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Pearson 300 f.

300 f. This is the climax of absurdity, and is fresh evidence (fr. 162 n.) that

ludicrous 'Aetnaean beetle' was the image of an unfamiliar object. See C.R. XXVIII 224. In regard to κεράστης Viljoen answers that horned beetles are actually found in Sicily. That is not surprising, but what we are here concerned with is the horned beetle of the Aetnaean strain. If the horned beetle is so much larger than other species, how much more terrific was the horned Aetnaean beetle which could speak after death. -Cyllene gravely assents: for ἐγγύς see on fr. 210, 38.

Ichneutae. Alfred Chilton Pearson. ed. Alfred Chilton Pearson. . 2026-09-15.

Current edition Experimental

Commentary (A. C. Pearson, 1917; OCR review) (OCR draft) (English) (Commentary (A. C. Pearson, 1917; OCR review))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Greek (A. S. Hunt, 1912; Perseus reference) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. S. Hunt, 1912; Perseus reference)) — 298 focus

Κυλλήνη

μὴ νῦν ἀπίστει· πιστὰ γάρ σε προσγελᾷ θεᾶς ἔπη.

Χορός

καὶ πῶς πίθωμαι τοῦ θανόντος φθέγμα τοιοῦτον βρέμειν;
300

Κυλλήνη

πιθοῦ· θανὼν γὰρ ἔσχε φωνήν, ζῶν δʼ ἄναυδος ἦν ὁ θήρ.

Χορός

ποῖός τις ἦν εἶδος; πρ[ο]μήκης, ἢ ʼπίκυρτος, ἢ βραχύς;

Κυλλήνη

βραχύς, χυτρώδης, πο[ι]κίλῃ δορᾷ κατερρικνωμένος.

Χορός

ὡς αἰέλουρος εἰκάσαι πέφυκεν ἢ τὼς πόρδαλις;

Κυλλήνη

πλεῖστον με[τ]αξύ· γογγύλον γάρ ἐστι καὶ βραχυσκελές.
305

Χορός

οὐδʼ ὡς ἰχνευμ ων προσφερὲς πέφυκεν οὐδʼ ὡς καρκίν ος;

Κυλλήνη

οὐδʼ αὖ τοιοῦτ[ό]ν ἐστιν· ἀλλʼ ἄλλον τινʼ ἐξευροῦ τρόπον.

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ὡς κεράστ[η]ς κάνθαρος δῆτʼ ἐστὶν Αἰτναῖος φυήν;

Κυλλήνη

νῦν ἐγγὺς ἔγν[ως] ᾧ μάλιστα προσφερὲς τὸ κνώδαλον.

Χορός

τ[ί δʼ αὖ τὸ ] φων[οῦ]ν ἐστιν αὐτοῦ, τοὐντὸς ἢ τοὔξω, φράσον.
310

Κυλλήνη

[ ]λο[ φ]ορίνη σύγγονος τῶν ὀστράκων.

Χορός

[ποῖον δὲ τοὔνομʼ ἐν]νέ[πει]ς; πόρσυνον, εἴ τι πλέον ἔχεις.

Κυλλήνη

[τὸν θῆρα μὲν χέλυν, τὸ φωνο]ῦν δʼ αὖ λύραν ὁ παῖς καλεῖ.

Χορός

[ ¹] κτέανον ησύ[ ] τινι;

Κυλλήνη

[ ²] δέρμα κ[ ]στ [

[ ³ ]ον ὧδ[ε] κλαγγάνει [
315

[ ⁴]όρως ἐρείδεται

[ ⁵]πλεκτα [

[ ⁶]λάδος κ[

[ ⁷ κόλ]λοπες δε[

[ ⁸ ]αμματω [
320

[ ⁹]ον[

¹⁰ 13

καὶ τοῦτο λύπη[ς] ἔστʼ ἄκεστρον καὶ παραψυκ[τ]ήρ[ιο]ν
325

κείνῳ μόνον, χα[ί]ρει δʼ ἀλύων καί τι προσφων[ῶν μέλος

ξύμφωνον· ἐξα[ί]ρει γὰρ αὐτὸν αἰόλισμα τῆς λ[ύ]ρας.

οὕτως ὁ παῖς θανόντι θηρὶ φθέγμʼ ἐμηχανήσατ[ο.

Translations (1)

English (Anne Mahoney, adapted from Walker) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Anne Mahoney, adapted from Walker)) — 298 focus

Cyllene

Don’t be so skeptical: for a goddess is speaking trusty words to you.¹

Chorus

How should I believe that a dead animal’s voice can roar like that?
300

Cyllene

Believe it: it speaks now it’s dead, though it had no voice when it was alive.

Chorus

What did it look like? Long, curved, short?

Cyllene

Short, like a pitcher, and covered with a colorful hide.

Chorus

Was it like a cat, or rather a leopard?

Cyllene

In between, really: it’s round with short legs.
305

Chorus

Closer to a ferret, then, or a crab?

Cyllene

No, that’s not it; try something else.

Chorus

Is it like one of the horned beetles that live on Aetna ?

Cyllene

Now you’re getting closer to the beast

Chorus

And which part makes the sound, the inside or the outside?
310

Cyllene

first cousin to a potsherd.

Chorus

What name do you call it? Tell me, if you know any more.

Cyllene

The boy calls the animal a tortoise and the instrument a lyre.

Chorus

property ²

Cyllene

13 and this is his only consolation or cure for sorrow. He enjoys idly singing along; he coaxes Aeolian tunes from the lyre. Thus the boy made himself a voice from a dead animal.

Commentary

Apparatus (A. C. Pearson, 1917; OCR review) (OCR draft) (Apparatus (A. C. Pearson, 1917; OCR review)) focus

mvp-comment-93-1 τοῦτο πῶς φωνεῖ legisse Theonem testatur pap.2, τοῦθ᾽ ὁ περιφωνεῖ H. Richards

Commentary (A. C. Pearson, 1917; OCR review) (OCR draft) (Commentary (A. C. Pearson, 1917; OCR review)) focus

mvp-comment-137-1 254 See cr. n. Theon's variant is clearly inferior, however we interpret the text. Hunt rendered tell us of this voice which resounds'; but, if that is 1

mvp-comment-137-2 the meaning, he was well advised in the ed. min. to accept 8 περιφωνεῖ, the ingenious correction of H. Richards. The objection to this course is that φράζω is not used by Soph. with an accusative of the direct object in the sense of 'to explain.' It is simpler therefore to regard ὅπερ φωνεῖ as an object-clause: 'tell us what this sound means. Cf. Phil. 559

φράσον δ' ἅπερ γ᾽ ἔλεξας

. O.T. 655

φράζε δὴ τί φής

mvp-comment-138-1 255 αὐτῷ διαχαράσσεται is rendered by Hunt 'expresses himself therewith.' But that is hard to justify, and I should prefer to suppose that there is an allusion to the sound of the πλῆκτρον as it scrapes across the strings of the lyre. Cf. Plut. de soll. an. 20 p. 974 Β ὁ δὲ δράκων τῷ μαράθρῳ τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν ἀμβλυώττοντα λεπτύνων καὶ διαχαράττων. We might render: 'who in the world is setting our teeth on edge with it?' Compare the contemptuous use of catgut-scraper and the like in English; for the humour of the situation was enhanced by the satyrs' lack of musical appreciation. Wilamowitz seems to recognize this by the reference to 'Silen, dem sie (Musik) durch Mark und Bein geht' (p. 4511), but refuses to admit that the παρεπιγραφή ( ῥοῖβδος 107) can be used for the sound of the lyre. Rossbach's conjecture αὐτὸ διαχαρίζεται is mistaken.

Alfred Chilton Pearson Ichneutae 300-301

ed. Alfred Chilton Pearson

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Pearson 300 f.

Current edition Experimental

Κυλλήνη

μὴ νῦν ἀπίστει· πιστὰ γάρ σε προσγελᾷ θεᾶς ἔπη.

Χορός

καὶ πῶς πίθωμαι τοῦ θανόντος φθέγμα τοιοῦτον βρέμειν;
300

Κυλλήνη

πιθοῦ· θανὼν γὰρ ἔσχε φωνήν, ζῶν δʼ ἄναυδος ἦν ὁ θήρ.

Χορός

ποῖός τις ἦν εἶδος; πρ[ο]μήκης, ἢ ʼπίκυρτος, ἢ βραχύς;

Κυλλήνη

βραχύς, χυτρώδης, πο[ι]κίλῃ δορᾷ κατερρικνωμένος.

Χορός

ὡς αἰέλουρος εἰκάσαι πέφυκεν ἢ τὼς πόρδαλις;

Κυλλήνη

πλεῖστον με[τ]αξύ· γογγύλον γάρ ἐστι καὶ βραχυσκελές.
305

Χορός

οὐδʼ ὡς ἰχνευμ ων προσφερὲς πέφυκεν οὐδʼ ὡς καρκίν ος;

Κυλλήνη

οὐδʼ αὖ τοιοῦτ[ό]ν ἐστιν· ἀλλʼ ἄλλον τινʼ ἐξευροῦ τρόπον.

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ὡς κεράστ[η]ς κάνθαρος δῆτʼ ἐστὶν Αἰτναῖος φυήν;

Κυλλήνη

νῦν ἐγγὺς ἔγν[ως] ᾧ μάλιστα προσφερὲς τὸ κνώδαλον.

Χορός

τ[ί δʼ αὖ τὸ ] φων[οῦ]ν ἐστιν αὐτοῦ, τοὐντὸς ἢ τοὔξω, φράσον.
310

Κυλλήνη

[ ]λο[ φ]ορίνη σύγγονος τῶν ὀστράκων.

Χορός

[ποῖον δὲ τοὔνομʼ ἐν]νέ[πει]ς; πόρσυνον, εἴ τι πλέον ἔχεις.

Κυλλήνη

[τὸν θῆρα μὲν χέλυν, τὸ φωνο]ῦν δʼ αὖ λύραν ὁ παῖς καλεῖ.

Χορός

[ ¹] κτέανον ησύ[ ] τινι;

Cyllene

Don’t be so skeptical: for a goddess is speaking trusty words to you.¹

Chorus

How should I believe that a dead animal’s voice can roar like that?
300

Cyllene

Believe it: it speaks now it’s dead, though it had no voice when it was alive.

Chorus

What did it look like? Long, curved, short?

Cyllene

Short, like a pitcher, and covered with a colorful hide.

Chorus

Was it like a cat, or rather a leopard?

Cyllene

In between, really: it’s round with short legs.
305

Chorus

Closer to a ferret, then, or a crab?

Cyllene

No, that’s not it; try something else.

Chorus

Is it like one of the horned beetles that live on Aetna ?

Cyllene

Now you’re getting closer to the beast

Chorus

And which part makes the sound, the inside or the outside?
310

Cyllene

first cousin to a potsherd.

Chorus

What name do you call it? Tell me, if you know any more.

Cyllene

The boy calls the animal a tortoise and the instrument a lyre.

Chorus

property ²

Cyllene

13 and this is his only consolation or cure for sorrow. He enjoys idly singing along; he coaxes Aeolian tunes from the lyre. Thus the boy made himself a voice from a dead animal.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Pearson 300 f.

Current edition Experimental

Κυλλήνη μὴ νῦν ἀπίστει· πιστὰ γάρ σε προσγελᾷ θεᾶς ἔπη.

Χορός καὶ πῶς πίθωμαι τοῦ θανόντος φθέγμα τοιοῦτον βρέμειν; 300

Κυλλήνη πιθοῦ· θανὼν γὰρ ἔσχε φωνήν, ζῶν δʼ ἄναυδος ἦν ὁ θήρ.

Χορός ποῖός τις ἦν εἶδος; πρ[ο]μήκης, ἢ ʼπίκυρτος, ἢ βραχύς;

Κυλλήνη βραχύς, χυτρώδης, πο[ι]κίλῃ δορᾷ κατερρικνωμένος.

Χορός ὡς αἰέλουρος εἰκάσαι πέφυκεν ἢ τὼς πόρδαλις;

Κυλλήνη πλεῖστον με[τ]αξύ· γογγύλον γάρ ἐστι καὶ βραχυσκελές. 305

Χορός οὐδʼ ὡς ἰχνευμ ων προσφερὲς πέφυκεν οὐδʼ ὡς καρκίν ος;

Κυλλήνη οὐδʼ αὖ τοιοῦτ[ό]ν ἐστιν· ἀλλʼ ἄλλον τινʼ ἐξευροῦ τρόπον.

Χορός ἀλλʼ ὡς κεράστ[η]ς κάνθαρος δῆτʼ ἐστὶν Αἰτναῖος φυήν;

Κυλλήνη νῦν ἐγγὺς ἔγν[ως] ᾧ μάλιστα προσφερὲς τὸ κνώδαλον.

Χορός τ[ί δʼ αὖ τὸ ] φων[οῦ]ν ἐστιν αὐτοῦ, τοὐντὸς ἢ τοὔξω, φράσον. 310

Κυλλήνη [ ]λο[ φ]ορίνη σύγγονος τῶν ὀστράκων.

Χορός [ποῖον δὲ τοὔνομʼ ἐν]νέ[πει]ς; πόρσυνον, εἴ τι πλέον ἔχεις.

Κυλλήνη [τὸν θῆρα μὲν χέλυν, τὸ φωνο]ῦν δʼ αὖ λύραν ὁ παῖς καλεῖ.

Χορός [ 1 ] κτέανον ησύ[ ] τινι;

Cyllene Don’t be so skeptical: for a goddess is speaking trusty words to you. 1

Chorus How should I believe that a dead animal’s voice can roar like that? 300

Cyllene Believe it: it speaks now it’s dead, though it had no voice when it was alive.

Chorus What did it look like? Long, curved, short?

Cyllene Short, like a pitcher, and covered with a colorful hide.

Chorus Was it like a cat, or rather a leopard?

Cyllene In between, really: it’s round with short legs. 305

Chorus Closer to a ferret, then, or a crab?

Cyllene No, that’s not it; try something else.

Chorus Is it like one of the horned beetles that live on Aetna ?

Cyllene Now you’re getting closer to the beast

Chorus And which part makes the sound, the inside or the outside? 310

Cyllene first cousin to a potsherd.

Chorus What name do you call it? Tell me, if you know any more.

Cyllene The boy calls the animal a tortoise and the instrument a lyre.

Chorus property 2

Cyllene 13 and this is his only consolation or cure for sorrow. He enjoys idly singing along; he coaxes Aeolian tunes from the lyre. Thus the boy made himself a voice from a dead animal.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Κυλλήνη

μὴ νῦν ἀπίστει· πιστὰ γάρ σε προσγελᾷ θεᾶς ἔπη.

Χορός

καὶ πῶς πίθωμαι τοῦ θανόντος φθέγμα τοιοῦτον βρέμειν;
300

Κυλλήνη

πιθοῦ· θανὼν γὰρ ἔσχε φωνήν, ζῶν δʼ ἄναυδος ἦν ὁ θήρ.

Χορός

ποῖός τις ἦν εἶδος; πρ[ο]μήκης, ἢ ʼπίκυρτος, ἢ βραχύς;

Κυλλήνη

βραχύς, χυτρώδης, πο[ι]κίλῃ δορᾷ κατερρικνωμένος.

Χορός

ὡς αἰέλουρος εἰκάσαι πέφυκεν ἢ τὼς πόρδαλις;

Κυλλήνη

πλεῖστον με[τ]αξύ· γογγύλον γάρ ἐστι καὶ βραχυσκελές.
305

Χορός

οὐδʼ ὡς ἰχνευμ ων προσφερὲς πέφυκεν οὐδʼ ὡς καρκίν ος;

Κυλλήνη

οὐδʼ αὖ τοιοῦτ[ό]ν ἐστιν· ἀλλʼ ἄλλον τινʼ ἐξευροῦ τρόπον.

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ὡς κεράστ[η]ς κάνθαρος δῆτʼ ἐστὶν Αἰτναῖος φυήν;

Κυλλήνη

νῦν ἐγγὺς ἔγν[ως] ᾧ μάλιστα προσφερὲς τὸ κνώδαλον.

Χορός

τ[ί δʼ αὖ τὸ ] φων[οῦ]ν ἐστιν αὐτοῦ, τοὐντὸς ἢ τοὔξω, φράσον.
310

Κυλλήνη

[ ]λο[ φ]ορίνη σύγγονος τῶν ὀστράκων.

Χορός

[ποῖον δὲ τοὔνομʼ ἐν]νέ[πει]ς; πόρσυνον, εἴ τι πλέον ἔχεις.

Κυλλήνη

[τὸν θῆρα μὲν χέλυν, τὸ φωνο]ῦν δʼ αὖ λύραν ὁ παῖς καλεῖ.

Χορός

[ ¹] κτέανον ησύ[ ] τινι;

Cyllene

Don’t be so skeptical: for a goddess is speaking trusty words to you.¹

Chorus

How should I believe that a dead animal’s voice can roar like that?
300

Cyllene

Believe it: it speaks now it’s dead, though it had no voice when it was alive.

Chorus

What did it look like? Long, curved, short?

Cyllene

Short, like a pitcher, and covered with a colorful hide.

Chorus

Was it like a cat, or rather a leopard?

Cyllene

In between, really: it’s round with short legs.
305

Chorus

Closer to a ferret, then, or a crab?

Cyllene

No, that’s not it; try something else.

Chorus

Is it like one of the horned beetles that live on Aetna ?

Cyllene

Now you’re getting closer to the beast

Chorus

And which part makes the sound, the inside or the outside?
310

Cyllene

first cousin to a potsherd.

Chorus

What name do you call it? Tell me, if you know any more.

Cyllene

The boy calls the animal a tortoise and the instrument a lyre.

Chorus

property ²

Cyllene

13 and this is his only consolation or cure for sorrow. He enjoys idly singing along; he coaxes Aeolian tunes from the lyre. Thus the boy made himself a voice from a dead animal.