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Βδελυκλέων

ὡς ἅπανθʼ ὑμῖν τυραννίς ἐστι καὶ ξυνωμόται,

ἤν τε μεῖζον ἤν τʼ ἔλαττον πρᾶγμά τις κατηγορῇ,

ἧς ἐγὼ οὐκ ἤκουσα τοὔνομʼ οὐδὲ πεντήκοντʼ ἐτῶν·
490

νῦν δὲ πολλῷ τοῦ ταρίχους ἐστὶν ἀξιωτέρα,

ὥστε καὶ δὴ τοὔνομʼ αὐτῆς ἐν ἀγορᾷ κυλίνδεται.

ἢν μὲν ὠνῆταί τις ὀρφὼς μεμβράδας δὲ μὴ ʼθέλῃ,

εὐθέως εἴρηχʼ ὁ πωλῶν πλησίον τὰς μεμβράδας·

ʼοʼὗτος ὀψωνεῖν ἔοιχʼ ἅνθρωπος ἐπὶ τυραννίδι.ʼ
495

ἢν δὲ γήτειον προσαιτῇ ταῖς ἀφύαις ἥδυσμά τι,

ἡ λαχανόπωλις παραβλέψασά φησι θατέρῳ·

εἰπέ μοι, γήτειον αἰτεῖς· πότερον ἐπὶ τυραννίδι,

ἢ νομίζεις τὰς Ἀθήνας σοὶ φέρειν ἡδύσματα;

Ξανθίας

κἀμέ γʼ ἡ πόρνη χθὲς εἰσελθόντα τῆς μεσημβρίας,
500

ὅτι κελητίσαι ʼκέλευον, ὀξυθυμηθεῖσά μοι

ἤρετʼ εἰ τὴν Ἱππίου καθίσταμαι τυραννίδα.

Βδελυκλέων

ταῦτα γὰρ τούτοις ἀκούειν ἡδἔ, εἰ καὶ νῦν ἐγὼ

τὸν πατέρʼ ὅτι βούλομαι τούτων ἀπαλλαχθέντα τῶν

ὀρθροφοιτοσυκοφαντοδικοταλαιπώρων τρόπων
505

ζῆν βίον γενναῖον ὥσπερ Μόρυχος, αἰτίαν ἔχω

ταῦτα δρᾶν ξυνωμότης ὢν καὶ φρονῶν τυραννικά.

Φιλοκλέων

νὴ Δίʼ ἐν δίκῃ γʼ· ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐδʼ ἂν ὀρνίθων γάλα

ἀντὶ τοῦ βίου λάβοιμʼ ἂν οὗ με νῦν ἀποστερεῖς·

οὐδὲ χαίρω βατίσιν οὐδʼ ἐγχέλεσιν, ἀλλʼ ἥδιον ἄν
510

δικίδιον σμικρὸν φάγοιμʼ ἂν ἐν λοπάδι πεπνιγμένον.

Βδελυκλέων

νὴ Δίʼ εἰθίσθης γὰρ ἥδεσθαι τοιούτοις πράγμασιν·

ἀλλʼ ἐὰν σιγῶν ἀνάσχῃ καὶ μάθῃς ἁγὼ λέγω,

ἀναδιδάξειν οἴομαί σʼ ὡς πάντα ταῦθʼ ἁμαρτάνεις.

Φιλοκλέων

ἐξαμαρτάνω δικάζων;
515

Βδελυκλέων

καταγελώμενος μὲν οὖν

οὐκ ἐπαϊεις ὑπʼ ἀνδρῶν, οὓς σὺ μόνον οὐ προσκυνεῖς.

ἀλλὰ δουλεύων λέληθας.

Φιλοκλέων

παῦε δουλείαν λέγων,

ὅστις ἄρχω τῶν ἁπάντων.

Βδελυκλέων

οὐ σύ γʼ, ἀλλʼ ὑπηρετεῖς

οἰόμενος ἄρχειν· ἐπεὶ δίδαξον ἡμᾶς ὦ πάτερ,

ἥτις ἡ τιμή ʼστί σοι καρπουμένῳ τὴν Ἑλλάδα.
520

Φιλοκλέων

πάνυ γε, καὶ τούτοισί γʼ ἐπιτρέψαι ʼθέλω.

Βδελυκλέων

καὶ μὴν ἐγώ.

ἄφετέ νυν ἅπαντες αὐτόν.

Φιλοκλέων

καὶ ξίφος γέ μοι δότε.

ἢν γὰρ ἡττηθῶ λέγων σου, περιπεσοῦμαι τῷ ξίφει.

Βδελυκλέων

εἰπέ μοι, τί δʼ ἤν, τὸ δεῖνα, τῇ διαίτῃ μὴ ʼμμένῃς;

Φιλοκλέων

μηδέποτε πίοιμʼ ἀκράτου μισθὸν ἀγαθοῦ δαίμονος.
525

Wasps. Aristophanes. ed. F. W. Hall, ed. William M. Geldart. Oxford. 1906.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Σφῆκες (Greek) (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 1. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906.)

Translations (2)

Wasps (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Anonymous; 1938 compilation). Migrated from Perseus legacy XML; source wording and notes retained. See TEI header and migration inventory.) — 488 focus

Bdelycleon

Everything is now tyranny with us, no matter what is concerned, whether it be large or small. Tyranny! 490 I have not heard the word mentioned once in fifty years, and now it is more common than salt-fish, the word is even current on the market. If you are buying gurnards and don't want anchovies, the huckster next door, who is selling the latter, at once exclaims, 495 "That is a man whose kitchen savours of tyranny!" If you ask for onions to season your fish, the green-stuff woman winks one eye and asks, "Ha, you ask for onions! are you seeking to tyrannize, or do you think that Athens must pay you your seasonings as a tribute?"

Xanthias

500 Yesterday I went to see a whore about noon and told her to get on top; she flew into a rage, pretending I wanted to restore the tyranny of Hippias.

Bdelycleon

That's the talk that pleases the people! As for myself, I want my father to lead a joyous life like Morychus instead of 505 going away before dawn basely to calumniate and condemn; and for this I am accused of conspiracy and tyrannical practice!

Philocleon

And quite right too, by Zeus! The most exquisite dishes do not make up to me for the life of which you deprive me. 510 I scorn your red mullet and your eels, and would far rather eat a nice little lawsuitlet cooked in the pot.

Bdelycleon

That's because you have got used to seeking your pleasure in it; but if you will agree to keep silence and hear me, I think I could persuade you that you deceive yourself altogether.

Philocleon

515 I deceive myself, when I am judging?

Bdelycleon

You do not see that you are the laughing-stock of these men, whom you are ready to worship. You are their slave and do not know it.

Philocleon

I a slave, I, who lord it over all?

Bdelycleon

Not at all, you think you are ruling when you are only obeying. Tell me, father, 520 what do you get out of the tribute paid by so many Greek towns.

Philocleon

Much, and I appoint my colleagues jurymen.

Bdelycleon

And I also. To the slaves Release him.

Philocleon

And bring me a sword; If I am worsted in this debate, I shall fall on the blade.

Bdelycleon

Tell me whether you will accept the verdict of the Court.

Philocleon

525 May I never drink my Heliast's pay in honour of the Good Genius, if I do not.

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.) — 488 focus

Bdelycles: how a tyranny is everything for you, and you are conspirators,

Bdelycleon: whether it is a greater or lesser matter that anyone accuses,

Bdelucleon: I have never heard that name, not even at the age of fifty;

490

Bdeluclion: But now it is much more worthy of brine,

Bdelucléon: So now even her name is rolling around in the marketplace.

Bdelucléon: If someone buys a swallow, but does not want to buy a membrane,

Bdelycleon: the seller has just sold the membranes nearby.

Bdeluclēon: 'This fellow looks like he is buying votes in order to become a tyrant.'

495

Bdelycleon: If it asks for a sweetmeat with its paws,

Bdelycleon: the vegetable-seller, having overlooked, says to the other:

Bdelycleon: Tell me, are you asking for a sorcery charm? Is it for a tyranny,

Bdelucleon: Or do you think that Athens brings you delicacies?

Xanthias: And the prostitute also yesterday, after I had entered in the middle of the day,

500

Xanthias: because I commanded him to bray, she became angry with me.

Xanthias: It would be rowing if I were to set up Hippias' tyranny.

Bdelucleon: for it is pleasant for these men to hear this, even if now I...

Bdelycleon: that my father, freed from these things, does whatever I wish.

Bdelycleon: of upright, night-wandering, fig-eating, law-suiting, wretched ways

505

Bdelycleon: I have a reason to live a noble life like Morychus.

Bdelycleon: To do these things as a conspirator and thinking tyrannical thoughts.

Philocleon: By Zeus, that's in order; for I would not even milk birds.

Philocleon: I would take in exchange for my life whatever it is that you are now depriving me of;

Philocleon: I take no pleasure in either eels or lampreys, but rather, more pleasantly...

510

Philocleon: I would like to eat a tiny little fig, boiled in a pot.

Bdelucleon: By Zeus, for you are accustomed to delight in such affairs.

Bdelucleon: But if you will endure it in silence and learn what I say,

Bdelucleon: I think I shall teach you that you are making mistakes in all these things.

Philocleon: Am I making a mistake in judging?

515

Bdelucleon: So, then, being laughed at

Bdelucléon: you do not understand that you are being led by men whom you alone do not worship.

Bdelycleon: But you have escaped notice while being a slave.

Philocleon: Stop talking about slavery,

Philocleon: whoever rules over all things.

Bdelycleon: Not you, but you are serving.

Bdelycleon: thinking that he rules; well then, teach us, father,

Bdelycleon: Such is the honor for you, enjoying Greece.

520

Philocleon: Yes indeed, and with these I wish to entrust [the matter].

Bdelycleon: And indeed, I (am the one).

Bdelucléon: Let him go now, all of you.

Philocleon: And give me a sword too.

Philocleon: For if I am defeated while speaking, I shall fall by the sword.

Bdelycleon: tell me, what was the terrible thing, that you did not remain in your way of life?

Philocleon: May I never receive a reward for good fortune from unmixed wine.

525

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

496. mvp-tlg0019-tlg004-sanjaya-com-eng1-17

Line 496

ἢν δὲ γήτειον προσαιτῇ ταῖς ἀφύαις ἥδυσμά τι,

The verb προσαιτῇ is an aorist subjunctive of προσαιτέω, here used with a dative of means (ταῖς ἀφύαις) rather than the more common accusative of the thing asked for with a dative of the person. The construction 'προσαιτεῖν τι τινί' (to beg something of someone) is standard, but 'προσαιτεῖν τι τισί' (to beg something *with* something) is rare and reflects the specific imagery of the bees using their stingers (ἀφύαι) as the instrument of their petition. This syntactic choice highlights the grotesque physicality of the bees' mimicry of human legal procedure.

502. mvp-tlg0019-tlg004-sanjaya-com-eng1-18

Line 502

ἤρετʼ εἰ τὴν Ἱππίου καθίσταμαι τυραννίδα.

The particle ἤρετ' (ἦ ἄρεν) introduces a rhetorical question expecting a negative answer, functioning here as a sarcastic challenge to the logic of the preceding argument. The verb καθίσταμαι is used in the middle voice with a direct object (τὴν τυραννίδα) in the accusative, a construction that emphasizes the actor's active role in establishing or assuming the office, contrasting with the passive sense often associated with τυραννίς. This specific syntactic choice underscores the absurdity of the claim that Philocleon is voluntarily installing a tyranny, a central theme in the play's satire of democratic and tyrannical power dynamics.

505. mvp-tlg0019-tlg004-sanjaya-com-eng1-19

Line 505

ὀρθροφοιτοσυκοφαντοδικοταλαιπώρων τρόπων

This line features a remarkable, unbroken compound adjective (ὀρθροφοιτοσυκοφαντοδικοταλαιπώρων) composed of five distinct stems (ὀρθο-, φοιτε-, συκοφαντο-, δικω-, ταλαιπώρων), exemplifying Aristophanic hyper-composition. The semantic force relies on the accumulation of legal and social vices (sycophancy, litigation, hardship) to characterize the 'manner' or 'ways' (τρόπων) of the chorus, a rhetorical device that satirizes the obsessive legalism of the Athenian democracy by fusing these concepts into a single, unwieldy lexical unit.

Aristophanes Wasps 488

ed. F. W. Hall, ed. William M. Geldart

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Ξανθίας

κἀμέ γʼ ἡ πόρνη χθὲς εἰσελθόντα τῆς μεσημβρίας,
500

ὅτι κελητίσαι ʼκέλευον, ὀξυθυμηθεῖσά μοι

ἤρετʼ εἰ τὴν Ἱππίου καθίσταμαι τυραννίδα.

Βδελυκλέων

νὴ Δίʼ εἰθίσθης γὰρ ἥδεσθαι τοιούτοις πράγμασιν·

ἀλλʼ ἐὰν σιγῶν ἀνάσχῃ καὶ μάθῃς ἁγὼ λέγω,

ἀναδιδάξειν οἴομαί σʼ ὡς πάντα ταῦθʼ ἁμαρτάνεις.

Φιλοκλέων

ἐξαμαρτάνω δικάζων;
515

Βδελυκλέων

καταγελώμενος μὲν οὖν

οὐκ ἐπαϊεις ὑπʼ ἀνδρῶν, οὓς σὺ μόνον οὐ προσκυνεῖς.

ἀλλὰ δουλεύων λέληθας.

Φιλοκλέων

παῦε δουλείαν λέγων,

ὅστις ἄρχω τῶν ἁπάντων.

Βδελυκλέων

οὐ σύ γʼ, ἀλλʼ ὑπηρετεῖς

οἰόμενος ἄρχειν· ἐπεὶ δίδαξον ἡμᾶς ὦ πάτερ,

ἥτις ἡ τιμή ʼστί σοι καρπουμένῳ τὴν Ἑλλάδα.
520

Φιλοκλέων

πάνυ γε, καὶ τούτοισί γʼ ἐπιτρέψαι ʼθέλω.

Βδελυκλέων

καὶ μὴν ἐγώ.

ἄφετέ νυν ἅπαντες αὐτόν.

Φιλοκλέων

καὶ ξίφος γέ μοι δότε.

ἢν γὰρ ἡττηθῶ λέγων σου, περιπεσοῦμαι τῷ ξίφει.

Βδελυκλέων

εἰπέ μοι, τί δʼ ἤν, τὸ δεῖνα, τῇ διαίτῃ μὴ ʼμμένῃς;

Φιλοκλέων

μηδέποτε πίοιμʼ ἀκράτου μισθὸν ἀγαθοῦ δαίμονος.
525

Current edition Perseus

Xanthias

500 Yesterday I went to see a whore about noon and told her to get on top; she flew into a rage, pretending I wanted to restore the tyranny of Hippias.

Bdelycleon

That's the talk that pleases the people! As for myself, I want my father to lead a joyous life like Morychus instead of 505 going away before dawn basely to calumniate and condemn; and for this I am accused of conspiracy and tyrannical practice!

Philocleon

And quite right too, by Zeus! The most exquisite dishes do not make up to me for the life of which you deprive me. 510 I scorn your red mullet and your eels, and would far rather eat a nice little lawsuitlet cooked in the pot.

Bdelycleon

That's because you have got used to seeking your pleasure in it; but if you will agree to keep silence and hear me, I think I could persuade you that you deceive yourself altogether.

Philocleon

515 I deceive myself, when I am judging?

Bdelycleon

You do not see that you are the laughing-stock of these men, whom you are ready to worship. You are their slave and do not know it.

Philocleon

I a slave, I, who lord it over all?

Bdelycleon

Not at all, you think you are ruling when you are only obeying. Tell me, father, 520 what do you get out of the tribute paid by so many Greek towns.

Philocleon

Much, and I appoint my colleagues jurymen.

Bdelycleon

And I also. To the slaves Release him.

Philocleon

And bring me a sword; If I am worsted in this debate, I shall fall on the blade.

Bdelycleon

Tell me whether you will accept the verdict of the Court.

Philocleon

525 May I never drink my Heliast's pay in honour of the Good Genius, if I do not.

Commentary

Line 496

Line 502

Line 505

Stable identifiers

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Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Ξανθίας κἀμέ γʼ ἡ πόρνη χθὲς εἰσελθόντα τῆς μεσημβρίας, 500 ὅτι κελητίσαι ʼκέλευον, ὀξυθυμηθεῖσά μοι ἤρετʼ εἰ τὴν Ἱππίου καθίσταμαι τυραννίδα.

Βδελυκλέων νὴ Δίʼ εἰθίσθης γὰρ ἥδεσθαι τοιούτοις πράγμασιν· ἀλλʼ ἐὰν σιγῶν ἀνάσχῃ καὶ μάθῃς ἁγὼ λέγω, ἀναδιδάξειν οἴομαί σʼ ὡς πάντα ταῦθʼ ἁμαρτάνεις.

Φιλοκλέων ἐξαμαρτάνω δικάζων; 515

Βδελυκλέων καταγελώμενος μὲν οὖν οὐκ ἐπαϊεις ὑπʼ ἀνδρῶν, οὓς σὺ μόνον οὐ προσκυνεῖς. ἀλλὰ δουλεύων λέληθας.

Φιλοκλέων παῦε δουλείαν λέγων, ὅστις ἄρχω τῶν ἁπάντων.

Βδελυκλέων οὐ σύ γʼ, ἀλλʼ ὑπηρετεῖς οἰόμενος ἄρχειν· ἐπεὶ δίδαξον ἡμᾶς ὦ πάτερ, ἥτις ἡ τιμή ʼστί σοι καρπουμένῳ τὴν Ἑλλάδα. 520

Φιλοκλέων πάνυ γε, καὶ τούτοισί γʼ ἐπιτρέψαι ʼθέλω.

Βδελυκλέων καὶ μὴν ἐγώ. ἄφετέ νυν ἅπαντες αὐτόν.

Φιλοκλέων καὶ ξίφος γέ μοι δότε. ἢν γὰρ ἡττηθῶ λέγων σου, περιπεσοῦμαι τῷ ξίφει.

Βδελυκλέων εἰπέ μοι, τί δʼ ἤν, τὸ δεῖνα, τῇ διαίτῃ μὴ ʼμμένῃς;

Φιλοκλέων μηδέποτε πίοιμʼ ἀκράτου μισθὸν ἀγαθοῦ δαίμονος. 525

Current edition Perseus

Xanthias 500 Yesterday I went to see a whore about noon and told her to get on top; she flew into a rage, pretending I wanted to restore the tyranny of Hippias.

Bdelycleon That's the talk that pleases the people! As for myself, I want my father to lead a joyous life like Morychus instead of 505 going away before dawn basely to calumniate and condemn; and for this I am accused of conspiracy and tyrannical practice!

Philocleon And quite right too, by Zeus! The most exquisite dishes do not make up to me for the life of which you deprive me. 510 I scorn your red mullet and your eels, and would far rather eat a nice little lawsuitlet cooked in the pot.

Bdelycleon That's because you have got used to seeking your pleasure in it; but if you will agree to keep silence and hear me, I think I could persuade you that you deceive yourself altogether.

Philocleon 515 I deceive myself, when I am judging?

Bdelycleon You do not see that you are the laughing-stock of these men, whom you are ready to worship. You are their slave and do not know it.

Philocleon I a slave, I, who lord it over all?

Bdelycleon Not at all, you think you are ruling when you are only obeying. Tell me, father, 520 what do you get out of the tribute paid by so many Greek towns.

Philocleon Much, and I appoint my colleagues jurymen.

Bdelycleon And I also. To the slaves Release him.

Philocleon And bring me a sword; If I am worsted in this debate, I shall fall on the blade.

Bdelycleon Tell me whether you will accept the verdict of the Court.

Philocleon 525 May I never drink my Heliast's pay in honour of the Good Genius, if I do not.

Commentary

Line 496

Line 502

Line 505

Stable identifiers

Ξανθίας

κἀμέ γʼ ἡ πόρνη χθὲς εἰσελθόντα τῆς μεσημβρίας,
500

ὅτι κελητίσαι ʼκέλευον, ὀξυθυμηθεῖσά μοι

ἤρετʼ εἰ τὴν Ἱππίου καθίσταμαι τυραννίδα.

Βδελυκλέων

νὴ Δίʼ εἰθίσθης γὰρ ἥδεσθαι τοιούτοις πράγμασιν·

ἀλλʼ ἐὰν σιγῶν ἀνάσχῃ καὶ μάθῃς ἁγὼ λέγω,

ἀναδιδάξειν οἴομαί σʼ ὡς πάντα ταῦθʼ ἁμαρτάνεις.

Φιλοκλέων

ἐξαμαρτάνω δικάζων;
515

Βδελυκλέων

καταγελώμενος μὲν οὖν

οὐκ ἐπαϊεις ὑπʼ ἀνδρῶν, οὓς σὺ μόνον οὐ προσκυνεῖς.

ἀλλὰ δουλεύων λέληθας.

Φιλοκλέων

παῦε δουλείαν λέγων,

ὅστις ἄρχω τῶν ἁπάντων.

Βδελυκλέων

οὐ σύ γʼ, ἀλλʼ ὑπηρετεῖς

οἰόμενος ἄρχειν· ἐπεὶ δίδαξον ἡμᾶς ὦ πάτερ,

ἥτις ἡ τιμή ʼστί σοι καρπουμένῳ τὴν Ἑλλάδα.
520

Φιλοκλέων

πάνυ γε, καὶ τούτοισί γʼ ἐπιτρέψαι ʼθέλω.

Βδελυκλέων

καὶ μὴν ἐγώ.

ἄφετέ νυν ἅπαντες αὐτόν.

Φιλοκλέων

καὶ ξίφος γέ μοι δότε.

ἢν γὰρ ἡττηθῶ λέγων σου, περιπεσοῦμαι τῷ ξίφει.

Βδελυκλέων

εἰπέ μοι, τί δʼ ἤν, τὸ δεῖνα, τῇ διαίτῃ μὴ ʼμμένῃς;

Φιλοκλέων

μηδέποτε πίοιμʼ ἀκράτου μισθὸν ἀγαθοῦ δαίμονος.
525

Xanthias

500 Yesterday I went to see a whore about noon and told her to get on top; she flew into a rage, pretending I wanted to restore the tyranny of Hippias.

Bdelycleon

That's the talk that pleases the people! As for myself, I want my father to lead a joyous life like Morychus instead of 505 going away before dawn basely to calumniate and condemn; and for this I am accused of conspiracy and tyrannical practice!

Philocleon

And quite right too, by Zeus! The most exquisite dishes do not make up to me for the life of which you deprive me. 510 I scorn your red mullet and your eels, and would far rather eat a nice little lawsuitlet cooked in the pot.

Bdelycleon

That's because you have got used to seeking your pleasure in it; but if you will agree to keep silence and hear me, I think I could persuade you that you deceive yourself altogether.

Philocleon

515 I deceive myself, when I am judging?

Bdelycleon

You do not see that you are the laughing-stock of these men, whom you are ready to worship. You are their slave and do not know it.

Philocleon

I a slave, I, who lord it over all?

Bdelycleon

Not at all, you think you are ruling when you are only obeying. Tell me, father, 520 what do you get out of the tribute paid by so many Greek towns.

Philocleon

Much, and I appoint my colleagues jurymen.

Bdelycleon

And I also. To the slaves Release him.

Philocleon

And bring me a sword; If I am worsted in this debate, I shall fall on the blade.

Bdelycleon

Tell me whether you will accept the verdict of the Court.

Philocleon

525 May I never drink my Heliast's pay in honour of the Good Genius, if I do not.