαι·

κεἰ θέμις ἐστίν, νυνί γʼ ἤδη, κεἰ μὴ θέμις ἐστί, χεσείω.
295

Σωκράτης

οὐ μὴ σκώψει μηδὲ ποιήσεις ἅπερ οἱ τρυγοδαίμονες οὗτοι,

ἀλλʼ εὐφήμει· μέγα γάρ τι θεῶν κινεῖται σμῆνος ἀοιδαῖς.

298

Χορός

παρθένοι ὀμβροφόροι

ἔλθωμεν λιπαρὰν χθόνα Παλλάδος, εὔανδρον γᾶν
300

Κέκροπος ὀψόμεναι πολυήρατον·

οὗ σέβας ἀρρήτων ἱερῶν, ἵνα

μυστοδόκος δόμος

ἐν τελεταῖς ἁγίαις ἀναδείκνυται,

οὐρανίοις τε θεοῖς δωρήματα,
305

ναοί θʼ ὑψερεφεῖς καὶ ἀγάλματα,

καὶ πρόσοδοι μακάρων ἱερώταται,

εὐστέφανοί τε θεῶν θυσίαι θαλίαι τε,

παντοδαπαῖς ἐν ὥραις,
310

ἦρί τʼ ἐπερχομένῳ Βρομία χάρις,

εὐκελάδων τε χορῶν ἐρεθίσματα,

καὶ μοῦσα βαρύβρομος αὐλῶν.

314

Στρεψιάδης

πρὸς τοῦ Διὸς ἀντιβολῶ σε φράσον, τίνες εἴσʼ ὦ Σώκρατες αὗται

αἱ φθεγξάμεναι τοῦτο τὸ σεμνόν; μῶν ἡρῷναί τινές εἰσιν;
315

Σωκράτης

ἥκιστʼ ἀλλʼ οὐράνιαι Νεφέλαι μεγάλαι θεαὶ ἀνδράσιν ἀργοῖς·

αἵπερ γνώμην καὶ διάλεξιν καὶ νοῦν ἡμῖν παρέχουσιν

καὶ τερατείαν καὶ περίλεξιν καὶ κροῦσιν καὶ κατάληψιν.

Στρεψιάδης

ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀκούσασʼ αὐτῶν τὸ φθέγμʼ ἡ ψυχή μου πεπότηται,

καὶ λεπτολογεῖν ἤδη ζητεῖ καὶ περὶ καπνοῦ στενολεσχεῖν,
320

καὶ γνωμιδίῳ γνώμην νύξασʼ ἑτέρῳ λόγῳ ἀντιλογῆσαι·

ὥστʼ εἴ πως ἔστιν ἰδεῖν αὐτὰς ἤδη φανερῶς ἐπιθυμῶ.

Σωκράτης

βλέπε νυν δευρὶ πρὸς τὴν Πάρνηθʼ· ἤδη γὰρ ὁρῶ κατιούσας

ἡσυχῇ αὐτάς.

Στρεψιάδης

φέρε ποῦ; δεῖξον.

Σωκράτης

χωροῦσʼ αὗται πάνυ πολλαὶ

διὰ τῶν κοίλων καὶ τῶν δασέων, αὗται πλάγιαι.
325

Στρεψιάδης

τί τὸ χρῆμα;

ὡς οὐ καθορῶ.

Σωκράτης

παρὰ τὴν εἴσοδον.

Στρεψιάδης

ἤδη νυνὶ μόλις οὕτως.

Σωκράτης

νῦν γέ τοι ἤδη καθορᾷς αὐτάς, εἰ μὴ λημᾷς κολοκύνταις.

Στρεψιάδης

νὴ Δίʼ ἔγωγʼ, ὦ πολυτίμητοι· πάντα γὰρ ἤδη κατέχουσιν.

Σωκράτης

ταύτας μέντοι σὺ θεὰς οὔσας οὐκ ᾔδησθʼ οὐδʼ ἐνόμιζες;

Στρεψιάδης

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ὁμίχλην καὶ δρόσον αὐτὰς ἡγούμην καὶ καπνὸν εἶναι.
330

Σωκράτης

οὐ γὰρ μὰ Δίʼ οἶσθʼ ὁτιὴ πλείστους αὗται βόσκουσι σοφιστάς,

Θουριομάντεις ἰατροτέχνας σφραγιδονυχαργοκομήτας,

κυκλίων τε χορῶν ᾀσματοκάμπτας ἄνδρας μετεωροφένακας,

οὐδὲν δρῶντας βόσκουσʼ ἀργούς, ὅτι ταύτας μουσοποιοῦσιν.

Στρεψιάδης

ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἐποίουν ὑγρᾶν Νεφελᾶν στρεπταιγλᾶν δάιον ὁρμάν,
335

πλοκάμους θʼ ἑκατογκεφάλα Τυφῶ πρημαινούσας τε θυέλλας,

εἶτʼ ἀερίας διεράς, γαμψοὺς οἰωνοὺς ἀερονηχεῖς,

ὄμβρους θʼ ὑδάτων δροσερᾶν Νεφελᾶν· εἶτʼ ἀντʼ αὐτῶν κατέπινον

κεστρᾶν τεμάχη μεγαλᾶν ἀγαθᾶν κρέα τʼ ὀρνίθεια κιχηλᾶν.

Σωκράτης

διὰ μέντοι τάσδʼ οὐχὶ δικαίως;
340

Στρεψιάδης

λέξον δή μοι, τί παθοῦσαι,

εἴπερ νεφέλαι γʼ εἰσὶν ἀληθῶς, θνηταῖς εἴξασι γυναιξίν;

οὐ γὰρ ἐκεῖναί γʼ εἰσὶ τοιαῦται.

Σωκράτης

φέρε ποῖαι γάρ τινές εἰσιν;

Στρεψιάδης

οὐκ οἶδα σαφῶς· εἴξασιν γοῦν ἐρίοισιν πεπταμένοισιν,

κοὐχὶ γυναιξὶν μὰ Δίʼ οὐδʼ ὁτιοῦν· αὗται δὲ ῥῖνας ἔχουσιν.

Σωκράτης

ἀπόκριναί νυν ἅττʼ ἂν ἔρωμαι.
345

Στρεψιάδης

λέγε νυν ταχέως ὅ τι βούλει.

Σωκράτης

ἤδη ποτʼ ἀναβλέψας εἶδες νεφέλην κενταύρῳ ὁμοίαν,

ἢ παρδάλει ἢ λύκῳ ἢ ταύρῳ;

Στρεψιάδης

νὴ Δίʼ ἔγωγʼ. εἶτα τί τοῦτο;

Σωκράτης

γίγνονται πάνθʼ ὅ τι βούλονται· κᾆτʼ ἢν μὲν ἴδωσι κομήτην

ἄγριόν τινα τῶν λασίων τούτων, οἷόνπερ τὸν Ξενοφάντου,

σκώπτουσαι τὴν μανίαν αὐτοῦ κενταύροις ᾔκασαν αὑτάς.
350

Στρεψιάδης

τί γὰρ ἢν ἅρπαγα τῶν δημοσίων κατίδωσι Σίμωνα, τί δρῶσιν;

Σωκράτης

ἀποφαίνουσαι τὴν φύσιν αὐτοῦ λύκοι ἐξαίφνης ἐγένοντο.

Στρεψιάδης

ταῦτʼ ἄρα ταῦτα Κλεώνυμον αὗται τὸν ῥίψασπιν χθὲς ἰδοῦσαι,

ὅτι δειλότατον τοῦτον ἑώρων, ἔλαφοι διὰ τοῦτʼ ἐγένοντο.

Σωκράτης

καὶ νῦν γʼ ὅτι Κλεισθένη εἶδον, ὁρᾷς, διὰ τοῦτʼ ἐγένοντο γυναῖκες.
355

Translations (2)

Clouds Perseus (Aristophanes. The Comedies of Aristophanes, Vol. I. Hickie, William James, translator. Bohn: London, 1853.) — 221 focus

Strepsiades.

Socrates! My little Socrates!

Socrates.

Why callest thou me, thou creature of a day?

Strepsiades.

First tell me, I beseech you, what are you doing.

Socrates.

I am walking in the air, and speculating about the sun.
225

Strepsiades.

And so you look down upon the gods from your basket, and not from the earth?

Socrates.

For I should not have rightly discovered things celestial if I had not suspended the intellect, and

mixed the thought in a subtle form with its kindred air. But if, being on the ground, I speculated from below on things above, I should never have discovered them. For the earth forcibly attracts to itself the meditative moisture. Water-cresses also suffer the very same thing.
230

Strepsiades.

What do you say? Does meditation attract the moisture to the water-cresses? Come then, my little Socrates, descend to me, that you may teach me those things, for the sake of which I have come.
235

Socrates lowers himself and gets out of the basket.

Socrates.

And for what did you come?

Strepsiades.

Wishing to learn to speak; for by reason of usury, and most ill-natured creditors, I am pillaged and plundered, and have my goods seized for debt.

Socrates.

How did you get in debt without observing it?

Strepsiades.

A horse-disease consumed me--terrible at eating. But teach me the other one of your two causes, that which pays nothing; and I will swear by the gods, I will pay down to you whatever reward you exact of me.

Socrates.

By what gods will you swear? For, in the first place, gods are not a current coin with us.

Strepsiades.

By what do you swear? By iron money, as in Byzantium ?

Socrates.

Do you wish to know clearly celestial matters, what they rightly are?
250

Strepsiades.

Yes, by Jupiter, if it be possible!

Socrates.

And to hold converse with the Clouds, our divinities?

Strepsiades.

By all means.

Socrates.
(with great solemnity).

Seat yourself, then, upon the sacred couch.

Strepsiades.

Well, I am seated!
255

Socrates.

Take, then, this chaplet.

Strepsiades.

For what purpose a chaplet? Ah me! Socrates, see that you do not sacrifice me like Athamas!

Socrates.

No; we do all these to those who get initiated.

Strepsiades.

Then what shall I gain, pray?

Socrates.

You shall become in oratory a tricky knave, a thorough rattle, a subtle speaker. But keep quiet.
260

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.) — 221 focus

Strepsiades: O Socrates,

Strepsiades: O little Socrates.

Socrates: Why are you calling me, you wretch?

Strepsiades: First of all, I beg you to tell me what you are doing.

Socrates: I walk in the air and despise the sun.

225

Strepsiades: Then, after the thunder, do you despise the gods?

Strepsiades: But not from the earth, if so?

Socrates: for he would never

Socrates: I have correctly discovered the heavenly matters,

Socrates: if not hanging the thought and the care

Socrates: having mixed a thin [substance] into the similar air.

230

Socrates: but if being on the ground I were to examine the things above from below,

Socrates: I would never find it, for the earth is not by force

Socrates: It draws the moisture of care towards itself.

Socrates: This same thing happens also to the leeks.

Strepsiades: What do you say?

235

Strepsiades: Does care draw the moisture into the roots?

Strepsiades: Come now, come down, O Socrates, as for me,

Strepsiades: in order that you may teach me those things for the sake of which I have come.

Socrates: But when did you arrive?

Strepsiades: wanting to learn to speak.

Strepsiades: For I am being ruined by high interest rates and extremely difficult loans.

240

Strepsiades: I am being led away, I am being carried off; I am pawning my money.

Socrates: And from where did you escape notice that you have become a debtor?

Strepsiades: A terrible horse-madness has gnawed me to eat.

Strepsiades: But teach me the other of your two arguments,

Strepsiades: the one who pays nothing. But whatever fee...

245

Strepsiades: You are making me swear that I will deposit the gods.

Socrates: Which gods do you swear by? For first the gods

Socrates: We have no currency.

Strepsiades: For why does he swear? Or

Strepsiades: like in Byzantium with iron ones?

Socrates: Do you wish to know the divine things clearly?

250

Socrates: What are these said correctly?

Strepsiades: By Zeus, if there is one, indeed.

Socrates: and to become acquainted with the Clouds in conversation,

Socrates: by our own demons?

Strepsiades: By all means.

Socrates: then sit upon the sacred stool.

Strepsiades: Look, I am sitting.

255

Socrates: Then take this one.

Socrates: the wreath.

Strepsiades: For what wreath? Alas, Socrates!

Strepsiades: just as you do not sacrifice that Athamanth.

Socrates: No, but all these [things] to those undergoing initiation.

Socrates: We do it.

Strepsiades: And then what will I gain?

Socrates: you will make a noise of grinding, clapping, and scraping.

260

Socrates: But hold still.

Commentary

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

218. mvp-tlg0019-tlg003-sanjaya-com-eng1-16

Line 218

φέρε τίς γὰρ οὗτος οὑπὶ τῆς κρεμάθρας ἀνήρ;

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 218

Current edition Experimental

Στρεψιάδης μὰ τὸν Δίʼ οὐ ψεύσει γέ με· καταπαττόμενος γὰρ παιπάλη γενήσομαι.

Στρεψιάδης μήπω μήπω γε πρὶν ἂν τουτὶ πτύξωμαι, μὴ καταβρεχθῶ. τὸ δὲ μηδὲ κυνῆν οἴκοθεν ἐλθεῖν ἐμὲ τὸν κακοδαίμονʼ ἔχοντα.

Σωκράτης ὦ μέγα σεμναὶ Νεφέλαι φανερῶς ἠκούσατέ μου καλέσαντος. ᾔσθου φωνῆς ἅμα καὶ βροντῆς μυκησαμένης θεοσέπτου;

Σωκράτης οὐ μὴ σκώψει μηδὲ ποιήσεις ἅπερ οἱ τρυγοδαίμονες οὗτοι, ἀλλʼ εὐφήμει· μέγα γάρ τι θεῶν κινεῖται σμῆνος ἀοιδαῖς.

Στρεψιάδης πρὸς τοῦ Διὸς ἀντιβολῶ σε φράσον, τίνες εἴσʼ ὦ Σώκρατες αὗται αἱ φθεγξάμεναι τοῦτο τὸ σεμνόν; μῶν ἡρῷναί τινές εἰσιν; 315

Σωκράτης βλέπε νυν δευρὶ πρὸς τὴν Πάρνηθʼ· ἤδη γὰρ ὁρῶ κατιούσας ἡσυχῇ αὐτάς.

Στρεψιάδης φέρε ποῦ; δεῖξον.

Σωκράτης χωροῦσʼ αὗται πάνυ πολλαὶ διὰ τῶν κοίλων καὶ τῶν δασέων, αὗται πλάγιαι. 325

Στρεψιάδης τί τὸ χρῆμα; ὡς οὐ καθορῶ.

Σωκράτης παρὰ τὴν εἴσοδον.

Στρεψιάδης ἤδη νυνὶ μόλις οὕτως.

Σωκράτης νῦν γέ τοι ἤδη καθορᾷς αὐτάς, εἰ μὴ λημᾷς κολοκύνταις.

Στρεψιάδης νὴ Δίʼ ἔγωγʼ, ὦ πολυτίμητοι· πάντα γὰρ ἤδη κατέχουσιν.

Σωκράτης ταύτας μέντοι σὺ θεὰς οὔσας οὐκ ᾔδησθʼ οὐδʼ ἐνόμιζες;

Στρεψιάδης μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ὁμίχλην καὶ δρόσον αὐτὰς ἡγούμην καὶ καπνὸν εἶναι. 330

Σωκράτης διὰ μέντοι τάσδʼ οὐχὶ δικαίως; 340

Στρεψιάδης λέξον δή μοι, τί παθοῦσαι, εἴπερ νεφέλαι γʼ εἰσὶν ἀληθῶς, θνηταῖς εἴξασι γυναιξίν; οὐ γὰρ ἐκεῖναί γʼ εἰσὶ τοιαῦται.

Σωκράτης φέρε ποῖαι γάρ τινές εἰσιν;

Στρεψιάδης οὐκ οἶδα σαφῶς· εἴξασιν γοῦν ἐρίοισιν πεπταμένοισιν, κοὐχὶ γυναιξὶν μὰ Δίʼ οὐδʼ ὁτιοῦν· αὗται δὲ ῥῖνας ἔχουσιν.

Σωκράτης ἀπόκριναί νυν ἅττʼ ἂν ἔρωμαι. 345

Στρεψιάδης λέγε νυν ταχέως ὅ τι βούλει.

Σωκράτης ἤδη ποτʼ ἀναβλέψας εἶδες νεφέλην κενταύρῳ ὁμοίαν, ἢ παρδάλει ἢ λύκῳ ἢ ταύρῳ;

Στρεψιάδης νὴ Δίʼ ἔγωγʼ. εἶτα τί τοῦτο;

Στρεψιάδης τί γὰρ ἢν ἅρπαγα τῶν δημοσίων κατίδωσι Σίμωνα, τί δρῶσιν;

Σωκράτης ἀποφαίνουσαι τὴν φύσιν αὐτοῦ λύκοι ἐξαίφνης ἐγένοντο.

Στρεψιάδης ταῦτʼ ἄρα ταῦτα Κλεώνυμον αὗται τὸν ῥίψασπιν χθὲς ἰδοῦσαι, ὅτι δειλότατον τοῦτον ἑώρων, ἔλαφοι διὰ τοῦτʼ ἐγένοντο.

Σωκράτης καὶ νῦν γʼ ὅτι Κλεισθένη εἶδον, ὁρᾷς, διὰ τοῦτʼ ἐγένοντο γυναῖκες. 355

Strepsiades. Socrates! My little Socrates!

Socrates. Why callest thou me, thou creature of a day?

Strepsiades. First tell me, I beseech you, what are you doing.

Socrates. I am walking in the air, and speculating about the sun. 225

Strepsiades. And so you look down upon the gods from your basket, and not from the earth?

Strepsiades. What do you say? Does meditation attract the moisture to the water-cresses? Come then, my little Socrates, descend to me, that you may teach me those things, for the sake of which I have come. 235

Socrates. And for what did you come?

Strepsiades. Wishing to learn to speak; for by reason of usury, and most ill-natured creditors, I am pillaged and plundered, and have my goods seized for debt.

Socrates. How did you get in debt without observing it?

Strepsiades. A horse-disease consumed me--terrible at eating. But teach me the other one of your two causes, that which pays nothing; and I will swear by the gods, I will pay down to you whatever reward you exact of me.

Socrates. By what gods will you swear? For, in the first place, gods are not a current coin with us.

Strepsiades. By what do you swear? By iron money, as in Byzantium ?

Socrates. Do you wish to know clearly celestial matters, what they rightly are? 250

Strepsiades. Yes, by Jupiter, if it be possible!

Socrates. And to hold converse with the Clouds, our divinities?

Strepsiades. By all means.

Socrates. (with great solemnity). Seat yourself, then, upon the sacred couch.

Strepsiades. Well, I am seated! 255

Socrates. Take, then, this chaplet.

Strepsiades. For what purpose a chaplet? Ah me! Socrates, see that you do not sacrifice me like Athamas!

Socrates. No; we do all these to those who get initiated.

Strepsiades. Then what shall I gain, pray?

Socrates. You shall become in oratory a tricky knave, a thorough rattle, a subtle speaker. But keep quiet. 260

Commentary

Line 218

Stable identifiers

Στρεψιάδης

μὰ τὸν Δίʼ οὐ ψεύσει γέ με·

καταπαττόμενος γὰρ παιπάλη γενήσομαι.

Στρεψιάδης

μήπω μήπω γε πρὶν ἂν τουτὶ πτύξωμαι, μὴ καταβρεχθῶ.

τὸ δὲ μηδὲ κυνῆν οἴκοθεν ἐλθεῖν ἐμὲ τὸν κακοδαίμονʼ ἔχοντα.

Σωκράτης

ὦ μέγα σεμναὶ Νεφέλαι φανερῶς ἠκούσατέ μου καλέσαντος.

ᾔσθου φωνῆς ἅμα καὶ βροντῆς μυκησαμένης θεοσέπτου;

Σωκράτης

οὐ μὴ σκώψει μηδὲ ποιήσεις ἅπερ οἱ τρυγοδαίμονες οὗτοι,

ἀλλʼ εὐφήμει· μέγα γάρ τι θεῶν κινεῖται σμῆνος ἀοιδαῖς.

Στρεψιάδης

πρὸς τοῦ Διὸς ἀντιβολῶ σε φράσον, τίνες εἴσʼ ὦ Σώκρατες αὗται

αἱ φθεγξάμεναι τοῦτο τὸ σεμνόν; μῶν ἡρῷναί τινές εἰσιν;
315

Σωκράτης

βλέπε νυν δευρὶ πρὸς τὴν Πάρνηθʼ· ἤδη γὰρ ὁρῶ κατιούσας

ἡσυχῇ αὐτάς.

Στρεψιάδης

φέρε ποῦ; δεῖξον.

Σωκράτης

χωροῦσʼ αὗται πάνυ πολλαὶ

διὰ τῶν κοίλων καὶ τῶν δασέων, αὗται πλάγιαι.
325

Στρεψιάδης

τί τὸ χρῆμα;

ὡς οὐ καθορῶ.

Σωκράτης

παρὰ τὴν εἴσοδον.

Στρεψιάδης

ἤδη νυνὶ μόλις οὕτως.

Σωκράτης

νῦν γέ τοι ἤδη καθορᾷς αὐτάς, εἰ μὴ λημᾷς κολοκύνταις.

Στρεψιάδης

νὴ Δίʼ ἔγωγʼ, ὦ πολυτίμητοι· πάντα γὰρ ἤδη κατέχουσιν.

Σωκράτης

ταύτας μέντοι σὺ θεὰς οὔσας οὐκ ᾔδησθʼ οὐδʼ ἐνόμιζες;

Στρεψιάδης

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ὁμίχλην καὶ δρόσον αὐτὰς ἡγούμην καὶ καπνὸν εἶναι.
330

Σωκράτης

διὰ μέντοι τάσδʼ οὐχὶ δικαίως;
340

Στρεψιάδης

λέξον δή μοι, τί παθοῦσαι,

εἴπερ νεφέλαι γʼ εἰσὶν ἀληθῶς, θνηταῖς εἴξασι γυναιξίν;

οὐ γὰρ ἐκεῖναί γʼ εἰσὶ τοιαῦται.

Σωκράτης

φέρε ποῖαι γάρ τινές εἰσιν;

Στρεψιάδης

οὐκ οἶδα σαφῶς· εἴξασιν γοῦν ἐρίοισιν πεπταμένοισιν,

κοὐχὶ γυναιξὶν μὰ Δίʼ οὐδʼ ὁτιοῦν· αὗται δὲ ῥῖνας ἔχουσιν.

Σωκράτης

ἀπόκριναί νυν ἅττʼ ἂν ἔρωμαι.
345

Στρεψιάδης

λέγε νυν ταχέως ὅ τι βούλει.

Σωκράτης

ἤδη ποτʼ ἀναβλέψας εἶδες νεφέλην κενταύρῳ ὁμοίαν,

ἢ παρδάλει ἢ λύκῳ ἢ ταύρῳ;

Στρεψιάδης

νὴ Δίʼ ἔγωγʼ. εἶτα τί τοῦτο;

Στρεψιάδης

τί γὰρ ἢν ἅρπαγα τῶν δημοσίων κατίδωσι Σίμωνα, τί δρῶσιν;

Σωκράτης

ἀποφαίνουσαι τὴν φύσιν αὐτοῦ λύκοι ἐξαίφνης ἐγένοντο.

Στρεψιάδης

ταῦτʼ ἄρα ταῦτα Κλεώνυμον αὗται τὸν ῥίψασπιν χθὲς ἰδοῦσαι,

ὅτι δειλότατον τοῦτον ἑώρων, ἔλαφοι διὰ τοῦτʼ ἐγένοντο.

Σωκράτης

καὶ νῦν γʼ ὅτι Κλεισθένη εἶδον, ὁρᾷς, διὰ τοῦτʼ ἐγένοντο γυναῖκες.
355

Strepsiades.

Socrates! My little Socrates!

Socrates.

Why callest thou me, thou creature of a day?

Strepsiades.

First tell me, I beseech you, what are you doing.

Socrates.

I am walking in the air, and speculating about the sun.
225

Strepsiades.

And so you look down upon the gods from your basket, and not from the earth?

Strepsiades.

What do you say? Does meditation attract the moisture to the water-cresses? Come then, my little Socrates, descend to me, that you may teach me those things, for the sake of which I have come.
235

Socrates.

And for what did you come?

Strepsiades.

Wishing to learn to speak; for by reason of usury, and most ill-natured creditors, I am pillaged and plundered, and have my goods seized for debt.

Socrates.

How did you get in debt without observing it?

Strepsiades.

A horse-disease consumed me--terrible at eating. But teach me the other one of your two causes, that which pays nothing; and I will swear by the gods, I will pay down to you whatever reward you exact of me.

Socrates.

By what gods will you swear? For, in the first place, gods are not a current coin with us.

Strepsiades.

By what do you swear? By iron money, as in Byzantium ?

Socrates.

Do you wish to know clearly celestial matters, what they rightly are?
250

Strepsiades.

Yes, by Jupiter, if it be possible!

Socrates.

And to hold converse with the Clouds, our divinities?

Strepsiades.

By all means.

Socrates.
(with great solemnity).

Seat yourself, then, upon the sacred couch.

Strepsiades.

Well, I am seated!
255

Socrates.

Take, then, this chaplet.

Strepsiades.

For what purpose a chaplet? Ah me! Socrates, see that you do not sacrifice me like Athamas!

Socrates.

No; we do all these to those who get initiated.

Strepsiades.

Then what shall I gain, pray?

Socrates.

You shall become in oratory a tricky knave, a thorough rattle, a subtle speaker. But keep quiet.
260