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PRIEST
Why, best of Titans, I need nothing like that. But answer me this—I have longed to know, and if you tell me it will be an adequate return for the sacrifice and I release you from future debts.
CRONUS
Just ask what you want. I shall answer if I happen to know.
PRIEST
This first: whether what we often hear about you is true, that you ate up Rhea’s children, but she put Zeus out of the way, substituting a stone for you to swallow down instead of the child; then, when he grew up, he beat you in war and drove you from the sovereignty; he took you to Tartarus, put fetters on you and all the allies who sided with you, and threw you in.
CRONUS
If it were not festival-time, my man, and if you weren’t allowed to get drunk and cheek your masters with impunity, you would have found out that I’m allowed to be angry at any rate—asking such questions and showing no respect for a grey-haired old god like me!
PRIEST
Now I don’t say this on my own, Cronus. Hesiod and Homer say so; I’m not sure that I should tell you that the rest of mankind too believes pretty much the same about you.
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