The Clouds | Page 6

You tell me a clever notion; for the contrivance is democratic
and useful.
Dis. (pointing to a map) See, here's a map of the whole earth. Do you
see? This is Athens.
Strep. What say you? I don't believe you; for I do not see the Dicasts
sitting.
Dis. Be assured that this is truly the Attic territory.
Strep. Why, where are my fellow-tribesmen of Cicynna?
Dis. Here they are. And Euboea here, as you see, is stretched out a long
way by the side of it to a great distance.
Strep. I know that; for it was stretched by us and Pericles. But where is
Lacedaemon?
Dis. Where is it? Here it is.
Strep. How near it is to us! Pay great attention to this, to remove it very
far from us.
Dis. By Jupiter, it is not possible.
Strep. Then you will weep for it.
[Looking up and discovering Socrates.]
Come, who is this man who is in the basket?
Dis. Himself.
Strep. Who's "Himself"?
Dis. Socrates.
Strep. O Socrates! Come, you sir, call upon him loudly for me.
Dis. Nay, rather, call him yourself; for I have no leisure.
[Exit Disciple.]
Strep. Socrates! My little Socrates!
Socrates. Why callest thou me, thou creature of a day?
Strep. First tell me, I beseech you, what are you doing.
Soc. I am walking in the air, and speculating about the sun.
Strep. And so you look down upon the gods from your basket, and not
from the earth?
Soc. For I should not have rightly discovered things celestial if I had
not suspended the intellect, and mixed the thought in a subtle form with
its kindred air. But if, being on the ground, I speculated from below on
things above, I should never have discovered them. For the earth
forcibly attracts to itself the meditative moisture. Water-cresses also

suffer the very same thing.
Strep. What do you say? Does meditation attract the moisture to the
water-cresses? Come then, my little Socrates, descend to me, that you
may teach me those things, for the sake of which I have come.
[Socrates lowers himself and gets out of the basket.]
Soc. And for what did you come?
Strep. Wishing to learn to speak; for by reason of usury, and most
ill-natured creditors, I am pillaged and plundered, and have my goods
seized for debt.
Soc. How did you get in debt without observing it?
Strep. A horse-disease consumed me--terrible at eating. But teach me
the other one of your two causes, that which pays nothing; and I will
swear by the gods, I will pay down to you whatever reward you exact
of me.
Soc. By what gods will you swear? For, in the first place, gods are not a
current coin with us.
Strep. By what do you swear? By iron money, as in Byzantium?
Soc. Do you wish to know clearly celestial matters, what they rightly
are?
Strep. Yes, by Jupiter, if it be possible!
Soc. And to hold converse with the Clouds, our divinities?
Strep. By all means.
Soc. (with great solemnity). Seat yourself, then, upon the sacred couch.
Strep. Well, I am seated!
Soc. Take, then, this chaplet.
Strep. For what purpose a chaplet? Ah me! Socrates, see that you do
not sacrifice me like Athamas!
Strep. No; we do all these to those who get initiated.
Strep. Then what shall I gain, pray?
Soc. You shall become in oratory a tricky knave, a thorough rattle, a
subtle speaker. But keep quiet.
Strep. By Jupiter! You will not deceive me; for if I am besprinkled, I
shall become fine flour.
Soc. It becomes the old man to speak words of good omen, and to
hearken to my prayer. O sovereign King, immeasurable Air, who
keepest the earth suspended, and through bright Aether, and ye august
goddesses, the Clouds, sending thunder and lightning, arise, appear in

the air, O mistresses, to your deep thinker!
Strep. Not yet, not yet, till I wrap this around me lest I be wet through.
To think of my having come from home without even a cap, unlucky
man!
Soc. Come then, ye highly honoured Clouds, for a display to this man.
Whether ye are sitting upon the sacred snow-covered summits of
Olympus, or in the gardens of Father Ocean form a sacred dance with
the Nymphs, or draw in golden pitchers the streams of the waters of the
Nile, or inhabit the Maeotic lake, or the snowy rock of Mimas, hearken
to our prayer, and receive the sacrifice, and be propitious to the sacred
rites.
[The following song is heard at a distance, accompanied by loud claps
of thunder.]
Chorus. Eternal Clouds! Let us arise to view with our dewy,
clear-bright nature, from loud-sounding Father Ocean to the
wood-crowned summits of the lofty mountains,