Lucian of Samosata, Cataplus, Austin Morris Harmon (Translator), 7

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

← Previous Next →

CLOTHO

Where is the philosopher Cyniscus, who was to die from eating the dinner of Hecate and the lustral eggs and a raw squid besides?¹

CYNISCUS

Ihave been standing at your elbow a long time, kind Clotho. What have I done that you should leave me on earth so long? Why, you nearly ran off your whole spindle for me! In spite of that, I have often tried to cut the thread and come, but somehow or other it could not be broken.

CLOTHO

I left you behind to observe and prescribe for the sins of man. But get aboard, and good luck to you.:

CYNISCUS

No, by Heaven, not till we have put this man in fetters aboard. I am afraid he may come it over you with his entreaties.

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.) — 7 focus

Κλωθώ

ποῦ δʼ ὁ φιλόσοφος Κυνίσκος, ὃν ἔδει τῆς Ἑκάτης τὸ δεῖπνον φαγόντα καὶ τὰ ἐκ τῶν καθαρσίων ᾠὰ καὶ πρὸς τούτοις γε σηπίαν ὠμὴν ἀποθανεῖν;

Κυνίσκος

πάλαι σοι παρέστηκα, ὦ βελτίστη Κλωθοῖ. τί δέ με ἀδικήσαντα τοσοῦτον εἴας ἄνω τὸν χρόνον; σχεδὸν γὰρ ὅλον μοι τὸν ἄτρακτον ἐπέκλωσας. καίτοι πολλάκις ἐπειράθην τὸ νῆμα διακόψας ἐλθεῖν, ἀλλʼ οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅπως ἄρρηκτον ἦν.

Κλωθώ

ἔφορόν σε καὶ ἰατρὸν εἶναι τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων ἁμαρτημάτων ἀπελίμπανον. ἀλλὰ ἔμβαινε ἀγαθῇ τύχῃ.

Κυνίσκος

μὰ Δίʼ, ἢν μὴ πρότερόν γε τουτονὶ τὸν δεδεμένον ἐμβιβασώμεθα· δέδια γὰρ μή σε παραπείσῃ δεόμενος.

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.) — 7 focus

Clotho

Then there was a Cynic philosopher, who was to have succumbed to a dinner with Dame Hecate, eked out with sacrificial eggs and a raw cuttle-fish; where is he?

Cynic

Here I stand this long time, my good Clotho. Now what had I done to deserve such a weary spell of life? You gave me pretty nearly a spindleful of it. I often tried to cut the thread and away; but somehow it never would give.

Clotho

I left you as a censor and physician of human frailties: pass on, and good luck to you.

Cynic

No, by Zeus! First let us see our captive safe on board. Your judgement might be perverted by his entreaties.

The Ferry Perseus (Selections from Lucian. Smith, Emily James, translator. New York; Harper Brothers, 1892.) — 7 focus

Klotho

Where is the philosopher Kyniskos, who ought to have died of eating Hecate's supper and the purifiactory eggs and a raw polyp to top off with?

Kyniskos

I have been standing here at your service for some time, my good Klotho. What wrong have I done that you left me on earth so long? You almost spun out your whole spindle for me. However, I tried often to cut the thread and come, but somehow or other it was not to be broken.

Klotho

I left you to be a guardian and physician of human errors. But come aboard, and luck go with you!

Kyniskos

By Heaven, no, unless we shall first have shipped the fellow in fetters, for I am afraid he will persuade you with his prayers.

Notes on the current edition

The Downward Journey, or the Tyrant

1. The dinner of Hecate (mentioned also in Dialogues of the Dead, 1) was a purificatory offering made at cross-roads and,to judge from Aristophanes (Plutus 594), very well received by the poor. For the use of eggs in purification see Ovid, Ars Amat. ii. 329; Juv. vi. 517. The raw squid is mentioned because Diogenes is said to have died from eating one (Diog. Laert. 156 ap; cf. Philosophers for Sale, 10).

Lucian of Samosata Cataplus 7

Austin Morris Harmon (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

CLOTHO

Where is the philosopher Cyniscus, who was to die from eating the dinner of Hecate and the lustral eggs and a raw squid besides?¹

CYNISCUS

Ihave been standing at your elbow a long time, kind Clotho. What have I done that you should leave me on earth so long? Why, you nearly ran off your whole spindle for me! In spite of that, I have often tried to cut the thread and come, but somehow or other it could not be broken.

CLOTHO

I left you behind to observe and prescribe for the sins of man. But get aboard, and good luck to you.:

CYNISCUS

No, by Heaven, not till we have put this man in fetters aboard. I am afraid he may come it over you with his entreaties.

Current edition Perseus

Κλωθώ

ποῦ δʼ ὁ φιλόσοφος Κυνίσκος, ὃν ἔδει τῆς Ἑκάτης τὸ δεῖπνον φαγόντα καὶ τὰ ἐκ τῶν καθαρσίων ᾠὰ καὶ πρὸς τούτοις γε σηπίαν ὠμὴν ἀποθανεῖν;

Κλωθώ

ἔφορόν σε καὶ ἰατρὸν εἶναι τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων ἁμαρτημάτων ἀπελίμπανον. ἀλλὰ ἔμβαινε ἀγαθῇ τύχῃ.

Κυνίσκος

μὰ Δίʼ, ἢν μὴ πρότερόν γε τουτονὶ τὸν δεδεμένον ἐμβιβασώμεθα· δέδια γὰρ μή σε παραπείσῃ δεόμενος.

Clotho

Then there was a Cynic philosopher, who was to have succumbed to a dinner with Dame Hecate, eked out with sacrificial eggs and a raw cuttle-fish; where is he?

Cynic

Here I stand this long time, my good Clotho. Now what had I done to deserve such a weary spell of life? You gave me pretty nearly a spindleful of it. I often tried to cut the thread and away; but somehow it never would give.

Clotho

I left you as a censor and physician of human frailties: pass on, and good luck to you.

Cynic

No, by Zeus! First let us see our captive safe on board. Your judgement might be perverted by his entreaties.

Klotho

Where is the philosopher Kyniskos, who ought to have died of eating Hecate's supper and the purifiactory eggs and a raw polyp to top off with?

Kyniskos

I have been standing here at your service for some time, my good Klotho. What wrong have I done that you left me on earth so long? You almost spun out your whole spindle for me. However, I tried often to cut the thread and come, but somehow or other it was not to be broken.

Klotho

I left you to be a guardian and physician of human errors. But come aboard, and luck go with you!

Kyniskos

By Heaven, no, unless we shall first have shipped the fellow in fetters, for I am afraid he will persuade you with his prayers.

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

CLOTHO Where is the philosopher Cyniscus, who was to die from eating the dinner of Hecate and the lustral eggs and a raw squid besides? 1

CYNISCUS Ihave been standing at your elbow a long time, kind Clotho. What have I done that you should leave me on earth so long? Why, you nearly ran off your whole spindle for me! In spite of that, I have often tried to cut the thread and come, but somehow or other it could not be broken.

CLOTHO I left you behind to observe and prescribe for the sins of man. But get aboard, and good luck to you.:

CYNISCUS No, by Heaven, not till we have put this man in fetters aboard. I am afraid he may come it over you with his entreaties.

Current edition Perseus

Κλωθώ ποῦ δʼ ὁ φιλόσοφος Κυνίσκος, ὃν ἔδει τῆς Ἑκάτης τὸ δεῖπνον φαγόντα καὶ τὰ ἐκ τῶν καθαρσίων ᾠὰ καὶ πρὸς τούτοις γε σηπίαν ὠμὴν ἀποθανεῖν;

Κλωθώ ἔφορόν σε καὶ ἰατρὸν εἶναι τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων ἁμαρτημάτων ἀπελίμπανον. ἀλλὰ ἔμβαινε ἀγαθῇ τύχῃ.

Κυνίσκος μὰ Δίʼ, ἢν μὴ πρότερόν γε τουτονὶ τὸν δεδεμένον ἐμβιβασώμεθα· δέδια γὰρ μή σε παραπείσῃ δεόμενος.

Clotho Then there was a Cynic philosopher, who was to have succumbed to a dinner with Dame Hecate, eked out with sacrificial eggs and a raw cuttle-fish; where is he?

Cynic Here I stand this long time, my good Clotho. Now what had I done to deserve such a weary spell of life? You gave me pretty nearly a spindleful of it. I often tried to cut the thread and away; but somehow it never would give.

Clotho I left you as a censor and physician of human frailties: pass on, and good luck to you.

Cynic No, by Zeus! First let us see our captive safe on board. Your judgement might be perverted by his entreaties.

Klotho Where is the philosopher Kyniskos, who ought to have died of eating Hecate's supper and the purifiactory eggs and a raw polyp to top off with?

Kyniskos I have been standing here at your service for some time, my good Klotho. What wrong have I done that you left me on earth so long? You almost spun out your whole spindle for me. However, I tried often to cut the thread and come, but somehow or other it was not to be broken.

Klotho I left you to be a guardian and physician of human errors. But come aboard, and luck go with you!

Kyniskos By Heaven, no, unless we shall first have shipped the fellow in fetters, for I am afraid he will persuade you with his prayers.

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

CLOTHO

Where is the philosopher Cyniscus, who was to die from eating the dinner of Hecate and the lustral eggs and a raw squid besides?¹

CYNISCUS

Ihave been standing at your elbow a long time, kind Clotho. What have I done that you should leave me on earth so long? Why, you nearly ran off your whole spindle for me! In spite of that, I have often tried to cut the thread and come, but somehow or other it could not be broken.

CLOTHO

I left you behind to observe and prescribe for the sins of man. But get aboard, and good luck to you.:

CYNISCUS

No, by Heaven, not till we have put this man in fetters aboard. I am afraid he may come it over you with his entreaties.

Κλωθώ

ποῦ δʼ ὁ φιλόσοφος Κυνίσκος, ὃν ἔδει τῆς Ἑκάτης τὸ δεῖπνον φαγόντα καὶ τὰ ἐκ τῶν καθαρσίων ᾠὰ καὶ πρὸς τούτοις γε σηπίαν ὠμὴν ἀποθανεῖν;

Κλωθώ

ἔφορόν σε καὶ ἰατρὸν εἶναι τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων ἁμαρτημάτων ἀπελίμπανον. ἀλλὰ ἔμβαινε ἀγαθῇ τύχῃ.

Κυνίσκος

μὰ Δίʼ, ἢν μὴ πρότερόν γε τουτονὶ τὸν δεδεμένον ἐμβιβασώμεθα· δέδια γὰρ μή σε παραπείσῃ δεόμενος.

Clotho

Then there was a Cynic philosopher, who was to have succumbed to a dinner with Dame Hecate, eked out with sacrificial eggs and a raw cuttle-fish; where is he?

Cynic

Here I stand this long time, my good Clotho. Now what had I done to deserve such a weary spell of life? You gave me pretty nearly a spindleful of it. I often tried to cut the thread and away; but somehow it never would give.

Clotho

I left you as a censor and physician of human frailties: pass on, and good luck to you.

Cynic

No, by Zeus! First let us see our captive safe on board. Your judgement might be perverted by his entreaties.

Klotho

Where is the philosopher Kyniskos, who ought to have died of eating Hecate's supper and the purifiactory eggs and a raw polyp to top off with?

Kyniskos

I have been standing here at your service for some time, my good Klotho. What wrong have I done that you left me on earth so long? You almost spun out your whole spindle for me. However, I tried often to cut the thread and come, but somehow or other it was not to be broken.

Klotho

I left you to be a guardian and physician of human errors. But come aboard, and luck go with you!

Kyniskos

By Heaven, no, unless we shall first have shipped the fellow in fetters, for I am afraid he will persuade you with his prayers.