The Clouds | Page 8

they saw this most cowardly fellow.
Soc. And now too, because they saw Clisthenes, you observe, on this
account they became women.
Strep. Hail therefore, O mistresses! And now, if ever ye did to any
other, to me also utter a voice reaching to heaven, O all-powerful
queens.
Cho. Hail, O ancient veteran, hunter after learned speeches! And thou,
O priest of most subtle trifles! Tell us what you require? For we would
not hearken to any other of the recent meteorological sophists, except
to Prodicus; to him, on account of his wisdom and intelligence; and to

you, because you walk proudly in the streets, and cast your eyes
askance, and endure many hardships with bare feet, and in reliance
upon us lookest supercilious.
Strep. O Earth, what a voice! How holy and dignified and wondrous!
Soc. For, in fact, these alone are goddesses; and all the rest is nonsense.
Strep. But come, by the Earth, is not Jupiter, the Olympian, a god?
Soc. What Jupiter? Do not trifle. There is no Jupiter.
Strep. What do you say? Who rains then? For first of all explain this to
me.
Soc. These to be sure. I will teach you it by powerful evidence. Come,
where have you ever seen him raining at any time without Clouds? And
yet he ought to rain in fine weather, and these be absent.
Strep. By Apollo, of a truth you have rightly confirmed this by your
present argument. And yet, before this, I really thought that Jupiter
caused the rain. But tell me who is it that thunders. This makes me
tremble.
Soc. These, as they roll, thunder.
Strep. In what way? you all-daring man!
Soc. When they are full of much water, and are compelled to be borne
along, being necessarily precipitated when full of rain, then they fall
heavily upon each other and burst and clap.
Strep. Who is it that compels them to borne along? Is it not Jupiter?
Soc. By no means, but aethereal Vortex.
Strep. Vortex? It had escaped my notice that Jupiter did not exist, and
that Vortex now reigned in his stead. But you have taught me nothing
as yet concerning the clap and the thunder.
Soc. Have you not heard me, that I said that the Clouds, when full of
moisture, dash against each other and clap by reason of their density?
Strep. Come, how am I to believe this?
Soc. I'll teach you from your own case. Were you ever, after being
stuffed with broth at the Panathenaic festival, then disturbed in your
belly, and did a tumult suddenly rumble through it?
Strep. Yes, by Apollo! And immediately the little broth plays the
mischief with me, and is disturbed and rumbles like thunder, and
grumbles dreadfully: at first gently pappax, pappax; and then it adds
papa-pappax; and finally, it thunders downright papapappax, as they
do.

Soc. Consider, therefore, how you have trumpeted from a little belly so
small; and how is it not probable that this air, being boundless, should
thunder so loudly?
Strep. For this reason, therefore, the two names also Trump and
Thunder, are similar to each other. But teach me this, whence comes
the thunderbolt blazing with fire, and burns us to ashes when it smites
us, and singes those who survive. For indeed Jupiter evidently hurls
this at the perjured.
Soc. Why, how then, you foolish person, and savouring of the dark
ages and antediluvian, if his manner is to smite the perjured, does he
not blast Simon, and Cleonymus, and Theorus? And yet they are very
perjured. But he smites his own temple, and Sunium the promontory of
Athens, and the tall oaks. Wherefore, for indeed an oak does not
commit perjury.
Strep. I do not know; but you seem to speak well.For what, pray, is the
thunderbolt?
Soc. When a dry wind, having been raised aloft, is inclosed in these
Clouds, it inflates them within, like a bladder; and then, of necessity,
having burst them, it rushes out with vehemence by reason of its
density, setting fire to itself through its rushing and impetuosity.
Strep. By Jupiter, of a truth I once experienced this exactly at the
Diasian festival! I was roasting a haggis for my kinsfolk, and through
neglect I did not cut it open; but it became inflated and then suddenly
bursting, befouled my eyes and burned my face.
Cho. O mortal, who hast desired great wisdom from us! How happy
will you become among the Athenians and among the Greeks, if you be
possessed of a good memory, and be a deep thinker, and endurance of
labour be implanted in your soul, and you be not wearied either by
standing or walking, nor be exceedingly vexed at shivering with cold,
nor long to break your fast, and you refrain