Lucian, Juppiter Tragoedus, Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator), 30

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

← Previous Next →

Momus

But, reverend sir, you claim the gift of prophecy, and it has brought you in good pay—golden ingots on one occasion?— why not seize this opportunity of exhibiting your art? You might tell us which of the disputants will win; a prophet knows the future, of course.

Apollo

I have no tripod or incense here; no substitute for the divining-well of Castaly.

Momus

Aha! you are caught! you will not come to the scratch.

Zeus

Speak, my son, in spite of all; give not this enemy occasion to blaspheme; let him not flout thy powers with tripod and water and frankincense, as though thine art were lost without them.

Apollo

Father, it were better done at Delphi or at Colophon, with all the customary instruments to hand. Yet, bare and unprovided as I am, I will essay to tell whether of them twain shall prevail—If the metre is a little rough, you must make allowances.

Momus

Goon, then; but remember, Apollo: lucidity; no ‘able counsel,¹ no solutions that want solving themselves. It is not a question of lamb and tortoise boiling’ in Lydia now; you know what we want to get at.

Zeus

What will thine utterance be? How dread, even now, is the making ready! The altered hue, the rolling eyes, the floating locks, the frenzied gesture—all is possession, horror, mystery.

Juppiter Tragoedus. Lucian. Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator). Medford, MA, USA. 2023-08-01.

Current edition Perseus

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

Editions (1)

Ζεὺς Τραγῳδός Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.) — 30 focus

Μῶμος

σὺ δέ, ὦ θαυμάσιε — φὴς γὰρ καὶ μάντις εἶναι καὶ μισθοὺς οὐκ ὀλίγους ἐπὶ τῷ τοιούτῳ ἐξέλεξας ἄχρι τοῦ καὶ πλίνθους χρυσᾶς ποτε εἰληφέναι — τί οὐκ ἐπεδείξω ἡμῖν κατὰ καιρὸν τὴν τέχνην προειπὼν ὁπότερος τῶν σοφιστῶν κρατήσει λέγων; οἶσθα γάρ που τὸ ἀποβησόμενον μάντις ὤν.

Ἀπόλλων

πῶς, ὦ Μῶμε, δυνατὸν ποιεῖν ταῦτα μήτε τρίποδος ἡμῖν παρόντος μήτε θυμιαμάτων ἢ πηγῆς μαντικῆς οἵα ἡ Κασταλία ἐστίν;

Μῶμος

ὁρᾷς; ἀποδιδράσκεις τὸν ἔλεγχον ἐν στενῷ ἐχόμενος.

Ζεύς

ὅμως, ὦ τέκνον, εἰπὲ καὶ μὴ παράσχῃς τῷ συκοφάντῃ τούτῳ ἀφορμὰς διαβάλλειν καὶ χλευάζειν τὰ σὰ ὡς ἐπὶ τρίποδι καὶ ὕδατι καὶ λιβανωτῷ κείμενα, ὡς, εἰ μὴ ἔχοις ταῦτα, στερησόμενόν σε τῆς τέχνης.

Ἀπόλλων

ἄμεινον μὲν ἦν, ὦ πάτερ, ἐν Δελφοῖς ἢ Κολοφῶνι τὰ τοιαῦτα ποιεῖν, ἁπάντων μοι τῶν χρησίμων παρόντων, ὡς ἔθος. ὅμως δὲ καὶ οὕτω γυμνὸς ἐκείνων καὶ ἄσκευος πειράσομαι προειπεῖν ὁποτέρου τὸ κράτος ἔσται· ἀνέξεσθε δέ, εἰ μὴ ἔμμετρα λέγοιμι.

Μῶμος

λέγε μόνον, σαφῆ δέ, ὦ Ἄπολλον, καὶ οὐ συνηγόρου καὶ αὐτὰ ἢ ἑρμηνέως δεόμενα· καὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἄρνεια κρέα καὶ χελώνη νῦν ἐν Λυδίᾳ συνέψεται· ἀλλὰ οἶσθα περὶ ὅτου ἡ σκέψις.

Ζεύς

Τί ποτε ἐρεῖς, ὦ τέκνον; ὡς τά γε πρὸ τοῦ χρησμοῦ ταῦτα ἤδη φοβερά· ἡ χρόα τετραμμένη, οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ περιφερεῖς, κόμη ἀνασοβουμένη, κίνημα κορυβαντῶδες, καὶ ὅλως κατόχιμα πάντα καὶ φρικώδη καὶ μυστικά.

Translations (2)

Zeus Rants Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.) — 30 focus

MOMUS

But as for you, my admirable friend, since you claim to be a prophet and have collected large fees for such work, even to the extent of getting ingots of gold once upon a time, why do you not give us a timely display of your skill by foretelling which of the sophists will win in the argument? Of course you know what the outcome will be, if you are a prophet:

APOLLO

How can I do that, Momus, when we have no tripod here, and no incense or prophetic spring like Castaly?

MOMUS

There now! you dodge the test when it comes to the pinch.

ZEUS

Speak up, my boy, all the same, and don’t give this libeller a chance to malign and insult your profession by saying that it all depends on a tripod and water and incense, so that if you didn’t have those things you would be deprived of your skill.

APOLLO

It would be better, father, to do such business at Delphi or Colophon where I have all the necessaries at hand, in the usual way. However, even thus devoid of them and unequipped, I will try to foretell whose the victory shall be: you will bear with me if my verses are lame.

MOMUS

Do speak; but let it be clear, and not itself in need of a spokesman or an interpreter. It is not now a question of lamb and turtle cooking together in Lydia, but you know what the debate is about.

ZEUS

What in the world are you going to say, my boy? These preliminaries to your oracle are terrifying in themselves; your colour is changed, your eyes are rolling, your hair stands on end, your movements are frenzied, and in a word everything about you suggests demoniacal possession and gooseflesh and mysteries.

Zeus the Tragedian Perseus (Selections from Lucian. Smith, Emily James, translator. New York: Harper Brothers, 1892.) — 30 focus

Momos

You say, my admirable friend, that you are a seer, and you ask a good price for your services, and once even received bricks of gold. Why did you not give us an exhibition of your skill in the nick of time by telling us which of the Sophists is going to prevail in argument? For, of course, you know what the issue will be, since you are a seer.

Apollo

How can I, Momos, when I have no tripod with me, and no incense and no prophetic fountain like Kastalia?

Momos

Look, now, when you have got into a tight place you run away from conviction.

Zeus

Never mind, my child. Speak out, and do not give this backbiter pretexts for slander, and for saying, in his sneering way, that your skill is dependent on your tripod and your water and your incense, and that unless you have these your art will be lost.

Apollo

These things, father, are better done in Delphi or in Kolophon, where I have all the accessories to which I am accustomed. Still, bare as I am of these and unequipped, I will try to prophesy which of them will have the mastery. But you will bear with me if my verses should nor be very correct.

Momos

Speak, but only make your remarks clear, Apollo, so that they will not need an advocate themselves or interpretation. This is not a case of sheep's flesh and tortoise being boiled together in Lydia. You know what our inquiry is about.

Zeus

What in the world are you going to tell us, my child? The symptoms that precede the utterance are already alarming. His color is fading, his eyes are rolling, his hair is standing on end, and his gestures are those of a Korybant. His whole bearing is mystic, frantic, possessed.

Notes on the current edition

Zeus Tragoedus

1. See Croesus in Notes.

Lucian Juppiter Tragoedus 30

Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Momus

But, reverend sir, you claim the gift of prophecy, and it has brought you in good pay—golden ingots on one occasion?— why not seize this opportunity of exhibiting your art? You might tell us which of the disputants will win; a prophet knows the future, of course.

Apollo

I have no tripod or incense here; no substitute for the divining-well of Castaly.

Momus

Aha! you are caught! you will not come to the scratch.

Zeus

Speak, my son, in spite of all; give not this enemy occasion to blaspheme; let him not flout thy powers with tripod and water and frankincense, as though thine art were lost without them.

Apollo

Father, it were better done at Delphi or at Colophon, with all the customary instruments to hand. Yet, bare and unprovided as I am, I will essay to tell whether of them twain shall prevail—If the metre is a little rough, you must make allowances.

Momus

Goon, then; but remember, Apollo: lucidity; no ‘able counsel,¹ no solutions that want solving themselves. It is not a question of lamb and tortoise boiling’ in Lydia now; you know what we want to get at.

Zeus

What will thine utterance be? How dread, even now, is the making ready! The altered hue, the rolling eyes, the floating locks, the frenzied gesture—all is possession, horror, mystery.

Current edition Perseus

Ἀπόλλων

πῶς, ὦ Μῶμε, δυνατὸν ποιεῖν ταῦτα μήτε τρίποδος ἡμῖν παρόντος μήτε θυμιαμάτων ἢ πηγῆς μαντικῆς οἵα ἡ Κασταλία ἐστίν;

Μῶμος

ὁρᾷς; ἀποδιδράσκεις τὸν ἔλεγχον ἐν στενῷ ἐχόμενος.

APOLLO

How can I do that, Momus, when we have no tripod here, and no incense or prophetic spring like Castaly?

MOMUS

There now! you dodge the test when it comes to the pinch.

ZEUS

Speak up, my boy, all the same, and don’t give this libeller a chance to malign and insult your profession by saying that it all depends on a tripod and water and incense, so that if you didn’t have those things you would be deprived of your skill.

APOLLO

It would be better, father, to do such business at Delphi or Colophon where I have all the necessaries at hand, in the usual way. However, even thus devoid of them and unequipped, I will try to foretell whose the victory shall be: you will bear with me if my verses are lame.

MOMUS

Do speak; but let it be clear, and not itself in need of a spokesman or an interpreter. It is not now a question of lamb and turtle cooking together in Lydia, but you know what the debate is about.

Apollo

How can I, Momos, when I have no tripod with me, and no incense and no prophetic fountain like Kastalia?

Momos

Look, now, when you have got into a tight place you run away from conviction.

Zeus

Never mind, my child. Speak out, and do not give this backbiter pretexts for slander, and for saying, in his sneering way, that your skill is dependent on your tripod and your water and your incense, and that unless you have these your art will be lost.

Momos

Speak, but only make your remarks clear, Apollo, so that they will not need an advocate themselves or interpretation. This is not a case of sheep's flesh and tortoise being boiled together in Lydia. You know what our inquiry is about.

Zeus

What in the world are you going to tell us, my child? The symptoms that precede the utterance are already alarming. His color is fading, his eyes are rolling, his hair is standing on end, and his gestures are those of a Korybant. His whole bearing is mystic, frantic, possessed.

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Momus But, reverend sir, you claim the gift of prophecy, and it has brought you in good pay—golden ingots on one occasion?— why not seize this opportunity of exhibiting your art? You might tell us which of the disputants will win; a prophet knows the future, of course.

Apollo I have no tripod or incense here; no substitute for the divining-well of Castaly.

Momus Aha! you are caught! you will not come to the scratch.

Zeus Speak, my son, in spite of all; give not this enemy occasion to blaspheme; let him not flout thy powers with tripod and water and frankincense, as though thine art were lost without them.

Apollo Father, it were better done at Delphi or at Colophon, with all the customary instruments to hand. Yet, bare and unprovided as I am, I will essay to tell whether of them twain shall prevail—If the metre is a little rough, you must make allowances.

Momus Goon, then; but remember, Apollo: lucidity; no ‘able counsel, 1 no solutions that want solving themselves. It is not a question of lamb and tortoise boiling’ in Lydia now; you know what we want to get at.

Zeus What will thine utterance be? How dread, even now, is the making ready! The altered hue, the rolling eyes, the floating locks, the frenzied gesture—all is possession, horror, mystery.

Current edition Perseus

Ἀπόλλων πῶς, ὦ Μῶμε, δυνατὸν ποιεῖν ταῦτα μήτε τρίποδος ἡμῖν παρόντος μήτε θυμιαμάτων ἢ πηγῆς μαντικῆς οἵα ἡ Κασταλία ἐστίν;

Μῶμος ὁρᾷς; ἀποδιδράσκεις τὸν ἔλεγχον ἐν στενῷ ἐχόμενος.

APOLLO How can I do that, Momus, when we have no tripod here, and no incense or prophetic spring like Castaly?

MOMUS There now! you dodge the test when it comes to the pinch.

ZEUS Speak up, my boy, all the same, and don’t give this libeller a chance to malign and insult your profession by saying that it all depends on a tripod and water and incense, so that if you didn’t have those things you would be deprived of your skill.

APOLLO It would be better, father, to do such business at Delphi or Colophon where I have all the necessaries at hand, in the usual way. However, even thus devoid of them and unequipped, I will try to foretell whose the victory shall be: you will bear with me if my verses are lame.

MOMUS Do speak; but let it be clear, and not itself in need of a spokesman or an interpreter. It is not now a question of lamb and turtle cooking together in Lydia, but you know what the debate is about.

Apollo How can I, Momos, when I have no tripod with me, and no incense and no prophetic fountain like Kastalia?

Momos Look, now, when you have got into a tight place you run away from conviction.

Zeus Never mind, my child. Speak out, and do not give this backbiter pretexts for slander, and for saying, in his sneering way, that your skill is dependent on your tripod and your water and your incense, and that unless you have these your art will be lost.

Momos Speak, but only make your remarks clear, Apollo, so that they will not need an advocate themselves or interpretation. This is not a case of sheep's flesh and tortoise being boiled together in Lydia. You know what our inquiry is about.

Zeus What in the world are you going to tell us, my child? The symptoms that precede the utterance are already alarming. His color is fading, his eyes are rolling, his hair is standing on end, and his gestures are those of a Korybant. His whole bearing is mystic, frantic, possessed.

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Momus

But, reverend sir, you claim the gift of prophecy, and it has brought you in good pay—golden ingots on one occasion?— why not seize this opportunity of exhibiting your art? You might tell us which of the disputants will win; a prophet knows the future, of course.

Apollo

I have no tripod or incense here; no substitute for the divining-well of Castaly.

Momus

Aha! you are caught! you will not come to the scratch.

Zeus

Speak, my son, in spite of all; give not this enemy occasion to blaspheme; let him not flout thy powers with tripod and water and frankincense, as though thine art were lost without them.

Apollo

Father, it were better done at Delphi or at Colophon, with all the customary instruments to hand. Yet, bare and unprovided as I am, I will essay to tell whether of them twain shall prevail—If the metre is a little rough, you must make allowances.

Momus

Goon, then; but remember, Apollo: lucidity; no ‘able counsel,¹ no solutions that want solving themselves. It is not a question of lamb and tortoise boiling’ in Lydia now; you know what we want to get at.

Zeus

What will thine utterance be? How dread, even now, is the making ready! The altered hue, the rolling eyes, the floating locks, the frenzied gesture—all is possession, horror, mystery.

Ἀπόλλων

πῶς, ὦ Μῶμε, δυνατὸν ποιεῖν ταῦτα μήτε τρίποδος ἡμῖν παρόντος μήτε θυμιαμάτων ἢ πηγῆς μαντικῆς οἵα ἡ Κασταλία ἐστίν;

Μῶμος

ὁρᾷς; ἀποδιδράσκεις τὸν ἔλεγχον ἐν στενῷ ἐχόμενος.

APOLLO

How can I do that, Momus, when we have no tripod here, and no incense or prophetic spring like Castaly?

MOMUS

There now! you dodge the test when it comes to the pinch.

ZEUS

Speak up, my boy, all the same, and don’t give this libeller a chance to malign and insult your profession by saying that it all depends on a tripod and water and incense, so that if you didn’t have those things you would be deprived of your skill.

APOLLO

It would be better, father, to do such business at Delphi or Colophon where I have all the necessaries at hand, in the usual way. However, even thus devoid of them and unequipped, I will try to foretell whose the victory shall be: you will bear with me if my verses are lame.

MOMUS

Do speak; but let it be clear, and not itself in need of a spokesman or an interpreter. It is not now a question of lamb and turtle cooking together in Lydia, but you know what the debate is about.

Apollo

How can I, Momos, when I have no tripod with me, and no incense and no prophetic fountain like Kastalia?

Momos

Look, now, when you have got into a tight place you run away from conviction.

Zeus

Never mind, my child. Speak out, and do not give this backbiter pretexts for slander, and for saying, in his sneering way, that your skill is dependent on your tripod and your water and your incense, and that unless you have these your art will be lost.

Momos

Speak, but only make your remarks clear, Apollo, so that they will not need an advocate themselves or interpretation. This is not a case of sheep's flesh and tortoise being boiled together in Lydia. You know what our inquiry is about.

Zeus

What in the world are you going to tell us, my child? The symptoms that precede the utterance are already alarming. His color is fading, his eyes are rolling, his hair is standing on end, and his gestures are those of a Korybant. His whole bearing is mystic, frantic, possessed.