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Line 1046b

οὐ μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ Ἱεροκλέης

The phrase οὐ μὰ Δίʼ is a standard oath formula, but the elision of the final vowel of Διός to Δίʼ before the following vowel of ἀλλʼ (which itself is elided from ἀλλά) creates a specific crasis-like contraction often found in comic meter to preserve the dactylic or iambic rhythm. More significantly, the abrupt shift from a solemn oath to the naming of Hierocles functions as a comedic anticlimax (bathos), where the speaker's indignation is immediately deflated by invoking a specific, likely notorious, individual, a rhetorical device characteristic of Aristophanic parody of tragic oratory.

Peace. 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)

Εἰρήνη Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 1. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906.) — 1127-1190 focus

Χορός

ἥδομαί γʼ ἥδομαι

κράνους ἀπηλλαγμένος

τυροῦ τε καὶ κρομμύων.

οὐ γὰρ φιληδῶ μάχαις,
1130

ἀλλὰ πρὸς πῦρ διέλκων

μετʼ ἀνδρῶν ἑταίρων φίλων,

ἐκκέας τῶν ξύλων ἅττʼ ἂν ᾖ

δανότατα τοῦ θέρους

†ἐκπεπρισμένα†,
1135

κἀνθρακίζων τοὐρεβίνθου

τήν τε φηγὸν ἐμπυρεύων,

χἄμα τὴν Θρᾷτταν κυνῶν

τῆς γυναικὸς λουμένης.

1140

Χορός

οὐ γὰρ ἔσθʼ ἥδιον ἢ τυχεῖν μὲν ἤδη ʼσπαρμένα,
1140

τὸν θεὸν δʼ ἐπιψακάζειν, καὶ τινʼ εἰπεῖν γείτονα,

εἰπέ μοι τί τηνικαῦτα δρῶμεν ὦ Κωμαρχίδη;

ἐμπιεῖν ἔμοιγʼ ἀρέσκει τοῦ θεοῦ δρῶντος καλῶς.

ἀλλʼ ἄφευε τῶν φασήλων ὦ γύναι τρεῖς χοίνικας,

τῶν τε πυρῶν μεῖξον αὐτοῖς, τῶν τε σύκων ἔξελε,
1145

τόν τε Μανῆν ἡ Σύρα βωστρησάτω κʼ τοῦ χωρίου.

οὐ γὰρ οἷόν τʼ ἐστὶ πάντως οἰναρίζειν τήμερον

οὐδὲ τυντλάζειν, ἐπειδὴ παρδακὸν τὸ χωρίον.

κἀξ ἐμοῦ δʼ ἐνεγκάτω τις τὴν κίχλην καὶ τὼ σπίνω·

ἦν δὲ καὶ πυός τις ἔνδον καὶ λαγῷα τέτταρα,
1150

εἴ τι μὴ ʼξήνεγκεν αὐτῶν ἡ γαλῆ τῆς ἑσπέρας·

ἐψόφει γοῦν ἔνδον οὐκ οἶδʼ ἅττα κἀκυδοιδόπα·

ὧν ἔνεγκʼ ὦ παῖ τρἴ ἡμῖν, ἓν δὲ δοῦναι τῷ πατρί·

μυρρίνας τʼ αἴτησον ἐξ Αἰσχινάδου τῶν καρπίμων·

χἄμα τῆς αὐτῆς ὁδοῦ Χαρινάδην τις βωσάτω,
1155

1156

Χορός

ὡς ἂν ἐμπίῃ μεθʼ ἡμῶν,

εὖ ποιοῦντος κὠφελοῦντος

τοῦ φεοῦ τἀρώματα.

1159

Χορός

ἡνίκʼ ἂν δʼ ἀχέτας

ᾄδῃ τὸν ἡδὺν νόμον,
1160

διασκοπῶν ἥδομαι

τὰς Λημυνίας ἀμπέλους,

εἰ πεπαίνουσιν ἤ-

δη ʽτὸ γὰρ φῖτυ πρῷον φύσεἰ,

τόν τε φήληχʼ ὁρῶν οἰδάνοντʼ·
1165

εἶθʼ ὁπόταν ᾖ πέπων,

ἐσθίω κἀπέχω

χἄμα φήμʼ, ὧραι φίλαι· καὶ

τοῦ θύμου τρίβων κυκῶμαι·

κᾆτα γίγνομαι παχὺς
1170

τηνικαῦτα τοῦ θέρους

1172

Χορός

μᾶλλον ἢ θεοῖσιν ἐχθρὸν ταξίαρχον προσβλέπων

τρεῖς λόφους ἔχοντα καὶ φοινικίδʼ ὀξεῖαν πάνυ,

ἣν ἐκεῖνός φησιν εἶναι βάμμα Σαρδιανικόν·

ἢν δέ που δέῃ μάχεσθʼ ἔχοντα τὴν φοινικίδα,
1175

τηνικαῦτʼ αὐτὸς βέβαπται βάμμα Κυζικηνικόν·

κᾆτα φεύγει πρῶτος ὥσπερ ξουθὸς ἱππαλεκτρυὼν

τοὺς λόφους σείων· ἐγὼ δʼ ἕστηκα †λινοπτώμενος.†

ἡνίκʼ ἂν δʼ οἴκοι γένωνται, δρῶσιν οὐκ ἀνασχετά,

τοὺς μὲν ἐγγράφοντες ἡμῶν τοὺς δʼ ἄνω τε καὶ κάτω
1180

ἐξαλείφοντες δὶς ἢ τρίς. αὔριον δʼ ἔσθʼ ἡ ʼξοδος·

τῷ δὲ σιτίʼ οὐκ ἐώνητʼ· οὐ γὰρ ᾔδειν ἐξιών·

εἶτα προστὰς πρὸς τὸν ἀνδριάντα τὸν Πανδίονος

εἶδεν αὑτόν, κἀπορῶν θεῖ τῷ κακῷ βλέπων ὀπόν.

ταῦτα δʼ ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀγροίκους δρῶσι, τοὺς δʼ ἐξ ἄστεως
1185

ἧττον, οἱ θεοῖσιν οὗτοι κἀνδράσιν ῥιψάσπιδες.

ὧν ἔτʼ εὐθύνας ἐμοὶ δώσουσιν, ἢν θεὸς θέλῃ.

1188

Χορός

πολλὰ γὰρ δή μʼ ἠδίκησαν,

ὄντες οἴκοι μὲν λέοντες

ἐν μάχῃ δʼ ἀλώπεκες.
1190

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.) — 1039 focus

Servant
Returning with a table.

Wait. Here are the legs, place them upon the altar. 1040 For myself, I mean to go back to the entrails and the cakes.

Trygaeus
Going into the house ahead of the Servant.

I'll take care of them. But I want you here.

Servant

Well then, here I am. Do you think I have taken long?

Trygaeus

Just get this roasted. 1045 Ah! who is this man, crowned with laurel, who is coming to me?

Servant

He has a self-important look; is he some diviner?

Trygaeus

No, it's Hierocles, that oracle-monger from Oreus.

Servant

What is he going to tell us?

Trygaeus

Evidently he is coming to oppose the peace.

Servant

1050 No, it's the odor of the fat that attracts him.

Trygaeus

Let us appear not to see him.

Servant

Very well.

Hierocles
Approaching.

What sacrifice is this? to what god are you offering it?

Trygaeus
To the Servant.

Keep quiet.— Aloud.Look after the roasting and keep your hands off the meat.

Hierocles

To whom are you sacrificing? Answer me.

Trygaeus

Ah! the tail is showing 1055 favourable omens.

Servant

Aye, very favourable, oh, loved and mighty Peace!

Hierocles

Come, cut off the first offering and make the oblation.

Trygaeus

It's not roasted enough.

Hierocles

Yea, truly, it's done to a turn.

Trygaeus

Mind your own business, friend! To the Servant.Cut away.

Hierocles

Where is the table?

Trygaeus

Bring the libations.

The Servant departs.

Hierocles

1060 The tongue is cut separately.

Trygaeus

We know all that. But just listen to one piece of advice.

Hierocles

And that is?

Trygaeus

Don't talk, for it is divine Peace to whom we are sacrificing.

Hierocles
in an oracular tone.

Oh! wretched mortals, oh, you idiots!

Trygaeus

Keep such ugly terms for yourself.

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.) — 1039 focus

Servant: These things have been done. Take hold of the two thighs.

Servant: But I am going to the entrails and the offerings.

1040

Trygaeus: These matters shall concern me; but I ought to have come.

Servant: Behold, I am here. Do I seem to you to be delaying?

Trygaeus: Look well at them now; for even this man

Trygaeus: Someone approaches, crowned with bay.

Trygaeus: So who is it, pray?

1045

Servant: as a braggart he appears;

Slave: Who is the prophet?

Trygaeus: no, by Zeus, but Hierocles

Trygaeus: This must be the oracle-monger who is from Oreus.

Slave: What, then, will he say?

Trygaeus: It is clear, then, that he is.

Trygaeus: Something will oppose the peace terms.

Servant: No, but he has entered through the smoke.

1050

Trygaeus: Let us not seem to see him now.

Slave: You speak well.

Hierocles: What sacrifice is this, and to which of the gods?

Trygaeus: Open, but quietly, and take it off from your waist.

Hieroikles: But to whom did you not say you sacrificed?

Trygaeus: The rudder makes [it].

Trygaeus: Well?

1055

Servant: Very well, then, dear mistress Peace.

Hieroclès: come now, begin and then give the offerings.

Trygaeus: It is better to roast first.

Hierothes: But these here

Hierocles: It is already roasted.

Trygaeus: You are doing many things, whoever you are.

Trygaeus: cut it up. Where is the table? Bring the libation.

Hieroclēs: The tongue is cut without [the body].

1060

Trygaeus: Let us remember.

Trygaeus: But do you know what to do?

Hiero-clês: If you tell it.

Trygaeus: do not converse.

Trygaeus: Nothing for us; for we are sacrificing a holy offering to Peace.

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

1046b. mvp-tlg0019-tlg005-sanjaya-com-eng1-36

Line 1046b

οὐ μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ Ἱεροκλέης

Aristophanes Peace 1046b

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 1046b

Current edition Experimental

Χορός

ὡς ἂν ἐμπίῃ μεθʼ ἡμῶν,

εὖ ποιοῦντος κὠφελοῦντος

τοῦ φεοῦ τἀρώματα.

Χορός

πολλὰ γὰρ δή μʼ ἠδίκησαν,

ὄντες οἴκοι μὲν λέοντες

ἐν μάχῃ δʼ ἀλώπεκες.
1190

Servant
Returning with a table.

Wait. Here are the legs, place them upon the altar. 1040 For myself, I mean to go back to the entrails and the cakes.

Trygaeus
Going into the house ahead of the Servant.

I'll take care of them. But I want you here.

Servant

Well then, here I am. Do you think I have taken long?

Trygaeus

Just get this roasted. 1045 Ah! who is this man, crowned with laurel, who is coming to me?

Servant

He has a self-important look; is he some diviner?

Trygaeus

No, it's Hierocles, that oracle-monger from Oreus.

Servant

What is he going to tell us?

Trygaeus

Evidently he is coming to oppose the peace.

Servant

1050 No, it's the odor of the fat that attracts him.

Trygaeus

Let us appear not to see him.

Servant

Very well.

Hierocles
Approaching.

What sacrifice is this? to what god are you offering it?

Trygaeus
To the Servant.

Keep quiet.— Aloud.Look after the roasting and keep your hands off the meat.

Hierocles

To whom are you sacrificing? Answer me.

Trygaeus

Ah! the tail is showing 1055 favourable omens.

Servant

Aye, very favourable, oh, loved and mighty Peace!

Hierocles

Come, cut off the first offering and make the oblation.

Trygaeus

It's not roasted enough.

Hierocles

Yea, truly, it's done to a turn.

Trygaeus

Mind your own business, friend! To the Servant.Cut away.

Hierocles

Where is the table?

Trygaeus

Bring the libations.

Hierocles

1060 The tongue is cut separately.

Trygaeus

We know all that. But just listen to one piece of advice.

Hierocles

And that is?

Trygaeus

Don't talk, for it is divine Peace to whom we are sacrificing.

Hierocles
in an oracular tone.

Oh! wretched mortals, oh, you idiots!

Trygaeus

Keep such ugly terms for yourself.

Commentary

Line 1046b

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 1046b

Current edition Experimental

Χορός ὡς ἂν ἐμπίῃ μεθʼ ἡμῶν, εὖ ποιοῦντος κὠφελοῦντος τοῦ φεοῦ τἀρώματα.

Χορός πολλὰ γὰρ δή μʼ ἠδίκησαν, ὄντες οἴκοι μὲν λέοντες ἐν μάχῃ δʼ ἀλώπεκες. 1190

Servant Returning with a table. Wait. Here are the legs, place them upon the altar. 1040 For myself, I mean to go back to the entrails and the cakes.

Trygaeus Going into the house ahead of the Servant. I'll take care of them. But I want you here.

Servant Well then, here I am. Do you think I have taken long?

Trygaeus Just get this roasted. 1045 Ah! who is this man, crowned with laurel, who is coming to me?

Servant He has a self-important look; is he some diviner?

Trygaeus No, it's Hierocles, that oracle-monger from Oreus.

Servant What is he going to tell us?

Trygaeus Evidently he is coming to oppose the peace.

Servant 1050 No, it's the odor of the fat that attracts him.

Trygaeus Let us appear not to see him.

Servant Very well.

Hierocles Approaching. What sacrifice is this? to what god are you offering it?

Trygaeus To the Servant. Keep quiet.— Aloud.Look after the roasting and keep your hands off the meat.

Hierocles To whom are you sacrificing? Answer me.

Trygaeus Ah! the tail is showing 1055 favourable omens.

Servant Aye, very favourable, oh, loved and mighty Peace!

Hierocles Come, cut off the first offering and make the oblation.

Trygaeus It's not roasted enough.

Hierocles Yea, truly, it's done to a turn.

Trygaeus Mind your own business, friend! To the Servant.Cut away.

Hierocles Where is the table?

Trygaeus Bring the libations.

Hierocles 1060 The tongue is cut separately.

Trygaeus We know all that. But just listen to one piece of advice.

Hierocles And that is?

Trygaeus Don't talk, for it is divine Peace to whom we are sacrificing.

Hierocles in an oracular tone. Oh! wretched mortals, oh, you idiots!

Trygaeus Keep such ugly terms for yourself.

Commentary

Line 1046b

Stable identifiers

Χορός

ὡς ἂν ἐμπίῃ μεθʼ ἡμῶν,

εὖ ποιοῦντος κὠφελοῦντος

τοῦ φεοῦ τἀρώματα.

Χορός

πολλὰ γὰρ δή μʼ ἠδίκησαν,

ὄντες οἴκοι μὲν λέοντες

ἐν μάχῃ δʼ ἀλώπεκες.
1190

Servant
Returning with a table.

Wait. Here are the legs, place them upon the altar. 1040 For myself, I mean to go back to the entrails and the cakes.

Trygaeus
Going into the house ahead of the Servant.

I'll take care of them. But I want you here.

Servant

Well then, here I am. Do you think I have taken long?

Trygaeus

Just get this roasted. 1045 Ah! who is this man, crowned with laurel, who is coming to me?

Servant

He has a self-important look; is he some diviner?

Trygaeus

No, it's Hierocles, that oracle-monger from Oreus.

Servant

What is he going to tell us?

Trygaeus

Evidently he is coming to oppose the peace.

Servant

1050 No, it's the odor of the fat that attracts him.

Trygaeus

Let us appear not to see him.

Servant

Very well.

Hierocles
Approaching.

What sacrifice is this? to what god are you offering it?

Trygaeus
To the Servant.

Keep quiet.— Aloud.Look after the roasting and keep your hands off the meat.

Hierocles

To whom are you sacrificing? Answer me.

Trygaeus

Ah! the tail is showing 1055 favourable omens.

Servant

Aye, very favourable, oh, loved and mighty Peace!

Hierocles

Come, cut off the first offering and make the oblation.

Trygaeus

It's not roasted enough.

Hierocles

Yea, truly, it's done to a turn.

Trygaeus

Mind your own business, friend! To the Servant.Cut away.

Hierocles

Where is the table?

Trygaeus

Bring the libations.

Hierocles

1060 The tongue is cut separately.

Trygaeus

We know all that. But just listen to one piece of advice.

Hierocles

And that is?

Trygaeus

Don't talk, for it is divine Peace to whom we are sacrificing.

Hierocles
in an oracular tone.

Oh! wretched mortals, oh, you idiots!

Trygaeus

Keep such ugly terms for yourself.