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Line 907

ᾇπερ πίθακον ἀλιτρίας πολλᾶς πλέων.

The genitive absolute construction 'ἀλιτρίας πολλᾶς πλέων' (sailing with many uninitiated) is syntactically irregular and semantically charged. The participle 'πλέων' is in the nominative masculine singular, yet its logical subject is not the subject of the main clause (implied 'he' or 'one') but rather the 'sailor' or 'ship' associated with the action of sailing. More critically, 'ἀλιτρίας' (uninitiated, specifically regarding the Eleusinian Mysteries) in the accusative plural modifies the implied object of 'πλέων' (the sailors), creating a striking accusative of respect or attribute that is rare in comedy. This construction highlights the profanity of the voyage, contrasting the sacred 'Mysteries' with the profane 'pithakos' (a small pot or jar, here likely a euphemism for a ship or a specific type of vessel used in a mock ritual). The phrase is a deliberate distortion of standard participial syntax to underscore the sacrilegious nature of the journey.

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.) — 929-958 focus

Χορός

ἔνδησον ὦ βέλτιστε τῷ

ξένῳ καλῶς τὴν ἐμπολὴν
930

οὕτως ὅπως

ἂν μὴ θέρων κατάξῃ.

Δικαιόπολις

ἐμοὶ μελήσει ταῦτʼ, ἐπεί

τοι καὶ ψοφεῖ λάλον τι καὶ

πυρορραγὲς

κἄλλως θεοῖσιν ἐχθρόν.

Χορός

τί χρήσεταί ποτʼ αὐτῷ;
935

Δικαιόπολις

πάγχρηστον ἄγγος ἔσται,

κρατὴρ κακῶν, τριπτὴρ δικῶν,

φαίνειν ὑπευθύνους λυχνοῦχος

καὶ κύλιξ—

καὶ πράγματʼ ἐγκυκᾶσθαι.

940

Χορός

πῶς δʼ ἂν πεποιθοίη τις ἀγγείῳ
940

τοιούτῳ χρώμενος

κατʼ οἰκίαν

τοσόνδʼ ἀεὶ ψοφοῦντι;

Δικαιόπολις

ἰσχυρόν ἐστιν ὦγάθʼ, ὥστʼ

οὐκ ἂν καταγείη ποτʼ, εἴπερ

ἐκ ποδῶν

κατωκάρα κρέμαιτο.
945

Χορός

ἤδη καλῶς ἔχει σοι.

Βοιωτός

μέλλω γά τοι θερίδδειν.

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ὦ ξένων βέλτιστε συνθέριζε

καὶ τοῦτον λαβὼν

πρόσβαλλʼ ὅποι βούλει φέρων
950

πρὸς πάντα συκοφάντην.

952

Δικαιόπολις

μόλις γʼ ἐνέδησα τὸν κακῶς ἀπολούμενον.

αἴρου λαβὼν τὸν κέραμον ὦ Βοιώτιε.

Βοιωτός

ὑπόκυπτε τὰν τύλαν ἰὼν Ἰσμήνιχε.

Δικαιόπολις

χὤπως κατοίσεις αὐτὸν εὐλαβούμενος.
955

πάντως μὲν οἴσεις οὐδὲν ὑγιές, ἀλλʼ ὅμως·

κἂν τοῦτο κερδήνῃς ἄγων τὸ φορτίον,

εὐδαιμονήσεις συκοφαντῶν γʼ οὕνεκα.

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

907. mvp-tlg0019-tlg001-sanjaya-com-eng1-51

Line 907

ᾇπερ πίθακον ἀλιτρίας πολλᾶς πλέων.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 907

Current edition Experimental

Χορός ἔνδησον ὦ βέλτιστε τῷ ξένῳ καλῶς τὴν ἐμπολὴν 930 οὕτως ὅπως ἂν μὴ θέρων κατάξῃ.

Δικαιόπολις ἐμοὶ μελήσει ταῦτʼ, ἐπεί τοι καὶ ψοφεῖ λάλον τι καὶ πυρορραγὲς κἄλλως θεοῖσιν ἐχθρόν.

Χορός τί χρήσεταί ποτʼ αὐτῷ; 935

Δικαιόπολις πάγχρηστον ἄγγος ἔσται, κρατὴρ κακῶν, τριπτὴρ δικῶν, φαίνειν ὑπευθύνους λυχνοῦχος καὶ κύλιξ— καὶ πράγματʼ ἐγκυκᾶσθαι.

Χορός πῶς δʼ ἂν πεποιθοίη τις ἀγγείῳ 940 τοιούτῳ χρώμενος κατʼ οἰκίαν τοσόνδʼ ἀεὶ ψοφοῦντι;

Δικαιόπολις ἰσχυρόν ἐστιν ὦγάθʼ, ὥστʼ οὐκ ἂν καταγείη ποτʼ, εἴπερ ἐκ ποδῶν κατωκάρα κρέμαιτο. 945

Χορός ἤδη καλῶς ἔχει σοι.

Βοιωτός μέλλω γά τοι θερίδδειν.

Χορός ἀλλʼ ὦ ξένων βέλτιστε συνθέριζε καὶ τοῦτον λαβὼν πρόσβαλλʼ ὅποι βούλει φέρων 950 πρὸς πάντα συκοφάντην.

Δικαιόπολις μόλις γʼ ἐνέδησα τὸν κακῶς ἀπολούμενον. αἴρου λαβὼν τὸν κέραμον ὦ Βοιώτιε.

Βοιωτός ὑπόκυπτε τὰν τύλαν ἰὼν Ἰσμήνιχε.

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 907

Stable identifiers

Χορός

ἔνδησον ὦ βέλτιστε τῷ

ξένῳ καλῶς τὴν ἐμπολὴν
930

οὕτως ὅπως

ἂν μὴ θέρων κατάξῃ.

Δικαιόπολις

ἐμοὶ μελήσει ταῦτʼ, ἐπεί

τοι καὶ ψοφεῖ λάλον τι καὶ

πυρορραγὲς

κἄλλως θεοῖσιν ἐχθρόν.

Χορός

τί χρήσεταί ποτʼ αὐτῷ;
935

Δικαιόπολις

πάγχρηστον ἄγγος ἔσται,

κρατὴρ κακῶν, τριπτὴρ δικῶν,

φαίνειν ὑπευθύνους λυχνοῦχος

καὶ κύλιξ—

καὶ πράγματʼ ἐγκυκᾶσθαι.

Χορός

πῶς δʼ ἂν πεποιθοίη τις ἀγγείῳ
940

τοιούτῳ χρώμενος

κατʼ οἰκίαν

τοσόνδʼ ἀεὶ ψοφοῦντι;

Δικαιόπολις

ἰσχυρόν ἐστιν ὦγάθʼ, ὥστʼ

οὐκ ἂν καταγείη ποτʼ, εἴπερ

ἐκ ποδῶν

κατωκάρα κρέμαιτο.
945

Χορός

ἤδη καλῶς ἔχει σοι.

Βοιωτός

μέλλω γά τοι θερίδδειν.

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ὦ ξένων βέλτιστε συνθέριζε

καὶ τοῦτον λαβὼν

πρόσβαλλʼ ὅποι βούλει φέρων
950

πρὸς πάντα συκοφάντην.

Δικαιόπολις

μόλις γʼ ἐνέδησα τὸν κακῶς ἀπολούμενον.

αἴρου λαβὼν τὸν κέραμον ὦ Βοιώτιε.

Βοιωτός

ὑπόκυπτε τὰν τύλαν ἰὼν Ἰσμήνιχε.

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.