Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Card

← Previous Next →

Τρυγαῖος

ἀλλʼ ὅ τι σιωπᾷς ὦ πότνια κάτειπέ μοι.

Ἑρμῆς

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἂν εἴποι πρός γε τοὺς θεωμένους·

ὀργὴν γὰρ αὐτοῖς ὧν ἔπαθε πολλὴν ἔχει.

Τρυγαῖος

ἡ δʼ ἀλλὰ πρὸς σὲ μικρὸν εἰπάτω μόνον.
660

Ἑρμῆς

εἴφʼ ὅ τι νοεῖς αὐτοῖσι πρὸς ἔμʼ ὦ φιλτάτη.

ἴθʼ ὦ γυναικῶν μισοπορπακιστάτη.

εἶεν, ἀκούω. ταῦτʼ ἐπικαλεῖς; μανθάνω.

ἀκούσαθʼ ὑμεῖς ὧν ἕνεκα μομφὴν ἔχει.

ἐλθοῦσά φησιν αὐτομάτη μετὰ τἀν Πύλῳ
665

σπονδῶν φέρουσα τῇ πόλει κίστην πλέαν

ἀποχειροτονηθῆναι τρὶς ἐν τἠκκλησίᾳ.

Τρυγαῖος

ἡμάρτομεν ταῦτʼ· ἀλλὰ συγγνώμην ἔχε·

ὁ νοῦς γὰρ ἡμῶν ἦν τότʼ ἐν τοῖς σκύτεσιν.

Ἑρμῆς

ἴθι νυν ἄκουσον οἷον ἄρτι μʼ ἤρετο,
670

ὅστις κακόνους αὐτῇ μάλιστʼ ἦν ἐνθάδε,

χὤστις φίλος κἄσπευδεν εἶναι μὴ μάχας.

Τρυγαῖος

εὐνούστατος μὲν ἦν μακρῷ Κλεώνυμος.

Ἑρμῆς

ποῖός τις οὖν εἶναι δοκεῖ τὰ πολεμικὰ

ὁ Κλεώνυμος;
675

Τρυγαῖος

ψυχήν γʼ ἄριστος πλήν γʼ ὅτι

οὐκ ἦν ἄρʼ οὗπέρ φησιν εἶναι τοῦ πατρός.

εἰ γάρ ποτʼ ἐξέλθοι στρατιώτης, εὐθέως

ἀποβολιμαῖος τῶν ὅπλων ἐγίγνετο.

Ἑρμῆς

ἔτι νῦν ἄκουσον οἷον ἄρτι μʼ ἤρετο,

ὅστις κρατεῖ νῦν τοῦ λίθου τοῦ ʼν τῇ πυκνί.
680

Τρυγαῖος

Ὑπέρβολος νῦν τοῦτʼ ἔχει τὸ χωρίον.

αὕτη τί ποιεῖς; τὴν κεφαλὴν ποῖ περιάγεις;

Ἑρμῆς

ἀποστρέφεται τὸν δῆμον ἀχθεσθεῖσʼ ὅτι

αὑτῷ πονηρὸν προστάτην ἐπεγράψατο.

Τρυγαῖος

ἀλλʼ οὐκέτʼ αὐτῷ χρησόμεθʼ οὐδέν, ἀλλὰ νῦν
685

ἀπορῶν ὁ δῆμος ἐπιτρόπου καὶ γυμνὸς ὢν

τοῦτον τέως τὸν ἄνδρα περιεζώσατο.

Ἑρμῆς

πῶς οὖν ξυνοίσει ταῦτʼ ἐρωτᾷ τῇ πόλει.

Τρυγαῖος

εὐβουλότεροι γενησόμεθα.

Ἑρμῆς

τρόπῳ τίνι;

Τρυγαῖος

ὅτι τυγχάνει λυχνοποιὸς ὤν. πρὸ τοῦ μὲν οὖν
690

ἐψηλαφῶμεν ἐν σκότῳ τὰ πράγματα,

νυνὶ δʼ ἅπαντα πρὸς λύχνον βουλεύσομεν.

Ἑρμῆς

ὢ ὤ,

οἷά μʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἀναπυθέσθαι σου.

Τρυγαῖος

τὰ τί;

Ἑρμῆς

πάμπολλα καὶ τἀρχαῖʼ ἃ κατέλιπεν τότε·

πρῶτον δʼ ὅ τι πράττει Σοφοκλέης ἀνήρετο.
695

Τρυγαῖος

εὐδαιμονεῖ, πάσχει δὲ θαυμαστόν.

Ἑρμῆς

τὸ τί;

Τρυγαῖος

ἐκ τοῦ Σοφοκλέους γίγνεται Σιμωνίδης.

Ἑρμῆς

Σιμωνίδης; πῶς;

Τρυγαῖος

ὅτι γέρων ὢν καὶ σαπρὸς

κέρδους ἕκατι κἂν ἐπὶ ῥιπὸς πλέοι.

700

Ἑρμῆς

τί δαί; Κρατῖνος ὁ σοφὸς ἔστιν;
700

Τρυγαῖος

ἀπέθανεν

ὅθʼ οἱ Λάκωνες ἐνέβαλον.

Ἑρμῆς

τί παθών;

Τρυγαῖος

ὅ τι;

ὼρακιάσας· οὐ γὰρ ἐξηνέσχετο

ἰδὼν πίθον καταγνύμενον οἴνου πλέων.

χἄτερα πόσʼ ἄττʼ οἴει γεγενῆσθʼ ἐν τῇ πόλει;

ὥστʼ οὐδέποτʼ ὦ δέσποινʼ ἀφησόμεσθά σου.
705

Ἑρμῆς

ἴθι νυν ἐπὶ τούτοις τὴν Ὀπώραν λάμβανε

γυναῖκα σαυτῷ τήνδε· κᾆτʼ ἐν τοῖς ἀγροῖς

ταύτῃ ξυνοικῶν ἐκποιοῦ σαυτῷ βότρυς.

Τρυγαῖος

ὦ φιλτάτη δεῦρʼ ἐλθὲ καὶ δός μοι κύσαι.

ἆρʼ ἂν βλαβῆναι διὰ χρόνου τί σοι δοκῶ
710

ὦ δέσποθʼ Ἑρμῆ τῆς Ὀπώρας κατελάσας;

Ἑρμῆς

οὐκ εἴ γε κυκεῶνʼ ἐπιπίοις βληχωνίαν.

ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστα τήνδε τὴν Θεωρίαν

ἀπάγαγε τῇ βουλῇ λαβών, ἧσπέρ ποτʼ ἦν.

Τρυγαῖος

ὦ μακαρία βουλὴ σὺ τῆς Θεωρίας,
715

ὅσον ῥοφήσει ζωμὸν ἡμερῶν τριῶν,

ὅσας δὲ κατέδει ξόλικας ἑφθὰς καὶ κρέα.

ἀλλʼ ὦ φίλʼ Ἑρμῆ χαῖρε πολλά.

Ἑρμῆς

καὶ σύ γε

ὦνθρωπε χαίρων ἄπιθι καὶ μέμνησό μου.

Τρυγαῖος

ὦ κάνθαρʼ οἴκαδʼ οἴκαδʼ ἀποπετώμεθα.
720

Ἑρμῆς

οὐκ ἐνθάδʼ ὦ τᾶν ἔστι.

Τρυγαῖος

ποῖ γὰρ οἴχεται;

Ἑρμῆς

ὑφʼ ἅρματʼ ἐλθὼν Ζηνὸς ἀστραπηφορεῖ.

Τρυγαῖος

πόθεν οὖν ὁ τλήμων ἐνθάδʼ ἕξει σιτία;

Ἑρμῆς

τὴν τοῦ Γανυμήδους ἀμβροσίαν σιτήσεται.

Τρυγαῖος

πῶς δῆτʼ ἐγὼ καταβήσομαι;
725

Ἑρμῆς

θάρρει, καλῶς·

τῃδὶ παρʼ αὐτὴν τὴν θεόν.

Τρυγαῖος

δεῦρʼ ὦ κόραι

ἕπεσθον ἅμʼ ἐμοὶ θᾶττον, ὡς πολλοὶ πάνυ

ποθοῦντες ὑμᾶς ἀναμένουσʼ ἐστυκότες.

Peace. 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

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

Translations (2)

Peace (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Anonymous; 1938 compilation). Migrated from Perseus legacy XML; source wording and notes retained. See TEI header and migration inventory.) — 657 focus

Trygaeus
To Peace.

Oh! venerated Goddess! why art thou silent?

Hermes

And how could she speak to the spectators? She is too angry at all that they have made her suffer.

Trygaeus

660 At least let her speak a little to you, Hermes.

Hermes

Tell me, my dear, what are your feelings with regard to them? Come, you relentless foe of all bucklers, speak; I am listening to you. Peace whispers into Hermes' ear.Is that your grievance against them? Yes, yes, I understand. Hearken, you folk, this is her complaint. 665 She says, that after the affair of Pylos she came to you unbidden to bring you a basket full of truces and that you thrice repulsed her by your votes in the assembly.

Trygaeus

Yes, we did wrong, but forgive us, for our mind was then entirely absorbed in leather.

Hermes

670 Listen again to what she has just asked me. Who was her greatest foe here? and furthermore, had she a friend who exerted himself to put an end to the fighting?

Trygaeus

Her most devoted friend was Cleonymus; it is undisputed.

Hermes

How then did 675 Cleonymus behave in fights?

Trygaeus

Oh! the bravest of warriors! Only he was not born of the father he claims; he showed it quick enough in the army by throwing away his weapons.

Hermes

There is yet another question she has just put to me. 680 Who rules now in the rostrum?

Trygaeus

It's Hyperbolus who now holds empire on the Pnyx. To Peace.What now? you turn away your head!

Hermes

She is vexed, that the people should give themselves a wretch of that kind for their chief.

Trygaeus

685 Oh! we shall not employ him again; but the people, seeing themselves without a leader, took him haphazard, just as a man, who is naked, springs upon the first cloak he sees.

Hermes

She asks, what will be the result of such a choice by the city?

Trygaeus

We shall be more far-seeing in consequence.

Hermes

And why?

Trygaeus

690 Because he is a lamp-maker. Formerly we only directed our business by groping in the dark; now we shall only deliberate by lamplight.

Hermes

Oh! oh! what questions she does order me to put to you!

Trygaeus

What are they?

Hermes

She wants to have news of a whole heap of old-fashioned things she left here. 695 First of all, how is Sophocles?

Trygaeus

Very well, but something very strange has happened to him.

Hermes

What then?

Trygaeus

He has turned from Sophocles into Simonides.

Hermes

Into Simonides? How so?

Trygaeus

Because, though old and broken-down as he is, he would put to sea on a hurdle to gain an obolus.

Hermes

700 And wise Cratinus, is he still alive?

Trygaeus

He died about the time of the Laconian invasion.

Hermes

How?

Trygaeus

Of a swoon. He could not bear the shock of seeing one of his casks full of wine broken. Ah! what a number of other misfortunes our city has suffered! 705 So, dearest mistress, nothing can now separate us from thee.

Hermes

If that be so, receive Opora here for a wife; take her to the country, live with her, and grow fine grapes together.

Trygaeus
to Opora.

Come, my dear one, come and accept my kisses. To Hermes. 710 Tell me, Hermes, my master, do you think it would hurt me to love her a little, after so long an abstinence?

Hermes

No, not if you swallow a potion of penny-royal afterwards. But hasten to lead Theoria to the Senate; that was where she lodged before.

Trygaeus

715 Oh! fortunate Senate! Thanks to Theoria, what soups you will swallow for the space of three days! how you will devour meats and cooked tripe! Come, farewell, friend Hermes!

Hermes

And to you also, my dear sir, may you have much happiness, and don't forget me.

Trygaeus
looking around for his dung-beetle.

720 >Come, beetle, home, home, and let us fly on a swift wing.

Hermes

Oh! he is no longer here.

Trygaeus

Where has he gone to then?

Hermes

He is ‘harnessed to the chariot of Zeus and bears the thunderbolts.’

Trygaeus

But where will the poor wretch get his food?

Hermes

He will eat Ganymede's ambrosia.

Trygaeus

Very well then, 725 but how am I going to descend?

Hermes

Oh! never fear, there is nothing simpler; place yourself beside the goddess.

Trygaeus

Come, my pretty maidens, follow me quickly; there are plenty of men waiting for you with their tools ready. He goes out, with Opora and Theoria.

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.) — 657 focus

Trygaeus: But tell me, Lady, why you are silent.

Hermes: But he could not say it to those watching, at least.

Hermes: For he has great anger against them for what he suffered.

Trygaeus: But let her say only a little to you.

660

Hermes: If you think anything against me, you dearest one.

Hermes: Come, most hateful of women.

Hermes: Very well, I hear. Do you call these things to mind? I understand.

Hermes: Listen, you, for what reason you are blamed.

Hermes: She says she came by herself after [the battle] at Pylos.

665

Hermes: carrying a full basket for the city

Hermes: to be dismissed by show of hands three times in the assembly.

Trygaeus: We made a mistake in this; but have forgiveness.

Trygaeus: for our mind was then in the potsherds.

Hermes: Come now, listen to what I was just asked,

670

Hermes: who was most of all hostile to her here,

Hermes: and whoever was a friend and tried to be one without wars.

Trygaeus: Cleonymus was by far the most eunuch-like.

Hermes: Who then does it seem to be the warlike things?

Hermes: Cleonymus?

675

Trygaeus: his soul is excellent, except that

Trygaeus: Was he not, then, in the place where he says he is his father's?

Trygaeus: for if a soldier were to come out at some time, immediately

Trygaeus: He was becoming a thrower of the weapons.

Hermes: Even now, listen to what he just asked me,

Hermes: Whoever now holds the stone that is in the trap.

680

Trygaeus: Hyperbolus now holds this spot.

Trygaeus: What are you doing with this? Where are you turning your head?

Hermes: He is turning the people away, being grieved, because

Hermes: he has enrolled for himself a villainous guardian.

Trygaeus: But we shall no longer use him at all, but now

685

Trygaeus: The demos, being perplexed about a guardian and being naked,

Trygaeus: He has girded this man up to now.

Hermes: So how will he reconcile these things, he asks the city.

Trygaeus: We shall be more prudent.

Hermes: In what way?

Trygaeus: because he happens to be a lamp-maker. So then, before...

690

Trygaeus: We are feeling our way in the dark about the matters,

Trygaeus: But now we will deliberate everything by the light of a lamp.

Hermes: 'Oh, oh!'

Hermes: 'The sort of thing he ordered me to find out from you.'

Trygaeus: What things?

Hermes: countless things and the old ones that he left behind at that time;

Hermes: First, he asked what Sophocles was doing.

695

Trygaeus: He is happy, but he is suffering something wonderful.

Hermes: What?

Trygaeus: From Sophocles, Simonides is made.

Hermes: Simonides? How?

Trygaeus: because, being old and rotten

Trygaeus: for the sake of profit, I would even sail on a dung beetle.

Hermes: What then? Is the clever Cratinus there?

700

Trygaeus: He is dead.

Trygaeus: when the Lacedaemonians invaded.

Hermes: What has happened to you?

Trygaeus: "What?"

Trygaeus: I've been waiting! For I could no longer bear it.

Trygaeus: seeing a jar full of wine breaking.

Trygaeus: And what other things do you think have happened in the city?

Trygaeus: So we will never let you go, mistress.

705

Hermes: Go now and take Opora from these.

Hermes: this woman for yourself; and then in the fields

Hermes: living here, you will produce yourself a bunch of grapes.

Trygaeus: O dearest one, come here and give me a kiss.

Trygaeus: Might I be harmed by delay? What do you think?

710

Trygaeus: O lord Hermes, did you ride on top of the vintage?

Hermes: No, if you were to drink a barley-water with a bit of chaff.

Hermes: but as quickly as possible this Delegation

Hermes: Take her away to the Council, just as she was before.

Trygaeus: O blessed Council, you of the Theoria,

715

Trygaeus: just as long as it will slurp up the broth of three days,

Trygaeus: how many dried figs and pieces of meat he has brought down.

Trygaeus: But, dear Hermes, hail many times.

Hermes: And you too.

Hermes: Go away, man, in peace and remember me.

Trygaeus: O mule, let us fly home, home!

720

Hermes: It is not here, you old woman.

Trygaeus: Where, then, is he going?

Hermes: Having come under the chariot of Zeus, he carries a thunderbolt.

Trygaeus: So where is the wretch going to bring the provisions here?

Hermes: He will be fed the ambrosia of Ganymede.

Trygaeus: How then shall I come down?

725

Hermes: Courage, well;

Hermes: By this very goddess.

Trygaeus: come here, girls

Trygaeus: Follow me quickly, so that many [people] very much.

Trygaeus: longing for you, we have waited, standing.

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

665. mvp-tlg0019-tlg005-sanjaya-com-eng1-18

Line 665

ἐλθοῦσά φησιν αὐτομάτη μετὰ τἀν Πύλῳ

The phrase μετὰ τἀν Πύλῳ presents a significant textual crux regarding the preposition and the article. While the standard Attic construction for 'at Pylos' would be ἐν Πύλῳ, the reading μετὰ τἀν Πύλῳ (with the crasis τἀν for τῇν) suggests either a corruption of the text (perhaps μετὰ τὴν Πύλον, implying 'after the [battle] at Pylos' or 'following the Pylian event') or a rare dialectal usage. The most plausible interpretation, supported by the context of the Peace goddess arriving spontaneously, is that this is a corruption for ἐν Πύλῳ, as the goddess is said to have come from the site of the Pylos victory, or it refers to the specific moment 'after the [event] at Pylos' where the article τῇν (crased to τἀν) governs a understood noun like 'victory' or 'defeat'. The variant reading in the manuscripts varies, with some copies lacking the preposition entirely or altering the article, making the exact spatial/temporal relationship of the goddess's arrival to the historical event of Pylos (425 BCE) a subject of ongoing scholarly debate regarding whether Aristophanes is referencing the physical location or the temporal aftermath of the Athenian victory.

712. mvp-tlg0019-tlg005-sanjaya-com-eng1-19

Line 712

οὐκ εἴ γε κυκεῶνʼ ἐπιπίοις βληχωνίαν.

The phrase βληχωνίαν is a hapax legomenon in Aristophanes, a coined noun derived from βλέχω ('to bleat' or 'to low'). Here it refers to a specific type of coarse, watery gruel or broth, likely intended to evoke the bleating of sheep, thus fitting the play's agricultural and rustic themes. The term is not attested elsewhere in extant Greek literature, making its meaning dependent entirely on this context and the etymological play on animal sounds.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Τρυγαῖος ἀλλʼ ὅ τι σιωπᾷς ὦ πότνια κάτειπέ μοι.

Ἑρμῆς ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἂν εἴποι πρός γε τοὺς θεωμένους· ὀργὴν γὰρ αὐτοῖς ὧν ἔπαθε πολλὴν ἔχει.

Τρυγαῖος ἡ δʼ ἀλλὰ πρὸς σὲ μικρὸν εἰπάτω μόνον. 660

Τρυγαῖος ἡμάρτομεν ταῦτʼ· ἀλλὰ συγγνώμην ἔχε· ὁ νοῦς γὰρ ἡμῶν ἦν τότʼ ἐν τοῖς σκύτεσιν.

Ἑρμῆς ἴθι νυν ἄκουσον οἷον ἄρτι μʼ ἤρετο, 670 ὅστις κακόνους αὐτῇ μάλιστʼ ἦν ἐνθάδε, χὤστις φίλος κἄσπευδεν εἶναι μὴ μάχας.

Τρυγαῖος εὐνούστατος μὲν ἦν μακρῷ Κλεώνυμος.

Ἑρμῆς ποῖός τις οὖν εἶναι δοκεῖ τὰ πολεμικὰ ὁ Κλεώνυμος; 675

Τρυγαῖος ψυχήν γʼ ἄριστος πλήν γʼ ὅτι οὐκ ἦν ἄρʼ οὗπέρ φησιν εἶναι τοῦ πατρός. εἰ γάρ ποτʼ ἐξέλθοι στρατιώτης, εὐθέως ἀποβολιμαῖος τῶν ὅπλων ἐγίγνετο.

Ἑρμῆς ἔτι νῦν ἄκουσον οἷον ἄρτι μʼ ἤρετο, ὅστις κρατεῖ νῦν τοῦ λίθου τοῦ ʼν τῇ πυκνί. 680

Τρυγαῖος Ὑπέρβολος νῦν τοῦτʼ ἔχει τὸ χωρίον. αὕτη τί ποιεῖς; τὴν κεφαλὴν ποῖ περιάγεις;

Ἑρμῆς ἀποστρέφεται τὸν δῆμον ἀχθεσθεῖσʼ ὅτι αὑτῷ πονηρὸν προστάτην ἐπεγράψατο.

Τρυγαῖος ἀλλʼ οὐκέτʼ αὐτῷ χρησόμεθʼ οὐδέν, ἀλλὰ νῦν 685 ἀπορῶν ὁ δῆμος ἐπιτρόπου καὶ γυμνὸς ὢν τοῦτον τέως τὸν ἄνδρα περιεζώσατο.

Ἑρμῆς πῶς οὖν ξυνοίσει ταῦτʼ ἐρωτᾷ τῇ πόλει.

Τρυγαῖος εὐβουλότεροι γενησόμεθα.

Ἑρμῆς τρόπῳ τίνι;

Τρυγαῖος ὅτι τυγχάνει λυχνοποιὸς ὤν. πρὸ τοῦ μὲν οὖν 690 ἐψηλαφῶμεν ἐν σκότῳ τὰ πράγματα, νυνὶ δʼ ἅπαντα πρὸς λύχνον βουλεύσομεν.

Ἑρμῆς ὢ ὤ, οἷά μʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἀναπυθέσθαι σου.

Τρυγαῖος τὰ τί;

Ἑρμῆς πάμπολλα καὶ τἀρχαῖʼ ἃ κατέλιπεν τότε· πρῶτον δʼ ὅ τι πράττει Σοφοκλέης ἀνήρετο. 695

Τρυγαῖος εὐδαιμονεῖ, πάσχει δὲ θαυμαστόν.

Ἑρμῆς τὸ τί;

Τρυγαῖος ἐκ τοῦ Σοφοκλέους γίγνεται Σιμωνίδης.

Ἑρμῆς Σιμωνίδης; πῶς;

Τρυγαῖος ὅτι γέρων ὢν καὶ σαπρὸς κέρδους ἕκατι κἂν ἐπὶ ῥιπὸς πλέοι.

Ἑρμῆς τί δαί; Κρατῖνος ὁ σοφὸς ἔστιν; 700

Τρυγαῖος ἀπέθανεν ὅθʼ οἱ Λάκωνες ἐνέβαλον.

Ἑρμῆς τί παθών;

Ἑρμῆς ἴθι νυν ἐπὶ τούτοις τὴν Ὀπώραν λάμβανε γυναῖκα σαυτῷ τήνδε· κᾆτʼ ἐν τοῖς ἀγροῖς ταύτῃ ξυνοικῶν ἐκποιοῦ σαυτῷ βότρυς.

Τρυγαῖος ὦ φιλτάτη δεῦρʼ ἐλθὲ καὶ δός μοι κύσαι. ἆρʼ ἂν βλαβῆναι διὰ χρόνου τί σοι δοκῶ 710 ὦ δέσποθʼ Ἑρμῆ τῆς Ὀπώρας κατελάσας;

Ἑρμῆς οὐκ εἴ γε κυκεῶνʼ ἐπιπίοις βληχωνίαν. ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστα τήνδε τὴν Θεωρίαν ἀπάγαγε τῇ βουλῇ λαβών, ἧσπέρ ποτʼ ἦν.

Τρυγαῖος ὦ μακαρία βουλὴ σὺ τῆς Θεωρίας, 715 ὅσον ῥοφήσει ζωμὸν ἡμερῶν τριῶν, ὅσας δὲ κατέδει ξόλικας ἑφθὰς καὶ κρέα. ἀλλʼ ὦ φίλʼ Ἑρμῆ χαῖρε πολλά.

Ἑρμῆς καὶ σύ γε ὦνθρωπε χαίρων ἄπιθι καὶ μέμνησό μου.

Τρυγαῖος ὦ κάνθαρʼ οἴκαδʼ οἴκαδʼ ἀποπετώμεθα. 720

Ἑρμῆς οὐκ ἐνθάδʼ ὦ τᾶν ἔστι.

Τρυγαῖος ποῖ γὰρ οἴχεται;

Ἑρμῆς ὑφʼ ἅρματʼ ἐλθὼν Ζηνὸς ἀστραπηφορεῖ.

Τρυγαῖος πόθεν οὖν ὁ τλήμων ἐνθάδʼ ἕξει σιτία;

Ἑρμῆς τὴν τοῦ Γανυμήδους ἀμβροσίαν σιτήσεται.

Τρυγαῖος πῶς δῆτʼ ἐγὼ καταβήσομαι; 725

Ἑρμῆς θάρρει, καλῶς· τῃδὶ παρʼ αὐτὴν τὴν θεόν.

Τρυγαῖος δεῦρʼ ὦ κόραι ἕπεσθον ἅμʼ ἐμοὶ θᾶττον, ὡς πολλοὶ πάνυ ποθοῦντες ὑμᾶς ἀναμένουσʼ ἐστυκότες.

Current edition Perseus

Trygaeus To Peace. Oh! venerated Goddess! why art thou silent?

Hermes And how could she speak to the spectators? She is too angry at all that they have made her suffer.

Trygaeus 660 At least let her speak a little to you, Hermes.

Trygaeus Yes, we did wrong, but forgive us, for our mind was then entirely absorbed in leather.

Hermes 670 Listen again to what she has just asked me. Who was her greatest foe here? and furthermore, had she a friend who exerted himself to put an end to the fighting?

Trygaeus Her most devoted friend was Cleonymus; it is undisputed.

Hermes How then did 675 Cleonymus behave in fights?

Trygaeus Oh! the bravest of warriors! Only he was not born of the father he claims; he showed it quick enough in the army by throwing away his weapons.

Hermes There is yet another question she has just put to me. 680 Who rules now in the rostrum?

Trygaeus It's Hyperbolus who now holds empire on the Pnyx. To Peace.What now? you turn away your head!

Hermes She is vexed, that the people should give themselves a wretch of that kind for their chief.

Trygaeus 685 Oh! we shall not employ him again; but the people, seeing themselves without a leader, took him haphazard, just as a man, who is naked, springs upon the first cloak he sees.

Hermes She asks, what will be the result of such a choice by the city?

Trygaeus We shall be more far-seeing in consequence.

Hermes And why?

Trygaeus 690 Because he is a lamp-maker. Formerly we only directed our business by groping in the dark; now we shall only deliberate by lamplight.

Hermes Oh! oh! what questions she does order me to put to you!

Trygaeus What are they?

Hermes She wants to have news of a whole heap of old-fashioned things she left here. 695 First of all, how is Sophocles?

Trygaeus Very well, but something very strange has happened to him.

Hermes What then?

Trygaeus He has turned from Sophocles into Simonides.

Hermes Into Simonides? How so?

Trygaeus Because, though old and broken-down as he is, he would put to sea on a hurdle to gain an obolus.

Hermes 700 And wise Cratinus, is he still alive?

Trygaeus He died about the time of the Laconian invasion.

Hermes How?

Trygaeus Of a swoon. He could not bear the shock of seeing one of his casks full of wine broken. Ah! what a number of other misfortunes our city has suffered! 705 So, dearest mistress, nothing can now separate us from thee.

Hermes If that be so, receive Opora here for a wife; take her to the country, live with her, and grow fine grapes together.

Trygaeus to Opora. Come, my dear one, come and accept my kisses. To Hermes. 710 Tell me, Hermes, my master, do you think it would hurt me to love her a little, after so long an abstinence?

Hermes No, not if you swallow a potion of penny-royal afterwards. But hasten to lead Theoria to the Senate; that was where she lodged before.

Trygaeus 715 Oh! fortunate Senate! Thanks to Theoria, what soups you will swallow for the space of three days! how you will devour meats and cooked tripe! Come, farewell, friend Hermes!

Hermes And to you also, my dear sir, may you have much happiness, and don't forget me.

Trygaeus looking around for his dung-beetle. 720 >Come, beetle, home, home, and let us fly on a swift wing.

Hermes Oh! he is no longer here.

Trygaeus Where has he gone to then?

Τρυγαῖος

ἀλλʼ ὅ τι σιωπᾷς ὦ πότνια κάτειπέ μοι.

Ἑρμῆς

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἂν εἴποι πρός γε τοὺς θεωμένους·

ὀργὴν γὰρ αὐτοῖς ὧν ἔπαθε πολλὴν ἔχει.

Τρυγαῖος

ἡ δʼ ἀλλὰ πρὸς σὲ μικρὸν εἰπάτω μόνον.
660

Τρυγαῖος

ἡμάρτομεν ταῦτʼ· ἀλλὰ συγγνώμην ἔχε·

ὁ νοῦς γὰρ ἡμῶν ἦν τότʼ ἐν τοῖς σκύτεσιν.

Ἑρμῆς

ἴθι νυν ἄκουσον οἷον ἄρτι μʼ ἤρετο,
670

ὅστις κακόνους αὐτῇ μάλιστʼ ἦν ἐνθάδε,

χὤστις φίλος κἄσπευδεν εἶναι μὴ μάχας.

Τρυγαῖος

εὐνούστατος μὲν ἦν μακρῷ Κλεώνυμος.

Ἑρμῆς

ποῖός τις οὖν εἶναι δοκεῖ τὰ πολεμικὰ

ὁ Κλεώνυμος;
675

Τρυγαῖος

ψυχήν γʼ ἄριστος πλήν γʼ ὅτι

οὐκ ἦν ἄρʼ οὗπέρ φησιν εἶναι τοῦ πατρός.

εἰ γάρ ποτʼ ἐξέλθοι στρατιώτης, εὐθέως

ἀποβολιμαῖος τῶν ὅπλων ἐγίγνετο.

Ἑρμῆς

ἔτι νῦν ἄκουσον οἷον ἄρτι μʼ ἤρετο,

ὅστις κρατεῖ νῦν τοῦ λίθου τοῦ ʼν τῇ πυκνί.
680

Τρυγαῖος

Ὑπέρβολος νῦν τοῦτʼ ἔχει τὸ χωρίον.

αὕτη τί ποιεῖς; τὴν κεφαλὴν ποῖ περιάγεις;

Ἑρμῆς

ἀποστρέφεται τὸν δῆμον ἀχθεσθεῖσʼ ὅτι

αὑτῷ πονηρὸν προστάτην ἐπεγράψατο.

Τρυγαῖος

ἀλλʼ οὐκέτʼ αὐτῷ χρησόμεθʼ οὐδέν, ἀλλὰ νῦν
685

ἀπορῶν ὁ δῆμος ἐπιτρόπου καὶ γυμνὸς ὢν

τοῦτον τέως τὸν ἄνδρα περιεζώσατο.

Ἑρμῆς

πῶς οὖν ξυνοίσει ταῦτʼ ἐρωτᾷ τῇ πόλει.

Τρυγαῖος

εὐβουλότεροι γενησόμεθα.

Ἑρμῆς

τρόπῳ τίνι;

Τρυγαῖος

ὅτι τυγχάνει λυχνοποιὸς ὤν. πρὸ τοῦ μὲν οὖν
690

ἐψηλαφῶμεν ἐν σκότῳ τὰ πράγματα,

νυνὶ δʼ ἅπαντα πρὸς λύχνον βουλεύσομεν.

Ἑρμῆς

ὢ ὤ,

οἷά μʼ ἐκέλευσεν ἀναπυθέσθαι σου.

Τρυγαῖος

τὰ τί;

Ἑρμῆς

πάμπολλα καὶ τἀρχαῖʼ ἃ κατέλιπεν τότε·

πρῶτον δʼ ὅ τι πράττει Σοφοκλέης ἀνήρετο.
695

Τρυγαῖος

εὐδαιμονεῖ, πάσχει δὲ θαυμαστόν.

Ἑρμῆς

τὸ τί;

Τρυγαῖος

ἐκ τοῦ Σοφοκλέους γίγνεται Σιμωνίδης.

Ἑρμῆς

Σιμωνίδης; πῶς;

Τρυγαῖος

ὅτι γέρων ὢν καὶ σαπρὸς

κέρδους ἕκατι κἂν ἐπὶ ῥιπὸς πλέοι.

Ἑρμῆς

τί δαί; Κρατῖνος ὁ σοφὸς ἔστιν;
700

Τρυγαῖος

ἀπέθανεν

ὅθʼ οἱ Λάκωνες ἐνέβαλον.

Ἑρμῆς

τί παθών;

Ἑρμῆς

ἴθι νυν ἐπὶ τούτοις τὴν Ὀπώραν λάμβανε

γυναῖκα σαυτῷ τήνδε· κᾆτʼ ἐν τοῖς ἀγροῖς

ταύτῃ ξυνοικῶν ἐκποιοῦ σαυτῷ βότρυς.

Τρυγαῖος

ὦ φιλτάτη δεῦρʼ ἐλθὲ καὶ δός μοι κύσαι.

ἆρʼ ἂν βλαβῆναι διὰ χρόνου τί σοι δοκῶ
710

ὦ δέσποθʼ Ἑρμῆ τῆς Ὀπώρας κατελάσας;

Ἑρμῆς

οὐκ εἴ γε κυκεῶνʼ ἐπιπίοις βληχωνίαν.

ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστα τήνδε τὴν Θεωρίαν

ἀπάγαγε τῇ βουλῇ λαβών, ἧσπέρ ποτʼ ἦν.

Τρυγαῖος

ὦ μακαρία βουλὴ σὺ τῆς Θεωρίας,
715

ὅσον ῥοφήσει ζωμὸν ἡμερῶν τριῶν,

ὅσας δὲ κατέδει ξόλικας ἑφθὰς καὶ κρέα.

ἀλλʼ ὦ φίλʼ Ἑρμῆ χαῖρε πολλά.

Ἑρμῆς

καὶ σύ γε

ὦνθρωπε χαίρων ἄπιθι καὶ μέμνησό μου.

Τρυγαῖος

ὦ κάνθαρʼ οἴκαδʼ οἴκαδʼ ἀποπετώμεθα.
720

Ἑρμῆς

οὐκ ἐνθάδʼ ὦ τᾶν ἔστι.

Τρυγαῖος

ποῖ γὰρ οἴχεται;

Ἑρμῆς

ὑφʼ ἅρματʼ ἐλθὼν Ζηνὸς ἀστραπηφορεῖ.

Τρυγαῖος

πόθεν οὖν ὁ τλήμων ἐνθάδʼ ἕξει σιτία;

Ἑρμῆς

τὴν τοῦ Γανυμήδους ἀμβροσίαν σιτήσεται.

Τρυγαῖος

πῶς δῆτʼ ἐγὼ καταβήσομαι;
725

Ἑρμῆς

θάρρει, καλῶς·

τῃδὶ παρʼ αὐτὴν τὴν θεόν.

Τρυγαῖος

δεῦρʼ ὦ κόραι

ἕπεσθον ἅμʼ ἐμοὶ θᾶττον, ὡς πολλοὶ πάνυ

ποθοῦντες ὑμᾶς ἀναμένουσʼ ἐστυκότες.

Trygaeus
To Peace.

Oh! venerated Goddess! why art thou silent?

Hermes

And how could she speak to the spectators? She is too angry at all that they have made her suffer.

Trygaeus

660 At least let her speak a little to you, Hermes.

Trygaeus

Yes, we did wrong, but forgive us, for our mind was then entirely absorbed in leather.

Hermes

670 Listen again to what she has just asked me. Who was her greatest foe here? and furthermore, had she a friend who exerted himself to put an end to the fighting?

Trygaeus

Her most devoted friend was Cleonymus; it is undisputed.

Hermes

How then did 675 Cleonymus behave in fights?

Trygaeus

Oh! the bravest of warriors! Only he was not born of the father he claims; he showed it quick enough in the army by throwing away his weapons.

Hermes

There is yet another question she has just put to me. 680 Who rules now in the rostrum?

Trygaeus

It's Hyperbolus who now holds empire on the Pnyx. To Peace.What now? you turn away your head!

Hermes

She is vexed, that the people should give themselves a wretch of that kind for their chief.

Trygaeus

685 Oh! we shall not employ him again; but the people, seeing themselves without a leader, took him haphazard, just as a man, who is naked, springs upon the first cloak he sees.

Hermes

She asks, what will be the result of such a choice by the city?

Trygaeus

We shall be more far-seeing in consequence.

Hermes

And why?

Trygaeus

690 Because he is a lamp-maker. Formerly we only directed our business by groping in the dark; now we shall only deliberate by lamplight.

Hermes

Oh! oh! what questions she does order me to put to you!

Trygaeus

What are they?

Hermes

She wants to have news of a whole heap of old-fashioned things she left here. 695 First of all, how is Sophocles?

Trygaeus

Very well, but something very strange has happened to him.

Hermes

What then?

Trygaeus

He has turned from Sophocles into Simonides.

Hermes

Into Simonides? How so?

Trygaeus

Because, though old and broken-down as he is, he would put to sea on a hurdle to gain an obolus.

Hermes

700 And wise Cratinus, is he still alive?

Trygaeus

He died about the time of the Laconian invasion.

Hermes

How?

Trygaeus

Of a swoon. He could not bear the shock of seeing one of his casks full of wine broken. Ah! what a number of other misfortunes our city has suffered! 705 So, dearest mistress, nothing can now separate us from thee.

Hermes

If that be so, receive Opora here for a wife; take her to the country, live with her, and grow fine grapes together.

Trygaeus
to Opora.

Come, my dear one, come and accept my kisses. To Hermes. 710 Tell me, Hermes, my master, do you think it would hurt me to love her a little, after so long an abstinence?

Hermes

No, not if you swallow a potion of penny-royal afterwards. But hasten to lead Theoria to the Senate; that was where she lodged before.

Trygaeus

715 Oh! fortunate Senate! Thanks to Theoria, what soups you will swallow for the space of three days! how you will devour meats and cooked tripe! Come, farewell, friend Hermes!

Hermes

And to you also, my dear sir, may you have much happiness, and don't forget me.

Trygaeus
looking around for his dung-beetle.

720 >Come, beetle, home, home, and let us fly on a swift wing.

Hermes

Oh! he is no longer here.

Trygaeus

Where has he gone to then?

Hermes

He is ‘harnessed to the chariot of Zeus and bears the thunderbolts.’

Trygaeus

But where will the poor wretch get his food?

Hermes

He will eat Ganymede's ambrosia.