Parodos
Socrates.
What then? whether do you wish to take and lead away this your son, or shall I teach him to speak?
1105
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.
Socrates.
Make yourself easy; you shall receive him back a clever sophist.
Strepsiades.
Nay, rather, pale and wretched.
[Parabasis]
Go ye, then: but I think that you will repent of these proceedings.
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,
1115
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
1120
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
1125
even in Egypt than to have judged badly.
1130
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.
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
1135
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.
1140
Boy, I say! Boy, boy!
1145
Socrates.
Good morning, Strepsiades.
1145
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.
Socrates.
He has learned it.
1150
Strepsiades.
Well done, O Fraud, all-powerful queen!
1150
Socrates.
So that you can get clear off from whatever suit you please.
Strepsiades.
Even if witnesses were present when I borrowed the money?
Socrates.
Yea, much more! Even if a thousand be present.
[Lyric-Scene]
Then I will shout with a very loud
Strepsiades.
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,
1155
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.
1160
Socrates.
assigned to Strepsiades in the the print.O child! O son! Come forth from the house! Hear your father!
Re-enter Socrates leading in Phidippides. Lo, here is the man!
1165
Strepsiades.
O my dear, my dear!
Socrates.
Take your son and depart.
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
1170
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.
1175
Phidippides.
What, pray, do you fear?
Strepsiades.
The Old and New.
