Invocation of the Clouds and Arrival of the Chorus — Aristophanes, Clouds, lines 244–326c, Greek & English

244

ἀλλά με δίδαξον τὸν ἕτερον τοῖν σοῖν λόγοιν,

But teach me the other of your two arguments,

245

τὸν μηδὲν ἀποδιδόντα. μισθὸν δʼ ὅντινʼ ἂν

the one that pays back nothing. And whatever reward you might

πράττῃ μʼ ὀμοῦμαί σοι καταθήσειν τοὺς θεούς.¹

exact from me, I swear to you by the gods to pay it in full.

ποίους θεοὺς ὀμεῖ σύ; πρῶτον γὰρ θεοὶ

What kind of gods will you swear by? For first of all, gods

ἡμῖν νόμισμʼ οὐκ ἔστι.

are not a current coin for us.

τῷ γὰρ ὄμνυτʼ; ἢ

By what then do you swear? Or

σιδαρέοισιν ὥσπερ ἐν Βυζαντίῳ;

by iron ones, as in Byzantium?

250

βούλει τὰ θεῖα πράγματʼ εἰδέναι σαφῶς

Do you wish to know clearly about divine matters,

ἅττʼ ἐστὶν ὀρθῶς;

what they truly are?

νὴ Δίʼ εἴπερ ἔστι γε.

Yes, by Zeus, if indeed they exist.

καὶ ξυγγενέσθαι ταῖς Νεφέλαισιν ἐς λόγους,

And to hold converse with the Clouds,

ταῖς ἡμετέραισι δαίμοσιν;

our deities?

μάλιστά γε.

Most certainly.

κάθιζε τοίνυν ἐπὶ τὸν ἱερὸν σκίμποδα.

Sit down then upon the sacred pallet.

255

ἰδοὺ κάθημαι.

There, I am sitting.

τουτονὶ τοίνυν λαβὲ

Take this wreath

τὸν στέφανον.

then.

ἐπὶ τί στέφανον; οἴμοι Σώκρατες

What is a wreath for? Ah, Socrates,

ὥσπερ με τὸν Ἀθάμανθʼ ὅπως μὴ θύσετε.²

see that you don’t sacrifice me like Athamas!

οὔκ, ἀλλὰ ταῦτα πάντα τοὺς τελουμένους

No, but we do all these things to those being

ἡμεῖς ποιοῦμεν.

initiated.

εἶτα δὴ τί κερδανῶ;

Then indeed what will I gain?

260

λέγειν γενήσει τρῖμμα κρόταλον παιπάλη.

In speaking you will become a smooth talker, a rattle, fine flour.

ἀλλʼ ἔχʼ ἀτρεμί.

But keep still.

μὰ τὸν Δίʼ οὐ ψεύσει γέ με·

By Zeus, you won’t deceive me;

καταπαττόμενος γὰρ παιπάλη γενήσομαι.

for by being sprinkled, I shall indeed become fine flour!

εὐφημεῖν χρὴ τὸν πρεσβύτην καὶ τῆς εὐχῆς ἐπακούειν.

The old man must observe a sacred silence and listen to the prayer.

ὦ δέσποτʼ ἄναξ ἀμέτρητʼ Ἀήρ, ὃς ἔχεις τὴν γῆν μετέωρον,

O Lord and Master, boundless Air, who holdest the earth suspended aloft,

265

λαμπρός τʼ Αἰθὴρ σεμναί τε θεαὶ Νεφέλαι βροντησικέραυνοι,

and bright Ether, and august goddesses Clouds of thunder and lightning,

ἄρθητε φάνητʼ ὦ δέσποιναι τῷ φροντιστῇ μετέωροι.

arise and appear, O Sovereign Mistresses, aloft to the thinker!

μήπω μήπω γε πρὶν ἂν τουτὶ πτύξωμαι, μὴ καταβρεχθῶ.

Not yet, not yet, at least until I wrap this around me, so that I don’t get drenched.

τὸ δὲ μηδὲ κυνῆν οἴκοθεν ἐλθεῖν ἐμὲ τὸν κακοδαίμονʼ ἔχοντα.³

To think that I, miserable wretch, came from home without even bringing a cap!

ἔλθετε δῆτʼ ὦ πολυτίμητοι Νεφέλαι τῷδʼ εἰς ἐπίδειξιν·

Come then, highly honored Clouds, to show yourselves to this man;

270

εἴτʼ ἐπʼ Ὀλύμπου κορυφαῖς ἱεραῖς χιονοβλήτοισι κάθησθε,

whether you sit on the sacred, snow-swept peaks of Olympus,

εἴτʼ Ὠκεανοῦ πατρὸς ἐν κήποις ἱερὸν χορὸν ἵστατε Νύμφαις,

or in the gardens of father Ocean you set up a sacred dance with the Nymphs,

εἴτʼ ἄρα Νείλου προχοαῖς ὑδάτων χρυσέαις ἀρύτεσθε πρόχοισιν,

or draw up the streams of the Nile in golden pitchers,

ἢ Μαιῶτιν λίμνην ἔχετʼ ἢ σκόπελον νιφόεντα Μίμαντος·

or hold Lake Maeotis or the snowy peak of Mimas;

ὑπακούσατε δεξάμεναι θυσίαν καὶ τοῖς ἱεροῖσι χαρεῖσαι.

hearken, receiving our sacrifice, and rejoicing in these holy rites.

275

ἀέναοι Νεφέλαι

Ever-flowing Clouds,

ἀρθῶμεν φανεραὶ δροσερὰν φύσιν εὐάγητον,

let us arise, visible in our dewy, bright nature,

πατρὸς ἀπʼ Ὠκεανοῦ βαρυαχέος

from father Ocean the deep-roaring,

ὑψηλῶν ὀρέων κορυφὰς ἐπὶδενδροκόμους, ἵνα

to the tree-clad peaks of the high mountains, so that

τηλεφανεῖς σκοπιὰς ἀφορώμεθα,

we may look out upon the far-visible watchtowers,

καρπούς τʼ ἀρδομέναν ἱερὰν χθόνα,

and the sacred earth watering the fruits,

καὶ ποταμῶν ζαθέων κελαδήματα,

and the rushings of divine rivers,

καὶ πόντον κελάδοντα βαρύβρομον·

and the echoing, deep-roaring sea;

285

ὄμμα γὰρ αἰθέρος ἀκάματον σελαγεῖται

for the untiring eye of Ether gleams

μαρμαρέαις ἐν αὐγαῖς.

in flashing rays.

ἀλλʼ ἀποσεισάμεναι νέφος ὄμβριον

But shaking off the rainy cloud

ἀθανάτας ἰδέας ἐπιδώμεθα

from our immortal forms, let us look

290

τηλεσκόπῳ ὄμματι γαῖαν.

upon the earth with far-seeing eye.

ὦ μέγα σεμναὶ Νεφέλαι φανερῶς ἠκούσατέ μου καλέσαντος.

O greatly august Clouds, you have clearly heard me calling.

ᾔσθου φωνῆς ἅμα καὶ βροντῆς μυκησαμένης θεοσέπτου;

Did you hear their voice, and at the same time the roar of divine thunder?

καὶ σέβομαί γʼ ὦ πολυτίμητοι καὶ βούλομαι ἀνταποπαρδεῖν

Indeed I revere you, highly honored ones, and I want to fart back in response

πρὸς τὰς βροντάς· οὕτως αὐτὰς τετρεμαίνω καὶ πεφόβημαι·

to the thunder; so much do I tremble before them and am terrified.

295

κεἰ θέμις ἐστίν, νυνί γʼ ἤδη, κεἰ μὴ θέμις ἐστί, χεσείω.

And whether it is permitted, right now, or whether it is not, I must crap!

οὐ μὴ σκώψει μηδὲ ποιήσεις⁴ ἅπερ οἱ τρυγοδαίμονες οὗτοι,

Do not mock nor do what those comedy-writers do,

ἀλλʼ εὐφήμει· μέγα γάρ τι θεῶν κινεῖται σμῆνος ἀοιδαῖς.

but keep sacred silence; for a great swarm of goddesses is being stirred by songs.

παρθένοι ὀμβροφόροι

Rain-bearing maidens,

300

ἔλθωμεν λιπαρὰν χθόνα Παλλάδος, εὔανδρον γᾶν

let us go to the shiny land of Pallas, to look upon

Κέκροπος ὀψόμεναι πολυήρατον·

the lovely, populous land of Cecrops;

οὗ σέβας ἀρρήτων ἱερῶν, ἵνα

where there is reverence for unspeakable mysteries, where

μυστοδόκος δόμος

the hall that receives the initiates

ἐν τελεταῖς ἁγίαις ἀναδείκνυται,

is revealed in holy rites,

305

οὐρανίοις τε θεοῖς δωρήματα,

and gifts to the heavenly gods,

ναοί θʼ ὑψερεφεῖς καὶ ἀγάλματα,

high-roofed temples and statues,

καὶ πρόσοδοι μακάρων ἱερώταται,

and most sacred processions of the blessed ones,

εὐστέφανοί τε θεῶν θυσίαι θαλίαι τε,

and well-garlanded sacrifices and feasts for the gods,

310

παντοδαπαῖς ἐν ὥραις,

in all seasons,

ἦρί τʼ ἐπερχομένῳ Βρομία χάρις,

and with the coming of spring, the grace of Bromios,

εὐκελάδων τε χορῶν ἐρεθίσματα,

and the stirrings of sweet-sounding choruses,

καὶ μοῦσα βαρύβρομος αὐλῶν.

and the deep-sounding music of flutes.

πρὸς τοῦ Διὸς ἀντιβολῶ σε φράσον, τίνες εἴσʼ ὦ Σώκρατες αὗται

By Zeus I entreat you, tell me, Socrates, who are these

315

αἱ φθεγξάμεναι τοῦτο τὸ σεμνόν; μῶν ἡρῷναί τινές εἰσιν;

who uttered this solemn song? Are they perchance some heroines?

ἥκιστʼ ἀλλʼ οὐράνιαι Νεφέλαι μεγάλαι θεαὶ ἀνδράσιν ἀργοῖς·

Not at all, but heavenly Clouds, great goddesses for idle men;

αἵπερ γνώμην καὶ διάλεξιν καὶ νοῦν ἡμῖν παρέχουσιν

who provide us with judgment, dialectic, mind,

καὶ τερατείαν καὶ περίλεξιν καὶ κροῦσιν καὶ κατάληψιν.

and charlatanry, circumlocution, verbal sparring, and comprehension.

ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἀκούσασʼ αὐτῶν τὸ φθέγμʼ ἡ ψυχή μου πεπότηται,

Therefore, having heard their voice, my soul has taken wing,

320

καὶ λεπτολογεῖν ἤδη ζητεῖ καὶ περὶ καπνοῦ στενολεσχεῖν,

and already seeks to split hairs and chatter subtly about smoke,

καὶ γνωμιδίῳ γνώμην νύξασʼ ἑτέρῳ λόγῳ ἀντιλογῆσαι·

and having pricked a maxim with another maxim, to counter-argue with another statement;

ὥστʼ εἴ πως ἔστιν ἰδεῖν αὐτὰς ἤδη φανερῶς ἐπιθυμῶ.

so that, if it is somehow possible, I already desire to see them clearly.

βλέπε νυν δευρὶ πρὸς τὴν Πάρνηθʼ· ἤδη γὰρ ὁρῶ κατιούσας

Look then over here toward Parnes; for already I see them coming down

ἡσυχῇ αὐτάς.

quietly.

φέρε ποῦ; δεῖξον.

Come, where? Show me.

χωροῦσʼ αὗται πάνυ πολλαὶ

Here they come, very many,

325

διὰ τῶν κοίλων καὶ τῶν δασέων, αὗται πλάγιαι.

through the hollows and the thickets, here, slantwise.

τί τὸ χρῆμα;

What is the matter?

ὡς οὐ καθορῶ.

I don’t see them.

παρὰ τὴν εἴσοδον.

Along the entrance.

ἤδη νυνὶ μόλις οὕτως.

Ah, now at last, barely like this.

Syntax notes4 items

245μισθὸν δʼ ὅντινʼ ἂν πράττῃ μʼ ὀμοῦμαί σοι καταθήσειν τοὺς θεούς.
Double accusative and swearing syntax. In the relative clause, πράττω takes a double accusative: 'to exact something (ὅντιν') from someone (μ')'. In the main clause, ὀμοῦμαι ('I swear') takes the accusative of the deities sworn by (τοὺς θεούς), meaning 'I swear by the gods to pay you'.
257ὅπως μὴ θύσετε.
An elliptical expression consisting of ὅπως μή followed by the future indicative (θύσετε). The main governing imperative verb (like ὅρα or φυλάττου 'see to it') is omitted, creating a colloquial and urgent warning or plea: 'see to it that you do not sacrifice me'.
268τὸ δὲ μηδὲ κυνῆν οἴκοθεν ἐλθεῖν ἐμὲ τὸν κακοδαίμονʼ ἔχοντα.
The exclamatory infinitive (infinitivus admirantis). The accusative-and-infinitive construction (ἐμὲ ... ἐλθεῖν) preceded by the neuter article τὸ is used independently as an exclamation, expressing regret or exasperation: 'To think that I, wretched man, came from home without even a cap!'.
296οὐ μὴ σκώψει μηδὲ ποιήσεις
Strong prohibition using οὐ μή followed by the second person of the future indicative (σκώψει and ποιήσεις). This syntactic construction functions as a very emphatic negative imperative ('Do not mock nor do...').

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-22)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0019.tlg003.humanitext-grc2:244-326c