5–6
Athene
But it strikes me just the other way, father. I do not think you ought to involve all heaven in your embarrassment, or show your own alarm at the affair; but make your arrangements privately so that Timokles may triumph and Damis be laughed out of court.
5
Hermes
But, Zeus, this course will not be unperceived, for the philosophers will hold their tournament in public, and you will be accused of Caesarism if you do not let all have a voice in matters so weighty and common to all.
Zeus
Very well, then. Summon them at once and let all appear. For you are right.
Hermes
Halloo, gods! Come to the assembly! Do not loiter Gather, all of you! Come! We are going to discuss great things!
Zeus
Hermes, is that bare, unadorned, prosaic style of announcement the proper thing, particularly when the greatest matters are in question?
Hermes
Why, what do you think more proper, Zeus?
Zeus
What do I think more proper? I say you ought to make your summons impressive by means of some sort of rhythm, and a sonorous, poetic form, to bring them the more readily.
5
Hermes
Yes; but such things belong to versewriters and declaimers, Zeus, and I am the worst poet imaginable. I should certainly ruin my summons by having too many feet in it or too few, and they would laugh at the illiteracy of my composition. I see that even Apollo's verses in his oracles are sometimes jeered at, though his prophecies are generally very obscure, so that those who receive them have not much leisure to criticize the versification.
