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Ἑρμῆς καὶ Χάρων.

341

Ἑρμῆς

λογισώμεθα, ὦ πορθμεῦ, εἰ δοκεῖ, ὁπόσα μοι ὀφείλεις ἤδη, ὅπως μὴ αὖθις ἐρίζωμέν τι περὶ αὐτῶν.

Χάρων

λογισώμεθα, ὦ Ἑρμῆ· ἄμεινον γὰρ ὡρίσθαι καὶ ἀπραγμονέστερον.

Ἑρμῆς

ἄγκυραν ἐντειλαμένῳ ἐκόμισα πέντε δραχμῶν.

Χάρων

πολλοῦ λέγεις.

Ἑρμῆς

νὴ τὸν Ἀϊδωνέα, τῶν πέντε ὠνησάμην, καὶ τροπωτῆρα δύο ὀβολῶν.

Χάρων

τίθει πέντε δραχμὰς καὶ ὀβολοὺς δύο.

Ἑρμῆς

καὶ ἀκέστραν ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἱστίου· πέντε ὀβολοὺς 342 ἐγὼ κατέβαλον.

Χάρων

καὶ τούτους προστίθει.

Ἑρμῆς

καὶ κηρὸν ὡς ἐπιπλάσαι τοῦ σκαφιδίου τὰ ἀνεῳγότα καὶ ἥλους δὲ καὶ καλώδιον, ἀφʼ οὗ τὴν ὑπέραν ἐποίησας, δύο δραχμῶν ἅπαντα.

Χάρων

καὶ ἄξια ταῦτα ὠνήσω.

Ἑρμῆς

ταῦτά ἐστιν, εἰ μή τι ἄλλο ἡμᾶς διέλαθεν ἐν τῷ λογισμῷ. πότε δʼ οὖν ταῦτα ἀποδώσειν φής;

Χάρων

νῦν μέν, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, ἀδύνατον, ἢν δὲ λοιμός τις ἢ πόλεμος καταπέμψῃ ἀθρόους τινάς, ἐνέσται τότε ἀποκερδᾶναι παραλογιζόμενον τὰ πορθμεῖα.

Ἑρμῆς

νῦν οὖν ἐγὼ καθεδοῦμαι τὰ κάκιστα εὐχόμενος γενέσθαι, ὡς ἂν ἀπὸ τούτων ἀπολάβοιμι;

Χάρων

οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλως, ὦ Ἑρμῆ. νῦν δὲ ὀλίγοι, ὡς ὁρᾷς, ἀφικνοῦνται ἡμῖν· εἰρήνη γάρ.

Ἑρμῆς

ἄμεινον οὕτως, εἰ καὶ ἡμῖν παρατείνοιτο ὑπὸ σοῦ τὸ ὄφλημα. πλὴν ἀλλʼ οἱ μὲν παλαιοί, ὦ Χάρων, οἶσθα οἷοι παρεγίγνοντο, ἀνδρεῖοι ἅπαντες, αἵματος 343 ἀνάπλεῳ καὶ τραυματίαι οἱ πολλοί· νῦν δὲ ἢ φαρμάκῳ τις ὑπὸ τοῦ παιδὸς ἀποθανὼν ἢ ὑπὸ τῆς γυναικὸς ἢ ὑπὸ τρυφῆς ἐξῳδηκὼς τὴν γαστέρα καὶ τὰ σκέλη, ὠχροὶ ἅπαντες καὶ ἀγεννεῖς, οὐδὲν ὅμοιοι ἐκείνοις. οἱ δὲ πλεῖστοι αὐτῶν διὰ χρήματα ἥκουσιν ἐπιβουλεύοντες ἀλλήλοις, ὡς ἐοίκασι.

Χάρων

πάνυ γὰρ περιπόθητά ἐστι ταῦτα.

Ἑρμῆς

οὐκοῦν οὐδʼ ἐγὼ δόξαιμι ἂν ἁμαρτάνειν πικρῶς ἀπαιτῶν τὰ ὀφειλόμενα παρὰ σοῦ.

Dialogi mortuorum. Lucian. ed. Karl Jacobitz. Leipzig. 1909.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Google Digital Humanities Awards Program.

Current edition Perseus

Νεκρικοὶ Διάλογοι (Greek) (Lucian. Luciani Samosatensis Opera, Vol. 1. Jacobitz, Karl, editor. Leipzig: Teubner, 1909.)

Editions (1)

Νεκρικοὶ διάλογοι Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 7. Macleod, Matthew Donald, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1961 (unrenewed copyright).) — 4 focus

ΜΕΝΙΠΠΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΚΕΡΒΕΡΟΥ

ΜΕΝΙΠΠΟΣ

Ὦ Κέρβερε—συγγενὴς γάρ εἰμί σοι κύων καὶ αὐτὸς ὤν—εἰπέ μοι πρὸς τῆς Στυγός, οἷος ἦν ὁ Σωκράτης, ὁπότε κατῄει παρ' ὑμᾶς· εἰκὸς δέ σε θεὸν ὄντα μὴ ὑλακτεῖν μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀνθρωπίνως ¹ φθέγγεσθαι, ὁπότ' ἐθέλοις.

421

ΚΕΡΒΕΡΟΣ

Πόρρωθεν μέν, ὦ Μένιππε, παντάπασιν ἐδόκει ἀτρέπτῳ τῷ προσώπῳ προσιέναι καὶ οὐ πάνυ δεδιέναι τὸν θάνατον δοκῶν καὶ τοῦτο ἐμφῆναι τοῖς ἔξω τοῦ στομίου ἑστῶσιν ἐθέλων, ἐπεὶ δὲ κατέκυψεν εἴσω τοῦ χάσματος καὶ εἶδε τὸν ζόφον, κἀγὼ ἔτι διαμέλλοντα αὐτὸν δακὼν τῷ κωνείῳ ² κατέσπασα τοῦ ποδός, ὥσπερ τὰ βρέφη ἐκώκυεν καὶ τὰ ἑαυτοῦ παιδία ὠδύρετο καὶ παντοῖος ἐγίνετο.

ΜΕΝΙΠΠΟΣ

Οὐκοῦν σοφιστὴς ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἦν καὶ οὐκ ἀληθῶς κατεφρόνει τοῦ πράγματος;

ΚΕΡΒΕΡΟΣ

Οὔκ, ἀλλ’ ἐπείπερ ἀναγκαῖον αὐτὸ ἑώρα, κατεθρασύνετο ὡς δῆθεν οὐκ ἄκων πεισόμενος ὃ πάντως ἔδει παθεῖν, ὡς θαυμάσονται ³ οἱ θεαταί. καὶ ὅλως περὶ πάντων γε τῶν τοιούτων εἰπεῖν ἂν ἔχοιμι, ἕως τοῦ στομίου τολμηροὶ καὶ ἀνδρεῖοι, τὰ δὲ ἔνδοθεν ἔλεγχος ἀκριβής.

ΜΕΝΙΠΠΟΣ

Ἐγὼ δὲ πῶς σοι κατεληλυθέναι ἔδοξα;

422

ΚΕΡΒΕΡΟΣ

Μόνος, ὦ Μένιππε, ἀξίως τοῦ γένους, καὶ Διογένης πρὸ σοῦ, ὅτι μὴ ἀναγκαζόμενοι ἐσῄειτε μηδ’ ὠθούμενοι, ἀλλ’ ἐθελούσιοι, γελῶντες, οἰμώζειν παραγγείλαντες ἅπασιν.

Translations (2)

Dialogues of the Dead Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 7. Macleod, Matthew Donald, translator. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1961 (unrenewed copyright).) — 4 focus

Menippus And Cerberus

MENIPPUS

My dear Cerberus—I’m a relation, being a Dog myself—I beg you, in the name of the Styx, to tell me what Socrates was like when he came down to you. Seeing that you’re a god, you can be expected not merely to bark, but also to talk like a human when you wish.

CERBERUS

When he was at a distance, Menippus, his face seemed completely impassive as he approached, and he appeared to have not the slightest fear of death, and he wanted to impress this on those who stood outside the entrance, but when he had peeped into the chasm, and seen the darkness, and I had bitten him and dragged him by the foot, because he was still slowed down by the hemlock, he shrieked like an infant, and cried for his children and went frantic.

MENIPPUS

Then the fellow was just a sham, and didn’t really despise his plight?

CERBERUS

No, but since he could see it was inescapable, he put on a bold front, pretending he would be glad to accept what was quite inevitable, all to win the admiration of the onlookers. I could Generalise about all such men: as far as the entrance, they are bold and brave, but what comes inside is the real test.

MENIPPUS

What did you think of me, when I came down?

CERBERUS

You alone were a credit to your breed—you and Diogenes before you, because you came in without having to be forced or pushed, but of your own accord, laughing and cursing at everyone.

Dialogues of the Dead Perseus (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 1. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.) — 4 focus

IV

Hermes

Charon

Hermes

Ferryman, what do you say to settling up accounts? It will prevent any unpleasantness later on.

Charon

Very good. It does save trouble to get these things straight.

Hermes

One anchor, to your order, five shillings.

Charon

That is a lot of money.

Hermes

So help me Pluto, it is what I had to pay. One rowlock-strap, fourpence,

Charon

Five and four; put that down.

Hermes

Then there was a needle, for mending the sail; tenpence.

Charon

Down with it.

Hermes

Caulking-wax; nails; and cord for the brace. Two shillings the lot.

Charon

They were worth the money.

Hermes

That’s all; unless I have forgotten anything. When will you pay it?

Charon

I can’t just now, Hermes; we shall have a war or a plague presently, and then the passengers will come shoaling in, and I shall be able to make a little by jobbing the fares.

Hermes

So for the present I have nothing to do but sit down, and pray for the worst, as my only chance of getting paid?

Charon

There is nothing else for it;—very little business doing just now, as you see, owing to the peace.

Hermes

That is just as well, though it does keep me waiting for my money. After all, though, Charon, in old days men were men; you remember the state they used to come down in,—all blood and wounds generally. Nowadays, a man is poisoned by his slave or his wife; or gets dropsy from overfeeding; a pale, spiritless lot, nothing like-the men of old. Most of them seem to meet their end in some plot that has money for its object.

Charon

Ah; money is in great request.

Hermes

Yes; you can’t blame me if I am somewhat urgent for payment.

Francis George Fowler

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Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Ἑρμῆς καὶ Χάρων.

Ἑρμῆς λογισώμεθα, ὦ πορθμεῦ, εἰ δοκεῖ, ὁπόσα μοι ὀφείλεις ἤδη, ὅπως μὴ αὖθις ἐρίζωμέν τι περὶ αὐτῶν.

Χάρων λογισώμεθα, ὦ Ἑρμῆ· ἄμεινον γὰρ ὡρίσθαι καὶ ἀπραγμονέστερον.

Ἑρμῆς ἄγκυραν ἐντειλαμένῳ ἐκόμισα πέντε δραχμῶν.

Χάρων πολλοῦ λέγεις.

Ἑρμῆς νὴ τὸν Ἀϊδωνέα, τῶν πέντε ὠνησάμην, καὶ τροπωτῆρα δύο ὀβολῶν.

Χάρων τίθει πέντε δραχμὰς καὶ ὀβολοὺς δύο.

Ἑρμῆς καὶ ἀκέστραν ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἱστίου· πέντε ὀβολοὺς 342 ἐγὼ κατέβαλον.

Χάρων καὶ τούτους προστίθει.

Ἑρμῆς καὶ κηρὸν ὡς ἐπιπλάσαι τοῦ σκαφιδίου τὰ ἀνεῳγότα καὶ ἥλους δὲ καὶ καλώδιον, ἀφʼ οὗ τὴν ὑπέραν ἐποίησας, δύο δραχμῶν ἅπαντα.

Χάρων καὶ ἄξια ταῦτα ὠνήσω.

Ἑρμῆς ταῦτά ἐστιν, εἰ μή τι ἄλλο ἡμᾶς διέλαθεν ἐν τῷ λογισμῷ. πότε δʼ οὖν ταῦτα ἀποδώσειν φής;

Χάρων νῦν μέν, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, ἀδύνατον, ἢν δὲ λοιμός τις ἢ πόλεμος καταπέμψῃ ἀθρόους τινάς, ἐνέσται τότε ἀποκερδᾶναι παραλογιζόμενον τὰ πορθμεῖα.

Ἑρμῆς νῦν οὖν ἐγὼ καθεδοῦμαι τὰ κάκιστα εὐχόμενος γενέσθαι, ὡς ἂν ἀπὸ τούτων ἀπολάβοιμι;

Χάρων οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλως, ὦ Ἑρμῆ. νῦν δὲ ὀλίγοι, ὡς ὁρᾷς, ἀφικνοῦνται ἡμῖν· εἰρήνη γάρ.

Χάρων πάνυ γὰρ περιπόθητά ἐστι ταῦτα.

Ἑρμῆς οὐκοῦν οὐδʼ ἐγὼ δόξαιμι ἂν ἁμαρτάνειν πικρῶς ἀπαιτῶν τὰ ὀφειλόμενα παρὰ σοῦ.

Current edition Perseus

ΜΕΝΙΠΠΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΚΕΡΒΕΡΟΥ

ΜΕΝΙΠΠΟΣ Οὐκοῦν σοφιστὴς ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἦν καὶ οὐκ ἀληθῶς κατεφρόνει τοῦ πράγματος;

ΜΕΝΙΠΠΟΣ Ἐγὼ δὲ πῶς σοι κατεληλυθέναι ἔδοξα;

Menippus And Cerberus

MENIPPUS My dear Cerberus—I’m a relation, being a Dog myself—I beg you, in the name of the Styx, to tell me what Socrates was like when he came down to you. Seeing that you’re a god, you can be expected not merely to bark, but also to talk like a human when you wish.

MENIPPUS Then the fellow was just a sham, and didn’t really despise his plight?

MENIPPUS What did you think of me, when I came down?

CERBERUS You alone were a credit to your breed—you and Diogenes before you, because you came in without having to be forced or pushed, but of your own accord, laughing and cursing at everyone.

IV

Hermes

Charon

Hermes Ferryman, what do you say to settling up accounts? It will prevent any unpleasantness later on.

Charon Very good. It does save trouble to get these things straight.

Hermes One anchor, to your order, five shillings.

Charon That is a lot of money.

Hermes So help me Pluto, it is what I had to pay. One rowlock-strap, fourpence,

Charon Five and four; put that down.

Hermes Then there was a needle, for mending the sail; tenpence.

Charon Down with it.

Hermes Caulking-wax; nails; and cord for the brace. Two shillings the lot.

Charon They were worth the money.

Hermes That’s all; unless I have forgotten anything. When will you pay it?

Charon I can’t just now, Hermes; we shall have a war or a plague presently, and then the passengers will come shoaling in, and I shall be able to make a little by jobbing the fares.

Hermes So for the present I have nothing to do but sit down, and pray for the worst, as my only chance of getting paid?

Charon There is nothing else for it;—very little business doing just now, as you see, owing to the peace.

Charon Ah; money is in great request.

Hermes Yes; you can’t blame me if I am somewhat urgent for payment.

Stable identifiers

Ἑρμῆς

λογισώμεθα, ὦ πορθμεῦ, εἰ δοκεῖ, ὁπόσα μοι ὀφείλεις ἤδη, ὅπως μὴ αὖθις ἐρίζωμέν τι περὶ αὐτῶν.

Χάρων

λογισώμεθα, ὦ Ἑρμῆ· ἄμεινον γὰρ ὡρίσθαι καὶ ἀπραγμονέστερον.

Ἑρμῆς

ἄγκυραν ἐντειλαμένῳ ἐκόμισα πέντε δραχμῶν.

Χάρων

πολλοῦ λέγεις.

Ἑρμῆς

νὴ τὸν Ἀϊδωνέα, τῶν πέντε ὠνησάμην, καὶ τροπωτῆρα δύο ὀβολῶν.

Χάρων

τίθει πέντε δραχμὰς καὶ ὀβολοὺς δύο.

Ἑρμῆς

καὶ ἀκέστραν ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἱστίου· πέντε ὀβολοὺς 342 ἐγὼ κατέβαλον.

Χάρων

καὶ τούτους προστίθει.

Ἑρμῆς

καὶ κηρὸν ὡς ἐπιπλάσαι τοῦ σκαφιδίου τὰ ἀνεῳγότα καὶ ἥλους δὲ καὶ καλώδιον, ἀφʼ οὗ τὴν ὑπέραν ἐποίησας, δύο δραχμῶν ἅπαντα.

Χάρων

καὶ ἄξια ταῦτα ὠνήσω.

Ἑρμῆς

ταῦτά ἐστιν, εἰ μή τι ἄλλο ἡμᾶς διέλαθεν ἐν τῷ λογισμῷ. πότε δʼ οὖν ταῦτα ἀποδώσειν φής;

Χάρων

νῦν μέν, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, ἀδύνατον, ἢν δὲ λοιμός τις ἢ πόλεμος καταπέμψῃ ἀθρόους τινάς, ἐνέσται τότε ἀποκερδᾶναι παραλογιζόμενον τὰ πορθμεῖα.

Ἑρμῆς

νῦν οὖν ἐγὼ καθεδοῦμαι τὰ κάκιστα εὐχόμενος γενέσθαι, ὡς ἂν ἀπὸ τούτων ἀπολάβοιμι;

Χάρων

οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλως, ὦ Ἑρμῆ. νῦν δὲ ὀλίγοι, ὡς ὁρᾷς, ἀφικνοῦνται ἡμῖν· εἰρήνη γάρ.

Χάρων

πάνυ γὰρ περιπόθητά ἐστι ταῦτα.

Ἑρμῆς

οὐκοῦν οὐδʼ ἐγὼ δόξαιμι ἂν ἁμαρτάνειν πικρῶς ἀπαιτῶν τὰ ὀφειλόμενα παρὰ σοῦ.

ΜΕΝΙΠΠΟΣ

Οὐκοῦν σοφιστὴς ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἦν καὶ οὐκ ἀληθῶς κατεφρόνει τοῦ πράγματος;

ΜΕΝΙΠΠΟΣ

Ἐγὼ δὲ πῶς σοι κατεληλυθέναι ἔδοξα;

MENIPPUS

My dear Cerberus—I’m a relation, being a Dog myself—I beg you, in the name of the Styx, to tell me what Socrates was like when he came down to you. Seeing that you’re a god, you can be expected not merely to bark, but also to talk like a human when you wish.

MENIPPUS

Then the fellow was just a sham, and didn’t really despise his plight?

MENIPPUS

What did you think of me, when I came down?

CERBERUS

You alone were a credit to your breed—you and Diogenes before you, because you came in without having to be forced or pushed, but of your own accord, laughing and cursing at everyone.

Hermes

Ferryman, what do you say to settling up accounts? It will prevent any unpleasantness later on.

Charon

Very good. It does save trouble to get these things straight.

Hermes

One anchor, to your order, five shillings.

Charon

That is a lot of money.

Hermes

So help me Pluto, it is what I had to pay. One rowlock-strap, fourpence,

Charon

Five and four; put that down.

Hermes

Then there was a needle, for mending the sail; tenpence.

Charon

Down with it.

Hermes

Caulking-wax; nails; and cord for the brace. Two shillings the lot.

Charon

They were worth the money.

Hermes

That’s all; unless I have forgotten anything. When will you pay it?

Charon

I can’t just now, Hermes; we shall have a war or a plague presently, and then the passengers will come shoaling in, and I shall be able to make a little by jobbing the fares.

Hermes

So for the present I have nothing to do but sit down, and pray for the worst, as my only chance of getting paid?

Charon

There is nothing else for it;—very little business doing just now, as you see, owing to the peace.

Charon

Ah; money is in great request.

Hermes

Yes; you can’t blame me if I am somewhat urgent for payment.