---
title: "Clouds · Νεφέλαι"
author: "Aristophanes"
translator: "William James Hickie"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 3 of 3
url: https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-clouds/3/
cite: "Aristophanes, tr. William James Hickie, Clouds · Νεφέλαι, section 3. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-clouds/3/"
---

# Clouds · Νεφέλαι

*Aristophanes, tr. William James Hickie*

A debtor enrols in Socrates’ Thinkery to learn how to talk his way out of paying.

> Greek: ed. F. W. Hall, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0019.tlg003, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: William James Hickie, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0019.tlg003.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 3. Lines 1002–1511

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-clouds/3/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-clouds/3/#p-N

[¶0] Just Cause.:
Yet certainly shall you spend your time in the gymnastic schools, sleek and blooming; not chattering in the market-place rude jests, like the youths of the present day; nor dragged into court for a petty suit, greedy, pettifogging, knavish;

> Greek: Δίκαιος Λόγος:
ἀλλʼ οὖν λιπαρός γε καὶ εὐανθὴς ἐν γυμνασίοις διατρίψεις,
οὐ στωμύλλων κατὰ τὴν ἀγορὰν τριβολεκτράπελʼ οἷάπερ οἱ νῦν,
οὐδʼ ἑλκόμενος περὶ πραγματίου γλισχραντιλογεξεπιτρίπτου·

[¶1] but you shall descend to the Academy and run races beneath the sacred olives along with some modest compeer, crowned with white reeds, redolent of yew, and careless ease, of leaf-shedding white poplar, rejoicing in the season of spring, when the plane-tree whispers to the elm.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ εἰς Ἀκαδήμειαν κατιὼν ὑπὸ ταῖς μορίαις ἀποθρέξει
στεφανωσάμενος καλάμῳ λευκῷ μετὰ σώφρονος ἡλικιώτου,
μίλακος ὄζων καὶ ἀπραγμοσύνης καὶ λεύκης φυλλοβολούσης,
ἦρος ἐν ὥρᾳ χαίρων, ὁπόταν πλάτανος πτελέᾳ ψιθυρίζῃ.

[¶2] Just Cause.:
If you do these things which I say, and apply your mind to these, you will ever have a stout chest, a clear complexion, broad shoulders, a little tongue, large hips, little lewdness.

> Greek: Δίκαιος Λόγος:
ἢν ταῦτα ποιῇς ἁγὼ φράζω,
καὶ πρὸς τούτοις προσέχῃς τὸν νοῦν,
ἕξεις ἀεὶ
στῆθος λιπαρόν, χροιὰν λαμπράν,
ὤμους μεγάλους, γλῶτταν βαιάν,
πυγὴν μεγάλην, πόσθην μικράν.

[¶3] But if you practise what the youths of the present day do, you will have in the first place, a pallid complexion, small shoulders, a narrow chest, a large tongue, little hips, great lewdness,
a long psephism; and this deceiver will persuade you to consider everything that is base to be honourable, and what is honourable to be base; and in addition to this, he will fill you with the lewdness of Antimachus.

> Greek: ἢν δʼ ἅπερ οἱ νῦν ἐπιτηδεύῃς,
πρῶτα μὲν ἕξεις
χροιὰν ὠχράν, ὤμους μικρούς,
στῆθος λεπτόν, γλῶτταν μεγάλην,
πυγὴν μικράν, κωλῆν μεγάλην,
ψήφισμα μακρόν, καὶ σʼ ἀναπείσει
τὸ μὲν αἰσχρὸν ἅπαν καλὸν ἡγεῖσθαι,
τὸ καλὸν δʼ αἰσχρόν·
καὶ πρὸς τούτοις τῆς Ἀντιμάχου
καταπυγοσύνης ἀναπλήσει.

[¶4] Chorus.:
O thou that practisest most renowned high-towering wisdom! How sweetly does a modest grace attend your words! Happy, therefore, were they who lived in those days, in the times
of former men! In reply, then, to these, O thou that hast a dainty-seeming Muse, it behooveth thee to say something new; since the man has gained renown.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ καλλίπυργον σοφίαν κλεινοτάτην ἐπασκῶν,
ὡς ἡδύ σου τοῖσι λόγοις σῶφρον ἔπεστιν ἄνθος.
†εὐδαίμονες δʼ ἦσαν ἄρʼ οἱ ζῶντες τότʼ ἐπὶ
τῶν προτέρων†· πρὸς τάδε σʼ ὦ κομψοπρεπῆ μοῦσαν ἔχων,
δεῖ σε λέγειν τι καινόν, ὡς ηὐδοκίμηκεν ἁνήρ.

[¶5] Chorus.:
And it appears you have need of powerful arguments against him, if you are to conquer the man and not incur laughter.

> Greek: Χορός:
δεινῶν δέ σοι βουλευμάτων ἔοικε δεῖν πρὸς αὐτόν,
εἴπερ τὸν ἄνδρʼ ὑπερβαλεῖ καὶ μὴ γέλωτʼ ὀφλήσεις.

[¶6] Unjust Cause.:
And yet I was choking in my heart, and was longing to confound all these with contrary maxims. For I have been called among the deep thinkers the “worse cause” on this very account, that I first contrived how
to speak against both law and justice; and this art is worth more than ten thousand staters, that one should choose the worse cause, and nevertheless be victorious. But mark how I will confute the system of education on which he relies, who says, in the first place, that he will not permit you to be washed with warm water.

> Greek: Ἄδικος Λόγος:
καὶ μὴν πάλαι γʼ ἐπνιγόμην τὰ σπλάγχνα κἀπεθύμουν
ἅπαντα ταῦτʼ ἐναντίαις γνώμαισι συνταράξαι.
ἐγὼ γὰρ ἥττων μὲν λόγος διʼ αὐτὸ τοῦτʼ ἐκλήθην
ἐν τοῖσι φροντισταῖσιν, ὅτι πρώτιστος ἐπενόησα
τοῖσιν νόμοις καὶ ταῖς δίκαις τἀναντίʼ ἀντιλέξαι.
καὶ τοῦτο πλεῖν ἢ μυρίων ἔστʼ ἄξιον στατήρων,
αἱρούμενον τοὺς ἥττονας λόγους ἔπειτα νικᾶν.
σκέψαι δὲ τὴν παίδευσιν ᾗ πέποιθεν ὡς ἐλέγξω,
ὅστις σε θερμῷ φησι λοῦσθαι πρῶτον οὐκ ἐάσειν.

[¶7] And yet, on what principle do you blame the warm baths?

> Greek: καίτοι τίνα γνώμην ἔχων ψέγεις τὰ θερμὰ λουτρά;

[¶8] Just Cause.:
Because it is most vile, and makes a man cowardly.

> Greek: Δίκαιος Λόγος:
ὁτιὴ κάκιστόν ἐστι καὶ δειλὸν ποιεῖ τὸν ἄνδρα.

[¶9] Unjust Cause.:
Stop! For immediately I seize and hold you by the waist without escape. Come, tell me, which of the sons of Jupiter do you deem to have been the bravest in soul, and to have undergone most labours?

> Greek: Ἄδικος Λόγος:
ἐπίσχες· εὐθὺς γάρ σʼ ἔχω μέσον λαβὼν ἄφυκτον.
καί μοι φράσον, τῶν τοῦ Διὸς παίδων τίνʼ ἄνδρʼ ἄριστον
ψυχὴν νομίζεις, εἰπέ, καὶ πλείστους πόνους πονῆσαι.

[¶10] Just Cause.:
I consider no man superior to Hercules.

> Greek: Δίκαιος Λόγος:
ἐγὼ μὲν οὐδένʼ Ἡρακλέους βελτίονʼ ἄνδρα κρίνω.

[¶11] Unjust Cause.:
Where, pray, did you ever see cold Herculean baths? And yet, who was more valiant than he?
Just Cause.:
These are the very things which make the bath full of youths always chattering all day long, but the palaestras empty.

> Greek: Ἄδικος Λόγος:
ποῦ ψυχρὰ δῆτα πώποτʼ εἶδες Ἡράκλεια λουτρά;
καίτοι τίς ἀνδρειότερος ἦν;
Δίκαιος Λόγος:
ταῦτʼ ἐστὶ ταῦτʼ ἐκεῖνα,
ἃ τῶν νεανίσκων ἀεὶ διʼ ἡμέρας λαλούντων
πλῆρες τὸ βαλανεῖον ποιεῖ, κενὰς δὲ τὰς παλαίστρας.

[¶12] Unjust Cause.:
You next find fault with their living in the market-place; but I commend it. For if it had been bad, Homer would never have been for representing Nestor as an orator; nor all the other wise men. I will return, then, from thence to the tongue, which this fellow says our youths ought not to exercise, while I maintain they should.

> Greek: Ἄδικος Λόγος:
εἶτʼ ἐν ἀγορᾷ τὴν διατριβὴν ψέγεις· ἐγὼ δʼ ἐπαινῶ.
εἰ γὰρ πονηρὸν ἦν, Ὅμηρος οὐδέποτʼ ἂν ἐποίει
τὸν Νέστορʼ ἀγορητὴν ἂν οὐδὲ τοὺς σοφοὺς ἅπαντας.
ἄνειμι δῆτʼ ἐντεῦθεν ἐς τὴν γλῶτταν, ἣν ὁδὶ μὲν
οὔ φησι χρῆναι τοὺς νέους ἀσκεῖν, ἐγὼ δέ φημι.

[¶13] And again, he says they ought to be modest: two very great evils. For tell me to whom you have ever seen any good accrue through modesty and confute me by your words.

> Greek: καὶ σωφρονεῖν αὖ φησι χρῆναι· δύο κακὼ μεγίστω.
ἐπεὶ σὺ διὰ τὸ σωφρονεῖν τῷ πώποτʼ εἶδες ἤδη
ἀγαθάν τι γενόμενον, φράσον, καί μʼ ἐξέλεγξον εἰπών.

[¶14] Just Cause.:
To many. Peleus, at any rate, received his sword on account of it.

> Greek: Δίκαιος Λόγος:
πολλοῖς. ὁ γοῦν Πηλεὺς ἔλαβε διὰ τοῦτο τὴν μάχαιραν.

[¶15] Unjust Cause.:
A sword? Marry, he got a pretty piece of luck, the poor wretch! While Hyperbolus, he of the lamps, got more than many talents by his villainy, but by Jupiter, no sword!

> Greek: Ἄδικος Λόγος:
μάχαιραν; ἀστεῖόν γε κέρδος ἔλαβεν ὁ κακοδαίμων.
Ὑπέρβολος δʼ οὑκ τῶν λύχνων πλεῖν ἢ τάλαντα πολλὰ
εἴληφε διὰ πονηρίαν, ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰ Δίʼ οὐ μάχαιραν.

[¶16] Just Cause.:
And Peleus married Thetis, too, through his modesty.

> Greek: Δίκαιος Λόγος:
καὶ τὴν Θέτιν γʼ ἔγημε διὰ τὸ σωφρονεῖν ὁ Πηλεύς.

[¶17] Unjust Cause.:
And then she went off and left him; for he was not lustful, nor an agreeable bedfellow to spend the night with.

> Greek: Ἄδικος Λόγος:
κᾆτʼ ἀπολιποῦσά γʼ αὐτὸν ᾤχετʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἦν ὑβριστὴς
οὐδʼ ἡδὺς ἐν τοῖς στρώμασιν τὴν νύκτα παννυχίζειν·

[¶18] Now a woman delights in being wantonly treated. But you are an old dotard. For (to Phidippides). consider, O youth, all that attaches to modesty, and of how many pleasures you are about to be deprived—of women, of games at cottabus, of dainties, of drinking-bouts, of giggling. And yet, what is life worth to you if you be deprived of these enjoyments?

> Greek: γυνὴ δὲ σιναμωρουμένη χαίρει· σὺ δʼ εἶ Κρόνιππος.
σκέψαι γὰρ ὦ μειράκιον ἐν τῷ σωφρονεῖν ἅπαντα
ἅνεστιν, ἡδονῶν θʼ ὅσων μέλλεις ἀποστερεῖσθαι,
παίδων γυναικῶν κοττάβων ὄψων πότων κιχλισμῶν.
καίτοι τί σοι ζῆν ἄξιον, τούτων ἐὰν στερηθῇς;

[¶19] Well, I will pass from thence to the necessities of our nature. You have gone astray, you have fallen in love, you have been guilty of some adultery, and then have been caught. You are undone, for you are unable to speak. But if you associate with me, indulge your inclination, dance, laugh, and think nothing disgraceful. For if you should happen to be detected as an adulterer, you will make this reply to him,
“that you have done him no injury”: and then refer him to Jupiter, how even he is overcome by love and women. And yet, how could you, who are a mortal, have greater power than a god?

> Greek: εἶεν. πάρειμʼ ἐντεῦθεν ἐς τὰς τῆς φύσεως ἀνάγκας.
ἥμαρτες, ἠράσθης, ἐμοίχευσάς τι, κᾆτʼ ἐλήφθης·
ἀπόλωλας· ἀδύνατος γὰρ εἶ λέγειν. ἐμοὶ δʼ ὁμιλῶν
χρῶ τῇ φύσει, σκίρτα, γέλα, νόμιζε μηδὲν αἰσχρόν.
μοιχὸς γὰρ ἢν τύχῃς ἁλούς, τάδʼ ἀντερεῖς πρὸς αὐτόν,
ὡς οὐδὲν ἠδίκηκας· εἶτʼ ἐς τὸν Δίʼ ἐπανενεγκεῖν,
κἀκεῖνος ὡς ἥττων ἔρωτός ἐστι καὶ γυναικῶν·
καίτοι σὺ θνητὸς ὢν θεοῦ πῶς μεῖζον ἂν δύναιο;

[¶20] Just Cause.:
But what if he should suffer the radish through obeying you, and be depillated with hot ashes? What argument will he be able to state, to prove that he is not a blackguard?

> Greek: Δίκαιος Λόγος:
τί δʼ ἢν ῥαφανιδωθῇ πιθόμενός σοι τέφρᾳ τε τιλθῇ,
ἕξει τινὰ γνώμην λέγειν τὸ μὴ εὐρύπρωκτος εἶναι;

[¶21] Unjust Cause.:
And if he be a blackguard, what harm will he suffer?

> Greek: Ἄδικος Λόγος:
ἢν δʼ εὐρύπρωκτος ᾖ, τί πείσεται κακόν;

[¶22] Just Cause.:
Nay, what could he ever suffer still greater than this?

> Greek: Δίκαιος Λόγος:
τί μὲν οὖν ἂν ἔτι μεῖζον πάθοι τούτου ποτέ;

[¶23] Unjust Cause.:
What then will you say if you be conquered by me in this?

> Greek: Ἄδικος Λόγος:
τί δῆτʼ ἐρεῖς, ἢν τοῦτο νικηθῇς ἐμοῦ;

[¶24] Just Cause.:
I will be silent: what else can I do?
Unjust Cause.:
Come, now, tell me; from what class do the advocates come?

> Greek: Δίκαιος Λόγος:
σιγήσομαι. τί δʼ ἄλλο;
Ἄδικος Λόγος:
φέρε δή μοι φράσον·
συνηγοροῦσιν ἐκ τίνων;

[¶25] Just Cause.:
From the blackguards.
Unjust Cause.:
I believe you. What then? From what class do tragedians come?

> Greek: Δίκαιος Λόγος:
ἐξ εὐρυπρώκτων.
Ἄδικος Λόγος:
πείθομαι.
τί δαί; τραγῳδοῦσʼ ἐκ τίνων;

[¶26] Just Cause.:
From the blackguards.
Unjust Cause.:
You say well. But from what class do the public orators come?

> Greek: Δίκαιος Λόγος:
ἐξ εὐρυπρώκτων.
Ἄδικος Λόγος:
εὖ λέγεις.
δημηγοροῦσι δʼ ἐκ τίνων;

[¶27] Just Cause.:
From the blackguards.
Unjust Cause.:
Then have you perceived that you say nothing to the purpose? And look which class among the audience is the more numerous.
Just Cause.:
Well now, I’m looking.

> Greek: Δίκαιος Λόγος:
ἐξ εὐρυπρώκτων.
Ἄδικος Λόγος:
ἆρα δῆτʼ
ἔγνωκας ὡς οὐδὲν λέγεις;
καὶ τῶν θεατῶν ὁπότεροι
πλείους σκόπει.
Δίκαιος Λόγος:
καὶ δὴ σκοπῶ.

[¶28] Unjust Cause.:
What, then, do you see?
Just Cause.:
By the gods, the blackguards to be far more numerous. This fellow, at any rate, I know; and him yonder; and this fellow with the long hair.
Unjust Cause.:
What, then, will you say?

> Greek: Ἄδικος Λόγος:
τί δῆθʼ ὁρᾷς;
Δίκαιος Λόγος:
πολὺ πλείονας νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς
τοὺς εὐρυπρώκτους· τουτονὶ
γοῦν οἶδʼ ἐγὼ κἀκεινονὶ
καὶ τὸν κομήτην τουτονί.
Ἄδικος Λόγος:
τί δῆτʼ ἐρεῖς;

[¶29] Just Cause.:
We are conquered. Ye blackguards, by the gods, receive my cloak, for I desert to you.
Exeunt the Two Causes, and re-enter Socrates and Strepsiades.

> Greek: Δίκαιος Λόγος:
ἡττήμεθʼ· ὦ κινούμενοι
πρὸς τῶν θεῶν δέξασθέ μου
θοἰμάτιον, ὡς
ἐξαυτομολῶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς.

[¶30] Socrates.:
What then? whether do you wish to take and lead away this your son, or shall I teach him to speak?

> Greek: Σωκράτης:
τί δῆτα; πότερα τοῦτον ἀπάγεσθαι λαβὼν
βούλει τὸν υἱόν, ἢ διδάσκω σοι λέγειν;

[¶31] Strepsiades.:
Teach him, and chastise him: and remember that you train him properly; on the one side able for petty suits; but train his other jaw able for the more important causes.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
δίδασκε καὶ κόλαζε καὶ μέμνησʼ ὅπως
εὖ μοι στομώσεις αὐτόν, ἐπὶ μὲν θάτερα
οἷον δικιδίοις, τὴν δʼ ἑτέραν αὐτοῦ γνάθον
στόμωσον οἵαν ἐς τὰ μείζω πράγματα.

[¶32] Socrates.:
Make yourself easy; you shall receive him back a clever sophist.

> Greek: Σωκράτης:
ἀμέλει κομιεῖ τοῦτον σοφιστὴν δεξιόν.

[¶33] Strepsiades.:
Nay, rather, pale and wretched.
Exeunt Socrates, Strepsiades, and Phidippides.

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
ὠχρὸν μὲν οὖν οἶμαί γε καὶ κακοδαίμονα.

[¶34] Chorus.:
Go ye, then: but I think that you will repent of these proceedings.

> Greek: Χορός:
χωρεῖτέ νυν. οἶμαι δέ σοι ταῦτα μεταμελήσειν.

[¶35] Chorus.:
We wish to speak about the judges, what they will gain, if at all they justly assist this Chorus. For in the first place, if you wish to plough up your fields in spring, we will rain for you first; but for the others afterward. And then we will protect the fruits, and the vines,
so that neither drought afflict them, nor excessive wet weather. But if any mortal dishonour us who are goddesses, let him consider what evils he will suffer at our hands, obtaining neither wine nor anything else from his farm. For when his olives and vines sprout, they shall be cut down; with such slings
will we smite them. And if we see him making brick, we will rain; and we will smash the tiles of his roof with round hailstones. And if he himself, or any one of his kindred or friends, at any time marry, we will rain the whole night; so he will probably wish rather to have been
even in Egypt than to have judged badly.
Enter Strepsiades with a meal-sack on his shoulder.

> Greek: Χορός:
τοὺς κριτὰς ἃ κερδανοῦσιν, ἤν τι τόνδε τὸν χορὸν
ὠφελῶσʼ ἐκ τῶν δικαίων, βουλόμεσθʼ ἡμεῖς φράσαι.
πρῶτα μὲν γάρ, ἢν νεᾶν βούλησθʼ ἐν ὥρᾳ τοὺς ἀγρούς,
ὕσομεν πρώτοισιν ὑμῖν, τοῖσι δʼ ἄλλοις ὕστερον.
εἶτα τὸν καρπὸν τεκούσας ἀμπέλους φυλάξομεν,
ὥστε μήτʼ αὐχμὸν πιέζειν μήτʼ ἄγαν ἐπομβρίαν.
ἢν δʼ ἀτιμάσῃ τις ἡμᾶς θνητὸς ὢν οὔσας θεάς,
προσεχέτω τὸν νοῦν, πρὸς ἡμῶν οἷα πείσεται κακά,
λαμβάνων οὔτʼ οἶνον οὔτʼ ἄλλʼ οὐδὲν ἐκ τοῦ χωρίου.
ἡνίκʼ ἂν γὰρ αἵ τʼ ἐλαῖαι βλαστάνωσʼ αἵ τʼ ἄμπελοι,
ἀποκεκόψονται· τοιαύταις σφενδόναις παιήσομεν.
ἢν δὲ πλινθεύοντʼ ἴδωμεν, ὕσομεν καὶ τοῦ τέγους
τὸν κέραμον αὐτοῦ χαλάζαις στρογγύλαις συντρίψομεν.
κἂν γαμῇ ποτʼ αὐτὸς ἢ τῶν ξυγγενῶν ἢ τῶν φίλων,
ὕσομεν τὴν νύκτα πᾶσαν· ὥστʼ ἴσως βουλήσεται
κἂν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ τυχεῖν ὢν μᾶλλον ἢ κρῖναι κακῶς.

[¶36] Strepsiades.:
The fifth, the fourth, the third, after this the second; and then, of all the days I most fear, and dread, and abominate, immediately after this there is the Old and New.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
πέμπτη, τετράς, τρίτη, μετὰ ταύτην δευτέρα,
εἶθʼ ἣν ἐγὼ μάλιστα πασῶν ἡμερῶν
δέδοικα καὶ πέφρικα καὶ βδελύττομαι,
εὐθὺς μετὰ ταύτην ἔσθʼ ἕνη τε καὶ νέα.

[¶37] For every one to whom I happen to be indebted, swears, and says he will ruin and destroy me, having made his deposits against me; though I only ask what is moderate and just—“My good sir, one part don’t take just now; the other part put off I pray; and the other part remit”; they say that thus
they will never get back their money, but abuse me, as I am unjust, and say they will go to law with me. Now therefore let them go to law, for it little concerns me, if Phidippides has learned to speak well. I shall soon know by knocking at the thinking-shop.
Knocks at the door.

> Greek: πᾶς γάρ τις ὀμνὺς οἷς ὀφείλων τυγχάνω,
θείς μοι πρυτανεῖʼ ἀπολεῖν μέ φησι κἀξολεῖν,
κἀμοῦ μέτριά τε καὶ δίκαιʼ αἰτουμένου,
ὦ δαιμόνιε τὸ μέν τι νυνὶ μὴ λάβῃς,
τὸ δʼ ἀναβαλοῦ μοι, τὸ δʼ ἄφες, οὔ φασίν ποτε
οὕτως ἀπολήψεσθʼ, ἀλλὰ λοιδοροῦσί με
ὡς ἄδικός εἰμι, καὶ δικάσεσθαί φασί μοι.
νῦν οὖν δικαζέσθων· ὀλίγον γάρ μοι μέλει,
εἴπερ μεμάθηκεν εὖ λέγειν Φειδιππίδης.
τάχα δʼ εἴσομαι κόψας τὸ φροντιστήριον.

[¶38] Boy, I say! Boy, boy!
Enter Socrates.
Socrates.:
Good morning, Strepsiades.

> Greek: παῖ, ἠμί, παῖ παῖ.
Σωκράτης:
Στρεψιάδην ἀσπάζομαι.

[¶39] Strepsiades.:
The same to you. But first accept this present; for one ought to compliment the teacher with a fee. And tell me about my son, if he has learned that cause, which you just now brought forward.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
κἄγωγέ σʼ· ἀλλὰ τουτονὶ πρῶτον λαβέ·
χρὴ γὰρ ἐπιθαυμάζειν τι τὸν διδάσκαλον.
καί μοι τὸν υἱὸν εἰ μεμάθηκε τὸν λόγον
ἐκεῖνον εἴφʼ ὃν ἀρτίως εἰσήγαγες.

[¶40] Socrates.:
He has learned it.
Strepsiades.:
Well done, O Fraud, all-powerful queen!

> Greek: Σωκράτης:
μεμάθηκεν.
Στρεψιάδης:
εὖ γʼ ὦ παμβασίλειʼ Ἀπαιόλη.

[¶41] Socrates.:
So that you can get clear off from whatever suit you please.

> Greek: Σωκράτης:
ὥστʼ ἀποφύγοις ἂν ἥντινʼ ἂν βούλῃ δίκην.

[¶42] Strepsiades.:
Even if witnesses were present when I borrowed the money?

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
κεἰ μάρτυρες παρῆσαν, ὅτʼ ἐδανειζόμην;

[¶43] Socrates.:
Yea, much more! Even if a thousand be present.

> Greek: Σωκράτης:
πολλῷ γε μᾶλλον, κἂν παρῶσι χίλιοι.

[¶44] Strepsiades.:
Then I will shout with a very loud
shout: Ho! Weep, you petty-usurers, both you and your principals, and your compound interests! For you can no longer do me any harm, because such a son is being reared for me in this house,
shining with a double-edged tongue, for my guardian, the preserver of my house, a mischief to my enemies, ending the sadness of the great woes of his father. Him do thou run and summon from within to me.
Socrates goes into the house.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
βοάσομαί τἄρα τὰν ὑπέρτονον
βοάν. ἰὼ κλάετʼ ὦ ʼβολοστάται
αὐτοί τε καὶ τἀρχαῖα καὶ τόκοι τόκων·
οὐδὲν γὰρ ἄν με φλαῦρον ἐργάσαισθʼ ἔτι,
οἷος ἐμοὶ τρέφεται
τοῖσδʼ ἐνὶ δώμασι παῖς,
ἀμφήκει γλώττῃ λάμπων,
πρόβολος ἐμός, σωτὴρ δόμοις, ἐχθροῖς βλάβη,
λυσανίας πατρῴων μεγάλων κακῶν·
ὃν κάλεσον τρέχων ἔνδοθεν ὡς ἐμέ.

[¶45] Socrates.:
O child! O son! Come forth from the house! Hear your father! Re-enter Socrates leading in Phidippides. Lo, here is the man!

> Greek: Σωκράτης:
ὦ τέκνον ὦ παῖ ἔξελθʼ οἴκων,
ἄιε σοῦ πατρός.
ὅδʼ ἐκεῖνος ἀνήρ.

[¶46] Strepsiades.:
O my dear, my dear!

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ὦ φίλος ὦ φίλος.

[¶47] Socrates.:
Take your son and depart.
Exit Socrates.

> Greek: Σωκράτης:
ἄπιθι συλλαβών.

[¶48] Strepsiades.:
Oh, oh, my child! Huzza! Huzza! How I am delighted at the first sight of your complexion! Now, indeed, you are, in the first place, negative and disputatious to look at, and this fashion native to the place plainly appears, the “what do you say?” and the seeming
to be injured when, I well know, you are injuring and inflicting a wrong; and in your countenance there is the Attic look. Now, therefore, see that you save me, since you have also ruined me.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ἰὼ ἰὼ τέκνον, ἰὼ ἰοῦ ἰοῦ.
ὡς ἥδομαί σου πρῶτα τὴν χρόαν ἰδών.
νῦν μέν γʼ ἰδεῖν εἶ πρῶτον ἐξαρνητικὸς
κἀντιλογικός, καὶ τοῦτο τοὐπιχώριον
ἀτεχνῶς ἐπανθεῖ, τὸ τί λέγεις σύ; καὶ δοκεῖν
ἀδικοῦντʼ ἀδικεῖσθαι καὶ κακουργοῦντʼ οἶδʼ ὅτι·
ἐπὶ τοῦ προσώπου τʼ ἐστὶν Ἀττικὸν βλέπος.
νῦν οὖν ὅπως σώσεις μʼ, ἐπεὶ κἀπώλεσας.

[¶49] Phidippides.:
What, pray, do you fear?
Strepsiades.:
The Old and New.

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
φοβεῖ δὲ δὴ τί;
Στρεψιάδης:
τὴν ἕνην τε καὶ νέαν.

[¶50] Phidippides.:
Why, is any day old and new?

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
ἕνη γάρ ἐστι καὶ νέα τις ἡμέρα;

[¶51] Strepsiades.:
Yes; on which they say that they will make their deposits against me.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
εἰς ἥν γε θήσειν τὰ πρυτανεῖά φασί μοι.

[¶52] Phidippides.:
Then those that have made them will lose them; for it is not possible that two days can be one day.

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
ἀπολοῦσʼ ἄρʼ αὔθʼ οἱ θέντες· οὐ γὰρ ἔσθʼ ὅπως
μίʼ ἡμέρα γένοιτʼ ἂν ἡμέρα δύο.

[¶53] Strepsiades.:
Can not it?
Phidippides.:
Certainly not; unless the same woman can be both old and young at the same time.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
οὐκ ἂν γένοιτο;
Φειδιππίδης:
πῶς γάρ; εἰ μή πέρ γʼ ἅμα
αὑτὴ γένοιτʼ ἂν γραῦς τε καὶ νέα γυνή.

[¶54] Strepsiades.:
And yet it is the law.
Phidippides.:
For they do not, I think, rightly understand what the law means.
Strepsiades.:
And what does it mean?

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
καὶ μὴν νενόμισταί γʼ.
Φειδιππίδης:
οὐ γάρ, οἶμαι, τὸν νόμον
ἴσασιν ὀρθῶς ὅ τι νοεῖ.
Στρεψιάδης:
νοεῖ δὲ τί;

[¶55] Phidippides.:
The ancient Solon was by nature the commons’ friend.

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
ὁ Σόλων ὁ παλαιὸς ἦν φιλόδημος τὴν φύσιν.

[¶56] Strepsiades.:
This surely is nothing whatever to the Old and New.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
τουτὶ μὲν οὐδέν πω πρὸς ἕνην τε καὶ νέαν.

[¶57] Phidippides.:
He therefore made the summons for two days, for the Old and New, that the deposits might be made on the first of the month.

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
ἐκεῖνος οὖν τὴν κλῆσιν ἐς δύʼ ἡμέρας
ἔθηκεν, ἔς γε τὴν ἕνην τε καὶ νέαν,
ἵνʼ αἱ θέσεις γίγνοιντο τῇ νουμηνίᾳ.

[¶58] Strepsiades.:
Why, pray, did he add the old day?
Phidippides.:
In order, my good sir, that the defendants, being present a day before, might compromise the matter of their own accord; but if not,
that they might be worried on the morning of the new moon.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ἵνα δὴ τί τὴν ἕνην προσέθηχʼ;
Φειδιππίδης:
ἵνʼ ὦ μέλε
παρόντες οἱ φεύγοντες ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ
πρότερον ἀπαλλάττοινθʼ ἑκόντες, εἰ δὲ μή,
ἕωθεν ὑπανιῷντο τῇ νουμηνία.

[¶59] Strepsiades.:
Why, then, do the magistrates not receive the deposits on the new moon, but on the Old and New?

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
πῶς οὐ δέχονται δῆτα τῇ νουμηνίᾳ
ἁρχαὶ τὰ πρυτανεῖʼ, ἀλλʼ ἕνῃ τε καὶ νέᾳ;

[¶60] Phidippides.:
They seem to me to do what the forestallers do: in order that they may appreciate the deposits as soon as possible, on this account they have the first pick by one day.
Strepsiades.: (turning to the audience).

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
ὅπερ οἱ προτένθαι γὰρ δοκοῦσί μοι ποιεῖν·
ὅπως τάχιστα τὰ πρυτανεῖʼ ὑφελοίατο,
διὰ τοῦτο προὐτένθευσαν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ.

[¶61] Bravo! Ye wretches, why do you sit senseless, the gain of us wise men, being blocks, ciphers, mere sheep, jars heaped together, wherefore I must sing an encomium upon myself and this my son,
on account of our good fortune.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
εὖ γʼ· ὦ κακοδαίμονες, τί κάθησθʼ ἀβέλτεροι,
ἡμέτερα κέρδη τῶν σοφῶν ὄντες, λίθοι,
ἀριθμός, πρόβατʼ ἄλλως, ἀμφορῆς νενησμένοι;
ὥστʼ εἰς ἐμαυτὸν καὶ τὸν υἱὸν τουτονὶ
ἐπʼ εὐτυχίαισιν ᾀστέον μοὐγκώμιον.

[¶62] Strepsiades.:
O happy Strepsiades! How wise you are yourself, and how excellent is the son whom you are rearing!" My friends
and fellow-tribesmen will say of me, envying me, when you prove victorious in arguing causes. But first I wish to lead you in and entertain you.
Exeunt Strepsiades and Phidippides.
Pasias.: (entering with his summons-witness).

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
μάκαρ ὦ Στρεψίαδες,
αὐτός τʼ ἔφυς ὡς σοφὸς
χοἶον τὸν υἱὸν τρέφεις,
φήσουσι δή μʼ οἱ φίλοι
χοἰ δημόται
ζηλοῦντες ἡνίκʼ ἂν σὺ νικᾷς λέγων τὰς δίκας.
ἀλλʼ εἰσάγων σε βούλομαι πρῶτον ἑστιᾶσαι.

[¶63] Then, ought a man to throw away any part of his own property?

> Greek: Πασίας:
εἶτʼ ἄνδρα τῶν αὑτοῦ τι χρὴ προϊέναι;

[¶64] Never! But it were better then at once to put away blushes, rather than now to have trouble; since I am now dragging you to be a witness, for the sake of my own money; and further, in addition to this, I shall become an enemy to my fellow-tribesman.

> Greek: οὐδέποτέ γʼ, ἀλλὰ κρεῖττον εὐθὺς ἦν τότε
ἀπερυθριᾶσαι μᾶλλον ἢ σχεῖν πράγματα,
ὅτε τῶν ἐμαυτοῦ γʼ ἕνεκα νυνὶ χρημάτων
ἕλκω σε κλητεύσοντα, καὶ γενήσομαι
ἐχθρὸς ἔτι πρὸς τούτοισιν ἀνδρὶ δημότῃ.

[¶65] But never, while I live, will I disgrace my country, but will summon Strepsiades.
Strepsiades.: (from within).
Who’s there?

> Greek: ἀτὰρ οὐδέποτέ γε τὴν πατρίδα καταισχυνῶ
ζῶν, ἀλλὰ καλοῦμαι Στρεψιάδην —
Στρεψιάδης:
τίς οὑτοσί;

[¶66] Pasias.:
For the Old and New.
Strepsiades.:
I call you to witness, that he has named it for two days. For what matter do you summon me?

> Greek: Πασίας:
ἐς τὴν ἕνην τε καὶ νέαν.
Στρεψιάδης:
μαρτύρομαι,
ὅτι ἐς δύʼ εἶπεν ἡμέρας. τοῦ χρήματος;

[¶67] Pasias.:
For the twelve minae, which you received when you were buying the dapple-gray horse.
Strepsiades.:
A horse? Do you not hear? I, whom you all know to hate horsemanship!

> Greek: Πασίας:
τῶν δώδεκα μνῶν, ἃς ἔλαβες ὠνούμενος
τὸν ψαρὸν ἵππον.
Στρεψιάδης:
ἵππον; οὐκ ἀκούετε;
ὃν πάντες ὑμεῖς ἴστε μισοῦνθʼ ἱππικήν.

[¶68] Pasias.:
And, by Jupiter! You swore by the gods too, that you would repay it.

> Greek: Πασίας:
καὶ νὴ Δίʼ ἀποδώσειν γʼ ἐπώμνυς τοὺς θεούς.

[¶69] Strepsiades.:
Ay, by Jove! For then my Phidippides did not yet know the irrefragable argument.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
μὰ τὸν Δίʼ οὐ γάρ πω τότʼ ἐξηπίστατο
Φειδιππίδης μοι τὸν ἀκατάβλητον λόγον.

[¶70] Pasias.:
And do you now intend, on this account, to deny the debt?

> Greek: Πασίας:
νῦν δὲ διὰ τοῦτʼ ἔξαρνος εἶναι διανοεῖ;

[¶71] Strepsiades.:
Why, what good should I get else from his instruction?

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
τί γὰρ ἄλλʼ ἂν ἀπολαύσαιμι τοῦ μαθήματος;

[¶72] Pasias.:
And will you be willing to deny these upon oath of the gods?
Strepsiades.:
What gods?

> Greek: Πασίας:
καὶ ταῦτʼ ἐθελήσεις ἀπομόσαι μοι τοὺς θεοὺς
ἵνʼ ἂν κελεύσω ʼγώ σε;
Στρεψιάδης:
τοὺς ποίους θεούς;

[¶73] Pasias.:
Jupiter, Mercury, and Neptune.
Strepsiades.:
Yes, by Jupiter! And would pay down, too, a three-obol piece besides to swear.

> Greek: Πασίας:
τὸν Δία, τὸν Ἑρμῆν, τὸν Ποσειδῶ.
Στρεψιάδης:
νὴ Δία
κἂν προσκαταθείην γʼ ὥστʼ ὀμόσαι τριώβολον.

[¶74] Pasias.:
Then may you perish some day for your impudence!

> Greek: Πασίας:
ἀπόλοιο τοίνυν ἕνεκʼ ἀναιδείας ἔτι.

[¶75] Strepsiades.:
This man would be the better for it if he were cleansed by rubbing with salt.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ἁλσὶν διασμηχθεὶς ὄναιτʼ ἂν οὑτοσί.

[¶76] Pasias.:
Ah me, how you deride me!
Strepsiades.:
He will contain six choae.

> Greek: Πασίας:
οἴμʼ ὡς καταγελᾷς.
Στρεψιάδης:
ἓξ χοᾶς χωρήσεται.

[¶77] Pasias.:
By great Jupiter and the gods, you certainly shall not do this to me with impunity!
Strepsiades.:
I like your gods amazingly; and Jupiter, sworn by, is ridiculous to the knowing ones.

> Greek: Πασίας:
οὔ τοι μὰ τὸν Δία τὸν μέγαν καὶ τοὺς θεοὺς
ἐμοῦ καταπροίξει.
Στρεψιάδης:
θαυμασίως ἥσθην θεοῖς,
καὶ Ζεὺς γέλοιος ὀμνύμενος τοῖς εἰδόσιν.

[¶78] Pasias.:
You will assuredly suffer punishment, some time or other, for this. But answer and dismiss me, whether you are going to repay me my money or not.
Strepsiades.:
Keep quiet now, for I will presently answer you distinctly.
Runs into the house.

> Greek: Πασίας:
ἦ μὴν σὺ τούτων τῷ χρόνῳ δώσεις δίκην.
ἀλλʼ εἴτʼ ἀποδώσεις μοι τὰ χρήματʼ εἴτε μή,
ἀπόπεμψον ἀποκρινάμενος.
Στρεψιάδης:
ἔχε νυν ἥσυχος.
ἐγὼ γὰρ αὐτίκʼ ἀποκρινοῦμαί σοι σαφῶς.

[¶79] Pasias.:
(to his summons-witness). What do you think he will do?
Witness.:
I think he will pay you.
Re-enter Strepsiades with a kneading-trough.

> Greek: Πασίας:
τί σοι δοκεῖ δράσειν;
Μάρτυς:
ἀποδώσειν μοι δοκεῖ.

[¶80] Strepsiades.:
Where is this man who asks me for his money? Tell me what is this?
Pasias.:
What is this? A κάρδοπος.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ποῦ ʼσθʼ οὗτος ἁπαιτῶν με τἀργύριον; λέγε
τουτὶ τί ἔστι;
Πασίας:
τοῦθʼ ὅ τι ἐστί; κάρδοπος.

[¶81] Strepsiades.:
And do you then ask me for your money, being such an ignorant person? I would not pay, not even an obolus, to any one who called the καρδόπη κάρδοπος.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ἔπειτʼ ἀπαιτεῖς τἀργύριον τοιοῦτος ὤν;
οὐκ ἂν ἀποδοίην οὐδʼ ἂν ὀβολὸν οὐδενί,
ὅστις καλέσειε κάρδοπον τὴν καρδόπην.

[¶82] Pasias.:
Then won’t you pay me?
Strepsiades.:
Not, as far as I know. Will you not then pack off as fast as possible from my door?
Pasias.:
I will depart; and be assured of this, that I will make deposit against you, or may I live no longer!

> Greek: Πασίας:
οὐκ ἄρʼ ἀποδώσεις;
Στρεψιάδης:
οὐχ ὅσον γέ μʼ εἰδέναι.
οὔκουν ἀνύσας τι θᾶττον ἀπολιταργιεῖς
ἀπὸ τῆς θύρας;
Πασίας:
ἄπειμι, καὶ τοῦτʼ ἴσθʼ ὅτι
θήσω πρυτανεῖʼ ἢ μηκέτι ζῴην ἐγώ.

[¶83] Strepsiades.:
Then you will lose it besides, in addition to your twelve minae. And yet I do not wish you to suffer this, because you named the kardopos floolishly.
Exeunt Pasias and Witness, and enter Amynias.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
καὶ προσαπολεῖς ἄρʼ αὐτὰ πρὸς ταῖς δώδεκα.
καίτοι σε τοῦτό γʼ οὐχὶ βούλομαι παθεῖν,
ὁτιὴ ʼκάλεσας εὐηθικῶς τὴν κάρδοπον.

[¶84] Amynias.:
Ah me! Ah me!

> Greek: Αμυνίας:
ἰώ μοί μοι.

[¶85] Strepsiades.:
Ha! Whoever is this, who is lamenting? Surely it was not one of Carcinus’ deities that spoke.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ἔα.
τίς οὑτοσί ποτʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ θρηνῶν; οὔτι που
τῶν Καρκίνου τις δαιμόνων ἐφθέγξατο;

[¶86] Amynias.:
But why do you wish to know this, who I am?-A miserable man.
Strepsiades.:
Then follow your own path.

> Greek: Αμυνίας:
τί δʼ ὅστις εἰμὶ τοῦτο βούλεσθʼ εἰδέναι;
ἀνὴρ κακοδαίμων.
Στρεψιάδης:
κατὰ σεαυτόν νυν τρέπου.

[¶87] Amynias.:
O harsh fortune! O Fates, breaking the wheels of my horses! O Pallas, how you have destroyed me!

> Greek: Αμυνίας:
ὦ σκληρὲ δαῖμον, ὦ τύχαι θραυσάντυγες
ἵππων ἐμῶν, ὦ Παλλὰς ὥς μʼ ἀπώλεσας.

[¶88] Strepsiades.:
What evil, pray, has Tlepolemus ever done you?

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
τί δαί σε Τληπόλεμός ποτʼ εἴργασται κακόν;

[¶89] Amynias.:
Do not jeer me, my friend; but order your son to pay me the money which he received; especially as I have been unfortunate.

> Greek: Αμυνίας:
μὴ σκῶπτέ μʼ ὦ τᾶν, ἀλλά μοι τὰ χρήματα
τὸν υἱὸν ἀποδοῦναι κέλευσον ἅλαβεν,
ἄλλως τε μέντοι καὶ κακῶς πεπραγότι.

[¶90] Strepsiades.:
What money is this?
Amynias.:
That which he borrowed.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
τὰ ποῖα ταῦτα χρήμαθʼ;
Αμυνίας:
ἁδανείσατο.

[¶91] Strepsiades.:
Then you were really unlucky, as I think.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
κακῶς ἄρʼ ὄντως εἶχες, ὥς γʼ ἐμοὶ δοκεῖς.

[¶92] Amynias.:
By the gods, I fell while driving my horses.

> Greek: Αμυνίας:
ἵππους ἐλαύνων ἐξέπεσον νὴ τοὺς θεούς.

[¶93] Strepsiades.:
Why, pray, do you talk nonsense, as if you had fallen from an ass?

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
τί δῆτα ληρεῖς ὥσπερ ἀπʼ ὄνου καταπεσών;

[¶94] Amynias.:
Do I talk nonsense if I wish to recover my money?

> Greek: Αμυνίας:
ληρῶ, τὰ χρήματʼ ἀπολαβεῖν εἰ βούλομαι;

[¶95] Strepsiades.:
You can’t be in your senses yourself.
Amynias.:
Why, pray?

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως σύ γʼ αὐτὸς ὑγιαίνεις.
Αμυνίας:
τί δαί;

[¶96] Strepsiades.:
You appear to me to have had your brains shaken as it were.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
τὸν ἐγκέφαλον ὥσπερ σεσεῖσθαί μοι δοκεῖς.

[¶97] Amynias.:
And you appear to me, by Hermes, to be going to be summoned, if you will not pay me the money?
Strepsiades.:
Tell me now, whether you think that Jupiter
always rains fresh rain on each occasion, or that the sun draws from below the same water back again?

> Greek: Αμυνίας:
σὺ δὲ νὴ τὸν Ἑρμῆν προσκεκλήσεσθαί γέ μοι,
εἰ μὴ ʼποδώσεις τἀργύριον.
Στρεψιάδης:
κάτειπέ νυν,
πότερα νομίζεις καινὸν ἀεὶ τὸν Δία
ὕειν ὕδωρ ἑκάστοτʼ, ἢ τὸν ἥλιον
ἕλκειν κάτωθεν ταὐτὸ τοῦθʼ ὕδωρ πάλιν;

[¶98] Amynias.:
I know not which; nor do I care.

> Greek: Αμυνίας:
οὐκ οἶδʼ ἔγωγʼ ὁπότερον, οὐδέ μοι μέλει.

[¶99] Strepsiades.:
How then is it just that you should recover your money, if you know nothing of meteorological matters?

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
πῶς οὖν ἀπολαβεῖν τἀργύριον δίκαιος εἶ,
εἰ μηδὲν οἶσθα τῶν μετεώρων πραγμάτων;

[¶100] Amynias.:
Well, if you are in want, pay me the interest of my money.
Strepsiades.:
What sort of animal is this interest?

> Greek: Αμυνίας:
ἀλλʼ εἰ σπανίζεις, τἀργυρίου μοι τὸν τόκον
ἀπόδοτε·
Στρεψιάδης:
τοῦτο δʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ τόκος τί θηρίον;

[¶101] Amynias.:
Most assuredly the money is always becoming more and more every month and every day as the time slips away.
Strepsiades.:
You say well. What then? Is it possible that you consider the sea to be greater now than formerly?
Amynias.:
No, by Jupiter, but equal; for it is not fitting that it should be greater.
Strepsiades.:
And how then, you wretch does this become no way greater, though the rivers flow into it, while you
seek to increase your money? Will you not take yourself off from my house? Bring me the goad.
Enter Servant with a goad.
Amynias.:
I call you to witness these things.
Strepsiades.: (beating him).

> Greek: Αμυνίας:
τί δʼ ἄλλο γʼ ἢ κατὰ μῆνα καὶ καθʼ ἡμέραν
πλέον πλέον τἀργύριον ἀεὶ γίγνεται
ὑπορρέοντος τοῦ χρόνου;
Στρεψιάδης:
καλῶς λέγεις.
τί δῆτα; τὴν θάλατταν ἔσθʼ ὅτι πλείονα
νυνὶ νομίζεις ἢ πρὸ τοῦ;
Αμυνίας:
μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ἴσην.
οὐ γὰρ δίκαιον πλείονʼ εἶναι.
Στρεψιάδης:
κᾆτα πῶς
αὕτη μὲν ὦ κακόδαιμον οὐδὲν γίγνεται
ἐπιρρεόντων τῶν ποταμῶν πλείων, σὺ δὲ
ζητεῖς ποιῆσαι τἀργύριον πλεῖον τὸ σόν;
οὐκ ἀποδιώξει σαυτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς οἰκίας;
φέρε μοι τὸ κέντρον.
Αμυνίας:
ταῦτʼ ἐγὼ μαρτύρομαι.

[¶102] Go! Why do you delay? Won’t you march, Mr. Blood-horse?

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ὕπαγε. τί μέλλεις; οὐκ ἐλᾷς ὦ σαμφόρα;

[¶103] Amynias.:
Is not this an insult, pray?
Strepsiades.:
Will you move quickly? Pricks him behind with the goad. I’ll lay on you, goading you behind, you outrigger? Do you fly? Amynias runs off. I thought I should stir you, together with your wheels and your two-horse chariots.
Exit Strepsiades.

> Greek: Αμυνίας:
ταῦτʼ οὐχ ὕβρις δῆτʼ ἐστίν;
Στρεψιάδης:
ᾄξεις; ἐπιαλῶ
κεντῶν ὑπὸ τὸν πρωκτόν σε τὸν σειραφόρον.
φεύγεις; ἔμελλόν σʼ ἆρα κινήσειν ἐγὼ
αὐτοῖς τροχοῖς τοῖς σοῖσι καὶ ξυνωρίσιν.

[¶104] Chorus.:
What a thing it is to love evil courses! For this old man, having loved them,
wishes to withhold the money that he borrowed. And he will certainly meet with something today, which will perhaps cause this sophist
to suddenly receive some misfortune, in return for the knaveries he has begun.

> Greek: Χορός:
οἷον τὸ πραγμάτων ἐρᾶν φλαύρων· ὁ γὰρ
γέρων ὅδʼ ἐρασθεὶς
ἀποστερῆσαι βούλεται
τὰ χρήμαθʼ ἁδανείσατο·
κοὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως οὐ τήμερον
λήψεταί τι πρᾶγμʼ, ὃ τοῦτον
ποιήσει τὸν σοφιστὴν [ἴσως,]
ἀνθʼ ὧν πανουργεῖν ἤρξατʼ, ἐξαίφνης λαβεῖν κακόν τι.

[¶105] Chorus.:
For I think that he will presently find what has been long boiling up, that his son is skilful to speak opinions
opposed to justice, so as to overcome all with whomsoever he holds converse, even if he advance most villainous doctrines;

> Greek: Χορός:
οἶμαι γὰρ αὐτὸν αὐτίχʼ εὑρήσειν ὅπερ
πάλαι ποτʼ †ἐπεζήτει†
εἶναι τὸν υἱὸν δεινόν οἱ
γνώμας ἐναντίας λέγειν
τοῖσιν δικαίοις, ὥστε νικᾶν
ἅπαντας οἷσπερ ἂν
ξυγγένηται, κἂν λέγῃ παμπόνηρʼ.

[¶106] and perhaps, perhaps his father will wish that he were even speechless.

> Greek: ἴσως δʼ ἴσως βουλήσεται κἄφωνον αὐτὸν εἶναι.

[¶107] Strepsiades.:
(running out of the house pursued by his son). Hollo! Hollo! O neighbours, and kinsfolk, and fellow-tribesmen, defend me, by all means, who am being beaten! Ah me, unhappy man, for my head and jaw! Wretch! Do you beat your father?
Phidippides.:
Yes, father.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ἰοὺ ἰού.
ὦ γείτονες καὶ ξυγγενεῖς καὶ δημόται,
ἀμυνάθετέ μοι τυπτομένῳ πάσῃ τέχνῃ.
οἴμοι κακοδαίμων τῆς κεφαλῆς καὶ τῆς γνάθου.
ὦ μιαρὲ τύπτεις τὸν πατέρα;
Φειδιππίδης:
φήμʼ ὦ πάτερ.

[¶108] Strepsiades.:
You see him owning that he beats me.
Phidippides.:
Certainly.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ὁρᾶθʼ ὁμολογοῦνθʼ ὅτι με τύπτει.
Φειδιππίδης:
καὶ μάλα.

[¶109] Strepsiades.:
O wretch, and parricide, and house-breaker!

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ὦ μιαρὲ καὶ πατραλοῖα καὶ τοιχωρύχε.

[¶110] Phidippides.:
Say the same things of me again, and more. Do you know that I take pleasure in being much abused?

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
αὖθίς με ταὐτὰ ταῦτα καὶ πλείω λέγε.
ἆρʼ οἶσθʼ ὅτι χαίρω πόλλʼ ἀκούων καὶ κακά;

[¶111] Strepsiades.:
You blackguard!
Phidippides.:
Sprinkle me with roses in abundance.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ὦ λακκόπρωκτε.
Φειδιππίδης:
πάττε πολλοῖς τοῖς ῥόδοις.

[¶112] Strepsiades.:
Do you beat your father?
Phidippides.:
And will prove too, by Jupiter! that I beat you with justice.
Strepsiades.:
O thou most rascally! Why, how can it be just to beat a father?

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
τὸν πατέρα τύπτεις;
Φειδιππίδης:
κἀποφανῶ γε νὴ Δία
ὡς ἐν δίκῃ σʼ ἔτυπτον.
Στρεψιάδης:
ὦ μιαρώτατε,
καὶ πῶς γένοιτʼ ἂν πατέρα τύπτειν ἐν δίκῃ;

[¶113] Phidippides.:
I will demonstrate it, and will overcome you in argument.

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
ἔγωγʼ ἀποδείξω καί σε νικήσω λέγων.

[¶114] Strepsiades.:
Will you overcome me in this?
Phidippides.:
Yea, by much and easily. But choose which of the two Causes you wish to speak.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
τουτὶ σὺ νικήσεις;
Φειδιππίδης:
πολύ γε καὶ ῥᾳδίως.
ἑλοῦ δʼ ὁπότερον τοῖν λόγοιν βούλει λέγειν.

[¶115] Strepsiades.:
Of what two Causes?
Phidippides.:
The better, or the worse?

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ποίοιν λόγοιν;
Φειδιππίδης:
τὸν κρείττονʼ ἢ τὸν ἥττονα.

[¶116] Strepsiades.:
Marry, I did get you taught to speak against justice, by Jupiter, my friend, if you are
going to persuade me of this, that it is just and honourable for a father to be beaten by his sons!

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ἐδιδαξάμην μέντοι σε νὴ Δίʼ ὦ μέλε
τοῖσιν δικαίοις ἀντιλέγειν, εἰ ταῦτά γε
μέλλεις ἀναπείσειν, ὡς δίκαιον καὶ καλὸν
τὸν πατέρα τύπτεσθʼ ἐστὶν ὑπὸ τῶν υἱέων.

[¶117] Phidippides.:
I think I shall certainly persuade you; so that, when you have heard, not even you yourself will say anything against it.

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
ἀλλʼ οἴομαι μέντοι σʼ ἀναπείσειν, ὥστε γε
οὐδʼ αὐτὸς ἀκροασάμενος οὐδὲν ἀντερεῖς.

[¶118] Strepsiades.:
Well, now, I am willing to hear what you have to say.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
καὶ μὴν ὅ τι καὶ λέξεις ἀκοῦσαι βούλομαι.

[¶119] Chorus.:
It is your business, old man, to consider in what way you shall conquer the man; for if he were not relying upon something, he would not be so licentious. But he is emboldened by something; the boldness of the man
is evident.

> Greek: Χορός:
σὸν ἔργον ὦ πρεσβῦτα φροντίζειν ὅπῃ
τὸν ἄνδρα κρατήσεις,
ὡς οὗτος, εἰ μή τῳ ʼπεποίθειν, οὐκ ἂν ἦν
οὕτως ἀκόλαστος.
ἀλλʼ ἔσθʼ ὅτῳ θρασύνεται· δῆλόν γε τἀνθρώπου
ʼσʼτὶ τὸ λῆμα.

[¶120] Chorus.:
Now you ought to tell to the Chorus from what the contention first arose. And this you must do by all means.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ ἐξ ὅτου τὸ πρῶτον ἤρξαθʼ ἡ μάχη γενέσθαι,
ἤδη λέγειν χρὴ πρὸς χορόν· πάντως δὲ τοῦτο δράσεις.

[¶121] Strepsiades.:
Well, now, I will tell you from what we first began to rail at one another. After we had feasted, as you know,
I first bade him take a lyre, and sing a song of Simonides, The Shearing of the Ram. But he immediately said it was old-fashioned to play on the lyre and sing while drinking, like a woman grinding parched barley.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
καὶ μὴν ὅθεν γε πρῶτον ἠρξάμεσθα λοιδορεῖσθαι
ἐγὼ φράσω· ʼπειδὴ γὰρ εἱστιώμεθʼ, ὥσπερ ἴστε,
πρῶτον μὲν αὐτὸν τὴν λύραν λαβόντʼ ἐγὼ ʼκέλευσα
ᾆσαι Σιμωνίδου μέλος, τὸν Κριὸν ὡς ἐπέχθη.
ὁ δʼ εὐθέως ἀρχαῖον εἶνʼ ἔφασκε τὸ κιθαρίζειν
ᾄδειν τε πίνονθʼ ὡσπερεὶ κάχρυς γυναῖκʼ ἀλοῦσαν.

[¶122] Phidippides.:
For ought you not then immediately to be beaten and trampled on, bidding me sing, just as if you were entertaining cicadae?

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
οὐ γὰρ τότʼ εὐθὺς χρῆν σʼ ἄρα τύπτεσθαί τε καὶ πατεῖσθαι,
ᾄδειν κελεύονθʼ ὡσπερεὶ τέττιγας ἑστιῶντα;

[¶123] Strepsiades.:
He expressed, however, such opinions then too within, as he does now; and he asserted that Simonides was a bad poet. I bore it at first, with difficulty indeed, yet nevertheless I bore it. And then I bade him at least take a myrtle-wreath
and recite to me some portion of Aeschylus; and then he immediately said, “Shall I consider Aeschylus the first among the poets, full of empty sound, unpolished, bombastic, using rugged words?” And hereupon you can’t think how my heart panted. But, nevertheless, I restrained my passion, and said, “At least recite some passage ”
“of the more modern poets, of whatever kind these clever things be.” And he immediately sang a passage of Euripides, how a brother, O averter of ill! Debauched his uterine sister. And I bore it no longer, but immediately assailed him with many abusive reproaches. And then, after that, as was natural,
we hurled word upon word. Then he springs upon me; and then he was wounding me, and beating me, and throttling me.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
τοιαῦτα μέντοι καὶ τότʼ ἔλεγεν ἔνδον οἷάπερ νῦν,
καὶ τὸν Σιμωνίδην ἔφασκʼ εἶναι κακὸν ποιητήν.
κἀγὼ μόλις μὲν ἀλλʼ ὅμως ἠνεσχόμην τὸ πρῶτον·
ἔπειτα δʼ ἐκέλευσʼ αὐτὸν ἀλλὰ μυρρίνην λαβόντα
τῶν Αἰσχύλου λέξαι τί μοι· κᾆθʼ οὗτος εὐθὺς εἶπεν·
ἐγὼ γὰρ Αἰσχύλον νομίζω πρῶτον ἐν ποιηταῖς,
ψόφου πλέων ἀξύστατον στόμφακα κρημνοποιόν;
κἀνταῦθα πῶς οἴεσθέ μου τὴν καρδίαν ὀρεχθεῖν;
ὅμως δὲ τὸν θυμὸν δακὼν ἔφην, σὺ δʼ ἀλλὰ τούτων
λέξον τι τῶν νεωτέρων, ἅττʼ ἐστὶ τὰ σοφὰ ταῦτα.
ὁ δʼ εὐθὺς ᾖσʼ Εὐριπίδου ῥῆσίν τινʼ, ὡς ἐκίνει
ἀδελφὸς ὦλεξίκακε τὴν ὁμομητρίαν ἀδελφήν.
κἀγὼ οὐκέτʼ ἐξηνεσχόμην, ἀλλʼ εὐθέως ἀράττω
πολλοῖς κακοῖς καἰσχροῖσι· κᾆτʼ ἐντεῦθεν, οἷον εἰκός,
ἔπος πρὸς ἔπος ἠρειδόμεσθʼ· εἶθʼ οὗτος ἐπαναπηδᾶ,
κἄπειτʼ ἔφλα με κἀσπόδει κἄπνιγε κἀπέθλιβεν.

[¶124] Phidippides.:
Were you not therefore justly beaten, who do not praise Euripides, the wisest of poets?

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
οὔκουν δικαίως, ὅστις οὐκ Εὐριπίδην ἐπαινεῖς
σοφώτατον;

[¶125] Strepsiades.:
He the wisest! Oh, what shall I call you? But I shall be beaten again.
Phidippides.:
Yes, by Jupiter, with justice.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
σοφώτατόν γʼ ἐκεῖνον·ὦ — τί σʼ εἴπω;
ἀλλʼ αὖθις αὖ τυπτήσομαι.
Φειδιππίδης:
νὴ τὸν Δίʼ ἐν δίκῃ γʼ ἄν.

[¶126] Strepsiades.:
Why, how with justice? Who, O shameless fellow, reared you, understanding all your wishes, when you lisped what you meant? If you said bryn, I, understanding it, used to give you to drink. And when you asked for mamman, I used to come to you with bread. And you used no sooner to say caccan, than I used to take and
carry you out of doors, and hold you before me.
Strepsiades.:
But you now, throttling me who was bawling and crying out because I wanted to ease myself, had not the heart to carry me forth out of doors, you wretch; but I did it there while I was being throttled.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
καὶ πῶς δικαίως; ὅστις ὦ ʼναίσχυντέ σʼ ἐξέθρεψα,
αἰσθανόμενός σου πάντα τραυλίζοντος, ὅ τι νοοίης.
εἰ μέν γε βρῦν εἴποις, ἐγὼ γνοὺς ἂν πιεῖν ἐπέσχον·
μαμμᾶν δʼ ἂν αἰτήσαντος ἧκόν σοι φέρων ἂν ἄρτον·
κακκᾶν δʼ ἂν οὐκ ἔφθης φράσας, κἀγὼ λαβὼν θύραζε
ἐξέφερον ἂν καὶ προὐσχόμην σε· σὺ δʼ ἐμὲ νῦν ἀπάγχων
Στρεψιάδης:
βοῶντα καὶ κεκραγόθʼ ὅτι
χεζητιῴην, οὐκ ἔτλης
ἔξω ʼξενεγκεῖν ὦ μιαρὲ
θύραζέ μʼ, ἀλλὰ πνιγόμενος
αὐτοῦ ʼποίησα κακκᾶν.

[¶127] Chorus.:
I fancy the hearts of the youths are panting to hear what he will say. For if, after having done such things, he shall persuade him by speaking,
I would not take the hide of the old folks, even at the price of a chick-pea.

> Greek: Χορός:
οἶμαί γε τῶν νεωτέρων τὰς καρδίας
πηδᾶν ὅ τι λέξει.
εἰ γὰρ τοιαῦτά γʼ οὗτος ἐξειργασμένος
λαλῶν ἀναπείσει,
τὸ δέρμα τῶν γεραιτέρων λάβοιμεν ἂν
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ἐρεβίνθου.

[¶128] Chorus.:
It is thy business, thou author and upheaver of new words, to seek some means of persuasion, so that you shall seem to speak justly.

> Greek: Χορός:
σὸν ἔργον ὦ καινῶν ἐπῶν κινητὰ καὶ μοχλευτὰ
πειθώ τινα ζητεῖν, ὅπως δόξεις λέγειν δίκαια.

[¶129] Phidippides.:
How pleasant it is to be acquainted with new and clever things,
and to be able to despise the established laws! For I, when I applied my mind to horsemanship alone, used not to be able to utter three words before I made a mistake; but now, since he himself has made me cease from these pursuits, and I am acquainted with subtle thoughts, and arguments, and speculations,
I think I shall demonstrate that it is just to chastise one’s father.

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
ὡς ἡδὺ καινοῖς πράγμασιν καὶ δεξιοῖς ὁμιλεῖν,
καὶ τῶν καθεστώτων νόμων ὑπερφρονεῖν δύνασθαι.
ἐγὼ γὰρ ὅτε μὲν ἱππικῇ τὸν νοῦν μόνῃ προσεῖχον,
οὐδʼ ἂν τρίʼ εἰπεῖν ῥήμαθʼ οἷός τʼ ἦν πρὶν ἐξαμαρτεῖν·
νυνὶ δʼ ἐπειδή μʼ οὑτοσὶ τούτων ἔπαυσεν αὐτός,
γνώμαις δὲ λεπταῖς καὶ λόγοις ξύνειμι καὶ μερίμναις,
οἶμαι διδάξειν ὡς δίκαιον τὸν πατέρα κολάζειν.

[¶130] Strepsiades.:
Ride, then, by Jupiter! Since it is better for me to keep a team of four horses than to be killed with a beating.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ἵππευε τοίνυν νὴ Δίʼ, ὡς ἔμοιγε κρεῖττόν ἐστιν
ἵππων τρέφειν τέθριππον ἢ τυπτόμενον ἐπιτριβῆναι.

[¶131] Phidippides.:
I will pass over to that part of my discourse where you interrupted me; and first I will ask you this: Did you beat me when I was a boy?

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
ἐκεῖσε δʼ ὅθεν ἀπέσχισάς με τοῦ λόγου μέτειμι,
καὶ πρῶτʼ ἐρήσομαί σε τουτί· παῖδά μʼ ὄντʼ ἔτυπτες;

[¶132] Strepsiades.:
I did, through good-will and concern for you.
Phidippides.:
Pray tell me, is it not just that I also should be well inclined toward you in the same way, and beat you, since this is to be well inclined-to give a beating? For why ought your body to be exempt from blows and mine not? And yet I too was born free.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ἔγωγέ σʼ εὐνοῶν τε καὶ κηδόμενος.
Φειδιππίδης:
εἰπὲ δή μοι,
οὐ κἀμέ σοι δίκαιόν ἐστιν εὐνοεῖν ὁμοίως
τύπτειν τʼ, ἐπειδήπερ γε τοῦτʼ ἐστʼ εὐνοεῖν τὸ τύπτειν;
πῶς γὰρ τὸ μὲν σὸν σῶμα χρὴ πληγῶν ἀθῷον εἶναι,
τοὐμὸν δὲ μή; καὶ μὴν ἔφυν ἐλεύθερός γε κἀγώ.

[¶133] The boys weep, and do you not think it is right that a father should weep? You will say that it is ordained by law that this should be the lot of boys. But I would reply, that old men are boys twice over, and that it is the more reasonable that the old should weep than the young, inasmuch as it is less just that they should err.

> Greek: κλάουσι παῖδες, πατέρα δʼ οὐ κλάειν δοκεῖς; …
φήσεις νομίζεσθαι σὺ παιδὸς τοῦτο τοὔργον εἶναι·
ἐγὼ δέ γʼ ἀντείποιμʼ ἂν ὡς δὶς παῖδες οἱ γέροντες·
εἰκὸς δὲ μᾶλλον τοὺς γέροντας ἢ νέους τι κλάειν,
ὅσῳπερ ἐξαμαρτάνειν ἧττον δίκαιον αὐτούς.

[¶134] Strepsiades.:
It is nowhere ordained by law that a father should suffer this.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ἀλλʼ οὐδαμοῦ νομίζεται τὸν πατέρα τοῦτο πάσχειν.

[¶135] Phidippides.:
Was it not then a man like you and me, who first proposed this law, and by speaking persuaded the ancients? Why then is it less lawful for me also in turn to propose henceforth a new law for the sons, that they should beat their fathers in turn?

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
οὔκουν ἀνὴρ ὁ τὸν νόμον θεὶς τοῦτον ἦν τὸ πρῶτον
ὥσπερ σὺ κἀγώ, καὶ λέγων ἔπειθε τοὺς παλαιούς;
ἧττόν τι δῆτʼ ἔξεστι κἀμοὶ καινὸν αὖ τὸ λοιπὸν
θεῖναι νόμον τοῖς υἱέσιν, τοὺς πατέρας ἀντιτύπτειν;

[¶136] But as many blows as we received before the law was made, we remit: and we concede to them our having been thrashed without return. Observe the cocks and these other animals, how they punish their fathers; and yet, in what do they differ from us, except that they do not write decrees?

> Greek: ὅσας δὲ πληγὰς εἴχομεν πρὶν τὸν νόμον τεθῆναι,
ἀφίεμεν, καὶ δίδομεν αὐτοῖς προῖκα συγκεκόφθαι.
σκέψαι δὲ τοὺς ἀλεκτρυόνας καὶ τἄλλα τὰ βοτὰ ταυτί,
ὡς τοὺς πατέρας ἀμύνεται· καίτοι τί διαφέρουσιν
ἡμῶν ἐκεῖνοι, πλήν γʼ ὅτι ψηφίσματʼ οὐ γράφουσιν;

[¶137] Strepsiades.:
Why then, since you imitate the cocks in all things, do you not both eat dung and sleep on a perch?

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
τί δῆτʼ, ἐπειδὴ τοὺς ἀλεκτρυόνας ἅπαντα μιμεῖ,
οὐκ ἐσθίεις καὶ τὴν κόπρον κἀπὶ ξύλου καθεύδεις;

[¶138] Phidippides.:
It is not the same thing, my friend; nor would it appear so to Socrates.

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
οὐ ταὐτὸν ὦ τᾶν ἐστίν, οὐδʼ ἂν Σωκράτει δοκοίη.

[¶139] Strepsiades.:
Therefore do not beat me; otherwise you will one day blame yourself.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
πρὸς ταῦτα μὴ τύπτʼ· εἰ δὲ μή, σαυτόν ποτʼ αἰτιάσει.

[¶140] Phidippides.:
Why, how?
Strepsiades.:
Since I am justly entitled to chastise you; and you to chastise your son, if you should have one.
Phidippides.:
But if I should not have one, I shall have wept for nothing, and you will die laughing at me.

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
καὶ πῶς;
Στρεψιάδης:
ἐπεὶ σὲ μὲν δίκαιός εἰμʼ ἐγὼ κολάζειν,
σὺ δʼ, ἢν γένηταί σοι, τὸν υἱόν.
Φειδιππίδης:
ἢν δὲ μὴ γένηται,
μάτην ἐμοὶ κεκλαύσεται, σὺ δʼ ἐγχανὼν τεθνήξεις.

[¶141] Strepsiades.:
To me, indeed, O comrades, he seems to speak justly; and I think we ought to concede to them what is fitting. For it is proper that we should weep, if we do not act justly.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ἐμοὶ μὲν ὦνδρες ἥλικες δοκεῖ λέγειν δίκαια·
κἄμοιγε συγχωρεῖν δοκεῖ τούτοισι τἀπιεικῆ.
κλάειν γὰρ ἡμᾶς εἰκός ἐστʼ, ἢν μὴ δίκαια δρῶμεν.

[¶142] Phidippides.:
Consider still another maxim.
Strepsiades.:
No; for I shall perish if I do.
Phidippides.:
And yet perhaps you will not be vexed at suffering what you now suffer.

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
σκέψαι δὲ χἀτέραν ἔτι γνώμην.
Στρεψιάδης:
ἀπὸ γὰρ
Φειδιππίδης:
καὶ μὴν ἴσως γʼ οὐκ ἀχθέσει παθὼν ἃ νῦν πέπονθας.

[¶143] Strepsiades.:
How, pray? For inform me what good you will do me by this.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
πῶς δή; δίδαξον γὰρ τί μʼ ἐκ τούτων ἐπωφελήσεις.

[¶144] Phidippides.:
I will beat my mother, just as I have you.
Strepsiades.:
What do you say? What do you say? This other, again, is a greater wickedness.
Phidippides.:
But what if, having the worst Cause,
Phidippides.:
I shall conquer you in arguing, proving that it is right to beat one’s mother?

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
τὴν μητέρʼ ὥσπερ καὶ σὲ τυπτήσω.
Στρεψιάδης:
τί φῄς, τί φῂς σύ;
τοῦθʼ ἕτερον αὖ μεῖζον κακόν.
Φειδιππίδης:
τί δʼ ἢν ἔχων τὸν ἥττω
Φειδιππίδης:
λόγον σε νικήσω λέγων
τὴν μητέρʼ ὡς τύπτειν χρεών;

[¶145] Strepsiades.:
Most assuredly, if you do this, nothing will hinder you from casting yourself
and your Worse Cause into the pit along with Socrates.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
τί δʼ ἄλλο γʼ ἢν ταυτὶ ποιῇς,
οὐδέν σε κωλύσει σεαυτὸν
ἐμβαλεῖν ἐς τὸ βάραθρον
μετὰ Σωκράτους
καὶ τὸν λόγον τὸν ἥττω.

[¶146] Strepsiades.:
These evils have I suffered through you, O Clouds! Having intrusted all my affairs to you.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ταυτὶ διʼ ὑμᾶς ὦ Νεθέλαι πέπονθʼ ἐγώ,
ὑμῖν ἀναθεὶς ἅπαντα τἀμὰ πράγματα.

[¶147] Chorus.:
Nay, rather, you are yourself the cause of these things, having turned yourself to wicked courses.

> Greek: Χορός:
αὐτὸς μὲν οὖν σαυτῷ σὺ τούτων αἴτιος,
στρέψας σεαυτὸν ἐς πονηρὰ πράγματα.

[¶148] Strepsiades.:
Why, pray, did you not tell me this, then, but excited with hopes a rustic and aged man?

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
τί δῆτα ταῦτʼ οὔ μοι τότʼ ἠγορεύετε,
ἀλλʼ ἄνδρʼ ἄγροικον καὶ γέροντʼ ἐπῄρετε;

[¶149] Chorus.:
We always do this to him whom we perceive to be a lover of wicked courses,
until we precipitate him into misfortune, so that he may learn to fear the gods.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἡμεῖς ποιοῦμεν ταῦθʼ ἑκάστοθʼ ὅταν τινὰ
γνῶμεν πονηρῶν ὄντʼ ἐραστὴν πραγμάτων,
ἕως ἂν αὐτὸν ἐμβάλωμεν ἐς κακόν,
ὅπως ἂν εἰδῇ τοὺς θεοὺς δεδοικέναι.

[¶150] Strepsiades.:
Ah me! it is severe, O Clouds! But it is just; for I ought not to have withheld the money which I borrowed. Now, therefore, come with me, my dearest son,
that you may destroy the blackguard Chaerephon and Socrates, who deceived you and me.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ὤμοι πονηρά γʼ ὦ Νεφέλαι, δίκαια δέ.
οὐ γάρ μʼ ἐχρῆν τὰ χρήμαθʼ ἁδανεισάμην
ἀποστερεῖν. νῦν οὖν ὅπως ὦ φίλτατε
τὸν Χαιρεφῶντα τὸν μιαρὸν καὶ Σωκράτη
ἀπολεῖς μετʼ ἐμοῦ ʼλθών, οἳ σὲ κἄμʼ ἐξηπάτων.

[¶151] Phidippides.:
I will not injure my teachers.

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἂν ἀδικήσαιμι τοὺς διδασκάλους.

[¶152] Strepsiades.:
Yes, yes, reverence Paternal Jove.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ναὶ ναὶ καταιδέσθητι πατρῷον Δία.

[¶153] Phidippides.:
“Paternal Jove” quoth’a! How antiquated you are! Why, is there any Jove?
Strepsiades.:
There is.
Phidippides.:
There is not, no; for Vortex reigns having expelled Jupiter.

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
ἰδού γε Δία πατρῷον· ὡς ἀρχαῖος εἶ.
Ζεὺς γάρ τις ἔστιν;
Στρεψιάδης:
ἔστιν.
Φειδιππίδης:
οὐκ ἔστʼ, οὔκ, ἐπεὶ
Δῖνος βασιλεύει τὸν Δίʼ ἐξεληλακώς.

[¶154] Strepsiades.:
He has not expelled him; but I fancied this, on account of this Vortex here. Ah me, unhappy man! When I even took you who are of earthenware for a god.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
οὐκ ἐξελήλακʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ τοῦτʼ ᾠόμην
διὰ τουτονὶ τὸν δῖνον. οἴμοι δείλαιος
ὅτε καὶ σὲ χυτρεοῦν ὄντα θεὸν ἡγησάμην.

[¶155] Phidippides.:
Here rave and babble to yourself.
Exit Phidippides.

> Greek: Φειδιππίδης:
ἐνταῦθα σαυτῷ παραφρόνει καὶ φληνάφα.

[¶156] Strepsiades.:
Ah me, what madness! How mad, then, I was when I ejected the gods on account of Socrates! But O dear Hermes, by no means be wroth with me, nor destroy me; but pardon me,
since I have gone crazy through prating. And become my adviser, whether I shall bring an action and prosecute them, or whatever you think. You advise me rightly, not permitting me to get up a lawsuit, but as soon as possible to set fire to the house
of the prating fellows. Come hither, come hither, Xanthias! Come forth with a ladder and with a mattock and then mount upon the thinking-shop and dig down the roof, if you love your master, until you tumble the house upon them.
Xanthias mounts upon the roof.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
οἴμοι παρανοίας· ὡς ἐμαινόμην ἄρα,
ὅτʼ ἐξέβαλλον τοὺς θεοὺς διὰ Σωκράτη.
ἀλλʼ ὦ φίλʼ Ἑρμῆ μηδαμῶς θύμαινέ μοι
μηδέ μʼ ἐπιτρίψῃς, ἀλλὰ συγγνώμην ἔχε
ἐμοῦ παρανοήσαντος ἀδολεσχίᾳ·
καί μοι γενοῦ ξύμβουλος, εἴτʼ αὐτοὺς γραφὴν
διωκάθω γραψάμενος εἴθʼ ὅ τι σοι δοκεῖ.
ὀρθῶς παραινεῖς οὐκ ἐῶν δικορραφεῖν,
ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστʼ ἐμπιμπράναι τὴν οἰκίαν
τῶν ἀδολεσχῶν. δεῦρο δεῦρʼ ὦ Ξανθία,
κλίμακα λαβὼν ἔξελθε καὶ σμινύην φέρων,
κἄπειτʼ ἐπαναβὰς ἐπὶ τὸ φροντιστήριον
τὸ τέγος κατάσκαπτʼ, εἰ φιλεῖς τὸν δεσπότην,
ἕως ἂν αὐτοῖς ἐμβάλῃς τὴν οἰκίαν·

[¶157] But let some one bring me a lighted torch and I’ll make some of them this day suffer punishment, even if they be ever so much impostors.

> Greek: ἐμοὶ δὲ δᾷδʼ ἐνεγκάτω τις ἡμμένην,
κἀγώ τινʼ αὐτῶν τήμερον δοῦναι δίκην
ἐμοὶ ποιήσω, κεἰ σφόδρʼ εἴσʼ ἀλαζόνες.

[¶158] 1st Disciple.:
(from within). Hollo! Hollo!

> Greek: Μαθητὴς Α:
ἰοὺ ἰού.

[¶159] Strepsiades.:
It is your business, O torch, to send forth abundant flame.
Mounts upon the roof.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
σὸν ἔργον ὦ δᾲς ἱέναι πολλὴν φλόγα.

[¶160] 1st Disciple.:
What are you doing, fellow?
Strepsiades.:
What am I doing? Why, what else, than chopping logic with the beams of your house?
Sets the house on fire.

> Greek: Μαθητὴς Α:
ἄνθρωπε, τί ποιεῖς;
Στρεψιάδης:
ὅ τι ποιῶ; τί δʼ ἄλλο γʼ ἢ
διαλεπτολογοῦμαι ταῖς δοκοῖς τῆς οἰκίας;

[¶161] 2nd Disciple.:
(from within). Ah me! Who is setting fire to our house?

> Greek: Μαθητὴς Β:
οἴμοι τίς ἡμῶν πυρπολεῖ τὴν οἰκίαν;

[¶162] Strepsiades.:
The man whose cloak you have taken.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ἐκεῖνος οὗπερ θοἰμάτιον εἰλήφατε.

[¶163] 2nd Disciple.:
(from within). You will destroy us! You will destroy us!
Strepsiades.:
For I also wish this very thing;
unless my mattock deceive my hopes, or I should somehow fall first and break my neck.

> Greek: Μαθητὴς Γ:
ἀπολεῖς ἀπολεῖς.
Στρεψιάδης:
τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ γὰρ καὶ βούλομαι,
ἢν ἡ σμινύη μοι μὴ προδῷ τὰς ἐλπίδας,
ἢ ʼγὼ πρότερόν πως ἐκτραχηλισθῶ πεσών.

[¶164] Socrates.:
(from within). Hollo you! What are you doing, pray, you fellow on the roof?

> Greek: Σωκράτης:
οὗτος τί ποιεῖς ἐτεὸν οὑπὶ τοῦ τέγους;

[¶165] Strepsiades.:
I am walking on air, and speculating about the sun.

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
ἀεροβατῶ καὶ περιφρονῶ τὸν ἥλιον.

[¶166] Socrates.:
Ah me, unhappy! I shall be suffocated, wretched man!

> Greek: Σωκράτης:
οἴμοι τάλας δείλαιος ἀποπνιγήσομαι.

[¶167] Chaerephon.:
And I, miserable man, shall be burnt to death!

> Greek: Χαιρεφῶν:
ἐγὼ δὲ κακοδαίμων γε κατακαυθήσομαι.

[¶168] Strepsiades.:
For what has come into your heads that you acted insolently toward the gods, and pried into the seat of the moon?

> Greek: Στρεψιάδης:
τί γὰρ μαθόντες τοὺς θεοὺς ὑβρίζετε,
καὶ τῆς σελήνης ἐσκοπεῖσθε τὴν ἕδραν;

[¶169] Hermes:
Chase, pelt, smite them, for many reasons, but especially because you know that they offended against the gods!
The thinking shop is burned down.

> Greek: Ερμῆς:
δίωκε βάλλε παῖε, πολλῶν οὕνεκα,
μάλιστα δʼ εἰδὼς τοὺς θεοὺς ὡς ἠδίκουν.

[¶170] Chorus.:
Lead the way out; for we have sufficiently acted as chorus for today.
Exeunt omnes.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἡγεῖσθʼ ἔξω· κεχόρευται γὰρ
μετρίως τό γε τήμερον ἡμῖν.