STREPS. What the clouds? did I hear you aright?
SOCR. Ay: for when to the brim filled with water they swim, by
Necessity carried along,
They are hung up on high in the vault of the sky, and so by
Necessity strong
In the midst of their course, they clash with great force, and
thunder away without end.
STREPS. But is it not He who compels this to be? does not Zeus this
Necessity send?
SOCR. No Zeus have we there, but a vortex of air.
STREPS. What! Vortex? that's something I own.
I knew not before, that Zeus was no more, but Vortex was
placed on his throne!
But I have not yet heard to what cause you referred the thunder's
majestical roar.
SOCR. Yes, 'tis they, when on high full of water they fly, and then,
as I told you before,
By compression impelled, as they clash, are compelled a terrible
clatter to make.
STREPS. Come, how can that be? I really don't see.
SOCR. Yourself as my proof I will take.
Have you never then ate the broth puddings you get when the
Panathenaea come round,
And felt with what might your bowels all night in turbulent tumult
resound
STREPS. By Apollo, 'tis true, there's a mighty to do, and my belly
keeps rumbling about;
And the puddings begin to clatter within and to kick up a wonderful
rout:
Quite gently at first, papapax, papapax, but soon papappappax away,
Till at last, I'll be bound, I can thunder as loud
papapappappappappax as they.
SOCR. Shalt thou then a sound so loud and profound from thy belly
diminutive send,
And shall not the high and the infinite sky go thundering on
without end?
For both, you will find, on an impulse of wind and similar causes
depend.