Our welcome to thee, old man, who would see the marvels that
science can show:
And thou, the high-priest of this subtlety feast, say what would
you have us bestow?
Since there is not a sage for whom we'd engage our wonders
more freely to do,
Except, it may be, for Prodicus: he for his knowledge may claim
them, but you,
Because as you go, you glance to and fro, and in dignified
arrogance float;
And think shoes a disgrace, and put on a grave face, your
acquaintance with us to denote.
STREPSIADES. Oh earth! what a sound, how august and profound! It
fills me with wonder and awe.
SOCRATES. These, these then alone, for true Deities own, the rest
are all God-ships of straw.
STREPS. Let Zeus be left out: He's a God beyond doubt; come, that
you can scarcely deny.
SOCR. Zeus indeed! there's no Zeus: don't you be so obtuse.
STREPS. No Zeus up above in the sky?
Then you first must explain, who it is sends the rain; or I
really must think you are wrong.
SOCR. Well then, be it known, these send it alone: I can prove it
by argument strong.
Was there ever a shower seen to fall in an hour when the sky
was all cloudless and blue?
Yet on a fine day, when the clouds are away, he might send
one, according to you.
STREPS. Well, it must be confessed, that chimes in with the rest:
your words I am forced to believe.
Yet before I had dreamed that the rain-water streamed from
Zeus and his chamber-pot sieve.
But whence then, my friend, does the thunder descend? that
does make us quake with affright!
SOCR. Why, 'tis they, I declare, as they roll through the air.