Zeus Do not mind this fellow's babble, deities,
for he was always an ill-conditioned fault-finder.
And, besides, in the words of the great Demosthenes, it is easy to criticise and blame and find
fault-any one who likes can do that; but it is
the gift of a truly sagacious counsellor to point
out how the state of things may be improved,
and this I am sure the rest of you will do, even if
Momos holds his tongue. Poseidon I, as you know, am generally under
water, and dwell by myself in the deep sea, doing
my best to rescue mariners and forward ships
and temper the winds. Nevertheless, I have a
stake in things up here, too, and it is my opinion
that this Damis ought to be disposed of before
he comes to the contest, either by lightning or


 


some other means, lest his speech prevail-for
you say, Zeus, that he is a plausible sort of fellow.
In that way we shall show them at the same time
that we take vengeance on people who say such
things against us.