Aristophanes, Wasps, ed. F. W. Hall, ed. William M. Geldart, 1450-1473

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Χορός

ζηλῶ γε τῆς εὐτυχίας
1450

τὸν πρέσβυν οἷ μετέστη

ξηρῶν τρόπων καὶ βιοτῆς·

ἕτερα δὲ νῦν ἀντιμαθὼν

ἦ μέγα τι μεταπεσεῖται

ἐπὶ τὸ τρυφῶν καὶ μαλακόν.
1455

τάχα δʼ ἂν ἴσως οὐκ ἐθέλοι.

τὸ γὰρ ἀποστῆναι χαλεπὸν

φύσεος, ἣν ἔχοι τις ἀεί.

καίτοι πολλοὶ ταῦτʼ ἔπαθον·

ξυνόντες γνώμαις ἑτέρων
1460

μετεβάλοντο τοὺς τρόπους.

1462

Χορός

πολλοῦ δʼ ἐπαίνου παρʼ ἐμοὶ

καὶ τοῖσιν εὖ φρονοῦσιν

τυχὼν ἄπεισιν διὰ τὴν

φιλοπατρίαν καὶ σοφίαν
1465

ὁ παῖς ὁ Φιλοκλέωνος.

οὐδενὶ γὰρ οὕτως ἀγανῷ

ξυνεγενόμην, οὐδὲ τρόποις

ἐπεμάνην οὐδʼ ἐξεχύθην.

τί γὰρ ἐκεῖνος ἀντιλέγων
1470

οὐ κρείττων ἦν, βουλόμενος

τὸν φύσαντα σεμνοτέροις

κατακοσμῆσαι πράγμασιν;

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

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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.) — 1450 focus

Philocleon goes on with his fable while Bdelycleon is carrying him off the scene by main force.

Chorus

1450 I envy you your happiness, old man. What a contrast to his former frugal habits and his very hard life! Taught now in quite another school, he will know nothing but 1455 the pleasures of ease. Perhaps he will jibe at it, for indeed it is difficult to renounce what has become one's second nature. However, many have done it, 1460 and adopting the ideas of others, have changed their use and wont.

Chorus

1465 As for Philocleon's son, I, like all wise and judicious men, cannot sufficiently praise his filial tenderness and his tact. Never have I met a more amiable nature, and I have conceived the greatest fondness for him. 1470 How he triumphed on every point in his discussion with his father, when he wanted to bring him back to more worthy and honourable tastes!

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.) — 1450 focus

Chorus: I certainly envy their good fortune.

1450

Chorus: the old man whom he has seduced

Chorus: of dry manners and way of life;

Chorus: Now let us learn other things instead.

Chorus: Something great will surely happen.

Chorus: to that which is luxuriating and soft.

1455

Chorus: Perhaps indeed perhaps he would not wish to.

Chorus: for it is difficult to stand apart.

Chorus: of nature, which one should always have.

Chorus: Yet many have suffered these things;

Chorus: agreeing with the opinions of others.

1460

Chorus: They changed their ways.

Chorus: much praise from me

Chorus: and for those who think well.

Chorus: He who has obtained something goes away because of the

Chorus: love of country and wisdom

1465

Chorus: the son of Philocleon.

Chorus: for to no one so easily

Chorus: I was born together, nor in habits

Chorus: I went mad, yet I was not poured out.

Chorus: For what, him arguing back,

1470

Chorus: He was not better, wanting to

Chorus: the one who inflated you with more solemn words

Chorus: to adorn with things?

Aristophanes Wasps 1450-1473

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

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