Menippus, or the Descent into Hades  

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"Lucian's work "Menippus, or the Descent into Hades" had an essential influence on Rabelais, more precisely on the episode of Epistemon's journey to hell in Pantagruel. Another important influence was Lucian's "Dialogues." Here are a few characteristic excerpts from the "Dialogues": "Menippus, Diogenes advises you, if mortal subjects for laughter begin to pall, come down below, and find much ..." --Rabelais and His World (1965) by Mikhail Bakhtin (p. 69)

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Μένιππος ἢ Νεκυομαντεία (Necyomantia, Menippus or The Descent Into Hades) is a story by Lucian.

The Cynic philosopher Menippus visits the Underworld to ask Teiresias which is the true philosophy.

At the climax of Lucian's Necyomantia, Tiresias in Hades is asked "what is the best way of life?" and his disconcertingly modern response, couched in high-flown diction, is "the life of the ordinary guy: forget philosophers and their metaphysics."

This advice is pragmatic and moderate and represents the moral message of the short story.

See also

Full text[1]

MENIPPUS OR THE DESCENT INTO HADES

Menippus, who in the Icaromenippus (II. 267) described his ascent to Heaven to discover the truth about the nature of the universe, now tells the story of his descent into Hades to find out the right way to live. Utterly perplexed by the philosophers, who neither agree in their doctrines nor practise what they preacli, he goes below to consult Teiresias, who tells him to disregard them ; that the ordinary man's way of living is best.

The unity of the dialogue is badly marred because Lucian has given it a double point, aiming it not only at the philosophers but at the rich. Indeed, it is not the philo- sophers but the rich and powerful who are getting on badly in Hades, and against whom a decree is passed by the assembly of the dead.

This curious defect arises, I believe, from the way in which Lucian adapted his model, the Necyia of the real Menippus. Helm argues, to be sure, that the Menippus is a mere epitome and revision of the Necyia, but in my opinion the Necyia must have been a satire against wealth and power, in which Menippus told how he (or someone else) had learned, by his own observation and from the lips of Teire- sias, that kings and millionaires fared ill in the hereafter, and that the life of the ordinary man was preferable to theirs. This Cynic sermon Lucian parodies and turns against the philo- sophers, retaining the response of Teiresias, but twisting its point so that the "ordinary man" is now contrasted, not with kings and plutocrats, but with philosophers. He ought to have carried out this idea by recasting the whole show in Hades ; but he wanted to work in a decree of the dead, which could not be directed against the philosophers without steal- ing the thunder of Teiresias. So he aimed it at the rich, and retained the stage setting of Menippus to lead up to it.

The dialogue probably was written in a.d. 161-162 (p. 90, note). Helm's discussion {Lucian und Menipp, 15 fF.) contains much valuable comment, especially upon the magic ritual.

On Menippus, see the Index.

71


MENinnOX H NEKTOMANTEIA


MENinno2 "fl X<^^P^ fJi'i^adpov TrpoTTvXd 0' ecrria? ifJLrj<i, 609 da-/j,ev6<; cr' iaelBov e? (f>do^ /jloXcov.

♦IA02 Ov Mei/tTTTTO? ovro9 ecrrtv 6 kvwv ; ov fih> ovv a\Xo<i, el fir) iyoo Trapa^XeTTO)' M€vnrwo<; 6Xo<;.^ Tt ovv avTO) ^ovXerai to uXXokotov tov a^Vf^ciTO^, TTtXo? Kal Xvpa kul XeovTi) ; irXrjv dXXa irpoaireov je avTOK ')(aipe, (o Met'tTTTre* iroOev rifilv dcpl^ai ; TToXi/f yap ypovo'i ov 7r€(})r}va<; iv rfj iroXei.'

MENinnos "H/fo* vcKpojp Kevdixcova Kal okotov rrvXas XtTTWv, IV "AlStjs ;(a)pi? (VKiarai Oecov,

«IA02

'H/aa/eXet?, iXeX^Oei MiviTTTrofi r)p,a<i dtroda- va)v, Kara i^ inrapxrj'; dva^e^lcoxev ; Available in photographs r, PN.

  • Graevius : MffiTrirouj oKovi 7,8.
  • Cf. Dial. Meretr. 10. 1. : oii yap iwpoKa xoXvs ff8ij xp6voi

avrhv vap vfiiy,

72


MENIPPUS OR THE DESCENT INTO HADES


MENIPPUS

All hail, ye halls and portals of my home !

What joy you give mine eyes, to light returned ! '

A FRIEND

Isn't this Menippus the Cynic? Assuredly nobody else, unless 1 cannot see straight ; Menippus all over. Then what is the meaning of that strange costume — a felt cap, a lyre, and a lion's skin ? Anyhow, I must go up to him. Good day, Menippus; where under the sun have you come from ? It is a long time since you have shown yourself in the city.

MENIPPUS

I come from Dead Men's Lair and Darkness Gate Where Hades dwells, remote from other gods.^


Heracles ! Did Menippus die without our knowing it, and has he now come to life all over again ?

  • Euripides, Hercules Furens, 523-4.

' Euripides, Hecuba, 1 ; spoken by Polydorus as prologue.

73


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

MENinnos OvK, dX)C er etxirvovv 'At8rj<; fi ehe^aro.

  • IA05

T/9 hr] alria croi t^9 xaivi]^ KaX trapaho^ov TavTT)^ d'iro8r}/j,ia<i ;

MENinno2 NeoT»79 fi iirrjpe koX Opdaof tov vov wXiov.

  • IA02

Tlavaai, fiaKcipie, Tpayo)Ba)v KaX Xeye ovruxri TTO)? d7r\Si<i KaTa0d<; cItto twv lanQeLcov, ri<i 17 aToXij ; TL croi t^<? Karat iropeia^ iherjaev ; dW(o<i <yap oif^^ -^Seld rtf ou8e dairdai.o'i t) 0S09.

MENinnos fl (ftiXoTT}^, %/?efC(> /i€ Kar^yayev eh ^AtSao ^VXV XPV^ofiePov Stj^aiov TeipeaLao.

4>IA02

Oi'T09, a\V 77 TrapaTrateif' ov yhp &v ovTco^ ififierpaxi eppay^(p8et^ 7rpb<; dv8pa<i ^iXovii,

MENinnos Mr) Oavfid<TT} kralpe' vewarX yhp ^vpnrihr] Kai Ofi^prp avyyevofievof ovk olS* 07rft)9 dveTrXrj- <r0T]v T(t)v eiroiv Ka\ avTOfxard fioi rd fiirpa eirX

^ Attributed to Euripides ; play unknown, perhaps the PeirUhoiiH (Nauck, Trag Oraec. Fragm., p. 663).

  • Perhaps from the lost Andromeda of Euripides (Nauck,

p. 403).

  • Odyssey 11, 164. Lucian aubstitutea "Friend" for

Homer's "Mother."

74


MENIPPUS

MENIPPUS

Nay, I was living when I went to Hell.*

FRIEND

What reason had you for this novel and surprising trip ?

MENIPPUS

Youth spurred me, and I had more pluck than


My dear fellow, do stop your play-acting ; come off your blank-verse, and tell me in plain language like mine what your costume is, and why you had to go down below. Certainly it is not a pleasant and attractive journey !

MENIPPUS

Friend, 'twas necessity drew me below to the

kingdom of Hades, There to obtain, from the spirit of Theban

Teiresias, counsel.-^

FRIEND

Man, you are surely out of your mind, or you would not recite verse in that way to your friends !

MENIPPUS

Don't be surprised, my dear fellow, I have just been in the company of Euripides and Homer, so that somehow or other I have become filled with poetry, and verses come unbidden to my lips.*

  • The Greek words form a trimeter, possibly borrowed

from some comedy.

IS


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

2 TO aTOfxa epx^rai. arap etVe ixoi, 'ira)<i ra virep yrj'i e)(^6i koI ri TToiovaiv ol iv rfj irSXei ;

  • IA02

Kaivov ovSev, a.X\' ola koI irpo rov' diird^ov-

(TLV, ilTLOpKOXXTLV, TOKOyXv(f)OUaCP, 6/3oXo(TTa'

Tovaiv.

MENinnos AdXioi Kal /caKoBal/jiov€<i' ov yap laacriv oia epay^o^ KeKvpwrai irapa toc<; kuto) kuI ola Kex^ipoTovtirai to, ylrrj^lafMaTa Kara roiv ttXov- alcov, d p,d rov Kep/Sepov ovSep^ia firj^avr) ro hia(f>vyelv avTOv<i.

  • IA02

Tt <j)i]<; ; BeBoKTai ri veoiTepov TOi<i Kara) irepX tS)v ivddBe ;

MENinnos

N^ Ata, Ka\ iroXkd ye' aW' ov 0€/j,i<i €K(f)€p€tv avrd irpo^aTravra'i ovBe i^ayopeveiv rd dTTopprjra, fir) Kai Ti<i r)p,d<; ypd-\}rr]Tat ypa(}>r)p dae^eia^ iirl Tov 'VaBafidvdvo^.

♦IA02

M»;Sa/i.&><f, b) Me'viTTTre, ■npo'i tov /^i6<i, p,r) (f>6ovy]crr)<: TcovXoycov (plXo) dvBpr Trpo? yap elBora aKOTTav €pel<i, rd r dXXa Kal Trpo? fiep.vrip.evov.

MENinnos

'KaXeTTov pev i'nndrrei<i ro eiriTaypM KaX ov trdvrrf evcr€^6<i' TrXrjv dXXd aov ye evcKa roXfiTfreov. eBo^e Brj rov<i irXovaiovt rovrov<i

76


MENIPPUS

But tell me, how are things going on earth, and what are they doing in the city ?

FRIEND

Nothing new ; just what they did before — stealing, lying under oath, extorting usury, and weighing pennies.

MENIPPUS

Poor wretches ! They do not know what decisions have been made of late in the lower world, and what ordinances have been enacted against the rich ; by Cerberus, they cannot possibly evade them !

FRIEND

What is that? Has any radical legislation been passed in the lower world affecting the upper?

MENIPPUS

Yes, by Zeus, a great deal ; but it is not right to publish it broadcast and expose their secrets. Some- one might indict me for impiety in the court of Rhadamanthus,

FRIEND

Oh, no, Menippus ! In Heaven's name don't withhold your story from a friend ! You will be telling a man who knows how to keep his mouth shut, and who, moreover, has been initiated into the mysteries,

MENIPPUS

It is a perilous demand that you are imposing upon me, and one not wholly consistent with piety. However, for your sake I must be bold. The motion, then, was passed that these rich men with

77


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

KOt 'jr6\v')(^prifiaTov<t KaX ro -x^pvaLov KaraKXeia-TOV wairep rrjv Aavdrjv <f>v\dTTOVTa<i —

♦IA02 M^ TTporepov ecTrijf;, coyaOe, to, SeSojfieva irplv €K€iva SieXdeiv a fidXicTT av rjSeto^; aKovaatfii aov, Tt? 17 eTrivoid aoi tt}? KaOohov iyeveTO, rt? S' o T?79 TTO/oeta? ■^yeficov, elO^ e^T]<; d re etSe<? d re rjKovcra^ irap avTol<i' elKo<i yap Brj (^lXokoXov ovra ae firjSev twv d^icov d€a<i rj dtcorj'^ irapa- Xnrelv.

MENinnos

3 TTTOvpyrjTeov kol ravrd aoi' tl yap dv Ka\ irdOoi Tt9, OTTore <f)iXo<; dvr)p ^id^oiTO ; Kal Srf irpwrd aoi Bieifii rd irepX t^<? yv(o/jLr)<; t^9 ifxi]^, 60 ev mpfirjd'qv irpo^t rrjv Kard^acriv. iyo) ydp, a')(^pt fiev ev iraiaXv rjv, aKOvwv 'Ofiijpov Kal HcTioBov 7ro\e/j,ov<; Kal (TTdaei<i Sirjyov/jiivcov ov fiovov tS)V r}fjbi6e(0Vy dWd Kal avrciyv rjBr) tmv Oea)v, en he Kal p,ot')(€ia<i avrcov Kal ^ia<i koX dptra- yd<; Kal St/ca? Kal TraTepcov e^eXatret? Kal aSeX^wy ydfiov<;, iravra ravra evofxi^ov elvai Ka\d kuI ov irapepyo)'; eKtvovfxrjv irpo'i avrd. ejrel Be ei<f dvBpa<i TeXelv T^p^dfirjv, irdXiv av imavOa rfKovov TOiv vofMfov TavavTia rot? TTOiT/rat? KcXevovToyv, firjre fioi-x^eveiv fi>]Te araaid^eiv /xrjre dpTrd^eiv. ev fieydXrj ovv KadeiaT^fceiv dfi<f>i- /SoXia, ovK €lB(b<i 6 ri '^(^pijaaifMTjv ifiavrm' ovre ydp dv TTOre tov<; 0€ov<; p,0L')(ev<Tai Kal aracridaai irpo? dXXi]Xov<i rjyovfirjv el ^r) el)? trepl KaXwv TOVTcov eyiyvai(TKOv, ovt dv TOv<i vop,odeja<i rdvavria irapaivelv el firj XvaireXeiv vireXd/x^a'

78


MENIPPUS

great fortunes who keep their gold locked up as closely as Danae


Don't quote the motion, my dear fellow, before telling me what I should be especially glad to hear from you ; that is to say, what was the purpose of your going down, who was your guide for the journey, and then, in due order, what you saw and heard there ; for it is to be expected, of course, that as a man of taste you did not overlook anything worth seeing or hearing.

MENIPPUS

I must meet your wishes in that, too, for what is a man to do when a friend constrains him ? First, then, I shall tell you about my decision — what impelled me to go down. While I was a boy, when I read in Homer and Hesiod about wars and quarrels, not only of the demigods but of the gods themselves, and besides about their amours and assaults and abductions and lawsuits and banishing fathers and marrying sisters, I thought that all these things were right, and I felt an uncommon impulsion toward them. But when I came of age, I found that the laws contradicted the poets and forbade adultery, quarrelling, and theft. So I was plunged into great uncertainty, not knowing how to deal with my own case ; for the gods would never have committed adultery and quarrelled with each other, I thought, unless they deemed these actions right, and the lawgivers would not recommend the opposite course unless they supposed it to be advantageous.

79


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

i vov. iirel Se Sirjiropovv, eBo^e fioi eXdovra irapa Tou? KaXovfiivov^ tovtov^ <pi\oa6^ov<i iyx^iplcrat re ifxavTov koI SerjOfjvai avTcov '^prjcrOai fioi o ri ^ouXoLVTO Kai Tiva 686v dirXijv koX ^e^acov vtto- Sel^ai Tov ^iov.

Tavra jxev Brj <J3pov(ov irpocrrjeiv avrol<i, eXeXtj- deiv 5' ifiavTov et? avro, (f)aal, to irvp ex rov KaiTvov ^ia^6/x€Vo<;. irapa 'yap Br) tovtol^ fidXccrra evpiaK^v eTriaKotT&v rrjv dyvoiav koI Trjv diropiav TrXeiova, ware fxoi rd^iara "X^pvaovv direBei^av ovTOi rov roiv IBiwroiv tovtov ^iov.

^AfiiXei, fi€v avrSiv Trapyvei to irdv rjBecrdat,

Koi flOVOV TOVTO CK TTaVTO'i fl€Tl€Vai' TOVTO ydp

elvai TO evBatfMov. 6 Be rt? efiiraXiv, irovelv ra irdvTa Kol fMo^delv kuI to aco/xa KaTavay/cd^eiv pVTTcovTa Kal av')(^p,S)vTa koX nda-i BvaapeaTovvTa Kai XotBopovfxei'Ov, crvvex^f iirippailruiBoiv rd /rdvBrj/uua eKclva TOV 'MaioBov irepl t^? dp€Trj<; eirrj koL tov IBptOTa Kal Tr)v eirl to UKpov dvd^aaiv. dXXo<i Kara^povelv "y^pr^fidTwv irap- eKeXevcTo Kal dBid(f>opov oieadai ttjv ktyjctlv avTOiv 6 Be Tt? ep/rraXiv dyadov elvai Kal tov ttXovtov dire^aiveTO. irepl fiev yap rov Koa/xou ri -^prj Kal Xeyeiv ; 09 ye lBea<i Kal da-cofMara Kal drofjLOV^ Kal Kevd Kal roiovrov riva o^Xov 6vop,d- Twv oarrjfiepat Trap* avrcbv dKovcov ivavriayv. Kal TO 7rdvTQ)v dT07rd)Tarov, on rrepl rcov ivavrKord- Toav €Ka<TTO^ avrSiv Xeycov (r(f>6Bpa viKO)vra<; Kal 7n0avov<; Xoyov^ eiropi^ero, ware ixrjre ru> Oep/Mov TO avro 'npdyixa Xeyovri fi'qre tco t/fvxpov avri-

^ Works and Days, 287 sq. ; Lucian is always making fun of the philosophers for quoting this. 80


MENIPPUS

Since I was in a dilemma, I resolved to go to the men whom they call philosophers and put myself into their hands, begging them to deal with me as they would, and to show me a plain, solid path in life.

That was what I had in mind when I went to them, but I was unconsciously struggling out of the smoke, as the proverb goes, right into the fire ! For I found in the course of my investigation that among these men in particular the ignorance and the per- plexity was greater than elsewhere, so that they speedily convinced me that the ordinary man's way of living is as good as gold.

For instance, one of them would recommend me to take my pleasure always and to pursue that under all circumstances, because that was happiness ; but another, on the contrary, would recommend me to toil and moil always and to subdue my body, going dirty and unkempt, irritating everybody and calling names ; and to clinch his argument he was per- petually reciting those trite lines of Hesiod's about virtue, and talking of "sweat," and the "climb to the summit." ^ Another would urge me to despise money and think it a matter of indifference whether one has it or not, while someone else, on the con- trary, would demonstrate that even wealth was good. As to the universe, what is the use of talking about that? "Ideas," " incorporealities," "atoms," "voids," and a multitude of such terms were dinned into my ears by them every day until it made me queasy. And the strangest thing was that when they expressed the most contradictory of opinions, each of them would produce very effective and plausible arguments, so that when the selfsame thing was called hot by one and cold by another,

8i


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

\eyeiv e')(eLv, koX ravr elhora (ja<^S>^ to? ovk dv TTore Oepfiov ecrj ri kuI -^v^^^pov ev tuvto) 'x^povw. aT€')(yS)'i ovv eira(T')(^ov Tot9 vvai-d^ovcn tovtoi<; o/jioiov, dpri fiev iirtveuiov, dpn Se avavevoav efiTraXiv.

5 rioXXco Se TOVTCDv ixetvo aX,oy(OTepov' toi»9 yctp avrov^ rovTov^ evpiaKOv iTnrrjptov ivavTicorara TOt? avTWV \oyoi^ iiriTTjSevovTa^. tov<; yovp KUTacppovelp irapaivouvTa^i ')^pr)fidrQ}v ecapwv aTrpl^ e-)(op.evov<i avreov Kal Trepl t6k(ov Siacfiepo/xevov; Kal eVl fita-ffo) TTathevovra^; koX irdvra evexa Tovrav v'iTOfievovTa<i, toi;9 re rrjv ho^av diro- ^aXXop€VOV<; avTr]<; Tavrr]<i %a/3ti' ra irdvTa Kal irpdrrovra^ koX \eyovTa<i, rjBovrj<} re av cr^eSop diravTa'i KaTijyopovvra^, Ihia Be fiovy Tavrrj 7rpoa7]pTr)p,€Vov^.

6 S0aXet9 ovv koI TrjarBe rf]<; ikirlBo^ en fiaXXov iBvcr^epaivov, rjpeixa Trapafivdovfjuevo^ ifiavrop OTi /xeTo, TToWcov Koi (TO(f)(bv Kal (T(f)68pa cttI avvecrei Bia^e^oijp^evcov dvorjro^i t€ eifii /cot rd\TjO€<; €Ti dyvowv Trepcepxop'ai. kuI fiol trore BcaypvTrvovvTi tovtwv evcKa eBo^ev et? Ba^vXmva iXdovra BerjOijvai, tiuo<; r5)v fidycov rmv Zoypod- arpov fiaOrjTcbv Kal BiaB6')(^cov' rjKovov S" avrov^ iiTwBal'i re Kal T€\€Tai<i riaip dvotyecv rov" AiBov rd^ TTvXa^ Kal Kardyecv bv av ^ovXeovTai d<T(f)aXS)^ Kal OTTLo-m av6i<i dvairifiTrecv. dpicnov oZv r)yoviJL'qv elvai irapd Tivo<i tovtcov Biairpa^dfievov

83


MENIPPUS

it was impossible for me to controvert either of them, though I knew right well that nothing could ever be hot and cold at the same time. So in good earnest I acted like a drowsy man, nodding now this way and now that.^

But there was something else, far more unreason- able than that, I found, upon observing these same people, that their practice directly opposed their preaching. For instance, I perceived that those who recommended scorning money clove to it tooth and nail, bickered about interest, taught for pay, and underwent everything for the sake of money ; and that those who were for rejecting public opinion aimed at that very thing not only in all that they did, but in all that they said. Also that while almost all of them inveighed against pleasure, they privately devoted themselves to that alone.

Disappointed, therefore, in this expectation, I was still more uncomfortable than before, although I con- soled myself somewhat with the thought that if I was still foolish and went about in ignorance of the truth, at all events I had the company of many wise men, widely renowned for intelligence. So one time, while I lay awake over these problems, I resolved to go to Babylon and address myself to one of the Magi, the disciples and successors of Zoroaster, as I had heard that with certain charms and ceremonials they could open the gates of Hades, taking down in safety anyone they would and guiding him back again. Consequently I thought best to arrange with one of

1 More literally, " now inclining my head forward, and now tossing it backward " ; that is, assenting one moment and dissenting the next. To express disagreement, the head was (and in Greece is now) thrown back, not shaken.

83


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

rrjv Kard^aaiv eXdovra irapa Teipeaiap rbv Boimriov fiadelv irap avTOv are /xdvT€ci)<; kul (TO(f)OV, rL<; eariv 6 dpi(TTO<; /3t09 Kal op dv rtf e\.otTo ev (^povoiv.

Kat hrj dvairrjhrjaa^i 009 ei'xpv rd^ov^ ereivov evdv BaySuXwi^o?* i\da>v he avyyiyvofiaL tivi TOiv ^a\8aLcov aro^ta dvBpl Kol decnreaiw rr)v re'X^vrjv, ttoXi^ fi€V tt^v ko/mtiv, yeveiov Se fidXa crefivov Kadeifxevw, rovvofia Be rjv avTW ^\idpo- ^ap^dvr)<;. SerjOel^ Be koI KaOiK€T€v<Ta<; poyi^; iireTv^ov trap avTOu, €<p' otw ^ovXocto fiicrdo), 7 Ka6r)yi]<Taa0ai fioi ri]<; oBov. irapaXafioDV Be fie 6 dvT]p Trpcora /mev r)fj,epa<i evvea KaX eiKoanv dfia rfj (TeXrjvrj dp^dpevo^ eXove Kardywv ecodev cttI TOP Kv(l>pdrr]v 7rp6<; dvia'XpvTa rov rfKiov, prjaiv TLva fiaxpav iiriXeycov rj^ ov <T(f)6Bpa kut^kovov utairep yap ol ^avXoi twv ev T0I9 dywac fcrjpvKoyv eiriTpoxov Tt KaX aerate? ecfiOeyyeTO. ttXtjv ewKei ye Tiva<i eiriKaXeladai, BaLp,ova<i. fierd 8' ovv TT)V €Tr<pBT]v rpl<; dv p,ov tt/oo? to Trpoacorrov aTTOTTTUcra?, eiravrjeL TrdXiv ovBeva twv diravrdiv- TODV Trpoa^Xe-ncov. Kol ania fiev Tjv ri/xlv rd dKpoBpva, TTOTOV Be ydXa Kal fieXvKpaTov KaX to Tov XoaCTTToy vBa>p, evvr) Be viraiOpio't eirX t^9 7r(Ja9.

'ETret S' a\t9 elye rr}<i irpoBLanrjaeo)^, irepX /xeaaf vvKTaf iirX tov TlyprjTa irorafiov dyayoiv eKdOrjpev re fie KaX direpba^e KaX irepirjyviaev BaBX KaX aKiXXri KaX dXXoc<; TrXeioaiv, d/xa KaX rijv eTTwBrjv eKeivrjv virorovdopvaa';. elrd p-e oXov Karaixayevaa^ KaX trepteXOtov, iva p,r) fiXaiTTOLfirjv VTTO T&v <f)aafidTa)V, iiravdyei et9 84


MENIPPUS

these men for my going down, and then to call upon Teiresias of Boeotia and find out from him in his capacity of prophet and sage what the best life was, the life that a man of sense would choose.

Well, springing to my feet, I made straight for Babylon as fast as I could go. On my arrival I conversed with one of the Clialdeans, a wise man of miraculous skill, with grey hair and a very majestic beard ; his name was Mithrobarzanes. By dint of supplications and entreaties, 1 secured his reluctant consent to be my guide on the journey at whatever price he would. So the man took me in charge, and first of all, for twenty-nine days, beginning with the new moon, he took me down to the Euphrates in the early morning, toward sunrise, and bathed me ; after which he would make a long address which I could not follow very well, for like an incompetent announcer at the games, he spoke rapidly and indis- tinctly. It is likely, however, that he was invoking certain spirits. Anyhow, after the incantation he would spit in my face thrice and then go back again without looking at anyone whom he met. We ate nuts, drank milk, mead, and the water of the Choaspes, and slept out of doors on the grass.

When he considered the preliminary course of dieting satisfactory, taking me to the Tigris river at midnight he purged me, cleansed me, and con- secrated me with torches and squills and many other things, murmuring his incantation as he did so. Then after he had becharmed me from head to foot and walked all about me, that I might not be harmed by the phantoms, he took me home again, just as


85


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

Tr)v oIkiuv, ft)9 el^ov, avaTroSi^ovra, teal to Xoittov

8 afi(f)i ttXovv €'i')(Ofi€v. avTo<; fiev ovv ^wyiKrjv riva iveBv aroXrjp ra TToXka eoiKvcav Tjj ^IrjSiKf], i/xe 8e rovTOKTi (f>€p(op iveaxevaae, to5 triXa) kuX rrj XeovTr) Kol irpoaeTt, rfj Xvpa, koI TrapeKeXev- aaro, rjv ri<; epijTai /xe rovvofia, M.evcTr7rop fxt) Xeyeiv, 'HpaKXea Se rj 'OSvaaea rj ^Op<f>ea,

  • IA02

'fl<f Sr) Tt TOVTo, a> MeVtTTTre ; ov yap avvirjpii rrjv alriav ovtc rov a')(r][iaro^ ovre twv ovofidrcov.

MENinnos

Kat /j,r)v irpoSrfXov ye rovro Kal ov TravreXw? airoppriTOV inel yap ovroi trpo r}p.S>v I^Sivret eh "AiSov KareXrjXvOeaav, rjyeiTO, et fie arreiKaaeiev avToU, paSico<; av rrjv tov AlaKOv (ppoupav 8ia- Xadelv Kul aKQ}XvT(o<i av irapeXOelv are avv-qde- arepov, rpayiKOi<i jxdXa TrapaTrefnro/xevov viro rov a'^rjfiaTO'i.

9 "HSt; S' ovv V7re(f)aivev r}p,epa, Kal KareXOovre^; €Trl TOV TTorafiov irepl dvayojyrjv eyiyvofieda. irapea Kevaaro 6' ainco Kal (tku^o^ Kal lepela koI fieXiKparov Kal dXXa oaa irpo^; tijv reXerrfv '^pr)(Ti,fia. ifi^aXofievoi ovv diravra rd irape- <rKeva<Tfieva ovra) 8r) Kal avTol

^aivo/M€v d'^vvfievoi, daXtpov Kard 8dKpv

)(^eOVT€<i,

86


MENIPPUS

I was, walking backward. After that, we made ready for the journey. He himself put on a magician's gown very like the Median dress, and speedily costumed me in these things which you see — the cap, the lion's skin, and the lyre besides ; and he urged me, if anyone should ask my name, not to say Menippus, but Heracles or Odysseus or Orpheus.

FRIEND

What was his object in that, Menippus? I do not understand the reason either for the costume or for the names.

MENIPPUS

Why, that, at any rate, is obvious and not at all shrouded in mystery. Since they had been before us in going down to Hades alive, he thought that if he should make me look like them, I might easily slip by the frontier-guard of Aeacus and go in un- hindered as something of an old acquaintance ; for thanks to my costume they would speed me along on my journey just as they do in the plays.^

Well, day was just beginning to break when we went down to the river and set about getting under way. He had provided a boat, victims, mead, and everything else that we should need for the I'itual. So we shipped all the stores, and at length ourselves

" Gloomily hied us aboard, with great tears falling profusely." ^

^ There were many comedies with this motive. The only one extant is the Frogs of Aristophanes, where Dionysus descends in the costume of Heracles. /. 11, 5.

87


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

Kal fjiexpt l^^v Tivo<; vTrecpepo/j-eda iv ra> Trora/icT, elra Se elaeTrXeva a/xev ei? to eXo? fcal rrjv Xlfivrjv et? fjv 6 EiV(f)pdTr](; a^avi^erai. irepatcodevTe^ 8e Koi ravTijv a^iKvovfxeda eh ri 'X^wpiov eprj/xov kuI vX(o8e<; Kol dvijXiov, et? o kuI 8r) d'jro0dvTe<; — riyeiTO Be 6 M^iOpo/Sap^avrj^ — ^odpov re oopv^d/xeOa Kal rd firjXa Karecr(f>d^afu,ev koI to alp-a irepl avrov ecnreifrap.ev. 6 he fidyof; iv ToaovTW haha KaiopLevrjv e%a)i/ ovKer rjpeixaia tt] <f)Q}vfj, Tra/j,- fi€y€Oe<; Be, to? olo? re ^v, dvaKpayoov Baip.ovd<i rt 6/jlov TrdvTa<; eire^odro /cal Ilocvd<i Kal ^Fiptvva<i

Kal vv-)(iav 'EiKdTijv Kal e-waivr^v Yiepcrec^oveiav,

TrapafMiyvv'i dfia ^ap^apiKd riva Kal dai]/xa ovofuna Kal iroXvcyvWa^a. 10 Eu^u? ovv diravra eKelva ecraXeueTO Kal vtto Ti}? eVw^r}? rouBa(f)0<i dvepprjyvuro Kal vXaKrj rov Kep^epov iroppcoOev rjKOveTO Kal to irpdypa vTrepKar7]^e<i rjv Kal o-KvdpeoTTOV.

eBBeiaev 8' virevepdev ava^ evepwv 'Ai'Seorey? —

Karei^aivero yap rjBrj rd TrXelara, Kal 17 Xip-vt] Kal 6 HvpL^Xeyedcov Kal rov YiXovrcovo^ rd ^acriXeia. KareXd6vre<i B' 6[xw^ Bid rov x^afiaro<i rov /xev 'VaBdp,av6vv evpo/xev redveoira /xiKpov Betv vtto rov Beov<;' u Be Kep/5ep09 vXaKrrjae fiev ri kuI rrapeKivrjcre, Ta')(y Be /xov Kpov(Tavro<; rijv Xvpav irapaxp^P-Ci eKtjXijdr] vtto rov fieXov^. eirel Be 7r/)o<? rrjv Xi,/j,vr]v d(^LK6p.eda, puKpov fiev ovBe i7repai,d)dr)fi€v' rjv ydp 7rXi]p€<; rjBr) ro rropO fielov Kal ol/jLa)yr]<i avdirXeiov, rpavp.ariai Be irdvre'i

  • Source of the verse unknown. * Jliad, 20, 61.

88


MENIPPUS

For a space we drifted along in the river, and then we sailed into the marsh and the lake in which the Euphrates loses itself. After crossing this, we came to a deserted, woody, sunless place. There at last we landed with Mithrobarzanes leading the way ; we dug a pit, we slaughtered the sheep, and we sprinkled their blood about it. Meanwhile the magician held a burning torch and no longer muttered in a low tone but shouted as loudly as he could, invoking the spirits, one and all, at the top of his lungs ; also the Tormentors, the Furies,

" Hecate, queen of the night, and eery Perse- phoneia."*

With these names he intermingled a number of foreign-sounding, meaningless words of many syllables.

In a trice the whole region began to quake, the ground was rent asunder by the incantation, barking of Cerberus was audible afar off, and things took on a monstrously gloomy and sullen look.

"Aye, deep down it affrighted the king of the dead, Aidoneus" — ^

for by that time we could see almost everything — the Lake, and the River of Burning Fire, and the palace of Pluto. But in spite of it all, we went down through the chasm, finding Rhadamanthus almost dead of fright. Cerberus barked a bit, to be sure, and stirred slightly, but when I hastily touched my lyre he was at once bewitched by the music. When we reached the lake, however, we came near not getting across, for the ferry was already crowded and full of groaning. Only

89

VOL. IV, D


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

iiriirXeov, 6 fiev to (TKeXo<i, 6 Bk rrjv Ke^aXrjV, o 8e dWo rt o-vvTCTpt/jL/xivo^, ifiol BoKeiv, €K tivo<; iroXifiov irapovre^.

"OfX(ti<i S' ovv 6 ^k\rL<no<t l^dpcov o)? elBe ttjv Xeovrrjv, ol'r]dei<i fie TOv'HpaKXea elvai, etaeoe^aro Kcu BieiropO fievaev re dcrpevo^ koI airo^aai 1 1 Bi€(ri]fx,r]ve TTjv arpaiTov. eVet Be rjfiev ev tw (TKOTW, irpOTjei fiev 6 MiOpo^ap^dvrji;, elirofATjv Be iyo) KaroTTiv e%o/A€i/09 avrov, ea)9 tt/oo? Xeifitova /jbiyiaTov a^iKvovfxeOa tc3 d(T(f)oBeXa) Kardt^vTov, evda Bt) TrepierrerovTO r)fid<; Terpiyvlai tmu veKpcav ai (TKiai. Kar oXlyov Be irpolovje^ ntapayiyvo- jxeOa irpo'i ro rov Mtveoo? BiKaarijpiov' erv'yyave Be 6 i^ev eirl dpovou Tivo<i vy^rjXov Kadrjp.evo<i, irapeiarrjKearav Be avrS) Uoival Kal ^Epivve<; kuI 'AXacTTO/oe?. erepcodev Be ir pocrijyovro ttoXXol rive^ e(f)e^r)<;, dXvaec fiaKpd BeBefxevoi' eXeyovro Be elvat fiotxol icaX iropvo^oaKoi koI reX&vac koI KoXaxe^ Kal avKo^avTai Koi rotovTO^ 6/j.iXo<i rwv irdvTa KVKWVTWV ev r^ ySt'eo. %&)/3t9 Be o'C re TrXovaiot Kal TOKoyXvcfioi irpoarjecrav w^pol koI Trpoyd(TTope<; Kal iroBaypol, kXolov €Kaaro<; avrtav Kal KopaKa BirdXavrov eiriKeip.evo'i. e^e<noire<; ovv r]/jL€i<; ewp&fjiev re ra ytyvo/neva koI tjKovofiev TMv dTToXoyovfjLevcov Karrjyopovv Be avrojv Kaivoi Tiv€<i Kal TrapdBo^ot pr^rope^.

  • Supposed to refer to the disasters of a.d. 161 in the

Parthian war.

90


MENIPPUS

wounded men were aboard, one injured in the leg, another in the head, and so on. They were there, in my opinion, through some war or other. 1

However, when good old Charon saw the lion-skin he thought that I was Heracles, so he took me in, and not only ferried me across gladly but pointed out the path for us when we went ashore. Since we were in the dark, Mithrobarzanes led the way and I followed after, keeping hold of him, until we reached a very large meadow overgrown with asphodel, where the shades of the dead flitted squeaking about us. Going ahead little by little, we came to the court of Minos. As it chanced, he himself was sitting on a lofty throne, while beside him stood the Tormentors, the Furies, and the Avengers. From one side a great number of men were being led up in line, bound together with a long chain ; they were said to be adulterers, procurers, tax-collectors, toadies, informers, and all that crowd of people who create such confusion in life. In a separate company the millionaires and the money-lenders came up, pale, pot-bellied, and gouty, each of them with a neck-iron and a hundred-pound "crow" upon him.^ Standing by, we looked at what was going on, and listened to the pleas of the defendants, who were prosecuted by speakers of a novel and surprising sort.

  • We are left to conjecture as to the nature of Lucian's

"crow," for the word does not seem to be used elsewhere in a similar application. The extreme weight, however, suggests something resembling a ball-and-chain, a weight attached by a hook to a chain which perhaps was fastened to the neck-iron. It would have to be carried in the hand.

91


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

  • IAOS

TiV€<i ovTOi, 7rpo<i Ato<> ; firj yap OKvrjarj^ koI TOVTo eiirelv.

MENinnos

OlaOd TTov TavTaal t^9 Trpo? top ^\iov diro- T€\ovfi€va<; (TKia^i vtto t&v ato/xdrcov ;

4>IA02 Udvv fj^v ovv.

MENinnos Avrai roivvv, ineiSdv diroOdvwfxev, kuttj- yopovcrc re koI KarafiapTvpovai kuI 8t€\iy)(^ovcTi TO. TTeirpaypbiva rj/xiv Trapd top ^iov, KaX (T<^6hpa Tiv€<i d^ioTTicrTOt SoKovatv are del cruvovcrai Kal firjheTrore d^icyrdpuevai, rwv (TCOfidTcov. 12 'OS' ovv M.LVco<{ €7nfjL€\a)<i i^erdt^tov direireiMTrtv eKaarov 649 top twv dae^oov ^((opop SIktjp v(f)€^0PTa Kar^ d^iap twj/ TeToX.fxr)/j,€PQ)v, Kal fidXiara cKeipcov riTTTero tcop iirl Tr\ovTOi<; re Kal dp)(^al<; T€Tv({>o)fi6P(OP Kal fiopopou')(l Kal TrpoaKVPeiadai TTepipbepoPTwp, Trjp re 6Xtyo')(^p6piop dXa^opeiap ai/Tcov Kal rrjp vTrepoyjnap fivaaTTOfxepo^;, Kal on fjii} €p,€p.pr]pro Oi'rjTOL re 6pTe<i avTol Kal Oprjrcov dyaOSiP TeTV)(r]K6r€^. ot Be dirohvadpepoi rd Xa/MTrpd €Ketpa irdpra, irXoinovi Xeyay Kal yeprj Kal hvpa(Treia<i, yvfivol Kara) vepevKOTd irapei- (nrjKeaav oyairep ripd opeipop dpairep.Tral^op.epoi rf]v Trap rj/xip evSaifWpiap' war eycoye ravra 6p5)P u7rep€)(^ai.pop Kal et ripa ypcoplcraip,i avrcop, irpocTioov dp rjav^rj 7r&)9 VTrepLfxprjcTKOP olo<; rjp trapd TOP filop Kal rfXiKov €(f>vaa t6t€, ■^pUa

92


MENIPPUS


FRIEND


Who were they, in Heaven's name ? Don't hesitate to tell me tliat also.

MENIPPUS

You know these shadows that our bodies cast in the sunshine ?

FRIEND

Why, to be sure !

MENIPPUS

Well, when we die, they prefer cliarges and give evidence against us, exposing whatever we have done in our lives ; and they are considered very trustworthy because they always keep us company and never leave our bodies.

But to resume, Minos would examine each man carefully and send him away to the Place of the Wicked, to be punished in proportion to his crimes ; and he dealt most harshly with those who were swollen with pride of wealth and place, and almost expected men to bow down and worship them ; for he resented their short-lived vainglory and super- ciliousness, and their failure to remember that they themselves were mortal and had become possessed of mortal goods. So, after stripping off all their quondam splendour — wealth, I mean, and lineage and sovereignty — they stood there naked, with hanging heads, reviewing, point by point, their happy life among us as if it had been a dream. For my part I was highly delighted to see that, and whenever I recognized one of them, I would go up and quietly remind him what he used to be in life and how puffed up he had been then, when many men

93


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

TToWol /iev ewdev iirl r&v ttvXmvcov TrapeLaT^fceaav Tr}v npooBov avTOv TrepifiivovTe'i ooOov/jievoi re kuI airoKXecofMevoc Trpo? tcoi' ocKercov' 6 8e /ioXt? dv TTore avareC\.a<i avTOi<; 'irop(f>vpov'; rt? rj TTepl')(pv(TO<i ■q OLaTToiKiXoti ev8alfxova<i aiero koI fiaKapiov; airo^aiveiv tov<: irpoaetirovTa'i, el ^ to (rrr]6o<i rj T7)v he^LCLv Trporelvwv hoir] KaratpiXeiv. cKelvoi

fieV OVV T^VICOVTO dKOVOVT€<i.

13 T« 8e Mt'i/ft) fiia ti<; koI 7rpb<; ^a/Jtv ehiKaadrj' rov <ydp rot ^iKe\i.corr]v Aiovvaiov ttoWu ye kuI Seivd /cat dvocna vtto re Ai,(apo<; KaTijyoprjdevTa Koi VTTO Tr]<i (TKLcci Karafiaprvp7]6ivra trapeXOcov ApLaTLTnro<i o Kvprjvalo<; — dyovai S' avrov iv Tip,7J KoX Bvvarai p^eycarov iv TOi<i kuto) — p,iKpov Belv rfi Xipalpa irpoahedevra^ nrapeXvae Tf]<i KaraScKrjf; Xeycov 7roWol<; avrov rSiv TreTratSev- pevoov 7r/J09 dpyvpiov yeveadai Be^iov.

14 'AiTocrTai'Te*? Be 6p,a)<; rov BiKacxTTjpiov 7r/3o<? to KoXaarijpiov dt^iKvovpeda. evda Brj, Si (piXoTrj'i, iroXXd Kol eXeeivd rjv kcu aKovcrai /cal IBelv pucrriycov re yap 6p,ov ■\lr6(f>o^ r^Kovero koI olpcoyt) Tcov cttI tov irvpo'i oTrrcop^ivcov koI crTpi^Xai kuI KV(f>Q)ve<; Kal Tpoxoi, koI rj X.tpaipa iaTrdparrev Kol 6 Kep/3eyoo9 eBdpBaTrrev. eKoXd^ovTo re dpa 7rdvTe<i, /SacrtXet?, BovXoi, aarpdirai, irevqTe^, irXovaioL, wroi^oi, koX p,eTep,eXe irdai rwv re- ToXp,r)p,€Vcov. iviov<i Be avrcov kol iyvcopiaapev

  • ej Dindorf : fi &, fiv y.
  • trporeQfvra Seager, Fritzsche. But compare Horace

Carm. i. 27, 23-24 :

Vix illigatum te triformi Pegasus eipediet Chimaera.

94


MENIPPUS

stood at liis portals in the early morning awaiting his advent, hustled about and locked out by his servants, while he himself, bursting upon their vision at last in garments of purple or gold or gaudy stripes, thought that he was conferring happiness and bliss upon those who greeted him if he proffered his right hand or his breast, to be covered with kisses. They chafed, I assure you, as they listened !

But to return to Minos, he gave one decision by favour ; for Dionysius of Sicily had been charged with many dreadful and impious crimes by Dion as prosecutor and the shadow as witness, but Aristippus of Cyrene appeared — they hold him in honour, and he has very great influence among the people of the lower world — and when Dionysius was within an ace of being chained up to the Chimera, he got him let off from the punishment by saying that many men of letters had found him obliging in the matter of money.^

Leaving the court reluctantly, we came to the place of punishment, where in all truth, my friend, there were many pitiful things to hear and to see. The sound of scourges could be heard, and there- withal the wails of those roasting on the fire ; there were racks and pillories and wheels ; Chimera tore and Cerberus ravened. They were being punished all together, kings, slaves, satraps, poor, rich, and beggars, and all were sorry for their excesses. Some of them we even recognized when we saw them, all

  • Aristippus had lived at the court of Dionysius the

Younger. Among the men of letters there present were Plato, Xenoerates, Speusippos, and Aesohines the Socratic.

95


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

IBovrc;, OTToaoi rjaav rwv €va<y')(^o'i TereXevTrjKOTcov' oi he eveKaXvTTTOvTo re koL aTrecrrpe^ovTo, el Se Kol irpoa ^Xevoiev , jxaXa SouXoTrpeTre? tl koL KoXuKevTiKov, KoX ravTu TTw? oi'et /3apei9 6vTe<i Koi virepoTTTai irapa rov ^iov ; rot? fievroi irevrjaiv rjfxtTeXeia twv kukcov iSiSoro, koI SiavaTravofievoi iraXcv eKoXd^ovTO. xal fx-qv KUKelva elhov ra fivdooSr}, rov 'l^Lova koX rov Xi<TU(f)ov Kul rov ^pvya TdvTokov, ;;^a\e7ra)9 ye e^ovra,^ kuI rov yrjyei^rj Tirvov, 'HpdK\ei<i 6ao<i' eKeiro yovv roirov ini'X^cov dypov. 15 Ai€\d6vre<i Se xal rovrov<; eh to ireZiov ela^aXXofiev ro 'A')(epov(riov, evpia-Ko/xiv re avroOc Toy? rjpjtOeovi re kcu ra? rjpmva^; Kal rov dWov ofiiXov rcov vexpwv Kara edvr) Ka\ Kara <^u\a Btairo)/ji6vov<;, roix; fiev 7ra\aiov<; rtva<; Kal €vp(orcMvra<; Kal w? (f>'t](TLV "OfMrjpoi;, d/jL€vr]vov^, Toy? S' ert v€a\ei<i Kal avvearrjKora'i, Kal fxaXiara T0U9 AlyvTrrcovt avrSiv Sia to iroXvapKe^ t»7? Ta/jt%eiai?. to fievroi SiayiyvcoaKetv eKaarov ov Trdvv rcTjv pdhiov diravref; yap dre-)(yw dWrjXoi'i yiyvovrai op^oioi rSiv 6ara>v yeyv fivayfievcov. irXrjv dX\a fioyi<; re Kal hid ttoWov dvadewpovvre^ avrov<i iytyvcocTKo/iev. cKeuvro S' eir aK\rfkoi,<i dp^avpol Kal darjfioi Kal ovhev en ra>v irap tj/jliv KaXSiv ^v\drrovre<i. dfieXet iroWcov ev ravrS (TKeXercav Keifievoyv Kal irdvrwv 6fioico<; <f>o^ep6v ri Kal BidKevov hehopKorcov Kal yv/j.vov<i rov<i 6h6vra<i

  • X"^*'"'*' 7* ?x<"'^* A.M.H. : x*^^""'! t€ Ix*"^" ^- Not

in PN. Frilzsche reads xo^*'""' &\ye' ^x""^"'

^ A reflection (purposely bald and prosaic, in order to 96


MENIPPUS

that were recently dead. But they covered their faces and turned away, and if they so much as cast a glance at us, it was thoroughly servile and obsequious, even though they had been unimaginably oppressive and haughty in life. Poor people, how- ever, were getting only half as much torture and resting at intervals before being punished again. Moreover, I saw all that is told of in the legends — Ixion, Sisyphus, Tantalus the Phrygian, who was certainly in a bad way,^ and earth born Tityus — Heracles, how big he was ! Indeed, he took up land enough for a farm as he lay there ! ^

After making our way past these people also, we entered the Acherusian Plain, where we found the demigods and the fair women and the whole crowd of the dead, living by nations and by clans, some of them ancient and mouldy, and, as Homer says, "impalpable," while others were still well preserved and substantial, particularly the Egyptians, thanks to the durability of their embalming process. It was not at all easy, though, to tell them apart, for all, without exception, become precisely alike when their bones are bare. However, with some difficulty and by dint of long study we made them out. But they were lying one atop of another, ill-defined, unidentified, retaining no longer any trace of earthly beauty. So, with many skeletons lying together, all alike staring horridly and vacuously and baring

fetch a smile) of Homer's x«^«f' &>^y^ exoyra (Odyssey, 11, 582).

  • He covered nine pelethra; Odyssey, 11,577; unfortunately

we do not know how much a Homeric pelethron was. But when Athena took the measure of Ares, who could shout as loud as nine or ten thousand soldiers, it was but seven pelethra {11. 5, 860; 21, 407).

97


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

'irpo(f)aiv6vT(ov, r]Tr6povv irpo'i ifiavrov wrivc 8ia- fcptvacfii rov ©epaiTrjv diro rov koXov Nt/je'eo? rj TOP fieTaizTjp ^\pov atro rov ^aiaKcov ^acrtXeco^ rj Hvppiav rov fidyeipov uTrb rov ^AyafMefMvovo<i. ovSev yap en rojv ira\aio)V yvfopiafidrcov avrol<i irapefievev, dW ofioia rd ocrrd rjv, dhrfka koX dv- €7riypa(f>a koI vtt ovSevo^ en BiaKpLveaOac Bvvd- fieva. 16 Tocydprot eKCiva opwvri fioi iSoKci 6 rcov dv6 pcoTTbiv ^LO<i TTOfiirfj rivi p,a/cpd irpoaeoLfcivai, ■^opr)y€tv Se Kal Siardrreiv eKaara r] Tv'xr), Sid- <f)opa Kal TTOLKika rol^; rro/u,7revra2<i rd ayrjixara TTpoadrrrovaa' rov fiev yap Xa^ovcra, et, Ti/^ot, ^aaiKiKO)^ SiecTKevaaev, ridpav re emdelaa Kal Bopv(f>6pov^ Trapa^ovaa Kal rijv Ket^aXrjvare^^aaa rS) BiaBtjfxarc, r& he OLKerov (T'xi]/jLa TrepiedrjKev rov he riva koKov elvai eKocrfxiiaev, rov he dfiopcpov Kal yeXolov irapeaKevaaev Travro8a7rr)v ydp, oljxai, Sec yeveadai rrjv Oeav. 7roXXdKi<i he nal hid fie<Tr)<i t^9 tto/attj)? fiere^aXe rd ivicov (T')(r)ixara ovK ecbaa el<i reXo^ hta7T0fx,7rev(Tai a)9 erd')(dri(7av, aXKa ixerajK^teaaaa rov fiev Kpoiaov r^vdyKaae rrjv rov olKerov Kal al-)(^/jiaXci)rov cTKevrjv dvaXa- ^elv, rov he Maidvhpiov rea)<; ev rol<; oiKerai'i rrofiirevovra rr)v rov IloXvKpdrov<i rvpavviha fierevehvae. Kal fJ'€Xpi' P'^v rivo<; etaae '^^prjaOai Tft) axvi-^CLri' iirethdv he 6 t^9 Tro/iTr?)? Kaip6<i rrapeXdrj, rrjviKavra e/tacrro? dirohovf; rrjv cTKevrjv Kal aTTohvadixevot ro a^^p-a fierd rov a(t)p.aro<i eyevero olotrrrep r]v irpo rov yeveadai, fiTjhev rov TrXrjalov hiacfiepcov. evioi he vtt dyvtofioavvr}^, iirethdv dirairfi rov Koap.ov emardaa "q Tt/^iy, 98


MENIPPUS

their teeth, I questioned myself how I could dis- tinguish Thersites from handsome Nireus, or the mendicant Irus from the King of the Phaeacians, or the cook Pyrrhias from Agamemnon ; for none of their former means of identification abode with them, but their bones were all alike, undefined, unlabelled,and unable ever again to be distinguished by anyone.

So as I looked at them it seemed to me that human life is like a long pageant, and that all its trappings are supplied and distributed by Fortune, who arrays the participants in various costumes of many colours. Taking one person, it may be, she attires him royally, placing a tiara upon his head, giving him body-guards, and encircling his brow with the diadem ; but upon another she puts the costume of a slave. Again, she makes up one person so that he is handsome, but causes another to be ugly and ridiculous. I suppose that the show must needs be diversified. And often, in the very middle of the pageant, she exchanges the costumes of several players ; instead of allowing them to finish the pageant in the parts that had been assigned to them, she re-apparels them, forcing Croesus to assume the dress of a slave and a captive, and shift- ing Maeandrius, who formerly paraded among the servants, into the imperial habit of Polycrates. For a brief space she lets them use their costumes, but when the time of the pageant is over, each gives back the properties and lays off the costume along with his body, becoming what he was before his birth, no different from his neighbour. Some, how- ever, are so ungrateful that when Fortune appears to them and asks her trappings back, they are vexed

99


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

ax^ovrai re xal dyava/cTovcrip oiairep ocKeicov TivSiv (TTepKTKofievoi KoX ov)(^ a TTpbg oXCyov ixPV' aavTo aTTo8iB6vr€<;.

Olfiai 8e (re koX twv evrt rrj^ (TKr}V7]<; 7roWd.Ki<; kcopaKevat Tov<i TpayiKov<; vTro/cpira^; tovtov<; 7rpb<; Ta9 ^(^/jeta? rcov hpafidrcov dprt, p.ev K.p€ovTa<i, eviore he Ylpidfwv<i yoy vofxivovi rj ^ Ay a fii/xvova^, Kot o auT09, el rvxpt, fiiKpov e/jLirpocrdev fidXa aefivSiq TO Tov Ke/cpoTTO? rj ^¥^pe)(dea)<i a-^jripLa /xi/jbr]crd/x€vo<; fier okiyov oiKeTij'i irporfkOev inro TOV TToirjTOv K€Ke\evcr [jAvo<i- rjhrf he Trepan; €XOVto<; TOV hpapxiTO^ dTTohv(7dp.evo<i CKacrToq avTMV ttjv Xpvo'oTraaTOv eKeivr^v iadqra xal to irpoaairelov dTro6efievo<; koI Kara^ds aTro twv ifi^aTcov 7revT)<; Kal TUTreivb^ Trepleicnv, oukct ^Ayafjue/ivoyv 6 'Arpect)? ovhe Kpetov 6 Meyot/cew?, dWd Il(b\o<i Xapi/cXeou? '^ovviev<; 6vofxa^6/jLevo<i rj ^dTVpo<i %eoye'iTovo^ Mapadcovto<;. ToiavTa xal ra tmv dvd pciiirayv TrpdyfiaTd iaTiv, a>9 Tore fxoi opcovTi eho^ev.

  • IA05

17 EtTre fioi, Si Mei^tTTTre, ol he tou? TroXuTeXei? T0VT0v<; Kol vylrrjXov^i Tdcf)ov<; e^ovTe^ virep 7^9 KOL crT'^\a<i Kal eiKova^ kol eTnypd/jifiaTa ovhev TifiiooTepoi Trap* avTolf elcri tS)v ihttoTOiv veKpSov ;

MENinnos Kripel'i, Si ovTO'i' el yovv ededcrco tov ^avatoXov avTov, — Xeyoi he tov K.apa, tov eK tov tu^ov Trepi^orjTov — ev alha oti ovk dv eiravao) yeXoiv, ovTco TaireLvo'i eppiTTTO ev Trapa^vaTOi wov 100


MENIPPUS

and indignant, as if they were being robbed of their own property, instead of giving back what they had borrowed for a little time.

I suppose you have often seen these stage-folk who act in tragedies, and according to the demands of the plays become at one moment Creons, and again Priams or Agamemnons ; the very one, it may be, who a short time ago assumed with great dignity the part of Cecrops or of Erectheus soon appears as a servant at the bidding of the poet. And when at length the play comes to an end, each of them strips off his gold-bespangled robe, lays aside his mask, steps out of his buskins, and goes about in poverty and humility, no longer styled Agamemnon, son of Atreus, or Creon, son of Menoeceus, but Polus, son of Charicles, of Sunium, or Satyrus, son of Theo- giton, of Marathon. 1 That is what human affairs are like, it seemed to me as I looked.


But tell me, Menippus ; those who have such expensive, high monuments on earth, and tomb- stones and statues and inscriptions — are they no more highly honoured there than the common dead ?

MENIPPUS

Nonsense, man ! If you had seen Mausolus him- self — I mean the Carian, so famous for his monument — I know right well that you would never have stopped laughing, so humbly did he lie where he

^ Polus and Satyrus were famous actors, both of the fourth century B.C.


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

XavOdvcov iv r& Xoittm 8'^/xq) rwv veKpwv, i/xol 8o/celv, rocrovrov airdKavwv rov fivi]fj.aTO<;, irap oaov e^apvvero ttjXlkovtov a')(6o^ iTriKei/xevof;' eTTeiSav yap, Si eralpe, 6 KlaKO<i afrofieTprjcrri e/cao"TW Tov roirov, — SlSaxri Be to /xeyiarov ov irXiov 7ro5o9 — avdjKr] ayairwyra KaTaKelcrdai, TT/oo? TO jxerpov crvve(nakp,evov. iroWS) 8' av olfiai p,aWov iyi\a(Ta<;, el edeaao) Tov<i trap ■qjMv ^aaiXea^ koX aarpd'jra'; irrw'xevovra'i Trap avTOL<i Kal ■^TOi TapL')(oira)\ovvra<i vir diropia^ r) Ta TTpSiTa 8i8daKOvra<; <ypdp,p,ara Kal viro tov TV')(^6vT0<i v^pi^op,evov<; Kal Kara K6ppr}<i iraio- pevov<i coairep tmv avSpairoStov ra dTiporara. ^IXiinrov yovv tov Ma«e8ova €70) deaadpuevo^ ovBe KpaTelv epavTOv BuvaTOf; rjv eBei'X^dr} Be tioi iv ycovia tivi piaOov dKovp,evo<; to, aadpa tmv vTToBrjpdTcov. 7roX\ov<i Be xal dWov<; ^v IBelv iv Tat9 TpioBoif; p€TatTovvTa<i, Ee/o^a? Xeyco xal AapeLov<i kuI n.oXvKpdTa<:.

«IA02 18 "Atottu Birjyjj to. rrepl tmv ^aaCXeoav Kal puKpov Belv airicTTa. Tt Be 6 X(OKpdTr}<; etrpaTTev koI Acoy€vr]<; Kal ei ti<; dXXo^ twv ao<p(ov ;

MENinno2 'O pLev 'Eo)KpdTT]<; KaKel irepieicnv BieXeyxwv arravTa^' avveaTi B avT&TIaXapijBrj^: Kol^OBua- aev<i Kal NecrT(op Kal et Ti<i dXXo^ XdXo<i veKp6<;. €Ti pevToi iTr€<pvcrrjT0 avTO) Kal BimBtjkci. iK t?}? <f>appaK07ro(XLa<i to, crKeXr]. 6 Be j3eXTi(TT0<i Ato- yevrji; irapoiKel p,ev XapBavaTraXXcp t& 'A<T(Tvpi(p


MENIPPUS

was flung, in a cubby-hole, inconspicuous among the rest of the plebeian dead, deriving, in my opinion, only this much satisfaction from his monument, that he was heavy laden with such a great weight resting upon him. When Aeacus measures off the space for each, my friend — and he gives at most not over a foot — one must be content to lie in it, huddled together to fit its compass. But you would have laughed much more heartily, I think, if you had seen our kings and satraps reduced to poverty there, and either selling salt fish on account of their needi- ness or teaching the alphabet, and getting abused and hit over the head by all comers, like the meanest of slaves. In fact, when I saw Philip of Macedon, I could not control my laughter. He was pointed out to me in a corner, cobbling worn-out sandals for pay ! Many others, too, could be seen begging at the cross-roads — your Xerxeses, I mean, and Dariuses and Polycrateses.


What you say about the kings is extraordinary and almost incredible. But what was Socrates doing, and Diogenes, and the rest of the wise men ?

MENIPPUS

As to Socrates, there too he goes about cross- questioning everyone. His associates are Palamedes, Odysseus, Nestor, and other talkative corpses. His legs, I may say, were still puffed up and swollen from his draught of poison. And good old Diogenes lives with Sardanapalus the Assyrian, Midas the

103


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

Kai MtSa T(p ^pvyX Koi aX\ot<; Tial t&p ttoXvtc-

XwV CLKOVCCV he olfllO^OVTCOV avTcov Kal ttjv

iraXatav tvxv^ avafieTpovfxevoyv yeXa re koI repireTai, xat, ra iroXXa v'itt(,o<; KaTaKei/jievo^ aSei fxaXa Tpa')(^€La koX drrrjvel i-fi (f)Q)vfj ra<i ol/JLa>ya<i avTcov eTriKaXvTTTcov, Mcrre aviacrdai rov<; av8pa<; Kal SLaaKeTTTeadai fieroiKelv ov (pepovTWi top ^loyivrjv.

♦IA02

19 Tavrl fiev Ikuvw';' tl 8e to ^frr](|ilafla rjv, oirep iv ap^y €Xeye<i K€Kvp(oa6ai Kara rtov TrXovalaiv ;

MENinnos

Ev 76 V'jreixvrjaa<i' ov yap oW ottw^ Trepl rov- rov Xeyeiv 7rpo0e/j,€vo<i rrdfnroXv dTre-jrXav^dTjv Tov Xoyov.

AiarpL^ovToii yap /xov Trap' avTOL<; rrpovdeaav 01 Trpvrdvei'i iKKXija-lav Trepl twv Koivp avfi(^ep6v- rmv IScov ovv iroXXov^ avvOeovTa^ dvajxi^aii ifiavrov tol^ vsKpol^ evdv^ el? kcu avTO'i rjv roiv eKKXr}(Tiaarcov. SiMKijOrj p,ev ovv Kal dXXa, reXevralov he to irepl rSyv irXovaioov eirel yap avTMV KanjyoprjTO iroXXd Kal heivd, ^la Kal dXa^oveia Kal virepo-^ia Kal dhiKia, reXot dvaa-rd^ Tt? t€)v Brjfiaywycov dveyvco ylr'^(f>i<r/xa

TOIOVTOV.

  • H*I2MA

20 " 'ETretS^ iroXXd xal irapdvo/xa oi irXova-ioi Spcbai irapd tov ^iov dp'ird^ovre<; Kal ^la^ofievoi Kal iravra rpoirov rdv irevi^Tcov KaTa(f>povovvT€<i, 104


MENIPPUS

Phrygian, and several other wealthy men. As he hears them lamenting and reviewing their former good-fortune, he laughs and rejoices ; and often he lies on his back and sings in a very harsh and un- pleasant voice, drowning out their lamentations, so that the gentlemen are annoyed and think of chang- ing their lodgings because they cannot stand Diogenes.

FRIEND

Well, enough of this, but what was the motion that in the beginning you said had been passed against the rich .

MENIPPUS

Thanks for reminding me. Somehow or other, in spite of my intention to speak about that, I went very much astray in my talk.

During my stay there, the city fathers called a public meeting to discuss matters of general interest ; so when I saw many people running in the same direction, I mingled with the dead and speedily became one of the electors myself. Well, various business was transacted, and at last that about the rich. After many dreadful charges of violence and mendacity and superciliousness and injustice had been brought against them, at length one of the demagogues rose and read the following motion.

(motion)

"Whereas many lawless deeds are done in life by the rich, who plunder and oppress and in every way humiliate the poor,

105


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

" AeSo-x^dco TTJ ^ovXfi Koi t& hrnxw, eireiZav airoddvoiai, ra ixev (TcofxaTa avTcov KoXd^ea-Oat Kadairep koX to, tmv dWojv irovyipoiv, ra? 8e -\|ri;^a9 dva7re/j,(pdeL<Ta^ dvoy el^; rov fftov /caraBve- (jdai et9 Toi'9 ovov^y d)(pi<; dv ev tw roiovTw 8ia- yaycoai /j,vpid8a<; eroiv Trivre Kal eoKoaiv, ovoi i^ bvwv '^L'^vdpuevoi Kal d)(9o(f)opovvT6(; Kal viro rSiv Trevijrcov iXavvofievoi, rovvreuOev 8e \olitov i^elvai avTol^ aTToOauelv.

" EtTTe rrjv yvoofirjv K-pavimv ^Ke\eri(ovo<i Ne«u- crtei"? (pv\rj<i ^AXi,0avTi8o<i"

TovTov dvayvwadevTOf; rov ■\lr7](f)i(TfiaT0<; iire- yjrijcfitaav /xev al dp^ai, €7re)(^ei,poT6vr]ae 8e rb irXrjdo^ Kal i^pi/ji7](raTO rj Bpi/xo) Kal vXdKzrjcrev o l^ep^epos' ovTO) yap ivreKy) yiyverai Kal Kvpia • ra eyvcoa/xeva. 21 TavTa fjblv hrj aoi rd iv rfj eKKXrjaia. iyo) Be, ovirep d(f)i,y/xr]v evsKa, tw Teipeaia irpoaeKdmv iKerevov avrop rd irdvTa Sirjyqcrdfievof; eiiTeiv TTpo? fie TTolov Tiva rjyelrai rov dpiarov ^iov. b 8e yeXdaa<i — ecrri Se rv(f)\6v rt yepovrcov Kal

W-^pbv Kal XeTTTO^WVOV "'H T€KV0V," (PlJCTL,

" rrjv /lev alriav olhd am tt}? d'wopia'i on irapd TMV cro<p(ov eyevero ov ravrd yiypcoaKovrcov eav- Tol<;' drdp ov dep,i<i Xeyeiv 7rpb<i ere' d7Teipr]Tai yap VTTO rov 'VaSap-di^Ovof;" " MT^Saytico?," e^rjv, " a) rrarepiov, dXhJ el-rre Kal firj TrepiiB-rjf; p,€ <rov rv(f)\6repov rrepuovra iv rm /Sift)." 6 Be Brj p.e uTrayaycov Kal ttoXv rSiv dXXcou aTrocnrdaas rjpefjLa irpoaKvy^a^ irpb'i rb ov<; (prja-iv, " 'O rcov IBicorcbv dpiaro<i ^io^, Kal acocfipovearepoi;^ iravcrd-

io6


MENIPPUS

"Be it resolved by the senate and people, that when they die their bodies be punished like those of the other malefactors, but their souls be sent back up into life and enter into donkeys until they shall have passed two hundred and fifty thousand years in the said condition, transmigrating from donkey to donkey, bearing burdens, and being driven by the poor ; and that thereafter it be permitted them to die.

"On motion of Scully Fitzbones of Corpsebury, Cadavershire."

After this motion had been read, the officials put it to the vote, the majority indicated assent by the usual sign, Brimo brayed and Cerberus howled. That is the way in which their motions are enacted and ratified.

Well, there you have what took place at the meeting. For my part, I did what I came to do. Going to Teiresias, I told him the whole story and besought him to tell me what sort of life he con- sidered the best. He laughed (he is a blind little old gentleman, pale, with a piping voice) and said : " My son, I know the reason for your perplexity ; it came from the wise men, who are not consistent with themselves. But it is not permissible to tell you, for Rhadamanthus has forbidden it." " Don't say that, gaffer," said I. "Tell me, and don't allow me to go about in life blinder than you are." So he took me aside, and after he had led me a good way apart from the others, he bent his head slightly toward my ear and said : " The life of the common sort is best, and you will act more wisely if you

^ Kol craxppovfffTtpos y : &s r^s h.^po<rvvr)s &.

107


THE WORKS OF LUCIAN

/xevof Tov fiereoipoXoyelv /cal riXr) xal apxa<i eiTLCTKO'irelv koX KaraTTTVcra'; rcov ao(f>a)v tovtmv avWoyicr/XMV Koi ra TOiavra \rjpov r)yr]crdfi€vo<i TOVTO fiovov i^ UTravro'i Orjpdcrr), ottco'; to irapov ev OefX€vo<i Trapa8pd/j,T]<i yeXayv ra noWa Kal irepX firjoev iaTrovBaKO}^"

0)9 eitrmv irdXiv wpro Korf d(X(f)oBe\.ov Xetfiwva.

22 '£70) Be — Kol yap rjSrj 6^jre rjp — ""Aye B^, Si Midpo^ap^dvrj," (prjfjii, " Tt BiajxeWo jxev Kal ovk aTTtfiev avdi<i ei? tov ^iov " ; 6 Be Trpo<i ravra, " ®dpp€i," (f)r](riv, " m Mevnnre' rw^elav yap aoi Kal dirpdy/xova viroBel^w drpairov^^ Kal Brf dyayoov fie 7rpo<> rt ')(wpiov rov oKXov ^o(f>epdiT€pov BeL^a<i TTJ X^ipl TToppfodev d/xavpov koI Xemov Mairep Bid K\€i6pia<i (/xw? elapeov, " 'Kkcivo,^^ €(f)r], " iaTiv TO lepov to Tpo(f)(Oi>iov, KciKeWev Kariaaiv ol aTTo BofftjTta?. Tavrrjv ovv dvtOt, Kal evdv^ ea-T] iirl t-^? 'EX,XaSo9." rjaOeh Be Tol<i elprj/biivoi^i iyo) Kal TOV fxdyov d<nraaap,evo'i '^^^aXeirco'; fiaXa Bid TOV (TTOixiov dvepirvaa'i ovk olB^ 6ir(i)<i ev Ae^aBela yiyvofiai.


108


MENIPPUS

stop speculating about heavenly bodies and discussing final causes and first causes, spit your scorn at those clever syllogisms, and counting all that sort of thing nonsense, make it always your sole object to put the present to good use and to hasten on your way, laughing a great deal and taking nothing seriously."

" So he spoke, and betook him again through the asphodel meadow."^

As it was late by then, I said: "Come, Mithro- barzanes, why do we delay ? Why not go back to life again ? " To this he replied : " Never fear, Menippus ; I will show you a quick and easy short cut." And then, taking me to a place murkier than the rest of the region and pointing with his finger to a dim and slender ray of light coming in as if through a keyhole, a long way off, he said : " That is the sanctuary of Trophonius, where the people from Boeotia come down. So go up by that route and you will be in Greece directly." Delighted with his words, I embraced the sorcerer, very laboriously crawled up through the hole somehow, and found myself in Lebadeia.

  • Apparently a cento from Homer; cf, Odyssey, 11, 539.


T09




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