Icaromenippus, or the Sky-man (31-34)

MENIPPUS

But if you were to ask the very man who is straining his lungs and bawling and accusing everybody else: ‘How about yourself? What do you really do, and what in Heaven’s name do you contribute’ to the world?’ he would say, if he were willing to say what was right and true: 1 hold it unnecessary to be a merchant or a farmer or a soldier or to follow'y trade; I shout, go dirty, take cold baths, walk abeut barefoot in winter, wear a filthy mantle and like Momus carp at everything the others do. If some rich man or other has made an extravagant outlay on a dinner or keeps a mistress, I make it my affair and get hot about it; but if one of

my friends or associates is ill abed and needs relief and attendance, I ignore it.’

“That is what these whelps are like, gods.

MENIPPUS

Moreover, some of them who call themselves Epicureans are very insolent fellows indeed and attack us immoderately, saying not only that the gods do not direct human affairs, -but that they pay no attention at all to what goes on. So it is high time you were bethinking yourselves that if they ever are able to persuade the world, you will go uncommonly hungry; for who would continue to sacrifice to you if he expected to gain nothing by it?

“As for what the moon finds fault with, you all heard the stranger tell about that yesterday. In view of all this, take such action as may be most advantageous to men and most salutary for ourselves.”

MENIPPUS

When Zeus had finished this speech the assembly fell into a commotion, and at once they all began to shout: “Blast them,” “Burn them,” “Annihilate them”; “To the pit,” “To Tartarus,” “To the Giants.’ Calling for silence once more, Zeus said: “It shall be as you will; they shall be annihilated, and their logic with them. However, just at present it is not in order to punish anyone, for it is the festival-season, as you know, during the next four months, and I have already sent about to announce the truce of God. Next year, therefore, at the opening of spring the wretches shall die a wretched death by the horrid thunderbolt.”

So spake Cronus his son, and he bent black brows to confirm it!

Iliad1, 528.

MENIPPUS

“As to Menippus here," he said, “this is my

decision: after his wings have been taken away from him so that he may never come again, let him be carried down to earth to-day by Hermes.” With this he dismissed the meeting, whereupon Cyllenius (Hermes) picked me up by the right ear and took me down to the Potters’ Quarter yesterday evening. You have heard it all, my friend, all the news from Heaven. Now I am going off to carry the glad tidings to the philosophers who pace about in the Porch.