οἱ ἀστρονόμοι πολλὰ ὁρῶσι τοῖς τηλεσκοπείοις ἃ ἡμεῖς οὐχ ὁρῶμεν,
the astronomers see many things with their telescopes which we do not see.
πολλὰ μὲν ἔχει δένδρα ἡ ὕλη, λόγους δὲ πολλοὺς ἡ τῶν μωρῶν γλῶσσα,
there are many trees in the forest, and many words in a fool’s tongue.
πολλὰς κόπτομεν ἀκάνθας ἐν τοῖς ἀγροῖς,
we are cutting down many thistles in the fields.
καὶ οὐκ ὀλίγας, ὡς ἐλπίζω, ἀκαλήφας,
and not a few nettles also, I hope.
ἃς σὺ μῑσεῖς, ἀκαλήφας,
the nettles which you hate.
δικαίως ἔγωγε, πάντες γὰρ μῑσοῦσιν τὰς ἀκαλήφας τὰς κακάς,
with good reason too. All hate the evil nettles.
τί πράττετε; what are you about?
γράφομεν ἐπιστολάς, we are writing letters.
ἐπιστολὰς λέγεις; do you say letters?
καὶ μάλα γε, πρὸς τὴν βασίλισσαν, yes, to the queen.