Parodos
[Agon]
But I will overturn them by contradicting them; for I deny that justice even exists at all.
Just Cause.
Do you deny that it exists?
Unjust Cause.
For come, where is it?
Just Cause.
With the gods.
Unjust Cause.
How, then, if justice exists, has Jupiter not perished, who bound his own father?
Just Cause.
Bah! This profanity now is spreading! Give me a basin.
Unjust Cause.
You are a dotard and absurd.
Just Cause.
You are debauched and shameless.
Unjust Cause.
You have spoken roses of me.
910
Just Cause.
And a dirty lickspittle.
910
Unjust Cause.
You crown me with lilies.
Just Cause.
And a parricide.
Unjust Cause.
You don’t know that you are sprinkling me with gold.
Just Cause.
Certainly not so formerly, but with lead.
Unjust Cause.
But now this is an ornament to me.
Just Cause.
You are very impudent.
915
Unjust Cause.
And you are antiquated.
915
Just Cause.
And through you, no one of our youths is willing to go to school; and you will be found out some time or other by the Athenians, what sort of doctrines you teach the simple-minded.
Unjust Cause.
You are shamefully squalid.
920
Just Cause.
And you are prosperous. And yet formerly you were a beggar saying that you were the Mysian Telephus, and gnawing the maxims of Pandeletus out of your little wallet.
920
Unjust Cause.
Oh, the wisdom—
925
Just Cause.
Oh, the madness—
925
Unjust Cause.
Which you have mentioned.
Just Cause.
And of your city, which supports you who ruin her youths.
Unjust Cause.
You shan’t teach this youth, you old dotard.
Just Cause.
Yes, if he is to be saved, and not merely to practise loquacity.
930
Unjust Cause.
Come hither, and leave him to rave.
Just Cause.
You shall howl, if you lay your hand on him.
Chorus.
Cease from contention and railing.
But show to us, you, what you used to teach the men of former times, and you, the new system of education; in order that, having heard you disputing, he may decide and go to the school of one or the other.
935
