JUST DISCOURSE. And if your pupil gets impaled, his hairs plucked out, and he is seared with a hot ember,[562] how are you going to prove to him that he is not a filthy debauchee?
UNJUST DISCOURSE. And wherein lies the harm of being so?
JUST DISCOURSE. Is there anything worse than to have such a character?
UNJUST DISCOURSE. Now what will you say, if I beat you even on this point?
JUST DISCOURSE. I should certainly have to be silent then.
UNJUST DISCOURSE. Well then, reply! Our advocates, what are they?
UNJUST DISCOURSE. Nothing is more true. And our tragic poets?
UNJUST DISCOURSE. Well said again. And our demagogues?
UNJUST DISCOURSE. You admit that you have spoken nonsense. And the spectators, what are they for the most part? Look at them.
JUST DISCOURSE. By the gods, they are nearly all low scum. See, this one I know to be such and that one and that other with the long hair.
UNJUST DISCOURSE. What have you to say, then?
JUST DISCOURSE. I am beaten. Debauchees! in the name of the gods, receive my cloak;[563] I pass over to your ranks.
SOCRATES. Well then! do you take away your son or do you wish me to teach him how to speak?
STREPSIADES. Teach him, chastise him and do not fail to sharpen his tongue well, on one side for petty law-suits and on the other for important cases.
SOCRATES. Make yourself easy, I shall return to you an accomplished sophist.
PHIDIPPIDES. Very pale then and thoroughly hang-dog-looking.
PHIDIPPIDES. I do assure you, you will repent it.
CHORUS. Judges, we are all about to tell you what you will gain by awarding us the crown as equity requires of you. In spring, when you wish to give your fields the first dressing, we will rain upon you first; the others shall wait. Then we will watch over your corn and over your vine-stocks; they will have no excess to fear, neither of heat nor of wet. But if a mortal dares to insult the goddesses of the Clouds, let him think of the ills we shall pour upon him. For him neither wine nor any harvest at all! Our terrible slings will mow down his young olive plants and his vines. If he is making bricks, it will rain, and our round hailstones will break the tiles of his roof. If he himself marries or any of his relations or friends, we shall cause rain to fall the whole night long. Verily, he would prefer to live in Egypt[564] than to have given this iniquitous verdict.