But come here, that I may teach you; I will tell you
something very
necessary
to know to be a man; but you will not repeat it
to anybody.
Aristophanes
my poor father! what has happened to you? By the
Olympian Zeus! you are no longer in your senses!
STREPSIADES. See! see! "the Olympian Zeus." Oh! the fool! to believe in
Zeus at your age!
PHIDIPPIDES. What is there in that to make you laugh?
STREPSIADES. You are then a tiny little child, if you credit such
antiquated rubbish!
But come here, that I may teach you; I will tell you
something very
necessary
to know to be a man; but you will not repeat it
to anybody.
PHIDIPPIDES. Come, what is it?
STREPSIADES. Just now you swore by Zeus.
PHIDIPPIDES. Aye, that I did.
STREPSIADES. Do you see how good it is to learn? Phidippides, there is no
Zeus.
PHIDIPPIDES. What is there then?
STREPSIADES. 'Tis the Whirlwind, that has driven out Jupiter and is King
now.