Lucian of Samosata, Juppiter Tragoedus, Austin Morris Harmon (Translator), 33

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ZEUS

But who is this coming up in hot haste, the one of bronze, with the fine tooling and the fine contours, with his hair tied up in the old-fashioned way? Oh yes, it is your brother, Hermes, the one of the public square, beside the Painted Porch.¹ At any rate he is all covered with pitch from being cast every day by the sculptors. My lad, what brings you here at a run? Do you bring us news from earth, by any chance?

HERMAGORAS

Important news, Zeus, that requires unlimited attention.

ZEUS

Tell me whether we have overlooked anything else in the way of conspiracy.

HERMAGORAS

It fell just now that they who work in bronze

Had smeared me o’er with pitch on breast and back;

A funny corslet round my body hung,

Conformed by imitative cleverness

To take the full impression of the bronze.

I saw a crowd advancing with a pair

Of sallow bawlers, warriors with words,

Hight Damis, one—²

ZEUS

Leave off your bombast, my good Hermagoras; I know the men you mean. But tell me whether they have been in action long.

HERMAGORAS

Not very; they were still skirmishing, slinging abuse at each other at long range.

ZEUS

Then what else remains to be done, gods, except to stoop over and listen to them? So let the Hours remove the bar now, drive the clouds away and throw open the gates of Heaven.

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

Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Zeus Rants (English) (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.)

Editions (1)

Ζεὺς Τραγῳδός Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.) — 33 focus

Ζεύς

ἀλλὰ τίς ὁ σπουδῇ προσιὼν οὗτός ἐστιν, ὁ χαλκοῦς, ὁ εὔγραμμος καὶ εὐπερίγραφος, ὁ ἀρχαῖος τὴν ἀνάδεσιν τῆς κόμης; μᾶλλον δὲ ὁ σός, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, ἀδελφός ἐστιν, ὁ ἀγοραῖος, ὁ παρὰ τὴν Ποικίλην· πίττης γοῦν ἀναπέπλησται ὁσημέραι ἐκματτόμενος ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνδριαντοποιῶν. τί, ὦ παῖ, δρομαῖος ἡμῖν ἀφῖξαι; ἦ πού τι ἐκ γῆς νεώτερον ἀπαγγέλλεις;

Ἑρμαγόρας

ὑπέρμεγα, ὦ Ζεῦ, καὶ μυρίας τῆς σπουδῆς δεόμενον.

Ζεύς

λέγε ἤδη, εἴ τι καὶ ἄλλο ἡμᾶς ἐπανιστάμενον λέληθεν.

Ἑρμαγόρας

ἐτύγχανον μὲν ἄρτι χαλκουργῶν ὕπο

πιττούμενος στέρνον τε καὶ μετάφρενον·

θώραξ δέ μοι γελοῖος ἀμφὶ σώματι

πλασθεὶς παρῃώρητο μιμηλῇ τέχνῃ

σφραγῖδα χαλκοῦ πᾶσαν ἐκτυπούμενος·

ὁρῶ δʼ ὄχλον στείχοντα καί τινας δύο

ὠχροὺς κεκράκτας, πυγμάχους σοφισμάτων,

Δᾶμίν τε καὶ —

Ζεύς

παῦε, ὦ Ἑρμαγόρα βέλτιστε, τραγῳδῶν· οἶδα γὰρ οὕστινας λέγεις. ἀλλʼ ἐκεῖνό μοι φράσον, εἰ πάλαι συγκροτεῖται αὐτοῖς ἡ ἔρις.

Ἑρμαγόρας

οὐ πάνυ, ἀλλʼ ἐν ἀκροβολισμοῖς ἔτι ἦσαν ἀποσφενδονῶντες ἀλλήλοις πόρρωθέν ποθεν λοιδορούμενοι.

Ζεύς

τί οὖν ἔτι ποιεῖν λοιπόν,¹ ὦ θεοί, ἢ ἀκροάσασθαι ἐπικύψαντας αὐτῶν; ὥστε ἀφαιρείτωσαν αἱ Ὧραι τὸν μοχλὸν ἤδη καὶ ἀπάγουσαι τὰ νέφη ἀναπεταννύτωσαν τὰς πύλας τοῦ οὐρανοῦ.

Translations (2)

Zeus Tragoedus Perseus (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 3. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.) — 33 focus

Heracles

But who is this breathless messenger? Bronze—a nice clean figure and outline—chevelure rather out of date. Ah, he must be your brother, Hermes, who stands in the Market by the Poecile; I see he is all over pitch; that is what comes of having casts taken of you every day. My son, why this haste? Have you important news from Earth?

Hermagoras

Momentous news, calling for infinite energy.

Zeus

Speak, tarry not, if any peril else hath escaped our vigilance.

Hermagoras

It chanced of late that by the statuaries

My breast and back were plastered o’er with pitch;

A mock cuirass tight-clinging hung, to ape

My bronze, and take the seal of its impression.

When lo, a crowd! therein a pallid pair

Sparring amain, vociferating logic;

'Twas Damis and—

Zeus

Truce to your iambics, my excellent Hermagoras; I know the pair. But tell me whether the fight has been going on long.

Hermagoras

Not yet; they were still skirmishing—slinging invective at long range.

Zeus

Then we have only, Gods, to look over and listen. Let the Hours unbar, draw back the clouds, and open the doors of Heaven.

Zeus the Tragedian Perseus (Selections from Lucian. Smith, Emily James, translator. New York: Harper Brothers, 1892.) — 33 focus

Zeus

But who is this hasty - comer-bronze, wellformed, with a good outline and an obsolete coiffure? It must be your brother, Hermes, the one that stands in the market-place near the Porch. At all events, his hollows are full of pitch from having impressions of him taken daily by the statuaries. Why, my child, do you come to us at racing speed? Have you, perhaps, some fresh news from earth?

Hermagoras

Great news, Zeus, and calling for the greatest attention.

Zeus

Speak, then, if some new trouble has arisen unknown to us.

Hermagoras

It chanced that even now the brass-workers

Were smearing me with pitch on breast and back.

A breastplate modelled by the mimic's art

Hung round me ludicrous. It was beat out

Merely to take th' impression of my bronze.

But I beheld a crowd approaching. Two

Pale, screaming, quibbling, verbal prize-fighters,

One Damis and the other-

Zeus

Drop the iambics, there's a good fellow. I know whom you mean. But tell me this, whether they have already joined battle.

Hermagoras

Not yet. They were still skirmishing and attacking each other from afar with the javelins of abuse.

Zeus

What is there left for us to do now, deities, but bend down and listen to them? So let the Hours draw the bolt immediately and chase away the clouds and throw open the gates of heaven.

Notes on the current edition

Zeus Rants

1. "As you go toward the portico that is called Poikile because of its paintings, there is a bronze Hermes, called Agoraios (of the square), and a gate close by” (Pausan. 1, 15,1). Playing upon "Hermes Agoraios,” Zeus dubs him Hermagoras, after a well-known rhetorician.

2. A parody on Euripides; compare Orest. 866, 871, 880.

Lucian of Samosata Juppiter Tragoedus 33

Austin Morris Harmon (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

HERMAGORAS

Important news, Zeus, that requires unlimited attention.

ZEUS

Tell me whether we have overlooked anything else in the way of conspiracy.

ZEUS

Leave off your bombast, my good Hermagoras; I know the men you mean. But tell me whether they have been in action long.

HERMAGORAS

Not very; they were still skirmishing, slinging abuse at each other at long range.

ZEUS

Then what else remains to be done, gods, except to stoop over and listen to them? So let the Hours remove the bar now, drive the clouds away and throw open the gates of Heaven.

Current edition Perseus

Ἑρμαγόρας

ὑπέρμεγα, ὦ Ζεῦ, καὶ μυρίας τῆς σπουδῆς δεόμενον.

Ζεύς

λέγε ἤδη, εἴ τι καὶ ἄλλο ἡμᾶς ἐπανιστάμενον λέληθεν.

Ζεύς

παῦε, ὦ Ἑρμαγόρα βέλτιστε, τραγῳδῶν· οἶδα γὰρ οὕστινας λέγεις. ἀλλʼ ἐκεῖνό μοι φράσον, εἰ πάλαι συγκροτεῖται αὐτοῖς ἡ ἔρις.

Ἑρμαγόρας

οὐ πάνυ, ἀλλʼ ἐν ἀκροβολισμοῖς ἔτι ἦσαν ἀποσφενδονῶντες ἀλλήλοις πόρρωθέν ποθεν λοιδορούμενοι.

Hermagoras

Momentous news, calling for infinite energy.

Zeus

Speak, tarry not, if any peril else hath escaped our vigilance.

Hermagoras

It chanced of late that by the statuaries

My breast and back were plastered o’er with pitch;

A mock cuirass tight-clinging hung, to ape

My bronze, and take the seal of its impression.

When lo, a crowd! therein a pallid pair

Sparring amain, vociferating logic;

'Twas Damis and—

Zeus

Truce to your iambics, my excellent Hermagoras; I know the pair. But tell me whether the fight has been going on long.

Hermagoras

Not yet; they were still skirmishing—slinging invective at long range.

Zeus

Then we have only, Gods, to look over and listen. Let the Hours unbar, draw back the clouds, and open the doors of Heaven.

Hermagoras

Great news, Zeus, and calling for the greatest attention.

Zeus

Speak, then, if some new trouble has arisen unknown to us.

Zeus

Drop the iambics, there's a good fellow. I know whom you mean. But tell me this, whether they have already joined battle.

Hermagoras

Not yet. They were still skirmishing and attacking each other from afar with the javelins of abuse.

Zeus

What is there left for us to do now, deities, but bend down and listen to them? So let the Hours draw the bolt immediately and chase away the clouds and throw open the gates of heaven.

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

HERMAGORAS Important news, Zeus, that requires unlimited attention.

ZEUS Tell me whether we have overlooked anything else in the way of conspiracy.

ZEUS Leave off your bombast, my good Hermagoras; I know the men you mean. But tell me whether they have been in action long.

HERMAGORAS Not very; they were still skirmishing, slinging abuse at each other at long range.

ZEUS Then what else remains to be done, gods, except to stoop over and listen to them? So let the Hours remove the bar now, drive the clouds away and throw open the gates of Heaven.

Current edition Perseus

Ἑρμαγόρας ὑπέρμεγα, ὦ Ζεῦ, καὶ μυρίας τῆς σπουδῆς δεόμενον.

Ζεύς λέγε ἤδη, εἴ τι καὶ ἄλλο ἡμᾶς ἐπανιστάμενον λέληθεν.

Ζεύς παῦε, ὦ Ἑρμαγόρα βέλτιστε, τραγῳδῶν· οἶδα γὰρ οὕστινας λέγεις. ἀλλʼ ἐκεῖνό μοι φράσον, εἰ πάλαι συγκροτεῖται αὐτοῖς ἡ ἔρις.

Ἑρμαγόρας οὐ πάνυ, ἀλλʼ ἐν ἀκροβολισμοῖς ἔτι ἦσαν ἀποσφενδονῶντες ἀλλήλοις πόρρωθέν ποθεν λοιδορούμενοι.

Hermagoras Momentous news, calling for infinite energy.

Zeus Speak, tarry not, if any peril else hath escaped our vigilance.

Hermagoras It chanced of late that by the statuaries My breast and back were plastered o’er with pitch; A mock cuirass tight-clinging hung, to ape My bronze, and take the seal of its impression. When lo, a crowd! therein a pallid pair Sparring amain, vociferating logic; 'Twas Damis and—

Zeus Truce to your iambics, my excellent Hermagoras; I know the pair. But tell me whether the fight has been going on long.

Hermagoras Not yet; they were still skirmishing—slinging invective at long range.

Zeus Then we have only, Gods, to look over and listen. Let the Hours unbar, draw back the clouds, and open the doors of Heaven.

Hermagoras Great news, Zeus, and calling for the greatest attention.

Zeus Speak, then, if some new trouble has arisen unknown to us.

Zeus Drop the iambics, there's a good fellow. I know whom you mean. But tell me this, whether they have already joined battle.

Hermagoras Not yet. They were still skirmishing and attacking each other from afar with the javelins of abuse.

Zeus What is there left for us to do now, deities, but bend down and listen to them? So let the Hours draw the bolt immediately and chase away the clouds and throw open the gates of heaven.

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

HERMAGORAS

Important news, Zeus, that requires unlimited attention.

ZEUS

Tell me whether we have overlooked anything else in the way of conspiracy.

ZEUS

Leave off your bombast, my good Hermagoras; I know the men you mean. But tell me whether they have been in action long.

HERMAGORAS

Not very; they were still skirmishing, slinging abuse at each other at long range.

ZEUS

Then what else remains to be done, gods, except to stoop over and listen to them? So let the Hours remove the bar now, drive the clouds away and throw open the gates of Heaven.

Ἑρμαγόρας

ὑπέρμεγα, ὦ Ζεῦ, καὶ μυρίας τῆς σπουδῆς δεόμενον.

Ζεύς

λέγε ἤδη, εἴ τι καὶ ἄλλο ἡμᾶς ἐπανιστάμενον λέληθεν.

Ζεύς

παῦε, ὦ Ἑρμαγόρα βέλτιστε, τραγῳδῶν· οἶδα γὰρ οὕστινας λέγεις. ἀλλʼ ἐκεῖνό μοι φράσον, εἰ πάλαι συγκροτεῖται αὐτοῖς ἡ ἔρις.

Ἑρμαγόρας

οὐ πάνυ, ἀλλʼ ἐν ἀκροβολισμοῖς ἔτι ἦσαν ἀποσφενδονῶντες ἀλλήλοις πόρρωθέν ποθεν λοιδορούμενοι.

Hermagoras

Momentous news, calling for infinite energy.

Zeus

Speak, tarry not, if any peril else hath escaped our vigilance.

Hermagoras

It chanced of late that by the statuaries

My breast and back were plastered o’er with pitch;

A mock cuirass tight-clinging hung, to ape

My bronze, and take the seal of its impression.

When lo, a crowd! therein a pallid pair

Sparring amain, vociferating logic;

'Twas Damis and—

Zeus

Truce to your iambics, my excellent Hermagoras; I know the pair. But tell me whether the fight has been going on long.

Hermagoras

Not yet; they were still skirmishing—slinging invective at long range.

Zeus

Then we have only, Gods, to look over and listen. Let the Hours unbar, draw back the clouds, and open the doors of Heaven.

Hermagoras

Great news, Zeus, and calling for the greatest attention.

Zeus

Speak, then, if some new trouble has arisen unknown to us.

Zeus

Drop the iambics, there's a good fellow. I know whom you mean. But tell me this, whether they have already joined battle.

Hermagoras

Not yet. They were still skirmishing and attacking each other from afar with the javelins of abuse.

Zeus

What is there left for us to do now, deities, but bend down and listen to them? So let the Hours draw the bolt immediately and chase away the clouds and throw open the gates of heaven.