Lucian, Juppiter Tragoedus, ed. Austin Morris Harmon, 6

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Ζεύς

οὐκοῦν ἤδη κήρυττε καὶ παρέστωσαν ἅπαντες· ὀρθῶς γὰρ λέγεις.

Ἑρμῆς

ἰδοὺ δὴ εἰς ἐκκλησίαν συνέλθετε οἱ θεοί· μὴ μέλλετε, συνέλθετε πάντες, ἥκετε, περὶ μεγάλων ἐκκλησιάσομεν.

Ζεύς

οὕτω ψιλά, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, καὶ ἁπλοϊκὰ καὶ πεζὰ κηρύττεις, καὶ ταῦτα ἐπὶ τοῖς μεγίστοις συγκαλῶν;

Ἑρμῆς

ἀλλὰ πῶς γάρ, ὦ Ζεῦ, ἀξιοῖς;

Ζεύς

ὅπως ἀξιῶ; ἀποσέμνυνε, φημί, τὸ κήρυγμα μέτροις τισὶ καὶ μεγαλοφωνίᾳ ποιητικῇ, ὡς μᾶλλον συνέλθοιεν.

Ἑρμῆς

ναί. ἀλλʼ ἐποποιῶν, ὦ Ζεῦ, καὶ ῥαψῳδῶν τὰ τοιαῦτα, ἐγὼ δὲ ἥκιστα ποιητικός εἰμι· ὥστε διαφθερῶ τὸ κήρυγμα ἢ ὑπέρμετρα ἢ ἐνδεᾶ συνείρων, καὶ γέλως ἔσται παρʼ αὐτοῖς ἐπὶ τῇ ἀμουσίᾳ τῶν ἐπῶν· ὁρῶ γοῦν καὶ τὸν Ἀπόλλω γελώμενον ἐπʼ ἐνίοις τῶν χρησμῶν, καίτοι ἐπικρυπτούσης τὰ πολλὰ τῆς ἀσαφείας, ὡς μὴ πάνυ σχολὴν ἄγειν τοὺς ἀκούοντας ἐξετάζειν τὰ μέτρα.

Ζεύς

οὐκοῦν, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, τῶν Ὁμήρου ἐπῶν ἐγκαταμίγνυε τὰ πολλὰ τῷ κηρύγματι, οἷς¹ ἐκεῖνος ἡμᾶς συνεκάλει· μεμνῆσθαι δέ σε εἰκός.

Ἑρμῆς

οὐ πάνυ μὲν οὕτω σαφῶς καὶ προχείρως· πειράσομαι δὲ ὅμως.

μήτε τις οὖν θήλεια θεὸς² ... μήτε τις ἄρσην,

μηδʼ αὖ τῶν³ ποταμῶν μενέτω νόσφʼ Ὠκεανοῖο

μηδέ τε νυμφάων, ἀλλʼ ἐς Διὸς ἔλθετε πάντες

εἰς ἀγορήν, ὅσσοι τε κλυτὰς δαίνυσθʼ ἑκατόμβας,

ὅσσοι τʼ αὖ μέσατοι ἢ ὕστατοι ἢ μάλα πάγχυ

νώνυμνοι βωμοῖσι παρʼ ἀκνίσοισι κάθησθε.

Juppiter Tragoedus. Lucian. ed. Austin Morris Harmon. Medford, MA. Perseus 4.0.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities; Harvard Library Arcadia Fund; Google Digital Humanities Awards Program.

Current edition Perseus

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

Translations (3)

Zeus Rants Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.) — 6 focus

ZEUS

Well then, make a proclamation and let everyone come; you are right in what you say.

HERMES

Hear ye, gods, assemble in meeting! Don’t delay! Assemble one and all! Come! We are to meet about important matters.

ZEUS

Is that the sort of proclamation you make, Hermes, so bald and simple and prosaic, and that too when you are calling them together on business of the greatest importance?

HERMES

Why, how do you want me to do it, Zeus?

ZEUS

How do I want you to do it? Ennoble your proclamation, I tell you, with metre and_highsounding, poetical words, so that they may be more eager to assemble.

HERMES

Yes, but that, Zeus, is the business of epic poets and reciters, and I am not a bit of a poet, so that I shall ruin the proclamation by making my lines too long or too short and it will be a laughing-stock to them because of the limping verses. In fact I see that even Apollo gets laughed at for some of his oracles, although they are generally so beclouded with obscurity that those who hear them don’t have much chance to examine their metres.

ZEUS

Well then, Hermes, put into the proclamation a lot of the verses which Homer used in calling us together; of course you remember them.

HERMES

Not at all as distinctly and readily as I might, but I'll have a try at it anyway:

Never a man of the gods bide away nor ever a woman,

Never a stream stay at home save only the river of Ocean,

Never a Nymph; to the palace of Zeus you're to come in a body,

There to confer. I bid all, whether feasters on hecatombs famous,

Whether the class you belong to be middle or lowest, or even

Nameless you sit beside altars that yield ye no savoury odours.

Zeus Tragoedus Perseus (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 3. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.) — 6 focus

Zeus

Make proclamation and summon all, then. I approve your judgement.

Hermagoras

Here, assemble, all ye Gods; don’t waste time, come along, here you are; we are going to have an important meeting.

Zeus

What, Hermes? so bald, so plain, so prosy an announcement—on this momentous occasion?

Hermagoras

Why, how would you like it done?

Zeus

Some metre, a little poetic sonority, would make the style impressive, and they would be more likely to come.

Hermagoras

Ah, Zeus, that is work for epic poets or reciters, and I am no good at poetry. I should be sure to put in too many feet, or leave out some, and spoil the thing; they would only laugh at my rude verses. Why, I’ve known Apollo himself laughed at for some of his oracles;_ and prophecy has the advantage of obscurity, which gives the hearers something better to do than scanning verses.

Zeus

Well, well, Hermes, you can make lines from Homer the chief ingredient of your composition; summon us in his words; you remember them, of course.

Hermagoras

I cannot say they are exactly on the tip of my tongue; however, I’ll do my best:

Let ne’er a God (tum, tum), nor eke a Goddess,

Nor yet of Ocean’s rivers one be wanting.

Nor nymphs; but gather to great Zeus’s council;

And all that feast on glorious hecatombs

Yea, middle and lower classes of Divinity,

Or nameless ones that snuff fat altar-fumes.

Zeus the Tragedian Perseus (Selections from Lucian. Smith, Emily James, translator. New York: Harper Brothers, 1892.) — 6 focus

Zeus

Very well, then. Summon them at once and let all appear. For you are right.

Hermes

Halloo, gods! Come to the assembly! Do not loiter Gather, all of you! Come! We are going to discuss great things!

Zeus

Hermes, is that bare, unadorned, prosaic style of announcement the proper thing, particularly when the greatest matters are in question?

Hermes

Why, what do you think more proper, Zeus?

Zeus

What do I think more proper? I say you ought to make your summons impressive by means of some sort of rhythm, and a sonorous, poetic form, to bring them the more readily.

Hermes

Yes; but such things belong to versewriters and declaimers, Zeus, and I am the worst poet imaginable. I should certainly ruin my summons by having too many feet in it or too few, and they would laugh at the illiteracy of my composition. I see that even Apollo's verses in his oracles are sometimes jeered at, though his prophecies are generally very obscure, so that those who receive them have not much leisure to criticize the versification.

Zeus

Well, then, string a lot of Homer's verses together in your summons, and convene us as he used. Of course you remember them.

Hermes

I can't say that I have them very pat. However, I will try:

Gods and goddesses all, let none fail to answer my summons.

Let not a single nymph or river-god, save only Ocean,

Tarry; but haste ye all to the council that Jove hath appointed.

All are bidden who feast at the hecatomb's glorious banquet,

All, e'en of low degree, or lowest; yea, even the nameless,

Seeing they too have a seat by the altars smoking with victims.

Notes on the current edition

Ζεὺς Τραγῳδός

1. οἷς Harmon ὡς MSS.

2. θεὸς Word wanting in MSS. θεῶν ἔτι Hesdlam.

3. αὖ τῶν Mehler: αὐτῶν MSS.

Lucian Juppiter Tragoedus 6

ed. Austin Morris Harmon

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Ζεύς

οὐκοῦν ἤδη κήρυττε καὶ παρέστωσαν ἅπαντες· ὀρθῶς γὰρ λέγεις.

Ἑρμῆς

ἰδοὺ δὴ εἰς ἐκκλησίαν συνέλθετε οἱ θεοί· μὴ μέλλετε, συνέλθετε πάντες, ἥκετε, περὶ μεγάλων ἐκκλησιάσομεν.

Ζεύς

οὕτω ψιλά, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, καὶ ἁπλοϊκὰ καὶ πεζὰ κηρύττεις, καὶ ταῦτα ἐπὶ τοῖς μεγίστοις συγκαλῶν;

Ἑρμῆς

ἀλλὰ πῶς γάρ, ὦ Ζεῦ, ἀξιοῖς;

Ζεύς

ὅπως ἀξιῶ; ἀποσέμνυνε, φημί, τὸ κήρυγμα μέτροις τισὶ καὶ μεγαλοφωνίᾳ ποιητικῇ, ὡς μᾶλλον συνέλθοιεν.

Ζεύς

οὐκοῦν, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, τῶν Ὁμήρου ἐπῶν ἐγκαταμίγνυε τὰ πολλὰ τῷ κηρύγματι, οἷς¹ ἐκεῖνος ἡμᾶς συνεκάλει· μεμνῆσθαι δέ σε εἰκός.

Current edition Perseus

ZEUS

Well then, make a proclamation and let everyone come; you are right in what you say.

HERMES

Hear ye, gods, assemble in meeting! Don’t delay! Assemble one and all! Come! We are to meet about important matters.

ZEUS

Is that the sort of proclamation you make, Hermes, so bald and simple and prosaic, and that too when you are calling them together on business of the greatest importance?

HERMES

Why, how do you want me to do it, Zeus?

ZEUS

How do I want you to do it? Ennoble your proclamation, I tell you, with metre and_highsounding, poetical words, so that they may be more eager to assemble.

ZEUS

Well then, Hermes, put into the proclamation a lot of the verses which Homer used in calling us together; of course you remember them.

Zeus

Make proclamation and summon all, then. I approve your judgement.

Hermagoras

Here, assemble, all ye Gods; don’t waste time, come along, here you are; we are going to have an important meeting.

Zeus

What, Hermes? so bald, so plain, so prosy an announcement—on this momentous occasion?

Hermagoras

Why, how would you like it done?

Zeus

Some metre, a little poetic sonority, would make the style impressive, and they would be more likely to come.

Zeus

Well, well, Hermes, you can make lines from Homer the chief ingredient of your composition; summon us in his words; you remember them, of course.

Zeus

Very well, then. Summon them at once and let all appear. For you are right.

Hermes

Halloo, gods! Come to the assembly! Do not loiter Gather, all of you! Come! We are going to discuss great things!

Zeus

Hermes, is that bare, unadorned, prosaic style of announcement the proper thing, particularly when the greatest matters are in question?

Hermes

Why, what do you think more proper, Zeus?

Zeus

What do I think more proper? I say you ought to make your summons impressive by means of some sort of rhythm, and a sonorous, poetic form, to bring them the more readily.

Zeus

Well, then, string a lot of Homer's verses together in your summons, and convene us as he used. Of course you remember them.

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Ζεύς οὐκοῦν ἤδη κήρυττε καὶ παρέστωσαν ἅπαντες· ὀρθῶς γὰρ λέγεις.

Ἑρμῆς ἰδοὺ δὴ εἰς ἐκκλησίαν συνέλθετε οἱ θεοί· μὴ μέλλετε, συνέλθετε πάντες, ἥκετε, περὶ μεγάλων ἐκκλησιάσομεν.

Ζεύς οὕτω ψιλά, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, καὶ ἁπλοϊκὰ καὶ πεζὰ κηρύττεις, καὶ ταῦτα ἐπὶ τοῖς μεγίστοις συγκαλῶν;

Ἑρμῆς ἀλλὰ πῶς γάρ, ὦ Ζεῦ, ἀξιοῖς;

Ζεύς ὅπως ἀξιῶ; ἀποσέμνυνε, φημί, τὸ κήρυγμα μέτροις τισὶ καὶ μεγαλοφωνίᾳ ποιητικῇ, ὡς μᾶλλον συνέλθοιεν.

Ζεύς οὐκοῦν, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, τῶν Ὁμήρου ἐπῶν ἐγκαταμίγνυε τὰ πολλὰ τῷ κηρύγματι, οἷς 1 ἐκεῖνος ἡμᾶς συνεκάλει· μεμνῆσθαι δέ σε εἰκός.

Current edition Perseus

ZEUS Well then, make a proclamation and let everyone come; you are right in what you say.

HERMES Hear ye, gods, assemble in meeting! Don’t delay! Assemble one and all! Come! We are to meet about important matters.

ZEUS Is that the sort of proclamation you make, Hermes, so bald and simple and prosaic, and that too when you are calling them together on business of the greatest importance?

HERMES Why, how do you want me to do it, Zeus?

ZEUS How do I want you to do it? Ennoble your proclamation, I tell you, with metre and_highsounding, poetical words, so that they may be more eager to assemble.

ZEUS Well then, Hermes, put into the proclamation a lot of the verses which Homer used in calling us together; of course you remember them.

Zeus Make proclamation and summon all, then. I approve your judgement.

Hermagoras Here, assemble, all ye Gods; don’t waste time, come along, here you are; we are going to have an important meeting.

Zeus What, Hermes? so bald, so plain, so prosy an announcement—on this momentous occasion?

Hermagoras Why, how would you like it done?

Zeus Some metre, a little poetic sonority, would make the style impressive, and they would be more likely to come.

Zeus Well, well, Hermes, you can make lines from Homer the chief ingredient of your composition; summon us in his words; you remember them, of course.

Zeus Very well, then. Summon them at once and let all appear. For you are right.

Hermes Halloo, gods! Come to the assembly! Do not loiter Gather, all of you! Come! We are going to discuss great things!

Zeus Hermes, is that bare, unadorned, prosaic style of announcement the proper thing, particularly when the greatest matters are in question?

Hermes Why, what do you think more proper, Zeus?

Zeus What do I think more proper? I say you ought to make your summons impressive by means of some sort of rhythm, and a sonorous, poetic form, to bring them the more readily.

Zeus Well, then, string a lot of Homer's verses together in your summons, and convene us as he used. Of course you remember them.

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Ζεύς

οὐκοῦν ἤδη κήρυττε καὶ παρέστωσαν ἅπαντες· ὀρθῶς γὰρ λέγεις.

Ἑρμῆς

ἰδοὺ δὴ εἰς ἐκκλησίαν συνέλθετε οἱ θεοί· μὴ μέλλετε, συνέλθετε πάντες, ἥκετε, περὶ μεγάλων ἐκκλησιάσομεν.

Ζεύς

οὕτω ψιλά, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, καὶ ἁπλοϊκὰ καὶ πεζὰ κηρύττεις, καὶ ταῦτα ἐπὶ τοῖς μεγίστοις συγκαλῶν;

Ἑρμῆς

ἀλλὰ πῶς γάρ, ὦ Ζεῦ, ἀξιοῖς;

Ζεύς

ὅπως ἀξιῶ; ἀποσέμνυνε, φημί, τὸ κήρυγμα μέτροις τισὶ καὶ μεγαλοφωνίᾳ ποιητικῇ, ὡς μᾶλλον συνέλθοιεν.

Ζεύς

οὐκοῦν, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, τῶν Ὁμήρου ἐπῶν ἐγκαταμίγνυε τὰ πολλὰ τῷ κηρύγματι, οἷς¹ ἐκεῖνος ἡμᾶς συνεκάλει· μεμνῆσθαι δέ σε εἰκός.

ZEUS

Well then, make a proclamation and let everyone come; you are right in what you say.

HERMES

Hear ye, gods, assemble in meeting! Don’t delay! Assemble one and all! Come! We are to meet about important matters.

ZEUS

Is that the sort of proclamation you make, Hermes, so bald and simple and prosaic, and that too when you are calling them together on business of the greatest importance?

HERMES

Why, how do you want me to do it, Zeus?

ZEUS

How do I want you to do it? Ennoble your proclamation, I tell you, with metre and_highsounding, poetical words, so that they may be more eager to assemble.

ZEUS

Well then, Hermes, put into the proclamation a lot of the verses which Homer used in calling us together; of course you remember them.

Zeus

Make proclamation and summon all, then. I approve your judgement.

Hermagoras

Here, assemble, all ye Gods; don’t waste time, come along, here you are; we are going to have an important meeting.

Zeus

What, Hermes? so bald, so plain, so prosy an announcement—on this momentous occasion?

Hermagoras

Why, how would you like it done?

Zeus

Some metre, a little poetic sonority, would make the style impressive, and they would be more likely to come.

Zeus

Well, well, Hermes, you can make lines from Homer the chief ingredient of your composition; summon us in his words; you remember them, of course.

Zeus

Very well, then. Summon them at once and let all appear. For you are right.

Hermes

Halloo, gods! Come to the assembly! Do not loiter Gather, all of you! Come! We are going to discuss great things!

Zeus

Hermes, is that bare, unadorned, prosaic style of announcement the proper thing, particularly when the greatest matters are in question?

Hermes

Why, what do you think more proper, Zeus?

Zeus

What do I think more proper? I say you ought to make your summons impressive by means of some sort of rhythm, and a sonorous, poetic form, to bring them the more readily.

Zeus

Well, then, string a lot of Homer's verses together in your summons, and convene us as he used. Of course you remember them.