Lucian, Icaromenippus, Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator), 32

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

← Previous Next →

Menippus

‘There is a special insolence in those who call themselves Epicureans; these go so far as to lay their hands on our character; we take no interest in human affairs, they say, and in fact have nothing to do with the course of events. And this is a serious question for you; if once they infect their generation with this view, you will learn what hunger means. Who will sacrifice to you, if he does not expect to profit by it? As to Selene’s complaints, you all heard them yesterday from this stranger’s lips. And now decide upon such measures as shall advantage mankind and secure your own safety.’

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

Current edition Perseus

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

Editions (1)

Ἰκαρομένιππος ἢ Ὑπερνέφελος Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.) — 32 focus

Μένιππος

οἱ δὲ δὴ Ἐπικούρειοι αὐτῶν λεγόμενοι μάλα δὴ καὶ ὑβρισταί εἰσι καὶ οὐ μετρίως ἡμῶν καθάπτονται μήτε ἐπιμελεῖσθαι τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων λέγοντες τοὺς θεοὺς μήτε ὅλως τὰ γιγνόμενα ἐπισκοπεῖν· ὥστε ὥρα ὑμῖν λογίζεσθαι διότι ἢν ἅπαξ οὗτοι πεῖσαι τὸν βίον δυνηθῶσιν, οὐ μετρίως πεινήσετε. τίς γὰρ ἂν ἔτι θύσειεν ὑμῖν πλέον οὐδὲν ἕξειν προσδοκῶν;

ἃ μὲν γὰρ ἡ Σελήνη αἰτιᾶται, πάντες ἠκούσατε τοῦ ξένου χθὲς διηγουμένου. πρὸς ταῦτα βουλεύεσθε ἃ καὶ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις γένοιτʼ ἂν ὠφελιμώτατα καὶ ἡμῖν ἀσφαλέστατα.

Translations (1)

Icaromenippus, or the Sky-man Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.) — 32 focus

MENIPPUS

Moreover, some of them who call themselves Epicureans are very insolent fellows indeed and attack us immoderately, saying not only that the gods do not direct human affairs, -but that they pay no attention at all to what goes on. So it is high time you were bethinking yourselves that if they ever are able to persuade the world, you will go uncommonly hungry; for who would continue to sacrifice to you if he expected to gain nothing by it?

“As for what the moon finds fault with, you all heard the stranger tell about that yesterday. In view of all this, take such action as may be most advantageous to men and most salutary for ourselves.”

Lucian Icaromenippus 32

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

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

Stable identifiers