Page:Comedies of Aristophanes (Hickie 1853) vol1.djvu/193

1448—1474.

. Most assuredly, if you do this, nothing will hinder you from casting yourself and your Worse Cause into the pit along with Socrates.—These evils have I suffered through you, O Clouds, having intrusted all my affairs to you.

. Nay, rather, you are yourself the cause of these things, having turned yourself to wicked courses.

. Why, pray, did you not tell me this then, but excited with hopes a rustic and aged man?

. We always do this to him whom we perceive to be a lover of wicked courses, until we precipitate him into misfortune, so that he may learn to fear the gods.

. Ah me! it is severe, O Clouds! but it is just; for I ought not to have withheld the money which I borrowed.—Now, therefore, come with me, my dearest son, that you may destroy the blackguard Chærephon and Socrates, who deceived you and me.

. I will not injure my teachers.

. Yes, yes, reverence Paternal Jove.

. "Paternal Jove," quoth'a! How antiquated you are! Why, is there any Jove?

. There is.

. There is not, no; for Vortex reigns, having expelled Jupiter.

. He has not expelled him; but I fancied this, on account of this Vortex here. Ah me, unhappy man! when I even took you who are of earthenware for a god.