Lucian, Juppiter Tragoedus, Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator), 53

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Zeus

Damis makes off with a laugh, and the other after him, calling him names, mad at his insolence. He will get him on the head with that pottery, I know. And now, what are we to do?

Hermagoras

Why, the man in the comedy was not far out: Put a good face on’t, and thou hast no harm.

It is no such terrible disaster, if a few people go away infected. There are plenty who take the other view—a majority of Greeks, the body and dregs of the people, and the barbarians to'a man.

Zeus

Ah, Hermes, but there is a great deal in Darius’s remark about Zopyrus—I would rather have had one ally like Damis than be the lord of a thousand Babylons.

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.) — 53 focus

Ζεύς

ὁ μὲν γελῶν, ὦ θεοί, ἄπεισιν, ὁ δʼ ἀκολουθεῖ λοιδορούμενος οὐ φέρων κατατρυφῶντα τὸν Δᾶμιν, καὶ ἔοικε πατάξειν αὐτὸν τῷ κεράμῳ ἐς τὴν κεφαλήν. ἡμεῖς δὲ τί ποιῶμεν ἐπὶ τούτοις;

Ἑρμῆς

ὀρθῶς ἐκεῖνό μοι ὁ κωμικὸς εἰρηκέναι δοκεῖ,
οὐδὲν πέπονθας δεινόν, ἂν μὴ προσποιῇ.
τί γὰρ καὶ ὑπέρμεγα κακόν, εἰ ὀλίγοι ἄνθρωποι πεπεισμένοι ταῦτα ἀπίασι; πολλῷ¹ γὰρ οἱ τἀναντία γιγνώσκοντες πλείους, Ἑλλήνων ὁ πολὺς λεὼς βάρβαροί τε ἅπαντες.

Ζεύς

ἀλλά, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, τὸ τοῦ Δαρείου πάνυ καλῶς ἔχον ἐστίν, ὃ εἶπεν ἐπὶ τοῦ Ζωπύρου· ὥστε καὶ αὐτὸς ἐβουλόμην ἂν ἕνα τοῦτον ἔχειν τὸν Δᾶμιν σύμμαχον ἢ μυρίας μοι Βαβυλῶνας ὑπάρχειν.

Translations (2)

Zeus Rants Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.) — 53 focus

ZEUS

One is going away laughing, gods, and the other is following him up with abuse, because he can’t stand the mockery of Damis; it looks as if he would hithim on the head with the brickbat. But what ofus? What are we to do now?

HERMES

It seems to me that the comic poet hit it right when he said:

No harm’s been done you if you none admit.

Menander, Epitrepontes (179 Kock). What very great harm is it if a few men go away convinced of all this? The people who think diferently are in large majority, not only the rank and file of the Greeks, but the barbarians to a man.

ZEUS

Yes, Hermes, but what Darius said about Zopyrus is very much in point too. I myself had rather have this man Damis alone on my side than possess a thousand Babylons.¹

Zeus the Tragedian Perseus (Selections from Lucian. Smith, Emily James, translator. New York: Harper Brothers, 1892.) — 53 focus

Zeus

Damis is running off laughing, deities, and the other is chasing him with abuse, put out past bearing by Damis's wealth of impertinence, and apparently he is going to clip him in the head with the tile. But what shall we do now?

Hermes

It seems to me the comic poet was right when he said:

Do not profess defeat and you will suffer none.

For what great harm is it if a handful of men go off persuaded to these views, seeing that there are many who know to the contrary, the majority of the Greeks, a numerous race, and all the barbarians?

Zeus

However, Hermes, that was a capital remark that Dareios made about Zopyrus. In the same way I, too, would rather have one Damis for my ally than rule ten thousand Babylons.

Lucian Juppiter Tragoedus 53

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

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Zeus

Damis makes off with a laugh, and the other after him, calling him names, mad at his insolence. He will get him on the head with that pottery, I know. And now, what are we to do?

Hermagoras

Why, the man in the comedy was not far out: Put a good face on’t, and thou hast no harm.

It is no such terrible disaster, if a few people go away infected. There are plenty who take the other view—a majority of Greeks, the body and dregs of the people, and the barbarians to'a man.

Zeus

Ah, Hermes, but there is a great deal in Darius’s remark about Zopyrus—I would rather have had one ally like Damis than be the lord of a thousand Babylons.

Current edition Perseus

ZEUS

One is going away laughing, gods, and the other is following him up with abuse, because he can’t stand the mockery of Damis; it looks as if he would hithim on the head with the brickbat. But what ofus? What are we to do now?

ZEUS

Yes, Hermes, but what Darius said about Zopyrus is very much in point too. I myself had rather have this man Damis alone on my side than possess a thousand Babylons.¹

Zeus

Damis is running off laughing, deities, and the other is chasing him with abuse, put out past bearing by Damis's wealth of impertinence, and apparently he is going to clip him in the head with the tile. But what shall we do now?

Zeus

However, Hermes, that was a capital remark that Dareios made about Zopyrus. In the same way I, too, would rather have one Damis for my ally than rule ten thousand Babylons.

Stable identifiers

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Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Zeus Damis makes off with a laugh, and the other after him, calling him names, mad at his insolence. He will get him on the head with that pottery, I know. And now, what are we to do?

Hermagoras Why, the man in the comedy was not far out: Put a good face on’t, and thou hast no harm. It is no such terrible disaster, if a few people go away infected. There are plenty who take the other view—a majority of Greeks, the body and dregs of the people, and the barbarians to'a man.

Zeus Ah, Hermes, but there is a great deal in Darius’s remark about Zopyrus—I would rather have had one ally like Damis than be the lord of a thousand Babylons.

Current edition Perseus

ZEUS One is going away laughing, gods, and the other is following him up with abuse, because he can’t stand the mockery of Damis; it looks as if he would hithim on the head with the brickbat. But what ofus? What are we to do now?

ZEUS Yes, Hermes, but what Darius said about Zopyrus is very much in point too. I myself had rather have this man Damis alone on my side than possess a thousand Babylons. 1

Zeus Damis is running off laughing, deities, and the other is chasing him with abuse, put out past bearing by Damis's wealth of impertinence, and apparently he is going to clip him in the head with the tile. But what shall we do now?

Zeus However, Hermes, that was a capital remark that Dareios made about Zopyrus. In the same way I, too, would rather have one Damis for my ally than rule ten thousand Babylons.

Stable identifiers

Zeus

Damis makes off with a laugh, and the other after him, calling him names, mad at his insolence. He will get him on the head with that pottery, I know. And now, what are we to do?

Hermagoras

Why, the man in the comedy was not far out: Put a good face on’t, and thou hast no harm.

It is no such terrible disaster, if a few people go away infected. There are plenty who take the other view—a majority of Greeks, the body and dregs of the people, and the barbarians to'a man.

Zeus

Ah, Hermes, but there is a great deal in Darius’s remark about Zopyrus—I would rather have had one ally like Damis than be the lord of a thousand Babylons.

ZEUS

One is going away laughing, gods, and the other is following him up with abuse, because he can’t stand the mockery of Damis; it looks as if he would hithim on the head with the brickbat. But what ofus? What are we to do now?

ZEUS

Yes, Hermes, but what Darius said about Zopyrus is very much in point too. I myself had rather have this man Damis alone on my side than possess a thousand Babylons.¹

Zeus

Damis is running off laughing, deities, and the other is chasing him with abuse, put out past bearing by Damis's wealth of impertinence, and apparently he is going to clip him in the head with the tile. But what shall we do now?

Zeus

However, Hermes, that was a capital remark that Dareios made about Zopyrus. In the same way I, too, would rather have one Damis for my ally than rule ten thousand Babylons.