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Line 635

Βερέσχεθοί τε καὶ Κόβαλοι καὶ Μόθων,

The verb βερέσχεθαι is a hapax legomenon in extant comedy, appearing only here in Aristophanes. While the form is clearly a middle/passive present indicative second person plural, the root is obscure. It is often conjectured to be related to βερέσχειν (to be angry or vexed), but the semantic fit in this list of names is difficult; some scholars suggest a dialectal form or a corruption for a different verb, perhaps related to dancing or leaping, given the context of a procession of rustic figures. The lack of clear attestation makes this a significant crux for textual critics.

Knights. 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)

Ἱππῆς Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 1. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906.) — 624 focus

Ἀλλαντοπώλης

καὶ μὴν ἀκοῦσαί γʼ ἄξιον τῶν πραγμάτων.

εὐθὺς γὰρ αὐτοῦ κατόπιν ἐνθένδʼ ἱέμην·
625

ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ ἔνδον ἐλασίβροντʼ ἀναρρηγνὺς ἔπη

τερατευόμενος ἤρειδε κατὰ τῶν ἱππέων,

κρημνοὺς †ἐρείδων† καὶ ξυνωμότας λέγων

πιθανώταθʼ· ἡ βουλὴ δʼ ἅπασʼ ἀκροωμένη

ἐγένεθʼ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ ψευδατραφάξυος πλέα,
630

κἄβλεψε νᾶπυ καὶ τὰ μέτωπʼ ἀνέσπασεν.

κἄγωγʼ ὅτε δὴ γʼνων ἐνδεχομένην τοὺς λόγους

καὶ τοῖς φενακισμοῖσιν ἐξαπατωμένην,

ἄγε δὴ Σκίταλοι καὶ Φένακες, ἦν δʼ ἐγώ,

Βερέσχεθοί τε καὶ Κόβαλοι καὶ Μόθων,
635

ἀγορά τʼ ἐν ᾗ παῖς ὢν ἐπαιδεύθην ἐγώ,

νῦν μοι φράσος καὶ γλῶτταν εὔπορον δότε

φωνήν τʼ ἀναιδῆ. ταῦτα φροντίζοντί μοι

ἐκ δεξιᾶς ἀπέπαρδε καταπύγων ἀνήρ.

κἀγὼ προσέκυσα· κᾆτα τῷ πρωκτῷ θενὼν
640

τὴν κιγκλίδʼ ἐξήραξα κἀναχανὼν μέγα

ἀνέκραγον· ὦ βουλὴ λόγους ἀγαθοὺς φέρων

εὐαγγελίσασθαι πρῶτον ὑμῖν βούλομαι·

ἐξ οὗ γὰρ ἡμῖν ὁ πόλεμος κατερράγη,

οὐπώποτʼ ἀφύας εἶδον ἀξιωτέρας.
645

τῶν δʼ εὐθέως τὰ πρόσωπα διεγαλήνισεν·

εἶτʼ ἐστεφάνουν μʼ εὐαγγέλια· κἀγὼ φρασα

αὐτοῖς ἀπόρρητον ποιησάμενος ταχύ,

ἵνα τὰς ἀφύας ὠνοῖντο πολλὰς τοὐβολοῦ,

τῶν δημιουργῶν ξυλλαβεῖν τὰ τρύβλια.
650

οἱ δʼ ἀνεκρότησαν καὶ πρὸς ἔμʼ ἐκεχήνεσαν.

ὁ δʼ ὑπονοήσας ὁ Παφλαγών, εἰδὼς ἄρα

οἶς ἥδεθʼ ἡ βουλὴ μάλιστα ῥήμασιν,

γνώμην ἔλεξεν· ἄνδρες, ἤδη μοι δοκεῖ

ἐπὶ συμφοραῖς ἀγαθαῖσιν εἰσηγγελμέναις
655

εὐαγγέλια θύειν ἑκατὸν βοῦς τῇ θεῷ.

ἐπένευσεν εἰς ἐκεῖνον ἡ βουλὴ πάλιν.

Translations (2)

Knights (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Anonymous; 1938 compilation). Migrated from Perseus legacy XML; source wording and notes retained. See TEI header and migration inventory.) — 624 focus

Sausage-Seller

The story is worth hearing. Listen! 625 From here I rushed straight to the Senate, right in the track of this man; he was already letting loose the storm, unchaining the lightning, crushing the Knights beneath huge mountains of calumnies heaped together and having all the air of truth; 630 he called you conspirators and his lies caught root like weeds in every mind; dark were the looks on every side and brows were knitted. When I saw that the Senate listened to him favorably and was being tricked by his imposture I said to myself, “Come, gods of rascals and braggarts, 635 gods of all fools, and toad-eaters, and thou too, oh market-place, wherein I was bred from my earliest days, give me unbridled audacity, an untiring chatter and a shameless voice.” No sooner had I ended this prayer than a pederast farted on my right. “ 640 Hah! a good omen,” said I, and prostrated myself; then I burst open the door by a vigorous push with my arse, and, opening my mouth to the utmost, shouted, “Senators, I wanted you to be the first to hear the good news; since the war broke out, 645 I have never seen anchovies at a lower price!” All faces brightened at once and I was voted a chaplet for my good tidings; and I added, “With a couple of words I will reveal to you how you can have quantities of anchovies for an obol; 650 all you have to do is to seize on all the dishes the merchants have.” With mouths gaping with admiration, they applauded me. However, the Paphlagonian winded the matter and, well knowing the sort of language which pleases the Senate best, said, “Friends, I am resolved 655 to offer one hundred oxen to the goddess in recognition of this happy event.” The Senate at once veered to his side.

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.) — 624 focus

Sausage-Seller: And indeed, it is worth hearing about the affairs.

Sausage-seller: For I was immediately hurrying from here right after him.

625

Sausage-seller: But he, having just now broken the thunderbolt from within, spoke.

Sausage-seller: While practicing divination, he was standing against the Knights,

Ball-seller: leaning on cliffs and speaking of conspirators

Sausage-seller: Most likely; and the entire Council listening.

The Sausage-Seller: He became, by him, full of false, deceitful lies,

630

The leek-seller: Look, he pulled up his eyebrows and his leek.

Sausage-seller: And I, when I realized that these words were possible.

Sausage-seller: and deceived even by the tricks,

Sausage-seller: Come now, Scythians and Phoenicians, I was one of them,

Sausage-seller: "Bereshchoi and Kobaloi and Mothon,"

635

Sausage-Seller: the market in which I was educated as a boy,

Sausage-Seller: Now tell me, and give me an eloquent tongue.

Sausage-seller: And an impudent voice. Take care of these things for me.

Sausage-Seller: A man farted from behind, right behind him.

Sausage-seller: I also bowed down; and then I thrust [my hand] into the anus.

640

Ball-salesman: I smashed the railing and, gaping wide,

Sausage-seller: I shouted: O Council, bringing good words

Sausage-seller: I want to bring you good news first.

Sausage-seller: for since the war was broken out against us,

Sausage-seller: I have never seen trouts more worthy.

645

Sausage-seller: but he straightway cleared up their faces;

Sausage-seller: Then they crowned me with good news, and I figured it out.

Sausage-seller: having made a secret for them quickly,

Sausage-seller: so that they might buy many truffles for an obol,

Sausage-Seller: 'Arrest the artisans and take their bowls.'

650

Sausage-seller: and they clapped their hands and snored at me.

Sausage-seller: But the Paphlagonian, having suspected, knowing, then

Sausage-seller: The council is most pleased with these sheep in its words,

Sausage-seller: he spoke his mind; Men, it seems to me already

Sausage-Seller: "On the occasion of the good news that has been announced"

655

Sausage-seller: To sacrifice one hundred cows to the goddess as a sacrifice of good news.

Sausage-seller: The Council nodded at him again.

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

635. mvp-tlg0019-tlg002-sanjaya-com-eng1-32

Line 635

Βερέσχεθοί τε καὶ Κόβαλοι καὶ Μόθων,

Aristophanes Knights 635

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