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Line 880

ἰκτῖδας ἐνύδρως ἐγχέλεις Κωπαΐδας.

The phrase is a striking example of Aristophanic zoological hyperbole and comic cataloging, listing three specific types of aquatic creatures (ictiads, eels, and Copaic eels) to represent the entirety of the food available to the poor in the city. The specific mention of 'Copaic eels' (Κωπαΐδας) is significant as it alludes to the eel-rich Lake Copais in Boeotia, a region famously associated with abundant fish but also with the difficult agricultural conditions that forced the poor into such meager diets. The genitive plural forms function as a collective noun phrase, emphasizing the overwhelming, almost grotesque, variety of slimy, water-dwelling creatures that constitute the diet of the 'ichthyophagi' (fish-eaters) in this scene, a satirical reference to the diet of the Spartans or the impoverished Athenians depending on the immediate context of the dialogue.

Acharnians. Aristophanes. . 2026-09-08.

Current edition Experimental

Commentary (Sanjaya, generated; selected passages) (OCR draft) (English) (Source: pnadelofficial/aristophanes-sanjaya, commit c319590c139e5603e71f0699caa0663d823af8ad. Machine-generated source annotations retained; see Sanjaya import audit for coverage and limitations.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Ἀχαρνῆς Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 1. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906.) — 860-928 focus

Βοιωτός

ἴττω Ἡρακλῆς ἔκαμόν γα τὰν τύλαν κακῶς·
860

κατάθου τὺ τὰν γλάχωνʼ ἀτρέμας Ἰσμηνία·

ὑμὲς δʼ ὅσοι Θείβαθεν αὐληταὶ πάρα

τοῖς ὀστίνοις φυσῆτε τὸν πρωκτὸν κυνός.

Δικαιόπολις

παῦʼ ἐς κόρακας. οἱ σφῆκες οὐκ ἀπὸ τῶν θυρῶν;

πόθεν προσέπτονθʼ οἱ κακῶς ἀπολούμενοι
865

ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν μοι Χαιριδῆς βομβαύλιοι;

Βοιωτός

νεὶ τὸν Ἰόλαον ἐπεχαρίττα γʼ ὦ ξένε·

Θείβαθε γὰρ φυσᾶντες ἐξόπισθέ μου

τἄνθια τᾶς γλάχωνος ἀπέκιξαν χαμαί.

ἀλλʼ εἴ τι βούλει, πρίασο τῶν ἐγὼ φέρω
870

τῶν ὀρταλίχων ἢ τῶν τετραπτερυλλίδων.

Δικαιόπολις

ὦ χαῖρε κολλικοφάγε Βοιωτίδιον.

τί φέρεις;

Βοιωτός

ὅσʼ ἐστὶν ἀγαθὰ Βοιωτοῖς ἁπλῶς,

ὀρίγανον γλαχὼ ψιάθως θρυαλλίδας

νάσσας κολοιὼς ἀτταγᾶς φαλαρίδας
875

τροχίλως κολύμβως.

Δικαιόπολις

ὡσπερεὶ χειμὼν ἄρα

ὀρνιθίας ἐς τὴν ἀγορὰν ἐλήλυθας.

Βοιωτός

καὶ μὰν φέρω χᾶνας λαγὼς ἀλώπεκας

σκάλοπας ἐχίνως αἰελούρως πικτίδας

ἰκτῖδας ἐνύδρως ἐγχέλεις Κωπαΐδας.
880

Δικαιόπολις

ὦ τερπνότατον σὺ τέμαχος ἀνθρώποις φέρων,

δός μοι προσειπεῖν, εἰ φέρεις, τὰς ἐγχέλεις.

Βοιωτός

πρέσβειρα πεντήκοντα Κωπᾴδων κορᾶν,

ἔκβαθι τῶδε κἠπιχάριτται τῷ ξένῳ.

Δικαιόπολις

ὦ φιλτάτη σὺ καὶ πάλαι ποθουμένη,
885

ἦλθες ποθεινὴ μὲν τρυγῳδικοῖς χοροῖς,

φίλη δὲ Μορύχῳ. δμῶες ἐξενέγκατε

τὴν ἐσχάραν μοι δεῦρο καὶ τὴν ῥιπίδα.

σκέψασθε παῖδες τὴν ἀρίστην ἔγχελυν,

ἥκουσαν ἕκτῳ μόλις ἔτει ποθουμένην·
890

προσείπατʼ αὐτὴν ὦ τέκνʼ· ἄνθρακας δʼ ἐγὼ

ὑμῖν παρέξω τῆσδε τῆς ξένης χάριν.

ἀλλʼ ἔσφερʼ αὐτήν· μηδὲ γὰρ θανών ποτε

σοῦ χωρὶς εἴην ἐντετευτλανωμένης.

895

Βοιωτός

ἐμοὶ δὲ τιμὰ τᾶσδε πᾷ γενήσεται;
895

Δικαιόπολις

ἀγορᾶς τέλος ταύτην γέ που δώσεις ἐμοί·

ἀλλʼ εἴ τι πωλεῖς τῶνδε τῶν ἄλλων λέγε.

Βοιωτός

ἰώγα ταῦτα πάντα.

Δικαιόπολις

φέρε πόσου λέγεις;

ἢ φορτίʼ ἕτερʼ ἐνθένδʼ ἐκεῖσʼ ἄξεις ἰών;

Βοιωτός

ὅ τι γʼ ἔστʼ Ἀθάναις, ἐν Βοιωτοῖσιν δὲ μή.
900

Δικαιόπολις

ἀφύας ἄρʼ ἄξεις πριάμενος Φαληρικὰς

ἢ κέραμον.

Βοιωτός

ἀφύας ἢ κέραμον; ἀλλʼ ἔντʼ ἐκεῖ·

ἀλλʼ ὅ τι παρʼ ἁμῖν μή ʼστι, τᾷδε δʼ αὖ πολύ.

Δικαιόπολις

ἐγᾦδα τοίνυν· συκοφάντην ἔξαγε,

ὥσπερ κέραμον ἐνδησάμενος.
905

Βοιωτός

νεὶ τὼ θιὼ

λάβοιμι μέντἂν κέρδος ἀγαγὼν καὶ πολύ,

ᾇπερ πίθακον ἀλιτρίας πολλᾶς πλέων.

Δικαιόπολις

καὶ μὴν ὁδὶ Νίκαρχος ἔρχεται φανῶν.

Βοιωτός

μικκός γα μᾶκος οὗτος.

Δικαιόπολις

ἀλλʼ ἅπαν κακόν.

Νίκαρχος

ταυτὶ τίνος τὰ φορτίʼ ἐστί;
910

Βοιωτός

τῶδʼ ἐμὰ

Θείβαθεν, ἴττω Δεύς.

Νίκαρχος

ἐγὼ τοίνυν ὁδὶ

φαίνω πολέμια ταῦτα.

Βοιωτός

τί δὲ κακὸν παθὼν

ὀρναπετίοισι πόλεμον ἤρα καί μάχαν;

Νίκαρχος

καὶ σέ γε φανῶ πρὸς τοῖσδε.

Βοιωτός

τί ἀδικείμενος;

Νίκαρχος

ἐγὼ φράσω σοι τῶν περιεστώτων χάριν·
915

ἐκ τῶν πολεμίων γʼ εἰσάγεις θρυαλλίδας.

Δικαιόπολις

ἔπειτα φαίνεις δῆτα διὰ θρυαλλίδα;

Νίκαρχος

αὕτη γὰρ ἐμπρήσειεν ἂν τὸ νεώριον.

Δικαιόπολις

νεώριον θρυαλλίς;

Νίκαρχος

οἶμαι·

Δικαιόπολις

τίνι τρόπῳ;

Νίκαρχος

ἐνθεὶς ἂν ἐς τίφην ἀνὴρ Βοιώτιος
920

ἅψας ἄν ἐσπέμψειεν ἐς τὸ νεώριον

διʼ ὑδρορρόας, βορέαν ἐπιτηρήσας μέγαν.

κεἴπερ λάβοιτο τῶν νεῶν τὸ πῦρ ἅπαξ,

σελαγοῖντʼ ἂν εὐθύς.

Δικαιόπολις

ὦ κάκιστʼ ἀπολούμενε,

σελαγοῖντʼ ἂν ὑπὸ τίφης τε καὶ θρυαλλίδος;
925

Νίκαρχος

μαρτύρομαι.

Δικαιόπολις

ξυλλάμβανʼ αὐτοῦ τὸ στόμα·

δός μοι φορυτόν, ἵνʼ αὐτὸν ἐνδήσας φέρω

ὥσπερ κέραμον ἵνα μὴ καταγῇ φερόμενος.

Translations (2)

Acharnians (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Anonymous; Liveright, 192?). Migrated from Perseus legacy XML; source wording and notes retained. See TEI header and migration inventory.) — 895 focus

BOEOTIAN

And what will you give me in return?

DICAEOPOLIS

It will pay for your market dues. And as to the rest, what do you wish to sell me?

BOEOTIAN

Why, everything.

DICAEOPOLIS

On what terms? For ready-money or in wares from these parts?

BOEOTIAN

I would take some Athenian produce, that we have not got in Boeotia .

DICAEOPOLIS

Phaleric anchovies, pottery?

BOEOTIAN

Anchovies, pottery? But these we have. I want produce that is wanting with us and that is plentiful here.

DICAEOPOLIS

Ah! I have the very thing; take away an Informer, packed up carefully as crockery-ware.

BOEOTIAN

By the twin gods! I should earn big money, if I took one; I would exhibit him as an ape full of spite.

DICAEOPOLIS

Hah! here we have Nicarchus,¹ who comes to denounce you. f² An informer.

BOEOTIAN

How small he is!

DICAEOPOLIS

But in his case the whole is one mass of ill-nature.

NICARCHUS

Whose are these goods?

DICAEOPOLIS

Mine; they come from Boeotia , I call Zeus to witness.

NICARCHUS

I denounce them as coming from an enemy's country.

BOEOTIAN

What! you declare war against birds?

NICARCHUS

And I am going to denounce you too.

BOEOTIAN

What harm have I done you?

NICARCHUS

I will say it for the benefit of those that listen; you introduce lamp-wicks from an enemy's country.

DICAEOPOLIS

Then you go as far as denouncing a wick.

NICARCHUS

It needs but one to set an arsenal afire.

DICAEOPOLIS

A wick set an arsenal ablaze! But how, great gods?

NICARCHUS

Should a Boeotian attach it to an insect's wing, and, taking advantage of a violent north wind, throw it by means of a tube into the arsenal and the fire once get hold of the vessels, everything would soon be devoured by the flames.

DICAEOPOLIS

Ah! wretch! an insect and a wick devour everything! (HE STRIKES HIM.)

NICARCHUS
(TO THE CHORUS)

You will bear witness, that he mishandles me.

DICAEOPOLIS

Shut his mouth. Give me some hay; I am going to pack him up like a vase, that he may not get broken on the road.

English (Sanjaya, generated; selected passages) (OCR draft) Experimental (Source: pnadelofficial/aristophanes-sanjaya, commit c319590c139e5603e71f0699caa0663d823af8ad. Machine-generated source annotations retained; see Sanjaya import audit for coverage and limitations.) — 895 focus

Boeotus: And for me, how will this honor come about?

895

Dikaiopolis: You will certainly pay me for these markets!

Dikaiopolis: but if you are selling any of these other things, say so.

Boeotus: Good heavens, all this!

Dicaeopolis: come now, at what price do you say [it]?

Dikaiopolis: Will you carry another load from here to there, going?

Boeotus: Whatever it is in Athens, let it not be in Boeotia.

900

Dicaeopolis: So you will lead away the eels, having bought Phaleric ones.

Dikaiopolis: Or a pot.

Boeotus: eels or pottery? No, but there they are.

Boeotus: But whatever is not with us, this is again very much.

Dicaeopolis: I know, then; lead out a sycophant,

Dicaeopolis: just as if he had put on a helmet.

905

Boeotus: by the two gods

Boeotus: I would indeed take a gain if I brought it, even a large one,

Boeotus: Singing, I sail away with many jars.

Dikaiopolis: And indeed, Nikarchos comes this way, having shown himself.

Boeotus: a big one is this.

Dicaeopolis: but all [is] evil.

Nikarchos: Whose are these loads?

910

Boeotus: these are mine.

Boeotus: From Thebes, I am going to Zeus.

Nikarchos: I then, here

Nikarchos: These things are showing themselves as enemies.

Boeotus: What evil having suffered

Boeotus: Did you desire war with nets and battle?

Nikarchos: And I will show you before these people.

Boeotus: How am I being wronged?

Nikarchos: I will tell you the reason for what has happened;

915

Nikarchos: From the enemy, indeed, you bring in wicks.

Dikaiopolis: Then, so you are visible through the wick, are you?

Nikarchos: for this woman would have set fire to the shipyard.

Dikaiopolis: a shipyard? A taper?

Nikarchos: I think so.

Dicaeopolis: in what way?

Nícharxos: a Boeotian man would put [it] into the fire.

920

Níarchos: If he had caught him, he would have sent him to the shipyard.

Nikarchos: 'Through the water spouts, watching for a great north wind.'

Nikarchos: and even if he were to catch the fire from the ships once,

Nikarchos: He would immediately be eating sharks.

Dicaeopolis: O most filthy bather,

Dikaiopolis: Would he be scorched by a firebrand and a tallow-candle?

925

Nikarchos: I bear witness.

Dikaiopolis: seize his mouth together!

Dikaiopolis: Give me a bundle of firewood, so that I may carry it tied up.

Dikaiopolis: just like a tile, so that it may not break while being carried.

Commentary

Commentary (Sanjaya, generated; selected passages) (OCR draft) (Source: pnadelofficial/aristophanes-sanjaya, commit c319590c139e5603e71f0699caa0663d823af8ad. Machine-generated source annotations retained; see Sanjaya import audit for coverage and limitations.) focus

880. mvp-tlg0019-tlg001-sanjaya-com-eng1-48

Line 880

ἰκτῖδας ἐνύδρως ἐγχέλεις Κωπαΐδας.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 880

Current edition Experimental

Δικαιόπολις παῦʼ ἐς κόρακας. οἱ σφῆκες οὐκ ἀπὸ τῶν θυρῶν; πόθεν προσέπτονθʼ οἱ κακῶς ἀπολούμενοι 865 ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν μοι Χαιριδῆς βομβαύλιοι;

Δικαιόπολις ὦ χαῖρε κολλικοφάγε Βοιωτίδιον. τί φέρεις;

Βοιωτός ὅσʼ ἐστὶν ἀγαθὰ Βοιωτοῖς ἁπλῶς, ὀρίγανον γλαχὼ ψιάθως θρυαλλίδας νάσσας κολοιὼς ἀτταγᾶς φαλαρίδας 875 τροχίλως κολύμβως.

Δικαιόπολις ὡσπερεὶ χειμὼν ἄρα ὀρνιθίας ἐς τὴν ἀγορὰν ἐλήλυθας.

Βοιωτός καὶ μὰν φέρω χᾶνας λαγὼς ἀλώπεκας σκάλοπας ἐχίνως αἰελούρως πικτίδας ἰκτῖδας ἐνύδρως ἐγχέλεις Κωπαΐδας. 880

Δικαιόπολις ὦ τερπνότατον σὺ τέμαχος ἀνθρώποις φέρων, δός μοι προσειπεῖν, εἰ φέρεις, τὰς ἐγχέλεις.

Βοιωτός πρέσβειρα πεντήκοντα Κωπᾴδων κορᾶν, ἔκβαθι τῶδε κἠπιχάριτται τῷ ξένῳ.

Βοιωτός ἐμοὶ δὲ τιμὰ τᾶσδε πᾷ γενήσεται; 895

Δικαιόπολις ἀγορᾶς τέλος ταύτην γέ που δώσεις ἐμοί· ἀλλʼ εἴ τι πωλεῖς τῶνδε τῶν ἄλλων λέγε.

Βοιωτός ἰώγα ταῦτα πάντα.

Δικαιόπολις φέρε πόσου λέγεις; ἢ φορτίʼ ἕτερʼ ἐνθένδʼ ἐκεῖσʼ ἄξεις ἰών;

Βοιωτός ὅ τι γʼ ἔστʼ Ἀθάναις, ἐν Βοιωτοῖσιν δὲ μή. 900

Δικαιόπολις ἀφύας ἄρʼ ἄξεις πριάμενος Φαληρικὰς ἢ κέραμον.

Βοιωτός ἀφύας ἢ κέραμον; ἀλλʼ ἔντʼ ἐκεῖ· ἀλλʼ ὅ τι παρʼ ἁμῖν μή ʼστι, τᾷδε δʼ αὖ πολύ.

Δικαιόπολις ἐγᾦδα τοίνυν· συκοφάντην ἔξαγε, ὥσπερ κέραμον ἐνδησάμενος. 905

Βοιωτός νεὶ τὼ θιὼ λάβοιμι μέντἂν κέρδος ἀγαγὼν καὶ πολύ, ᾇπερ πίθακον ἀλιτρίας πολλᾶς πλέων.

Δικαιόπολις καὶ μὴν ὁδὶ Νίκαρχος ἔρχεται φανῶν.

Βοιωτός μικκός γα μᾶκος οὗτος.

Δικαιόπολις ἀλλʼ ἅπαν κακόν.

Νίκαρχος ταυτὶ τίνος τὰ φορτίʼ ἐστί; 910

Βοιωτός τῶδʼ ἐμὰ Θείβαθεν, ἴττω Δεύς.

Νίκαρχος ἐγὼ τοίνυν ὁδὶ φαίνω πολέμια ταῦτα.

Βοιωτός τί δὲ κακὸν παθὼν ὀρναπετίοισι πόλεμον ἤρα καί μάχαν;

Νίκαρχος καὶ σέ γε φανῶ πρὸς τοῖσδε.

Βοιωτός τί ἀδικείμενος;

Νίκαρχος ἐγὼ φράσω σοι τῶν περιεστώτων χάριν· 915 ἐκ τῶν πολεμίων γʼ εἰσάγεις θρυαλλίδας.

Δικαιόπολις ἔπειτα φαίνεις δῆτα διὰ θρυαλλίδα;

Νίκαρχος αὕτη γὰρ ἐμπρήσειεν ἂν τὸ νεώριον.

Δικαιόπολις νεώριον θρυαλλίς;

Νίκαρχος οἶμαι·

Δικαιόπολις τίνι τρόπῳ;

Δικαιόπολις ὦ κάκιστʼ ἀπολούμενε, σελαγοῖντʼ ἂν ὑπὸ τίφης τε καὶ θρυαλλίδος; 925

Νίκαρχος μαρτύρομαι.

Δικαιόπολις ξυλλάμβανʼ αὐτοῦ τὸ στόμα· δός μοι φορυτόν, ἵνʼ αὐτὸν ἐνδήσας φέρω ὥσπερ κέραμον ἵνα μὴ καταγῇ φερόμενος.

BOEOTIAN And what will you give me in return?

DICAEOPOLIS It will pay for your market dues. And as to the rest, what do you wish to sell me?

BOEOTIAN Why, everything.

DICAEOPOLIS On what terms? For ready-money or in wares from these parts?

BOEOTIAN I would take some Athenian produce, that we have not got in Boeotia .

DICAEOPOLIS Phaleric anchovies, pottery?

BOEOTIAN Anchovies, pottery? But these we have. I want produce that is wanting with us and that is plentiful here.

DICAEOPOLIS Ah! I have the very thing; take away an Informer, packed up carefully as crockery-ware.

BOEOTIAN By the twin gods! I should earn big money, if I took one; I would exhibit him as an ape full of spite.

DICAEOPOLIS Hah! here we have Nicarchus, 1 who comes to denounce you. f 2 An informer.

BOEOTIAN How small he is!

DICAEOPOLIS But in his case the whole is one mass of ill-nature.

NICARCHUS Whose are these goods?

DICAEOPOLIS Mine; they come from Boeotia , I call Zeus to witness.

NICARCHUS I denounce them as coming from an enemy's country.

BOEOTIAN What! you declare war against birds?

NICARCHUS And I am going to denounce you too.

BOEOTIAN What harm have I done you?

NICARCHUS I will say it for the benefit of those that listen; you introduce lamp-wicks from an enemy's country.

DICAEOPOLIS Then you go as far as denouncing a wick.

NICARCHUS It needs but one to set an arsenal afire.

DICAEOPOLIS A wick set an arsenal ablaze! But how, great gods?

NICARCHUS Should a Boeotian attach it to an insect's wing, and, taking advantage of a violent north wind, throw it by means of a tube into the arsenal and the fire once get hold of the vessels, everything would soon be devoured by the flames.

DICAEOPOLIS Ah! wretch! an insect and a wick devour everything! (HE STRIKES HIM.)

NICARCHUS (TO THE CHORUS) You will bear witness, that he mishandles me.

DICAEOPOLIS Shut his mouth. Give me some hay; I am going to pack him up like a vase, that he may not get broken on the road.

Commentary

Line 880

Stable identifiers

Δικαιόπολις

παῦʼ ἐς κόρακας. οἱ σφῆκες οὐκ ἀπὸ τῶν θυρῶν;

πόθεν προσέπτονθʼ οἱ κακῶς ἀπολούμενοι
865

ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν μοι Χαιριδῆς βομβαύλιοι;

Δικαιόπολις

ὦ χαῖρε κολλικοφάγε Βοιωτίδιον.

τί φέρεις;

Βοιωτός

ὅσʼ ἐστὶν ἀγαθὰ Βοιωτοῖς ἁπλῶς,

ὀρίγανον γλαχὼ ψιάθως θρυαλλίδας

νάσσας κολοιὼς ἀτταγᾶς φαλαρίδας
875

τροχίλως κολύμβως.

Δικαιόπολις

ὡσπερεὶ χειμὼν ἄρα

ὀρνιθίας ἐς τὴν ἀγορὰν ἐλήλυθας.

Βοιωτός

καὶ μὰν φέρω χᾶνας λαγὼς ἀλώπεκας

σκάλοπας ἐχίνως αἰελούρως πικτίδας

ἰκτῖδας ἐνύδρως ἐγχέλεις Κωπαΐδας.
880

Δικαιόπολις

ὦ τερπνότατον σὺ τέμαχος ἀνθρώποις φέρων,

δός μοι προσειπεῖν, εἰ φέρεις, τὰς ἐγχέλεις.

Βοιωτός

πρέσβειρα πεντήκοντα Κωπᾴδων κορᾶν,

ἔκβαθι τῶδε κἠπιχάριτται τῷ ξένῳ.

Βοιωτός

ἐμοὶ δὲ τιμὰ τᾶσδε πᾷ γενήσεται;
895

Δικαιόπολις

ἀγορᾶς τέλος ταύτην γέ που δώσεις ἐμοί·

ἀλλʼ εἴ τι πωλεῖς τῶνδε τῶν ἄλλων λέγε.

Βοιωτός

ἰώγα ταῦτα πάντα.

Δικαιόπολις

φέρε πόσου λέγεις;

ἢ φορτίʼ ἕτερʼ ἐνθένδʼ ἐκεῖσʼ ἄξεις ἰών;

Βοιωτός

ὅ τι γʼ ἔστʼ Ἀθάναις, ἐν Βοιωτοῖσιν δὲ μή.
900

Δικαιόπολις

ἀφύας ἄρʼ ἄξεις πριάμενος Φαληρικὰς

ἢ κέραμον.

Βοιωτός

ἀφύας ἢ κέραμον; ἀλλʼ ἔντʼ ἐκεῖ·

ἀλλʼ ὅ τι παρʼ ἁμῖν μή ʼστι, τᾷδε δʼ αὖ πολύ.

Δικαιόπολις

ἐγᾦδα τοίνυν· συκοφάντην ἔξαγε,

ὥσπερ κέραμον ἐνδησάμενος.
905

Βοιωτός

νεὶ τὼ θιὼ

λάβοιμι μέντἂν κέρδος ἀγαγὼν καὶ πολύ,

ᾇπερ πίθακον ἀλιτρίας πολλᾶς πλέων.

Δικαιόπολις

καὶ μὴν ὁδὶ Νίκαρχος ἔρχεται φανῶν.

Βοιωτός

μικκός γα μᾶκος οὗτος.

Δικαιόπολις

ἀλλʼ ἅπαν κακόν.

Νίκαρχος

ταυτὶ τίνος τὰ φορτίʼ ἐστί;
910

Βοιωτός

τῶδʼ ἐμὰ

Θείβαθεν, ἴττω Δεύς.

Νίκαρχος

ἐγὼ τοίνυν ὁδὶ

φαίνω πολέμια ταῦτα.

Βοιωτός

τί δὲ κακὸν παθὼν

ὀρναπετίοισι πόλεμον ἤρα καί μάχαν;

Νίκαρχος

καὶ σέ γε φανῶ πρὸς τοῖσδε.

Βοιωτός

τί ἀδικείμενος;

Νίκαρχος

ἐγὼ φράσω σοι τῶν περιεστώτων χάριν·
915

ἐκ τῶν πολεμίων γʼ εἰσάγεις θρυαλλίδας.

Δικαιόπολις

ἔπειτα φαίνεις δῆτα διὰ θρυαλλίδα;

Νίκαρχος

αὕτη γὰρ ἐμπρήσειεν ἂν τὸ νεώριον.

Δικαιόπολις

νεώριον θρυαλλίς;

Νίκαρχος

οἶμαι·

Δικαιόπολις

τίνι τρόπῳ;

Δικαιόπολις

ὦ κάκιστʼ ἀπολούμενε,

σελαγοῖντʼ ἂν ὑπὸ τίφης τε καὶ θρυαλλίδος;
925

Νίκαρχος

μαρτύρομαι.

Δικαιόπολις

ξυλλάμβανʼ αὐτοῦ τὸ στόμα·

δός μοι φορυτόν, ἵνʼ αὐτὸν ἐνδήσας φέρω

ὥσπερ κέραμον ἵνα μὴ καταγῇ φερόμενος.

BOEOTIAN

And what will you give me in return?

DICAEOPOLIS

It will pay for your market dues. And as to the rest, what do you wish to sell me?

BOEOTIAN

Why, everything.

DICAEOPOLIS

On what terms? For ready-money or in wares from these parts?

BOEOTIAN

I would take some Athenian produce, that we have not got in Boeotia .

DICAEOPOLIS

Phaleric anchovies, pottery?

BOEOTIAN

Anchovies, pottery? But these we have. I want produce that is wanting with us and that is plentiful here.

DICAEOPOLIS

Ah! I have the very thing; take away an Informer, packed up carefully as crockery-ware.

BOEOTIAN

By the twin gods! I should earn big money, if I took one; I would exhibit him as an ape full of spite.

DICAEOPOLIS

Hah! here we have Nicarchus,¹ who comes to denounce you. f² An informer.

BOEOTIAN

How small he is!

DICAEOPOLIS

But in his case the whole is one mass of ill-nature.

NICARCHUS

Whose are these goods?

DICAEOPOLIS

Mine; they come from Boeotia , I call Zeus to witness.

NICARCHUS

I denounce them as coming from an enemy's country.

BOEOTIAN

What! you declare war against birds?

NICARCHUS

And I am going to denounce you too.

BOEOTIAN

What harm have I done you?

NICARCHUS

I will say it for the benefit of those that listen; you introduce lamp-wicks from an enemy's country.

DICAEOPOLIS

Then you go as far as denouncing a wick.

NICARCHUS

It needs but one to set an arsenal afire.

DICAEOPOLIS

A wick set an arsenal ablaze! But how, great gods?

NICARCHUS

Should a Boeotian attach it to an insect's wing, and, taking advantage of a violent north wind, throw it by means of a tube into the arsenal and the fire once get hold of the vessels, everything would soon be devoured by the flames.

DICAEOPOLIS

Ah! wretch! an insect and a wick devour everything! (HE STRIKES HIM.)

NICARCHUS
(TO THE CHORUS)

You will bear witness, that he mishandles me.

DICAEOPOLIS

Shut his mouth. Give me some hay; I am going to pack him up like a vase, that he may not get broken on the road.