Lucian of Samosata, Lexiphanes, Austin Morris Harmon (Translator), 21

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[21]

SOPOLIS

Begin now to lighten yourself. Aha! First, this “prithee,” then after it “eftsoons” has come up; then on their heels his “quoth he” and “in some wise,’ and “fair sir,” and “in sooth,’ and _ his incessant “sundry.” Make an effort, however; put your fingers down your throat. You have not yet given up “instanter” or “pandiculation” or “divagation” or “spoliation.” Many things still lurk in hiding and your inwards are full of them.¹_ It would be better if some should take the opposite course, Anyhow, “vilipendency” will make a great racket when it comes tumbling out on the wings of the wind.

Well, this man is now purged, unless something has remained behind in his lower intestines. It is for you next, Lycinus, to take him on, mending his education and teaching him what to say.

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

Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Lexiphanes (English) (Lucian, Vol. 5. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1936 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Λεξιφάνης Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 5. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1936 (printing).) — 21 focus

Σώπολις

ἄρξαι δὴ ἐμεῖν. βαβαί. πρῶτον τουτὶ τὸ μῶν, εἶτα μετʼ αὐτὸ ἐξελήλυθεν τὸ κᾆτα, εἶτα ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς τὸ ἦ δʼ ὅς καὶ ἀμηγέπη καὶ λῷστε καὶ δήπουθεν καὶ συνεχὲς τὸ ἄττα. βίασαι δʼ ὅμως, καὶ κάθες εἰς τὴν φάρυγγα τοὺς δακτύλους. οὐδέπω τὸ ἴκταρ ἐμήμεκας οὐδὲ τὸ σκορδινᾶσθαι οὐδὲ τὸ τευτάζεσθαι οὐδὲ τὸ σκύλλεσθαι.¹ πολλὰ ἔτι ὑποδέδυκε καὶ μεστή σοι αὐτῶν ἡ γαστήρ. ἄμεινον δέ, εἰ καὶ κάτω διαχωρήσειεν ἂν ἔνια· ἡ γοῦν σιληπορδία μέγαν τὸν ψόφον ἐργάσεται συνεκπεσοῦσα μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος.

ἀλλʼ ἤδη μὲν καθαρὸς οὑτοσὶ πλὴν εἴ τι μεμένηκεν ὑπόλοιπον ἐν τοῖς κάτω ἐντέροις. σὺ δὲ τὸ μετὰ τοῦτο παραλαβὼν αὐτόν, ὦ Λυκῖνε, μεταπαίδευε καὶ δίδασκε ἃ χρὴ λέγειν.

Translations (1)

Lexiphanes Perseus (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 2. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.) — 21 focus

[21]

Sopolis

Now, let it come. Look, look! Here comes in sooth, anon follows, close upon them quoth he, withal, sirrah, I trow, and a general sprinkling of sundry. But try again; tickle your. throat; that will help. Hard by has not come up yet, nor a-weary, nor rehearse, nor quandary. Oh, there are lots of them lurking yet, a whole stomachful. It would be well to get rid of some of them by purging; there should be an impressive explosion when orotundity makes its windy exit. However, he is pretty well cleaned out, except for what may be left in the lower bowels. Lycinus, I shall now leave him in your charge; teach him better ways, and tell him what are the right words to use.

Notes on the current edition

Lexiphanes

Some of these monde: (λῶστε, ἴκταρ, σκορδινᾶσθαι, τευτάζεσθαι, σκύλλεσθαι) have not been used by Lexiphanes in this present exhibition of his powers. Compare the list in A Professor of Public Speaking, 16: 76 τὸ ἄττα καὶ κᾶτα καὶ μῶν καὶ ἀμηγέπη καὶ λῶστε.

Lucian of Samosata Lexiphanes 21

Austin Morris Harmon (Translator)

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