Lucian of Samosata, Cataplus, Austin Morris Harmon (Translator), 11

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MEGAPENTHES

Well, at all events don't refuse me this, Lady of Destiny.

CLOTHO

What?

MEGAPENTHES

I want to know how things will turn out after my death.

CLOTHO

Listen, for it will vex you all the more to know. Midas, your slave, will have your wife; indeed, he has been her lover a long time.

MEGAPENTHES

Curse him, I set him free at her request!

CLOTHO

Your daughter will be enrolled among the concubines of the present tyrant, and the busts and statues which the city long ago set up in your honour will all be pulled down and will make everyone who looks at them laugh.

MEGAPENTHES

Tell meé, will none of my friends get angry at these doings?

CLOTHO

Why, what friend did you have, and how did you make him? Don’t you know that all those who bowed the knee and praised your every word and deed did so either from hope or from fear, being friends of your power, not of you, and keeping their eyes on the main chance?

MEGAPENTHES

But as they poured their libations at our drinking parties they used to pray at the top of their voices that many blessings might descend upon me, saying every one of them that he was ready to die for me if so might be; in a word, they swore by me.

CLOTHO

Consequently, you died after dining with one of them yesterday: it was that last drink he gave you that sent you down here.

MEGAPENTHES

Then that is why I noticed a bitter taste. But what was his object in doing it?

CLOTHO

You are asking me many questions when you ought to get aboard.

Cataplus. Lucian of Samosata. Austin Morris Harmon (Translator). United States. Perseus 5.0.

Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

The Downward Journey, or the Tyrant (English) (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.)

Editions (1)

Κατάπλους ἢ Τύραννος Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.) — 11 focus

Μεγαπένθης

οὐκοῦν ἀλλὰ τοῦτό γε μὴ ἀντείπῃς ὦ Μοῖρά μοι.

Κλωθώ

τὸ ποῖον;

Μεγαπένθης

εἰδέναι βούλομαι τὰ μετʼ ἐμὲ ὅντινα ἕξει τὸν τρόπον.

Κλωθώ

ἄκουε· μᾶλλον γὰρ ἀνιάσῃ μαθών. τὴν μὲν γυναῖκα Μίδας ὁ δοῦλος ἕξει, καὶ πάλαι δὲ αὐτὴν ἐμοίχευεν.

Μεγαπένθης

ὁ κατάρατος, ὃν ἐγὼ πειθόμενος αὐτῇ ἀφῆκα ἐλεύθερον;

Κλωθώ

ἡ θυγάτηρ δέ σοι ταῖς παλλακίσι τοῦ νυνὶ τυραννοῦντος ἐγκαταλεγήσεται· αἱ εἰκόνες¹ δὲ καὶ ἀνδριάντες οὓς ἡ πόλις ἀνέστησέ σοι πάλαι πάντες ἀνατετραμμένοι γέλωτα παρέξουσι τοῖς θεωμένοις.

Μεγαπένθης

εἰπέ μοι, τῶν φίλων δὲ οὐδεὶς ἀγανακτήσει² τοῖς δρωμένοις;

Κλωθώ

τίς γὰρ ἦν σοι φίλος; ἢ ἐκ τίνος αἰτίας γενόμενος; ἀγνοεῖς ὅτι πάντες οἱ καὶ προσκυνοῦντες καὶ τῶν λεγομένων καὶ πραττομένων ἕκαστα ἐπαινοῦντες ἢ φόβῳ ἢ ἐλπίσι ταῦτα ἔδρων, τῆς ἀρχῆς ὄντες φίλοι καὶ πρὸς τὸν καιρὸν ἀποβλέποντες;

Μεγαπένθης

καὶ μὴν σπένδοντες ἐν τοῖς συμποσίοις μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ ἐπηύχοντό μοι πολλὰ καὶ ἀγαθά, προαποθανεῖν ἕκαστος αὐτῶν ἕτοιμος, εἰ οἷόν τε εἶναι· καὶ ὅλως, ὅρκος αὐτοῖς ἦν ἐγώ.

Κλωθώ

τοιγαροῦν παρʼ ἑνὶ αὐτῶν χθὲς δειπνήσας ἀπέθανες· τὸ γὰρ τελευταῖόν σοι πιεῖν ἐνεχθὲν ἐκεῖνο δευρὶ κατέπεμψέ σε.

Μεγαπένθης

τοῦτʼ ἄρα πικροῦ τινος ᾐσθόμην· τί βουλόμενος δὲ ταῦτα ἔπραξε;

Κλωθώ

πολλά με ἀνακρίνεις, ἐμβῆναι δέον.

Translations (2)

Voyage To the Lower World Perseus (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 1. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.) — 11 focus

Megapenthes.

Well, Clotho, I hope you will not refuse my last request.

Clotho

Which is?

Megapenthes.

I should like to know how things will be, now that I am gone.

Clotho

Certainly; you shall have that mortification. Your wife will pass into the hands of Midas, your slave; he has been her gallant for some time past.

Megapenthes.

Acurse on him! 'Twas at her request that I gave him his freedom.

Clotho

Your daughter will take her place in the harem of the present monarch. ‘Then all the old statues and portraits which the city set up in your honour will be overturned,—to the entertainment, no doubt, of the spectators.

Megapenthes.

And will no friend resent these doings?

Clotho

Who was your friend? Who had any reason to be? Need I explain that the cringing courtiers who lauded your every word and deed were actuated either by hope or by fear —time-servers every man of them, with a keen eye to the main chance?

Megapenthes.

And these are they whose feasts rang with my name! who, as they poured their libations, invoked every blessing on my head! Not one but would have died before me, could he have had his will; nay, they swore by no other name.

Clotho

Yes; and you dined with one of them yesterday, and it cost you your life. It was that last cup you drank that brought you here.

Megapenthes.

Ah, I noticed a bitter taste—But what was his object?

Clotho

Oh, you want to know too much. It is high time you came on board.

The Ferry Perseus (Selections from Lucian. Smith, Emily James, translator. New York; Harper Brothers, 1892.) — 11 focus

Megapenthes

Well, but do not refuse me this thing at any rate, Fate.

Klotho

What is it?

Megapenthes

I wish to know what the course of events will be after me.

Klotho

You shall, for your knowledge will be an added torment. Midas the slave will have your wife; he has been her lover this long time.

Megapenthes

The villain! It was by her persuasion that I gave him his freedom.

Klotho

Your daughter will be counted among the harem of the present monarch. Your portraits and statues, which the city erected for you in times past, will all be overturned, a laughingstock to the beholders.

Megapenthes

Tell me, is not one of my friends moved to anger by these acts?

Klotho

Why, who was a friend to you? What reason had any one to be? You know that all of them, those who bowed before you and those who extolled your every word and deed, acted from fear or hope, being friendly to your office and having an eye to the main chance.

Megapenthes

And yet they used to pour out their libations at the banquets, and pray with a loud voice that many good things might befall me, saying that every one of them was ready to die in my stead if possible, and altogether they swore by me.

Klotho

Accordingly, it was after dining with one of them that you died yesterday. For that last cup that was handed to you sent you here.

Megapenthes

That is why I tasted something bitter! What was his object in doing it?

Klotho

You ask too many questions when you ought to be embarking.

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MEGAPENTHES Well, at all events don't refuse me this, Lady of Destiny.

CLOTHO What?

MEGAPENTHES I want to know how things will turn out after my death.

CLOTHO Listen, for it will vex you all the more to know. Midas, your slave, will have your wife; indeed, he has been her lover a long time.

MEGAPENTHES Curse him, I set him free at her request!

CLOTHO Your daughter will be enrolled among the concubines of the present tyrant, and the busts and statues which the city long ago set up in your honour will all be pulled down and will make everyone who looks at them laugh.

MEGAPENTHES Tell meé, will none of my friends get angry at these doings?

CLOTHO Why, what friend did you have, and how did you make him? Don’t you know that all those who bowed the knee and praised your every word and deed did so either from hope or from fear, being friends of your power, not of you, and keeping their eyes on the main chance?

MEGAPENTHES But as they poured their libations at our drinking parties they used to pray at the top of their voices that many blessings might descend upon me, saying every one of them that he was ready to die for me if so might be; in a word, they swore by me.

CLOTHO Consequently, you died after dining with one of them yesterday: it was that last drink he gave you that sent you down here.

MEGAPENTHES Then that is why I noticed a bitter taste. But what was his object in doing it?

CLOTHO You are asking me many questions when you ought to get aboard.

Current edition Perseus

Μεγαπένθης οὐκοῦν ἀλλὰ τοῦτό γε μὴ ἀντείπῃς ὦ Μοῖρά μοι.

Κλωθώ τὸ ποῖον;

Μεγαπένθης εἰδέναι βούλομαι τὰ μετʼ ἐμὲ ὅντινα ἕξει τὸν τρόπον.

Κλωθώ ἄκουε· μᾶλλον γὰρ ἀνιάσῃ μαθών. τὴν μὲν γυναῖκα Μίδας ὁ δοῦλος ἕξει, καὶ πάλαι δὲ αὐτὴν ἐμοίχευεν.

Μεγαπένθης ὁ κατάρατος, ὃν ἐγὼ πειθόμενος αὐτῇ ἀφῆκα ἐλεύθερον;

Μεγαπένθης εἰπέ μοι, τῶν φίλων δὲ οὐδεὶς ἀγανακτήσει 2 τοῖς δρωμένοις;

Κλωθώ τοιγαροῦν παρʼ ἑνὶ αὐτῶν χθὲς δειπνήσας ἀπέθανες· τὸ γὰρ τελευταῖόν σοι πιεῖν ἐνεχθὲν ἐκεῖνο δευρὶ κατέπεμψέ σε.

Μεγαπένθης τοῦτʼ ἄρα πικροῦ τινος ᾐσθόμην· τί βουλόμενος δὲ ταῦτα ἔπραξε;

Κλωθώ πολλά με ἀνακρίνεις, ἐμβῆναι δέον.

Megapenthes. Well, Clotho, I hope you will not refuse my last request.

Clotho Which is?

Megapenthes. I should like to know how things will be, now that I am gone.

Clotho Certainly; you shall have that mortification. Your wife will pass into the hands of Midas, your slave; he has been her gallant for some time past.

Megapenthes. Acurse on him! 'Twas at her request that I gave him his freedom.

Clotho Your daughter will take her place in the harem of the present monarch. ‘Then all the old statues and portraits which the city set up in your honour will be overturned,—to the entertainment, no doubt, of the spectators.

Megapenthes. And will no friend resent these doings?

Clotho Who was your friend? Who had any reason to be? Need I explain that the cringing courtiers who lauded your every word and deed were actuated either by hope or by fear —time-servers every man of them, with a keen eye to the main chance?

Megapenthes. And these are they whose feasts rang with my name! who, as they poured their libations, invoked every blessing on my head! Not one but would have died before me, could he have had his will; nay, they swore by no other name.

Clotho Yes; and you dined with one of them yesterday, and it cost you your life. It was that last cup you drank that brought you here.

Megapenthes. Ah, I noticed a bitter taste—But what was his object?

Clotho Oh, you want to know too much. It is high time you came on board.

Megapenthes Well, but do not refuse me this thing at any rate, Fate.

Klotho What is it?

Megapenthes I wish to know what the course of events will be after me.

Klotho You shall, for your knowledge will be an added torment. Midas the slave will have your wife; he has been her lover this long time.

Megapenthes The villain! It was by her persuasion that I gave him his freedom.

Klotho Your daughter will be counted among the harem of the present monarch. Your portraits and statues, which the city erected for you in times past, will all be overturned, a laughingstock to the beholders.

Megapenthes Tell me, is not one of my friends moved to anger by these acts?

Klotho Why, who was a friend to you? What reason had any one to be? You know that all of them, those who bowed before you and those who extolled your every word and deed, acted from fear or hope, being friendly to your office and having an eye to the main chance.

Megapenthes And yet they used to pour out their libations at the banquets, and pray with a loud voice that many good things might befall me, saying that every one of them was ready to die in my stead if possible, and altogether they swore by me.

Klotho Accordingly, it was after dining with one of them that you died yesterday. For that last cup that was handed to you sent you here.

Megapenthes That is why I tasted something bitter! What was his object in doing it?

Klotho You ask too many questions when you ought to be embarking.

Stable identifiers

MEGAPENTHES

Well, at all events don't refuse me this, Lady of Destiny.

CLOTHO

What?

MEGAPENTHES

I want to know how things will turn out after my death.

CLOTHO

Listen, for it will vex you all the more to know. Midas, your slave, will have your wife; indeed, he has been her lover a long time.

MEGAPENTHES

Curse him, I set him free at her request!

CLOTHO

Your daughter will be enrolled among the concubines of the present tyrant, and the busts and statues which the city long ago set up in your honour will all be pulled down and will make everyone who looks at them laugh.

MEGAPENTHES

Tell meé, will none of my friends get angry at these doings?

CLOTHO

Why, what friend did you have, and how did you make him? Don’t you know that all those who bowed the knee and praised your every word and deed did so either from hope or from fear, being friends of your power, not of you, and keeping their eyes on the main chance?

MEGAPENTHES

But as they poured their libations at our drinking parties they used to pray at the top of their voices that many blessings might descend upon me, saying every one of them that he was ready to die for me if so might be; in a word, they swore by me.

CLOTHO

Consequently, you died after dining with one of them yesterday: it was that last drink he gave you that sent you down here.

MEGAPENTHES

Then that is why I noticed a bitter taste. But what was his object in doing it?

CLOTHO

You are asking me many questions when you ought to get aboard.

Μεγαπένθης

οὐκοῦν ἀλλὰ τοῦτό γε μὴ ἀντείπῃς ὦ Μοῖρά μοι.

Κλωθώ

τὸ ποῖον;

Μεγαπένθης

εἰδέναι βούλομαι τὰ μετʼ ἐμὲ ὅντινα ἕξει τὸν τρόπον.

Κλωθώ

ἄκουε· μᾶλλον γὰρ ἀνιάσῃ μαθών. τὴν μὲν γυναῖκα Μίδας ὁ δοῦλος ἕξει, καὶ πάλαι δὲ αὐτὴν ἐμοίχευεν.

Μεγαπένθης

ὁ κατάρατος, ὃν ἐγὼ πειθόμενος αὐτῇ ἀφῆκα ἐλεύθερον;

Μεγαπένθης

εἰπέ μοι, τῶν φίλων δὲ οὐδεὶς ἀγανακτήσει² τοῖς δρωμένοις;

Κλωθώ

τοιγαροῦν παρʼ ἑνὶ αὐτῶν χθὲς δειπνήσας ἀπέθανες· τὸ γὰρ τελευταῖόν σοι πιεῖν ἐνεχθὲν ἐκεῖνο δευρὶ κατέπεμψέ σε.

Μεγαπένθης

τοῦτʼ ἄρα πικροῦ τινος ᾐσθόμην· τί βουλόμενος δὲ ταῦτα ἔπραξε;

Κλωθώ

πολλά με ἀνακρίνεις, ἐμβῆναι δέον.

Megapenthes.

Well, Clotho, I hope you will not refuse my last request.

Clotho

Which is?

Megapenthes.

I should like to know how things will be, now that I am gone.

Clotho

Certainly; you shall have that mortification. Your wife will pass into the hands of Midas, your slave; he has been her gallant for some time past.

Megapenthes.

Acurse on him! 'Twas at her request that I gave him his freedom.

Clotho

Your daughter will take her place in the harem of the present monarch. ‘Then all the old statues and portraits which the city set up in your honour will be overturned,—to the entertainment, no doubt, of the spectators.

Megapenthes.

And will no friend resent these doings?

Clotho

Who was your friend? Who had any reason to be? Need I explain that the cringing courtiers who lauded your every word and deed were actuated either by hope or by fear —time-servers every man of them, with a keen eye to the main chance?

Megapenthes.

And these are they whose feasts rang with my name! who, as they poured their libations, invoked every blessing on my head! Not one but would have died before me, could he have had his will; nay, they swore by no other name.

Clotho

Yes; and you dined with one of them yesterday, and it cost you your life. It was that last cup you drank that brought you here.

Megapenthes.

Ah, I noticed a bitter taste—But what was his object?

Clotho

Oh, you want to know too much. It is high time you came on board.

Megapenthes

Well, but do not refuse me this thing at any rate, Fate.

Klotho

What is it?

Megapenthes

I wish to know what the course of events will be after me.

Klotho

You shall, for your knowledge will be an added torment. Midas the slave will have your wife; he has been her lover this long time.

Megapenthes

The villain! It was by her persuasion that I gave him his freedom.

Klotho

Your daughter will be counted among the harem of the present monarch. Your portraits and statues, which the city erected for you in times past, will all be overturned, a laughingstock to the beholders.

Megapenthes

Tell me, is not one of my friends moved to anger by these acts?

Klotho

Why, who was a friend to you? What reason had any one to be? You know that all of them, those who bowed before you and those who extolled your every word and deed, acted from fear or hope, being friendly to your office and having an eye to the main chance.

Megapenthes

And yet they used to pour out their libations at the banquets, and pray with a loud voice that many good things might befall me, saying that every one of them was ready to die in my stead if possible, and altogether they swore by me.

Klotho

Accordingly, it was after dining with one of them that you died yesterday. For that last cup that was handed to you sent you here.

Megapenthes

That is why I tasted something bitter! What was his object in doing it?

Klotho

You ask too many questions when you ought to be embarking.