Lucian of Samosata, Cataplus, Austin Morris Harmon (Translator), 5

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CLOTHO

And we, Charon, were condemning Hermes for neglecting his duty, indeed!

CHARON

Well, why do we keep dilly-dallying as though we had not had delay enough already.

CLOTHO

Right; let them get aboard. I will hold the book and sit by the gangway as usual, and as each of them comes aboard I will see who he is, where he comes from, and how he met his death; you receive them, and as you do so, pack and stow them. LTlermes, heave these babies aboard first, for what in the world can they have to say to me?

HERMES

Here you are, ferryman, three hundred of them, including those that were abandoned.

CHARON

I say, what a rich haul! It’s green-grape dead you have brought us.

HERMES

Clotho, do you want us to get the unmourned aboard next?

CLOTHO

You mean the old people? Yes, for why should I bother now to investigate what happened before the food?¹ All of you who are over sixty go in now. What’s this? They don’t heed me, for their ears are stopped with years. You will probably have to pick them up and carry them in, too.

HERMES

Here you are again, three hundred and _ninetyeight, all tender and ripe and harvested in season.

CHARON

Good Lord, yes! They’re all raisins now!

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.) — 5 focus

Κλωθώ

ἡμεῖς δέ, ὦ Χάρων, ὀλιγωρίαν ἤδη τοῦ Ἑρμοῦ κατεγινώσκομεν.

Χάρων

τί οὖν ἔτι διαμέλλομεν ὡς οὐχ ἱκανῆς ἡμῖν γεγενημένης διατριβῆς;

Κλωθώ

εὖ λέγεις· ἐμβαινέτωσαν. ἐγὼ δὲ προχειρισαμένη τὸ βιβλίον καὶ παρὰ τὴν ἀποβάθραν καθεζομένη, ὡς ἔθος, ἐπιβαίνοντα ἕκαστον αὐτῶν διαγνώσομαι, τίς καὶ πόθεν καὶ ὅντινα τεθνεὼς τὸν τρόπον· σὺ δὲ παραλαμβάνων στοίβαζε καὶ συντίθει· σὺ δέ, ὦ Ἑρμῆ,¹ τὰ νεογνὰ ταυτὶ πρῶτα ἐμβαλοῦ· τί γὰρ ἂν καὶ ἀποκρίναιντό μοι;

Ἑρμῆς

ἰδού σοι, ὦ πορθμεῦ, τὸν ἀριθμὸν οὗτοι τριακόσιοι μετὰ τῶν ἐκτιθεμένων.

Χάρων

βαβαὶ τῆς εὐαγρίας. ὀμφακίας ἡμῖν νεκροὺς ἥκεις ἄγων.

Ἑρμῆς

βούλει, ὦ Κλωθοῖ, τοὺς ἀκλαύστους ἐπὶ τούτοις ἐμβιβασώμεθα;

Κλωθώ

τοὺς γέροντας λέγεις; οὕτω ποίει. τί γάρ με δεῖ πράγματα ἔχειν τὰ πρὸ Εὐκλείδου νῦν ἐξετάζουσαν; οἱ ὑπὲρ ἑξήκοντα ὑμεῖς πάριτε ἤδη. τί τοῦτο; οὐκ ἐπακούουσί μου βεβυσμένοι τὰ ὦτα ὑπὸ τῶν ἐτῶν. δεήσει τάχα καὶ τούτους ἀράμενον παραγαγεῖν.

Ἑρμῆς

ἰδοὺ πάλιν οὗτοι δυεῖν δέοντες τετρακόσιοι, τακεροὶ πάντες καὶ πέπειροι καὶ καθʼ ὥραν τετρυγημένοι.

Χάρων

νὴ Δίʼ, ἐπεὶ ἀσταφίδες γε πάντες ἤδη εἰσί.

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.) — 5 focus

Clotho

There now, Charon! And we were beginning to accuse Hermes of neglect.

Charon

Well, and why are we waiting here, as if there had not been enough delay already?

Clotho

True. Let them come aboard. I’ll to my post by the gangway, with my notebook, and take their names and countries as they come up, and details of their deaths; and you can stow them away as you get them.—Hermes, let us have those babies in first; I shall get nothing out of them.

Hermes

Here, skipper. Three hundred of them, including those that were exposed.

Charon

A precious haul, on my word!—These are but green grapes, Hermes.

Hermes

Who next, Clotho? The Unwept?

Clotho

Ah! I take you.—Yes, up with the old fellows. I have no time to-day for prehistoric research. All over sixty, pass on! What’s the matter with them? They don’t hear me; they are deaf with age. I think you will have to pick them up, like the babies, and get them along that way.

Hermes

Here they are; fine well-matured fruit, gathered in due season; three hundred and ninety-eight of them,

Charon

Nay, nay; these are no better than raisins.

The Ferry Perseus (Selections from Lucian. Smith, Emily James, translator. New York; Harper Brothers, 1892.) — 5 focus

Klotho

And we, Charon, were just accusing Hermes of neglecting his duties!

Charon

Well, what are we waiting for now? Haven't we lost enough time already?

Klotho

You are right; let them embark. I will take my note-book in my hand and sit by the gangway, as usual; and as each one of them comes aboard I will find out who he is and whence he comes, and what sort of ath he died by. Do you, Charon, receive them and stack them together in lots; and you, Hermes, put these new-born children aboard first. For how could they answer any of my questions?

Hermes

See, ferryman, there are three hundred of these for you, counting those that were exposed.

Charon

Dear me, that is a large bag. You have brought us unripe dead.

Hermes

Shall we put the unwept aboard next to these, Klotho?

Klotho

Do you mean the aged? Yes, do so. Why should I trouble myself now to inquire into such ancient history? All you who are over sixty come forward at once. What is this? They do not hear me, because their ears are stopped with age. Probably you will have to lift these, too, and ship them.

Hermes

Here is another lot, lacking two of four hundred. These are all soft and ripe, and gathered in their prime.

Charon

No, by Jove! they are all raisins already.

Notes on the current edition

The Downward Journey, or the Tyrant

1. Literally, "before Euclid,” the Athenian archon of 403 B.C., the year in which the democracy was restored and the misdeeds of the oligarchy obliterated by a general amnesty.

Lucian of Samosata Cataplus 5

Austin Morris Harmon (Translator)

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CLOTHO

And we, Charon, were condemning Hermes for neglecting his duty, indeed!

CHARON

Well, why do we keep dilly-dallying as though we had not had delay enough already.

HERMES

Here you are, ferryman, three hundred of them, including those that were abandoned.

CHARON

I say, what a rich haul! It’s green-grape dead you have brought us.

HERMES

Clotho, do you want us to get the unmourned aboard next?

CLOTHO

You mean the old people? Yes, for why should I bother now to investigate what happened before the food?¹ All of you who are over sixty go in now. What’s this? They don’t heed me, for their ears are stopped with years. You will probably have to pick them up and carry them in, too.

HERMES

Here you are again, three hundred and _ninetyeight, all tender and ripe and harvested in season.

CHARON

Good Lord, yes! They’re all raisins now!

Current edition Perseus

Κλωθώ

ἡμεῖς δέ, ὦ Χάρων, ὀλιγωρίαν ἤδη τοῦ Ἑρμοῦ κατεγινώσκομεν.

Χάρων

τί οὖν ἔτι διαμέλλομεν ὡς οὐχ ἱκανῆς ἡμῖν γεγενημένης διατριβῆς;

Ἑρμῆς

ἰδού σοι, ὦ πορθμεῦ, τὸν ἀριθμὸν οὗτοι τριακόσιοι μετὰ τῶν ἐκτιθεμένων.

Χάρων

βαβαὶ τῆς εὐαγρίας. ὀμφακίας ἡμῖν νεκροὺς ἥκεις ἄγων.

Ἑρμῆς

βούλει, ὦ Κλωθοῖ, τοὺς ἀκλαύστους ἐπὶ τούτοις ἐμβιβασώμεθα;

Ἑρμῆς

ἰδοὺ πάλιν οὗτοι δυεῖν δέοντες τετρακόσιοι, τακεροὶ πάντες καὶ πέπειροι καὶ καθʼ ὥραν τετρυγημένοι.

Χάρων

νὴ Δίʼ, ἐπεὶ ἀσταφίδες γε πάντες ἤδη εἰσί.

Clotho

There now, Charon! And we were beginning to accuse Hermes of neglect.

Charon

Well, and why are we waiting here, as if there had not been enough delay already?

Clotho

True. Let them come aboard. I’ll to my post by the gangway, with my notebook, and take their names and countries as they come up, and details of their deaths; and you can stow them away as you get them.—Hermes, let us have those babies in first; I shall get nothing out of them.

Hermes

Here, skipper. Three hundred of them, including those that were exposed.

Charon

A precious haul, on my word!—These are but green grapes, Hermes.

Hermes

Who next, Clotho? The Unwept?

Clotho

Ah! I take you.—Yes, up with the old fellows. I have no time to-day for prehistoric research. All over sixty, pass on! What’s the matter with them? They don’t hear me; they are deaf with age. I think you will have to pick them up, like the babies, and get them along that way.

Hermes

Here they are; fine well-matured fruit, gathered in due season; three hundred and ninety-eight of them,

Charon

Nay, nay; these are no better than raisins.

Klotho

And we, Charon, were just accusing Hermes of neglecting his duties!

Charon

Well, what are we waiting for now? Haven't we lost enough time already?

Hermes

See, ferryman, there are three hundred of these for you, counting those that were exposed.

Charon

Dear me, that is a large bag. You have brought us unripe dead.

Hermes

Shall we put the unwept aboard next to these, Klotho?

Klotho

Do you mean the aged? Yes, do so. Why should I trouble myself now to inquire into such ancient history? All you who are over sixty come forward at once. What is this? They do not hear me, because their ears are stopped with age. Probably you will have to lift these, too, and ship them.

Hermes

Here is another lot, lacking two of four hundred. These are all soft and ripe, and gathered in their prime.

Charon

No, by Jove! they are all raisins already.

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

CLOTHO And we, Charon, were condemning Hermes for neglecting his duty, indeed!

CHARON Well, why do we keep dilly-dallying as though we had not had delay enough already.

HERMES Here you are, ferryman, three hundred of them, including those that were abandoned.

CHARON I say, what a rich haul! It’s green-grape dead you have brought us.

HERMES Clotho, do you want us to get the unmourned aboard next?

CLOTHO You mean the old people? Yes, for why should I bother now to investigate what happened before the food? 1 All of you who are over sixty go in now. What’s this? They don’t heed me, for their ears are stopped with years. You will probably have to pick them up and carry them in, too.

HERMES Here you are again, three hundred and _ninetyeight, all tender and ripe and harvested in season.

CHARON Good Lord, yes! They’re all raisins now!

Current edition Perseus

Κλωθώ ἡμεῖς δέ, ὦ Χάρων, ὀλιγωρίαν ἤδη τοῦ Ἑρμοῦ κατεγινώσκομεν.

Χάρων τί οὖν ἔτι διαμέλλομεν ὡς οὐχ ἱκανῆς ἡμῖν γεγενημένης διατριβῆς;

Ἑρμῆς ἰδού σοι, ὦ πορθμεῦ, τὸν ἀριθμὸν οὗτοι τριακόσιοι μετὰ τῶν ἐκτιθεμένων.

Χάρων βαβαὶ τῆς εὐαγρίας. ὀμφακίας ἡμῖν νεκροὺς ἥκεις ἄγων.

Ἑρμῆς βούλει, ὦ Κλωθοῖ, τοὺς ἀκλαύστους ἐπὶ τούτοις ἐμβιβασώμεθα;

Ἑρμῆς ἰδοὺ πάλιν οὗτοι δυεῖν δέοντες τετρακόσιοι, τακεροὶ πάντες καὶ πέπειροι καὶ καθʼ ὥραν τετρυγημένοι.

Χάρων νὴ Δίʼ, ἐπεὶ ἀσταφίδες γε πάντες ἤδη εἰσί.

Clotho There now, Charon! And we were beginning to accuse Hermes of neglect.

Charon Well, and why are we waiting here, as if there had not been enough delay already?

Clotho True. Let them come aboard. I’ll to my post by the gangway, with my notebook, and take their names and countries as they come up, and details of their deaths; and you can stow them away as you get them.—Hermes, let us have those babies in first; I shall get nothing out of them.

Hermes Here, skipper. Three hundred of them, including those that were exposed.

Charon A precious haul, on my word!—These are but green grapes, Hermes.

Hermes Who next, Clotho? The Unwept?

Clotho Ah! I take you.—Yes, up with the old fellows. I have no time to-day for prehistoric research. All over sixty, pass on! What’s the matter with them? They don’t hear me; they are deaf with age. I think you will have to pick them up, like the babies, and get them along that way.

Hermes Here they are; fine well-matured fruit, gathered in due season; three hundred and ninety-eight of them,

Charon Nay, nay; these are no better than raisins.

Klotho And we, Charon, were just accusing Hermes of neglecting his duties!

Charon Well, what are we waiting for now? Haven't we lost enough time already?

Hermes See, ferryman, there are three hundred of these for you, counting those that were exposed.

Charon Dear me, that is a large bag. You have brought us unripe dead.

Hermes Shall we put the unwept aboard next to these, Klotho?

Klotho Do you mean the aged? Yes, do so. Why should I trouble myself now to inquire into such ancient history? All you who are over sixty come forward at once. What is this? They do not hear me, because their ears are stopped with age. Probably you will have to lift these, too, and ship them.

Hermes Here is another lot, lacking two of four hundred. These are all soft and ripe, and gathered in their prime.

Charon No, by Jove! they are all raisins already.

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

CLOTHO

And we, Charon, were condemning Hermes for neglecting his duty, indeed!

CHARON

Well, why do we keep dilly-dallying as though we had not had delay enough already.

HERMES

Here you are, ferryman, three hundred of them, including those that were abandoned.

CHARON

I say, what a rich haul! It’s green-grape dead you have brought us.

HERMES

Clotho, do you want us to get the unmourned aboard next?

CLOTHO

You mean the old people? Yes, for why should I bother now to investigate what happened before the food?¹ All of you who are over sixty go in now. What’s this? They don’t heed me, for their ears are stopped with years. You will probably have to pick them up and carry them in, too.

HERMES

Here you are again, three hundred and _ninetyeight, all tender and ripe and harvested in season.

CHARON

Good Lord, yes! They’re all raisins now!

Κλωθώ

ἡμεῖς δέ, ὦ Χάρων, ὀλιγωρίαν ἤδη τοῦ Ἑρμοῦ κατεγινώσκομεν.

Χάρων

τί οὖν ἔτι διαμέλλομεν ὡς οὐχ ἱκανῆς ἡμῖν γεγενημένης διατριβῆς;

Ἑρμῆς

ἰδού σοι, ὦ πορθμεῦ, τὸν ἀριθμὸν οὗτοι τριακόσιοι μετὰ τῶν ἐκτιθεμένων.

Χάρων

βαβαὶ τῆς εὐαγρίας. ὀμφακίας ἡμῖν νεκροὺς ἥκεις ἄγων.

Ἑρμῆς

βούλει, ὦ Κλωθοῖ, τοὺς ἀκλαύστους ἐπὶ τούτοις ἐμβιβασώμεθα;

Ἑρμῆς

ἰδοὺ πάλιν οὗτοι δυεῖν δέοντες τετρακόσιοι, τακεροὶ πάντες καὶ πέπειροι καὶ καθʼ ὥραν τετρυγημένοι.

Χάρων

νὴ Δίʼ, ἐπεὶ ἀσταφίδες γε πάντες ἤδη εἰσί.

Clotho

There now, Charon! And we were beginning to accuse Hermes of neglect.

Charon

Well, and why are we waiting here, as if there had not been enough delay already?

Clotho

True. Let them come aboard. I’ll to my post by the gangway, with my notebook, and take their names and countries as they come up, and details of their deaths; and you can stow them away as you get them.—Hermes, let us have those babies in first; I shall get nothing out of them.

Hermes

Here, skipper. Three hundred of them, including those that were exposed.

Charon

A precious haul, on my word!—These are but green grapes, Hermes.

Hermes

Who next, Clotho? The Unwept?

Clotho

Ah! I take you.—Yes, up with the old fellows. I have no time to-day for prehistoric research. All over sixty, pass on! What’s the matter with them? They don’t hear me; they are deaf with age. I think you will have to pick them up, like the babies, and get them along that way.

Hermes

Here they are; fine well-matured fruit, gathered in due season; three hundred and ninety-eight of them,

Charon

Nay, nay; these are no better than raisins.

Klotho

And we, Charon, were just accusing Hermes of neglecting his duties!

Charon

Well, what are we waiting for now? Haven't we lost enough time already?

Hermes

See, ferryman, there are three hundred of these for you, counting those that were exposed.

Charon

Dear me, that is a large bag. You have brought us unripe dead.

Hermes

Shall we put the unwept aboard next to these, Klotho?

Klotho

Do you mean the aged? Yes, do so. Why should I trouble myself now to inquire into such ancient history? All you who are over sixty come forward at once. What is this? They do not hear me, because their ears are stopped with age. Probably you will have to lift these, too, and ship them.

Hermes

Here is another lot, lacking two of four hundred. These are all soft and ripe, and gathered in their prime.

Charon

No, by Jove! they are all raisins already.