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the dales and thickets。
STREPSIADES
Strange！ I can see nothing。
SOCRATES
There； close to the entrance。
STREPSIADES
Hardly； if at all； can I distinguish them。
SOCRATES
You must see them clearly now； unless your eyes are filled with
gum as thick as pumpkins。
STREPSIADES
Aye； undoubtedly！ Oh！ the venerable goddesses！ Why； they fill up
the entire stage。
SOCRATES
And you did not know； you never suspected； that they were
goddesses？
STREPSIADES
No； indeed； I thought the Clouds were only fog； dew and vapour。
SOCRATES
But what you certainly do not know is that they are the support of
a crowd of quacks； the diviners； who were sent to Thurium； the
notorious physicians； the well…combed fops； who load their fingers
with rings down to the nails； and the braggarts； who write dithyrambic
verses； all these are idlers whom the Clouds provide a living for；
because they sing them in their verses。
STREPSIADES
It is then for this that they praise 〃the rapid flight of the
moist clouds； which veil the brightness of day〃 and 〃the waving
locks of the hundred…headed Typho〃 and 〃the impetuous tempests；
which float through the heavens； like birds of prey with aerial
wings loaded with mists〃 and 〃the rains； the dew； which the clouds
outpour。〃 As a reward for these fine phrases they bolt well…grown；
tasty mullet and delicate thrushes。
SOCRATES
Yes； thanks to these。 And is it not right and meet？
STREPSIADES
Tell me then why； if these really are the Clouds； they so very
much resemble mortals。 This is not their usual form。
SOCRATES
What are they like then？
STREPSIADES
I don't know exactly； well； they are like great packs of wool； but
not like women…no； not in the least。。。。And these have noses。
SOCRATES
Answer my questions。
STREPSIADES
Willingly！ Go on； I am listening。
SOCRATES
Have you not sometimes seen clouds in the sky like a centaur； a
leopard； a wolf or a bull？
STREPSIADES
Why； certainly I have； but what of that？
SOCRATES
They take what metamorphosis they like。 If they see a debauchee
with long flowing locks and hairy as a beast； like the son of
Xenophantes； they take the form of a Centaur in derision of his
shameful passion。
STREPSIADES
And when they see Simon； that thiever of public money； what do
they do then？
SOCRATES
To picture him to the life； they turn at once into wolves。
STREPSIADES
So that was why yesterday； when they saw Cleonymus； who cast
away his buckler because he is the veriest poltroon amongst men；
they changed into deer。
SOCRATES
And to…day they have seen Clisthenes； you see。。。。they are women
STREPSIADES
Hail； sovereign goddesses； and if ever you have let your celestial
voice be heard by mortal ears； speak to me； oh！ speak to me； ye
all…powerful queens。
CHORUS…LEADER
Hail！ veteran of the ancient times； you who burn to instruct
yourself in fine language。 And you； great high…priest of subtle
nonsense； tell us； your desire。 To you and Prodicus alone of all the
hollow orationers of to…day have we lent an ear…to Prodicus； because
of his knowledge and his great wisdom； and to you； because you walk
with head erect； a confident look； barefooted； resigned to
everything and proud of our protection。
STREPSIADES
Oh！ Earth！ What august utterances！ how sacred！ how wondrous！
SOCRATES
That is because these are the only goddesses； all the rest are
pure myth。
STREPSIADES
But by the Earth！ is our father； Zeus； the Olympian； not a god？
SOCRATES
Zeus！ what Zeus！ Are you mad？ There is no Zeus。
STREPSIADES
What are you saying now？ Who causes the rain to fall？ Answer me
that！
SOCRATES
Why； these； and I will prove it。 Have you ever seen it raining
without clouds？ Let Zeus then cause rain with a clear sky and
without their presence！
STREPSIADES
By Apollo！ that is powerfully argued！ For my own part； I always
thought it was Zeus pissing into a sieve。 But tell me； who is it makes
the thunder； which I so much dread？
SOCRATES
These； when they roll one over the other。
STREPSIADES
But how can that be？ you most daring among men！
SOCRATES
Being full of water； and forced to move along； they are of
necessity precipitated in rain； being fully distended with moisture
from the regions where they have been floating； hence they bump each
other heavily and burst with great noise。
STREPSIADES
But is it not Zeus who forces them to move？
SOCRATES
Not at all； it's the aerial Whirlwind。
STREPSIADES
The Whirlwind！ ah！ I did not know that。 So Zeus； it seems； has
no existence； and its the Whirlwind that reigns in his stead？ But
you have not yet told me what makes the roll of the thunder？
SOCRATES
Have you not understood me then？ I tell you； that the Clouds； when
full of rain； bump against one another； and that； being inordinately
swollen out； they burst with a great noise。
STREPSIADES
How can you make me credit that？
SOCRATES
Take yourself as an example。 When you have heartily gorged on stew
at the Panathenaea； you get throes of stomach…ache and then suddenly
your belly resounds with prolonged rumbling。
STREPSIADES
Yes； yes； by Apollo I suffer； I get colic； then the stew sets to
rumbling like thunder and finally bursts forth with a terrific
noise。 At first； it's but a little gurgling pappax； pappax！ then it
increases； papapappax！ and when I take my crap； why； it's thunder
indeed； papapappax！ pappax！！ papapappax！！！ just like the clouds。
SOCRATES
Well then； reflect what a noise is produced by your belly； which
is but small。 Shall not the air； which is boundless； produce these
mighty claps of thunder？
STREPSIADES
And this is why the names are so much alike： crap and clap。 But
tell me this。 Whence comes the lightning； the dazzling flame； which at
times consumes the man it strikes； at others hardly singes him。 Is
it not plain； that Zeus is hurling it at the perjurers？
SOCRATES
Out upon the fool！ the driveller！ he still savours of the golden
age！ If Zeus strikes at the perjurers； why has he not blasted Simon；
Cleonymus and Theorus？ Of a surety； greater perjurers cannot exist。
No； he strikes his own temple； and Sunium； the promontory of Athens；
and the towering oaks。 Now； why should he do that？ An oak is no
perjurer。
STREPSIADES
I cannot tell； but it seems to me well argued。 What is the
lightning then？
SOCRATES
When a dry wind ascends to the Clouds and gets shut into them；
it blows them out like a bladder； finally； being too confined； it
bursts them； escapes with fierce violence and a roar to flash into
flame by reason of its own impetuosity。
STREPSIADES
Ah； that's just what happened to me one day。 It was at the feast
of Zeus！ I was cooking a sow's bel