them misbehaving, I just wrap myself in a cloud, not to expose them. Yet they do nothing but discuss me in their talk, and insult me in every way. So that I swear I have often had thoughts of going away altogether as far as possible, to escape their troublesome tongues. Be sure you tell Jupiter this; and say besides, that I can't possibly stay where I am, unless he crushes those physical science men, gags the Dialecticians, pulls down the Porch, burns the Academy, and puts a stop to those Peripatetics; so that I may have a little peace, instead of being measured and examined by them every day.' 'It shall be done,' said I, and so took my leave."
So he went on, and reached the abode of Jupiter, where he hoped at first to get in without notice, being almost half an eagle—that bird being under Jupiter's protection; but, remembering that, after all, he was also half a vulture, he thought it best to knock at the door, which was opened by Mercury.[1] Jupiter complimented him highly upon his courage in making the journey, though the other gods were rather alarmed, thinking it a bad precedent for mortals. The monarch of Olympus asked him a good many questions as to the goings-on below, about which he appeared somewhat curious;—"What the price of wheat was now? What sort of a winter they had last year?" Especially he was anxious to know what mortals really thought about him. Menippus was very diplomatic in his answers. "'What can they
- ↑ Lucian evidently has in mind Trygæus's reception by Mercury, in the "Peace" of Aristophanes, i. 180, &c.
