Lucian of Samosata, Cataplus, Austin Morris Harmon (Translator), 13

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CLOTHO

Stop threatening and get aboard; it is already time for you to make your appearance in court.

MEGAPENTHES

And who will dare to pass judgement on a tyrant?

CLOTHO

On a tyrant, no one, but on a dead man, Rhadamanthus. You shall soon see him impose on every one of you the sentence that is just and fits the case. No more delay now!

MEGAPENTHES

Make me even a common man, Lady of Destiny, one of the poor people; make me even a slave instead of the king that once I was. Only let me come to life again!

CLOTHO

Where is the man with the club? You take hold of him too, Hermes, and pull him in by the leg, for he won’t go aboard willingly.

HERMES

Come along now, runaway. (To Charon.) Take this fellow, ferryman, and see here—mind you make sure—

CHARON

No fear! he shall be lashed to the mast.

MEGAPENTHES

But I ought to sit on the quarter-deck!

CLOTHO

For what reason?

MEGAPENTHES

Because I was a tyrant, God knows, and had a regiment of guardsmen.

CYNISCUS

Then wasn’t Cario justified in pulling your hair, if you were such a lout? But you'll get small joy of your tyranny if I give you a taste of my club!

MEGAPENTHES

What, will a Cyniscus make bold to shake his staff at me? Did I not come within an ace of tricing you up to a cross the other day because you were too free-spoken and sharp-tongued and censorious?

CYNISCUS

That is why you yourself will stay triced up to the mast.

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.) — 13 focus

Κλωθώ

παῦσαι ἀπειλῶν, ἀλλὰ ἔμβηθι· καιρὸς ἤδη σε ἀπαντᾶν ἐπὶ τὸ δικαστήριον.

Μεγαπένθης

καὶ τίς ἀξιώσει κατʼ ἀνδρὸς τυράννου ψῆφον λαβεῖν;

Κλωθώ

κατὰ τυράννου μὲν οὐδείς, κατὰ νεκροῦ δὲ ὁ Ῥαδάμανθυς, ὃν αὐτίκα ὄψει μάλα δίκαιον καὶ κατʼ ἀξίαν ἐπιτιθέντα ἑκάστῳ τὴν δίκην· τὸ δὲ νῦν ἔχον μὴ διάτριβε.

Μεγαπένθης

κἂν ἰδιώτην με ποίησον, ὦ Μοῖρα, τῶν πενήτων ἕνα, κἂν δοῦλον ἀντὶ τοῦ πάλαι βασιλέως· ἀναβιῶναί με ἔασον μόνον.

Κλωθώ

ποῦ ʼστιν ὁ τὸ ξύλον; καὶ σὺ δέ, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, σύρατʼ αὐτὸν εἴσω τοῦ ποδός· οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἐμβαίη ἑκών.

Ἑρμῆς

ἕπου νῦν, δραπέτα· δέχου τοῦτον σύ, πορθμεῦ, καὶ τὸ δεῖνα,¹ ὅπως ἀσφαλῶς —

Χάρων

ἀμέλει, πρὸς τὸν ἱστὸν δεδήσεται.

Μεγαπένθης

καὶ μὴν ἐν τῇ προεδρίᾳ καθέζεσθαί με δεῖ.

Κλωθώ

ὅτι τί;

Μεγαπένθης

ὅτι, νὴ Δία, τύραννος ἦν καὶ δορυφόρους εἶχον μυρίους.

Κυνίσκος

εἶτʼ οὐ δικαίως σε παρέτιλλεν ὁ Καρίων οὑτωσὶ σκαιὸν ὄντα; πικρὰν δʼ οὖν τὴν τυραννίδα ἕξεις γευσάμενος τοῦ ξύλου.

Μεγαπένθης

τολμήσει γὰρ Κυνίσκος ἐπανατείνασθαί μοι τὸ βάκτρον; οὐκ ἐγώ σε πρῴην, ὅτι ἐλεύθερος ἄγαν καὶ τραχὺς ἦσθα καὶ ἐπιτιμητικός, μικροῦ δεῖν προσεπαττάλευσα;

Κυνίσκος

τοιγαροῦν μενεῖς καὶ σὺ τῷ ἱστῷ προσπεπατταλευμένος.

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.) — 13 focus

Clotho

Never mind what you would do to them, but come on board. The hour is at hand when you must appear before the tribunal.

Megapenthes.

And who will presume to give his vote against a tyrant?

Clotho

Against a tyrant, who indeed? Against a Shade, Rhadamanthus will take that liberty. He is strictly impartial, as you will presently observe, in adapting his sentences to the requirements of individual cases. And now, no more delay.

Megapenthes.

Dread Fate, let me be some common man,—some pauper! I have been a king,—let me be a slave! Only let me live!

Clotho

Where is the one with the stick? Hermes, you and he must drag him up feet foremost. He will never come up by himself.

Hermes

Come along, my runagate. Here you are, skipper. And I say, keep an eye——

Charon

Never fear. We'll lash him to the mast.

Megapenthes.

Look you, I must have the seat of honour.

Clotho

And why exactly?

Megapenthes.

Can you ask? Was I not a tyrant, with a guard of ten thousand men?

Cynic

Oh, dullard! And you complain of Carion’s pulling your hair! Wait till you get a taste of this stick; you shall know what it is to be a tyrant.

Megapenthes.

What, shall a Cynic dare to raise his staff against me? Sirrah, have you forgotten the other day, when I had all but nailed you to the cross, for letting that sharp censorious tongue of yours wag too freely?

Cynic

Well, and now it is your turn te be nailed,—to the mast.

The Ferry Perseus (Selections from Lucian. Smith, Emily James, translator. New York; Harper Brothers, 1892.) — 13 focus

Klotho

Stop your threats and come aboard. It is time now for you to go to your trial.

Megapenthes

And who will venture to pass judgment on a man of kingly rank?

Klotho

No one will judge the king, but the dead man must come before Rhadamanthos. You will soon see him assigning his doom to each with great justice and according to merit. Don't waste any more time just now.

Megapenthes

Make me a private citizen, Fate, if you will, a poor man, a slave instead of a king as I was. Only let me come to life again!

Klotho

Where is the man with the club? And you, too, Hermes; drag him in by the foot, for he would not come voluntarily.

Hermes

Come with me, you runaway. Take him, ferryman, and, to make him safe, dash it—

Charon

All right. He shall be made fast to the mast.

Megapenthes

Assuredly I ought to be placed in the seat of honor.

Klotho

Why?

Magapenthes

Because, by Heaven, I was a despot and had a body-guard of ten thousand men.

Kyniskos

Then Karion was right to pluck out the hair of such a mischievous creature. You will rue your tyranny when you have tasted the club.

Megapenthes

Will Kyniskos, then, dare to raise his staff against me? Did I not almost crucify you a day or two ago because you were too free and rough and disrespectful?

Kyniskos

That is why you, too, will stay crucified against the mast.

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CLOTHO Stop threatening and get aboard; it is already time for you to make your appearance in court.

MEGAPENTHES And who will dare to pass judgement on a tyrant?

CLOTHO On a tyrant, no one, but on a dead man, Rhadamanthus. You shall soon see him impose on every one of you the sentence that is just and fits the case. No more delay now!

MEGAPENTHES Make me even a common man, Lady of Destiny, one of the poor people; make me even a slave instead of the king that once I was. Only let me come to life again!

CLOTHO Where is the man with the club? You take hold of him too, Hermes, and pull him in by the leg, for he won’t go aboard willingly.

HERMES Come along now, runaway. (To Charon.) Take this fellow, ferryman, and see here—mind you make sure—

CHARON No fear! he shall be lashed to the mast.

MEGAPENTHES But I ought to sit on the quarter-deck!

CLOTHO For what reason?

MEGAPENTHES Because I was a tyrant, God knows, and had a regiment of guardsmen.

CYNISCUS Then wasn’t Cario justified in pulling your hair, if you were such a lout? But you'll get small joy of your tyranny if I give you a taste of my club!

MEGAPENTHES What, will a Cyniscus make bold to shake his staff at me? Did I not come within an ace of tricing you up to a cross the other day because you were too free-spoken and sharp-tongued and censorious?

CYNISCUS That is why you yourself will stay triced up to the mast.

Current edition Perseus

Κλωθώ παῦσαι ἀπειλῶν, ἀλλὰ ἔμβηθι· καιρὸς ἤδη σε ἀπαντᾶν ἐπὶ τὸ δικαστήριον.

Μεγαπένθης καὶ τίς ἀξιώσει κατʼ ἀνδρὸς τυράννου ψῆφον λαβεῖν;

Μεγαπένθης κἂν ἰδιώτην με ποίησον, ὦ Μοῖρα, τῶν πενήτων ἕνα, κἂν δοῦλον ἀντὶ τοῦ πάλαι βασιλέως· ἀναβιῶναί με ἔασον μόνον.

Κλωθώ ποῦ ʼστιν ὁ τὸ ξύλον; καὶ σὺ δέ, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, σύρατʼ αὐτὸν εἴσω τοῦ ποδός· οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἐμβαίη ἑκών.

Ἑρμῆς ἕπου νῦν, δραπέτα· δέχου τοῦτον σύ, πορθμεῦ, καὶ τὸ δεῖνα, 1 ὅπως ἀσφαλῶς —

Χάρων ἀμέλει, πρὸς τὸν ἱστὸν δεδήσεται.

Μεγαπένθης καὶ μὴν ἐν τῇ προεδρίᾳ καθέζεσθαί με δεῖ.

Κλωθώ ὅτι τί;

Μεγαπένθης ὅτι, νὴ Δία, τύραννος ἦν καὶ δορυφόρους εἶχον μυρίους.

Κυνίσκος εἶτʼ οὐ δικαίως σε παρέτιλλεν ὁ Καρίων οὑτωσὶ σκαιὸν ὄντα; πικρὰν δʼ οὖν τὴν τυραννίδα ἕξεις γευσάμενος τοῦ ξύλου.

Κυνίσκος τοιγαροῦν μενεῖς καὶ σὺ τῷ ἱστῷ προσπεπατταλευμένος.

Clotho Never mind what you would do to them, but come on board. The hour is at hand when you must appear before the tribunal.

Megapenthes. And who will presume to give his vote against a tyrant?

Clotho Against a tyrant, who indeed? Against a Shade, Rhadamanthus will take that liberty. He is strictly impartial, as you will presently observe, in adapting his sentences to the requirements of individual cases. And now, no more delay.

Megapenthes. Dread Fate, let me be some common man,—some pauper! I have been a king,—let me be a slave! Only let me live!

Clotho Where is the one with the stick? Hermes, you and he must drag him up feet foremost. He will never come up by himself.

Hermes Come along, my runagate. Here you are, skipper. And I say, keep an eye——

Charon Never fear. We'll lash him to the mast.

Megapenthes. Look you, I must have the seat of honour.

Clotho And why exactly?

Megapenthes. Can you ask? Was I not a tyrant, with a guard of ten thousand men?

Cynic Oh, dullard! And you complain of Carion’s pulling your hair! Wait till you get a taste of this stick; you shall know what it is to be a tyrant.

Megapenthes. What, shall a Cynic dare to raise his staff against me? Sirrah, have you forgotten the other day, when I had all but nailed you to the cross, for letting that sharp censorious tongue of yours wag too freely?

Cynic Well, and now it is your turn te be nailed,—to the mast.

Klotho Stop your threats and come aboard. It is time now for you to go to your trial.

Megapenthes And who will venture to pass judgment on a man of kingly rank?

Klotho No one will judge the king, but the dead man must come before Rhadamanthos. You will soon see him assigning his doom to each with great justice and according to merit. Don't waste any more time just now.

Megapenthes Make me a private citizen, Fate, if you will, a poor man, a slave instead of a king as I was. Only let me come to life again!

Klotho Where is the man with the club? And you, too, Hermes; drag him in by the foot, for he would not come voluntarily.

Hermes Come with me, you runaway. Take him, ferryman, and, to make him safe, dash it—

Charon All right. He shall be made fast to the mast.

Megapenthes Assuredly I ought to be placed in the seat of honor.

Klotho Why?

Magapenthes Because, by Heaven, I was a despot and had a body-guard of ten thousand men.

Kyniskos Then Karion was right to pluck out the hair of such a mischievous creature. You will rue your tyranny when you have tasted the club.

Megapenthes Will Kyniskos, then, dare to raise his staff against me? Did I not almost crucify you a day or two ago because you were too free and rough and disrespectful?

Kyniskos That is why you, too, will stay crucified against the mast.

Stable identifiers

CLOTHO

Stop threatening and get aboard; it is already time for you to make your appearance in court.

MEGAPENTHES

And who will dare to pass judgement on a tyrant?

CLOTHO

On a tyrant, no one, but on a dead man, Rhadamanthus. You shall soon see him impose on every one of you the sentence that is just and fits the case. No more delay now!

MEGAPENTHES

Make me even a common man, Lady of Destiny, one of the poor people; make me even a slave instead of the king that once I was. Only let me come to life again!

CLOTHO

Where is the man with the club? You take hold of him too, Hermes, and pull him in by the leg, for he won’t go aboard willingly.

HERMES

Come along now, runaway. (To Charon.) Take this fellow, ferryman, and see here—mind you make sure—

CHARON

No fear! he shall be lashed to the mast.

MEGAPENTHES

But I ought to sit on the quarter-deck!

CLOTHO

For what reason?

MEGAPENTHES

Because I was a tyrant, God knows, and had a regiment of guardsmen.

CYNISCUS

Then wasn’t Cario justified in pulling your hair, if you were such a lout? But you'll get small joy of your tyranny if I give you a taste of my club!

MEGAPENTHES

What, will a Cyniscus make bold to shake his staff at me? Did I not come within an ace of tricing you up to a cross the other day because you were too free-spoken and sharp-tongued and censorious?

CYNISCUS

That is why you yourself will stay triced up to the mast.

Κλωθώ

παῦσαι ἀπειλῶν, ἀλλὰ ἔμβηθι· καιρὸς ἤδη σε ἀπαντᾶν ἐπὶ τὸ δικαστήριον.

Μεγαπένθης

καὶ τίς ἀξιώσει κατʼ ἀνδρὸς τυράννου ψῆφον λαβεῖν;

Μεγαπένθης

κἂν ἰδιώτην με ποίησον, ὦ Μοῖρα, τῶν πενήτων ἕνα, κἂν δοῦλον ἀντὶ τοῦ πάλαι βασιλέως· ἀναβιῶναί με ἔασον μόνον.

Κλωθώ

ποῦ ʼστιν ὁ τὸ ξύλον; καὶ σὺ δέ, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, σύρατʼ αὐτὸν εἴσω τοῦ ποδός· οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἐμβαίη ἑκών.

Ἑρμῆς

ἕπου νῦν, δραπέτα· δέχου τοῦτον σύ, πορθμεῦ, καὶ τὸ δεῖνα,¹ ὅπως ἀσφαλῶς —

Χάρων

ἀμέλει, πρὸς τὸν ἱστὸν δεδήσεται.

Μεγαπένθης

καὶ μὴν ἐν τῇ προεδρίᾳ καθέζεσθαί με δεῖ.

Κλωθώ

ὅτι τί;

Μεγαπένθης

ὅτι, νὴ Δία, τύραννος ἦν καὶ δορυφόρους εἶχον μυρίους.

Κυνίσκος

εἶτʼ οὐ δικαίως σε παρέτιλλεν ὁ Καρίων οὑτωσὶ σκαιὸν ὄντα; πικρὰν δʼ οὖν τὴν τυραννίδα ἕξεις γευσάμενος τοῦ ξύλου.

Κυνίσκος

τοιγαροῦν μενεῖς καὶ σὺ τῷ ἱστῷ προσπεπατταλευμένος.

Clotho

Never mind what you would do to them, but come on board. The hour is at hand when you must appear before the tribunal.

Megapenthes.

And who will presume to give his vote against a tyrant?

Clotho

Against a tyrant, who indeed? Against a Shade, Rhadamanthus will take that liberty. He is strictly impartial, as you will presently observe, in adapting his sentences to the requirements of individual cases. And now, no more delay.

Megapenthes.

Dread Fate, let me be some common man,—some pauper! I have been a king,—let me be a slave! Only let me live!

Clotho

Where is the one with the stick? Hermes, you and he must drag him up feet foremost. He will never come up by himself.

Hermes

Come along, my runagate. Here you are, skipper. And I say, keep an eye——

Charon

Never fear. We'll lash him to the mast.

Megapenthes.

Look you, I must have the seat of honour.

Clotho

And why exactly?

Megapenthes.

Can you ask? Was I not a tyrant, with a guard of ten thousand men?

Cynic

Oh, dullard! And you complain of Carion’s pulling your hair! Wait till you get a taste of this stick; you shall know what it is to be a tyrant.

Megapenthes.

What, shall a Cynic dare to raise his staff against me? Sirrah, have you forgotten the other day, when I had all but nailed you to the cross, for letting that sharp censorious tongue of yours wag too freely?

Cynic

Well, and now it is your turn te be nailed,—to the mast.

Klotho

Stop your threats and come aboard. It is time now for you to go to your trial.

Megapenthes

And who will venture to pass judgment on a man of kingly rank?

Klotho

No one will judge the king, but the dead man must come before Rhadamanthos. You will soon see him assigning his doom to each with great justice and according to merit. Don't waste any more time just now.

Megapenthes

Make me a private citizen, Fate, if you will, a poor man, a slave instead of a king as I was. Only let me come to life again!

Klotho

Where is the man with the club? And you, too, Hermes; drag him in by the foot, for he would not come voluntarily.

Hermes

Come with me, you runaway. Take him, ferryman, and, to make him safe, dash it—

Charon

All right. He shall be made fast to the mast.

Megapenthes

Assuredly I ought to be placed in the seat of honor.

Klotho

Why?

Magapenthes

Because, by Heaven, I was a despot and had a body-guard of ten thousand men.

Kyniskos

Then Karion was right to pluck out the hair of such a mischievous creature. You will rue your tyranny when you have tasted the club.

Megapenthes

Will Kyniskos, then, dare to raise his staff against me? Did I not almost crucify you a day or two ago because you were too free and rough and disrespectful?

Kyniskos

That is why you, too, will stay crucified against the mast.