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Line 865a

ὄχημα κανθάρου ʼπιβὰς

The phrase ὄχημα κανθάρου ʼπιβὰς describes the protagonist Trygaeus mounting a dung beetle (καθάρου) as a vehicle (ὄχημα). This is a striking instance of Aristophanic comic hyperbole and bathos, elevating a lowly insect to the status of a heroic steed (cf. the 'horse' of the gods in other contexts) to satirize the grandeur of epic and tragic travel narratives. The verb ἐπιβαίνω with ὄχημα is technically correct for 'mounting a vehicle,' but the juxtaposition with the diminutive, lowly insect creates the specific comic effect central to the play's premise of a 'chariot' made of a beetle.

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.) — 819-921a focus

Τρυγαῖος

ὡς χαλεπὸν ἐλθεῖν ἦν ἄρʼ εὐθὺ τῶν θεῶν.

ἔγωγέ τοι πεπόνηκα κομιδῇ τὼ σκέλει.
820

μικροὶ δʼ ὁρᾶν ἄνωθεν ἦστʼ. ἔμοιγέ τοι

ἀπὸ τοὐρανοῦ ʼφαίνεσθε κακοήθεις πάνυ,

ἐντευθενὶ δὲ πολύ τι κακοηθέστεροι.

Οἰκέτης

ὦ δέσποθʼ ἥκεις;

Τρυγαῖος

ὡς ἐγὼ ʼπυθόμην τινός.

Οἰκέτης

τί δʼ ἔπαθες;
825

Τρυγαῖος

ἤλγουν τὼ σκέλει μακρὰν ὁδὸν

διεληλυθώς.

Οἰκέτης

ἴθι νυν κάτειπέ μοι—

Τρυγαῖος

τὸ τί;

Οἰκέτης

ἄλλον τινʼ εἶδες ἄνδρα κατὰ τὸν ἀέρα

πλανώμενον πλὴν σαυτόν;

Τρυγαῖος

οὔκ, εἰ μή γέ που

ψυχὰς δύʼ ἢ τρεῖς διθυραμβοδιδασκάλων.

Οἰκέτης

τί δʼ ἔδρων;
830

Τρυγαῖος

ξυνελέγοντʼ ἀναβολὰς ποτώμεναι

τὰς ἐνδιαεριαυερινηχέτους τινάς.

Οἰκέτης

οὐκ ἦν ἄρʼ οὐδʼ ἃ λέγουσι, κατὰ τὸν ἀέρα

ὡς ἀστέρες γιγνόμεθʼ, ὅταν τις ἀποθάνῃ;

Τρυγαῖος

μάλιστα.

Οἰκέτης

καὶ τίς ἐστιν ἀστὴρ νῦν ἐκεῖ;

Τρυγαῖος

Ἴων ὁ Χῖος, ὅσπερ ἐποίησεν πάλαι
835

ἐνθάδε τὸν ἀοῖόν ποθʼ· ὡς δʼ ἦλθʼ, εὐθέως

ἀοῖον αὐτὸν πάντες ἐκάλουν ἀστέρα.

Οἰκέτης

τίνες γάρ εἰσʼ οἱ διατρέχοντες ἀστέρες,

οἳ καόμενοι θέουσιν;

Τρυγαῖος

ἀπὸ δείπνου τινὲς

τῶν πλουσίων οὗτοι βαδίζουσʼ ἀστέρων,
840

ἰπνοὺς ἔχοντες, ἐν δὲ τοῖς ἰπνοῖσι πῦρ.

ἀλλʼ εἴσαγʼ ὡς τάχιστα ταυτηνὶ λαβών,

καὶ τὴν πύελον κατάκλυζε καὶ θέρμαινʼ ὕδωρ,

στόρνυ τʼ ἐμοὶ καὶ τῇδε κουρίδιον λέχος.

καὶ ταῦτα δράσας ἧκε δεῦρʼ αὖθις πάλιν·
845

ἐγὼ δʼ ἀποδώσω τήνδε τῇ βουλῇ τέως.

Οἰκέτης

πόθεν δʼ ἔλαβες ταύτας;

Τρυγαῖος

ὁπόθεν; ἐκ τοὐρανοῦ.

Οἰκέτης

οὐκ ἂν ἔτι δοίην τῶν θεῶν τριώβολον,

εἰ πορνοβοσκοῦσʼ ὥσπερ ἡμεῖς οἱ βροτοί.

Τρυγαῖος

οὔκ, ἀλλὰ κἀκεῖ ζῶσιν ἀπὸ τούτων τινές.
850

ἄγε νυν ἴωμεν.

Οἰκέτης

εἰπέ μοι, δῶ καταφαγεῖν

ταύτῃ τι;

Τρυγαῖος

μηδέν· οὐ γὰρ ἐθελήσει θαγεῖν

οὔτʼ ἄρτον οὔτε μᾶζαν, εἰωθυῖʼ ἀεὶ

παρὰ τοῖς θεοῖσιν ἀμβροσίαν λείχειν ἄνω.

Οἰκέτης

λείχειν ἄρʼ αὐτῇ κἀνθάδε σκευαστέον.
855

856

Χορός

εὐδαιμονικῶς γʼ ὁ πρεσβύτης,

ὅσα γʼ ὧδʼ ἰδεῖν,

τὰ νῦν τάδε πράττει.

Τρυγαῖος

τί δῆτʼ ἐπειδὰν νυμφίον μʼ ὁρᾶτε λαμπρὸν ὄντα;

Χορός

ζηλωτὸς ἔσει, γέρον,
860

αὖθις νέος ὢν πάλιν,

μύρῳ κατάλειπτος.

Τρυγαῖος

οἶμαι. τί δῆθʼ ὅταν ξυνὼν τῶν τιτθίων ἔχωμαι;

Χορός

εὐδαιμονέστερος φανεῖ τῶν Καρκίνου στροβίλων.

Τρυγαῖος

οὔκουν δικαίως; ὅστις εἰς
865

ὄχημα κανθάρου ʼπιβὰς

ἔσωσα τοὺς Ἕλληνας, ὥστʼ

ἐν τοῖς ἀγροῖσιν αὐτοὺς

ἅπαντας ὄντας ἀσφαλῶς

βινεῖν τε καὶ καθεύδειν.

868

Οἰκέτης

ἡ παῖς λέλουται καὶ τὰ τῆς πυγῆς καλά·

ὁ πλακοῦς πέπεπται, σησαμῆ ξυμπλάττεται.

καὶ τἄλλʼ ἁπαξάπαντα· τοῦ πέους δὲ δεῖ.
870

Τρυγαῖος

ἴθι νυν ἀποδῶμεν τήνδε τὴν Θεωρίαν

ἀνύσαντε τῇ βουλῇ.

Οἰκέτης

τίς αὑτηί;

Τρυγαῖος

τί φῄς;

αὕτη Θεωρία ʼστίν.

Οἰκέτης

ἣν ἡμεῖς ποτε

ἐπαίομεν Βραυρωνάδʼ ὑποπεπωκότες;

Τρυγαῖος

σάφʼ ἴσθι, κἀλήφθη γε μόλις.
875

Οἰκέτης

ὦ δέσποτα

ὅσην ἔχει τὴν πρωκτοπεντετηρίδα.

Τρυγαῖος

εἶεν, τίς ἐσθʼ ὑμῶν δίκαιος, τίς ποτε;

τίς διαφυλάξει τήνδε τῇ βουλῇ λαβών;

οὗτος τί περιγράφεις;

Οἰκέτης

τὸ δεῖνʼ εἰς Ἴσθμια

σκηνὴν ἐμαυτοῦ τῷ πέει καταλαμβάνω.
880

Τρυγαῖος

οὔπω λέγεθʼ ὑμεῖς τίς ὁ φυλάξων. δεῦρο σύ·

καταθήσομαι γὰρ αὐτὸς ἐς μέσους ἄγων.

Οἰκέτης

ἐκεινοσὶ νεύει.

Τρυγαῖος

τίς;

Οἰκέτης

ὅστις; Ἀριφράδης,

ἄγειν παρʼ αὑτὸν ἀντιβολῶν.

Τρυγαῖος

ἀλλʼ ὦ μέλε

τὸν ζωμὸν αὐτῆς προσπεσὼν ἐκλάψεται.
885

ἄγε δὴ σὺ κατάθου πρῶτα τὰ σκεύη χαμαί.

βουλή, πρυτάνεις, ὁρᾶτε τὴν Θεωρίαν.

σκέψασθʼ ὅσʼ ὑμῖν ἀγαθὰ παραδώσω φέρων,

ὥστʼ εὐθέως ἄραντας ὑμᾶς τὼ σκέλει

ταύτης μετέωρα καταγαγεῖν ἀνάρρυσιν.
890

τουτὶ δʼ ὁρᾶτʼ ὀπτάνιον ἡμῖν ὡς καλόν.

Οἰκέτης

διὰ ταῦτα καὶ κεκάπνικʼ ἄρʼ· ἐνταυθοῖ γὰρ οὖν

πρὸ τοῦ πολέμου τὰ λάσανα τῇ βουλῇ ποτʼ ἦν.

Τρυγαῖος

ἔπειτʼ ἀγῶνά γʼ εὐθὺς ἐξέσται ποιεῖν

ταύτην ἔχουσιν αὔριον καλὸν πάνυ,
895

ἐπὶ γῆς παλαίειν, τετραποδηδὸν ἑστάναι,

πλαγίαν καταβάλλειν, ἐς γόνατα κύβδʼ ἑστάναι,

καὶ παγκράτιόν γʼ ὑπαλειψαμένοις νεανικῶς

παίειν ὀρύττειν πὺξ ὁμοῦ καὶ τῷ πέει·

τρίτῃ δὲ μετὰ ταῦθʼ ἱπποδρομίαν ἄξετε,
900

ἵνα δὴ κέλης κέλητα παρακελητιεῖ,

ἅρματα δʼ ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἀνατετραμμένα

φυσῶντα καὶ πνέοντα προσκινήσεται·

ἕτεροι δὲ κείσονταί γʼ ἀπεψωλημένοι

περὶ ταῖσι καμπαῖς ἡνίοχοι πεπτωκότες.
905

ἀλλʼ ὦ πρυτάνεις δέχεσθε τὴν Θεωρίαν.

θέασʼ ὡς προθύμως ὁ πρύτανις παρεδέξατο.

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἂν εἴ τι προῖκα προσαγαγεῖν σʼ ἔδει,

ἀλλʼ ηὗρον ἄν σʼ ὑπέχοντα τὴν ἐκεχειρίαν.

910

Χορός

ἦ χρηστὸς ἀνὴρ πολίτης
910

ἐστὶν ἅπασιν ὅστις

γʼ ἐστὶ τοιοῦτος.

Τρυγαῖος

ὅταν τρυγᾶτʼ, εἴσεσθε πολλῷ μᾶλλον οἷός εἰμι.

Χορός

καὶ νῦν σύ γε δῆλος εἶ·

σωτὴρ γὰρ ἅπασιν ἀνθρώποις

γεγένησαι.
915

Τρυγαῖος

φήσεις ἐπειδὰν ἐκπίῃς οἴνου νέου λεπαστήν.

Χορός

καὶ πλήν γε τῶν θεῶν ἀεί σʼ ἡγησόμεσθα πρῶτον.

Τρυγαῖος

πολλῶν γὰρ ὑμῖν ἄξιος

Τρυγαῖος ἁθμονεὺς ἐγώ,

δεινῶν ἀπαλλάξας πόνων
920

τὸν δημότην ὅμιλον,

καὶ τὸν γεωργικὸν λεὼν

Ὑπέρβολόν τε παύσας.

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.) — 868 focus

Servant
Returning from the house.

The girl has quitted the bath; she is charming from head to foot, belly and buttocks too; the cake is baked and they are kneading the sesame-biscuit; 870 nothing is lacking but the bridegroom's tool.

Trygaeus

Let us first hasten to lodge Theoria in the hands of the Senate.

Servant

Tell me, who is this woman?

Trygaeus

Why, it's the same Theoria.

Servant

The one we used to go to Brauron with, to get tipsy and frolic?

Trygaeus

875 You know, I could scarcely get hold of her.

Servant

Ah! you charmer! what pleasure your pretty bottom will afford me every four years!

Trygaeus
To the audience.

Let's see, which one of you is steady enough to be trusted by the Senate with the care of this charming wench? To the Servant. Hi! you, friend! what are you drawing there?

Servant
Who has been making signs in the air.

It's er—well, at the Isthmian Games 880 I shall have a tent for my tool.

Trygaeus
to the audience.

Come, who wishes to take the charge of her? No one? Come, Theoria, I am going to lead you into the midst of the spectators and confide you to their care.

Servant

Ah! there is one who makes a sign to you.

Trygaeus

Who is it?

Servant

It's Ariphrades. He wishes to take her home at once.

Trygaeus

No, he must not. 885 He would soon have her done for, absorbing all her life-force. Come, Theoria, take off all these clothes. Theoria undresses. As soon as she is nude, Trygaeus conducts her to the front row of seats, where the Senators sit.Senate, Prytanes, gaze upon Theoria and see what precious blessings I place in your hands. 890 Hasten to raise its limbs and to immolate the victim. And look at this chimney.

Servant

God, what a beautiful one! It's black with smoke because the Senate used to do its cooking there before the war.

Trygaeus

Now that you have found Theoria again, 895 you can start the most charming games from to-morrow, wrestling with her on the ground, on all fours, or you can lay her on her side, or stand before her with bent knees, or, well rubbed with oil, you can boldly enter the lists, as in the Pancratium, belaboring your foe with blows from your fist or something else. 900 The next day you will celebrate equestrian games, in which the riders will ride side by side, or else the chariot teams, thrown one on top of another, panting and whinnying, will roll and knock against each other on the ground, while other rivals, thrown out of their seats, 905 will fall before reaching the goal, utterly exhausted by their efforts. —Come, Prytanes, take Theoria. Oh! look how graciously yonder fellow has received her; you would not have been in such a hurry to introduce her to the Senate, if nothing were coming to you through it; you would not have failed to plead some holiday as an excuse.

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.) — 868 focus

Servant: The girl has been bathed and her buttocks are fair;

Servant: the cake has been baked, sesame is being mixed in.

Slave: And everything else at once; but the penis must be there.

870

Trygaeus: Come now, let us return this Embassy.

Trygaeus: Have reached the council.

Servant: Who is this?

Trygaeus: What do you say?

Trygaeus: This is a Theoria.

Slave: whom we once

Slave: Shall we dance, having drunk the wine of Brauron?

Trygaeus: Be quite sure, and he was caught with difficulty.

875

Servant: oh master

Slave: whatever is the value of the five-year butt.

Trygaeus: Very well, who among you is just, who at all?

Trygaeus: Who will take this and guard it for the Council?

Trygaeus: What are you drawing here?

Servant: It is necessary [to go] to the Isthmian games.

Slave: I am taking possession of a stage for my penis.

880

Trygaeus: You have not yet said who will guard. Come here, you;

Trygaeus: For I myself will deposit him, leading him into the middle.

Slave: He nods with that.

Trygaeus: Who?

Slave: Who? Ariphrades,

Slave: I am urging him to bring him to himself.

Trygaeus: but, oh, bees

Trygaeus: He will lick her soup when he falls upon it.

885

Trygaeus: Come, you, put the equipment down on the ground first.

Trygaeus: Council, Prytanes, behold the Theoria.

Trygaeus: Consider all the good things I will bring and deliver to you,

Trygaeus: so that immediately, lifting up your two legs,

Trygaeus: to lower this on high with a drawbridge.

890

Trygaeus: Look at this, how beautiful a roast it is for us!

Servant: For this very reason, then, he has been smoked: for he is here, after all.

Servant: before the war the washing-places were once for the Council.

Trygaeus: Then a contest will immediately be allowed to be held.

Trygaeus: They will have this one tomorrow, very beautiful.

895

Trygaeus: to wrestle on the ground, to stand on all fours,

Trygaeus: to strike a blow to the side, to stand with the knees bent like a club,

Trygaeus: And with the pancration, having anointed yourselves, in a youthful manner

Trygaeus: to box, to dig, to fight together with the sword.

Trygaeus: and after these things you will bring a horse race on the third day,

900

Trygaeus: so that the swift horse may spur the swift horse.

Trygaeus: and chariots turned one upon another

Trygaeus: he will approach breathing and puffing;

Trygaeus: But others will be laid out with their breeches off.

Trygaeus: The charioteers have fallen over the ploughs.

905

Trygaeus: But, oh prytanes, receive the Embassy.

Trygaeus: Look how eagerly the president received him.

Trygaeus: But I would not have had to bring you something for nothing,

Trygaeus: But I would have found you holding out the truce.

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

865a. mvp-tlg0019-tlg005-sanjaya-com-eng1-27

Line 865a

ὄχημα κανθάρου ʼπιβὰς

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 865a

Current edition Experimental

Οἰκέτης ὦ δέσποθʼ ἥκεις;

Τρυγαῖος ὡς ἐγὼ ʼπυθόμην τινός.

Οἰκέτης τί δʼ ἔπαθες; 825

Τρυγαῖος ἤλγουν τὼ σκέλει μακρὰν ὁδὸν διεληλυθώς.

Οἰκέτης ἴθι νυν κάτειπέ μοι—

Τρυγαῖος τὸ τί;

Οἰκέτης ἄλλον τινʼ εἶδες ἄνδρα κατὰ τὸν ἀέρα πλανώμενον πλὴν σαυτόν;

Τρυγαῖος οὔκ, εἰ μή γέ που ψυχὰς δύʼ ἢ τρεῖς διθυραμβοδιδασκάλων.

Οἰκέτης τί δʼ ἔδρων; 830

Τρυγαῖος ξυνελέγοντʼ ἀναβολὰς ποτώμεναι τὰς ἐνδιαεριαυερινηχέτους τινάς.

Οἰκέτης οὐκ ἦν ἄρʼ οὐδʼ ἃ λέγουσι, κατὰ τὸν ἀέρα ὡς ἀστέρες γιγνόμεθʼ, ὅταν τις ἀποθάνῃ;

Τρυγαῖος μάλιστα.

Οἰκέτης καὶ τίς ἐστιν ἀστὴρ νῦν ἐκεῖ;

Τρυγαῖος Ἴων ὁ Χῖος, ὅσπερ ἐποίησεν πάλαι 835 ἐνθάδε τὸν ἀοῖόν ποθʼ· ὡς δʼ ἦλθʼ, εὐθέως ἀοῖον αὐτὸν πάντες ἐκάλουν ἀστέρα.

Οἰκέτης τίνες γάρ εἰσʼ οἱ διατρέχοντες ἀστέρες, οἳ καόμενοι θέουσιν;

Οἰκέτης πόθεν δʼ ἔλαβες ταύτας;

Τρυγαῖος ὁπόθεν; ἐκ τοὐρανοῦ.

Οἰκέτης οὐκ ἂν ἔτι δοίην τῶν θεῶν τριώβολον, εἰ πορνοβοσκοῦσʼ ὥσπερ ἡμεῖς οἱ βροτοί.

Τρυγαῖος οὔκ, ἀλλὰ κἀκεῖ ζῶσιν ἀπὸ τούτων τινές. 850 ἄγε νυν ἴωμεν.

Οἰκέτης εἰπέ μοι, δῶ καταφαγεῖν ταύτῃ τι;

Τρυγαῖος μηδέν· οὐ γὰρ ἐθελήσει θαγεῖν οὔτʼ ἄρτον οὔτε μᾶζαν, εἰωθυῖʼ ἀεὶ παρὰ τοῖς θεοῖσιν ἀμβροσίαν λείχειν ἄνω.

Οἰκέτης λείχειν ἄρʼ αὐτῇ κἀνθάδε σκευαστέον. 855

Χορός εὐδαιμονικῶς γʼ ὁ πρεσβύτης, ὅσα γʼ ὧδʼ ἰδεῖν, τὰ νῦν τάδε πράττει.

Τρυγαῖος τί δῆτʼ ἐπειδὰν νυμφίον μʼ ὁρᾶτε λαμπρὸν ὄντα;

Χορός ζηλωτὸς ἔσει, γέρον, 860 αὖθις νέος ὢν πάλιν, μύρῳ κατάλειπτος.

Τρυγαῖος οἶμαι. τί δῆθʼ ὅταν ξυνὼν τῶν τιτθίων ἔχωμαι;

Χορός εὐδαιμονέστερος φανεῖ τῶν Καρκίνου στροβίλων.

Οἰκέτης ἡ παῖς λέλουται καὶ τὰ τῆς πυγῆς καλά· ὁ πλακοῦς πέπεπται, σησαμῆ ξυμπλάττεται. καὶ τἄλλʼ ἁπαξάπαντα· τοῦ πέους δὲ δεῖ. 870

Τρυγαῖος ἴθι νυν ἀποδῶμεν τήνδε τὴν Θεωρίαν ἀνύσαντε τῇ βουλῇ.

Οἰκέτης τίς αὑτηί;

Τρυγαῖος τί φῄς; αὕτη Θεωρία ʼστίν.

Οἰκέτης ἣν ἡμεῖς ποτε ἐπαίομεν Βραυρωνάδʼ ὑποπεπωκότες;

Τρυγαῖος σάφʼ ἴσθι, κἀλήφθη γε μόλις. 875

Οἰκέτης ὦ δέσποτα ὅσην ἔχει τὴν πρωκτοπεντετηρίδα.

Τρυγαῖος εἶεν, τίς ἐσθʼ ὑμῶν δίκαιος, τίς ποτε; τίς διαφυλάξει τήνδε τῇ βουλῇ λαβών; οὗτος τί περιγράφεις;

Οἰκέτης τὸ δεῖνʼ εἰς Ἴσθμια σκηνὴν ἐμαυτοῦ τῷ πέει καταλαμβάνω. 880

Τρυγαῖος οὔπω λέγεθʼ ὑμεῖς τίς ὁ φυλάξων. δεῦρο σύ· καταθήσομαι γὰρ αὐτὸς ἐς μέσους ἄγων.

Οἰκέτης ἐκεινοσὶ νεύει.

Τρυγαῖος τίς;

Οἰκέτης ὅστις; Ἀριφράδης, ἄγειν παρʼ αὑτὸν ἀντιβολῶν.

Οἰκέτης διὰ ταῦτα καὶ κεκάπνικʼ ἄρʼ· ἐνταυθοῖ γὰρ οὖν πρὸ τοῦ πολέμου τὰ λάσανα τῇ βουλῇ ποτʼ ἦν.

Χορός ἦ χρηστὸς ἀνὴρ πολίτης 910 ἐστὶν ἅπασιν ὅστις γʼ ἐστὶ τοιοῦτος.

Τρυγαῖος ὅταν τρυγᾶτʼ, εἴσεσθε πολλῷ μᾶλλον οἷός εἰμι.

Χορός καὶ νῦν σύ γε δῆλος εἶ· σωτὴρ γὰρ ἅπασιν ἀνθρώποις γεγένησαι. 915

Τρυγαῖος φήσεις ἐπειδὰν ἐκπίῃς οἴνου νέου λεπαστήν.

Χορός καὶ πλήν γε τῶν θεῶν ἀεί σʼ ἡγησόμεσθα πρῶτον.

Τρυγαῖος πολλῶν γὰρ ὑμῖν ἄξιος Τρυγαῖος ἁθμονεὺς ἐγώ, δεινῶν ἀπαλλάξας πόνων 920 τὸν δημότην ὅμιλον, καὶ τὸν γεωργικὸν λεὼν Ὑπέρβολόν τε παύσας.

Servant Returning from the house. The girl has quitted the bath; she is charming from head to foot, belly and buttocks too; the cake is baked and they are kneading the sesame-biscuit; 870 nothing is lacking but the bridegroom's tool.

Trygaeus Let us first hasten to lodge Theoria in the hands of the Senate.

Servant Tell me, who is this woman?

Trygaeus Why, it's the same Theoria.

Servant The one we used to go to Brauron with, to get tipsy and frolic?

Trygaeus 875 You know, I could scarcely get hold of her.

Servant Ah! you charmer! what pleasure your pretty bottom will afford me every four years!

Trygaeus To the audience. Let's see, which one of you is steady enough to be trusted by the Senate with the care of this charming wench? To the Servant. Hi! you, friend! what are you drawing there?

Servant Who has been making signs in the air. It's er—well, at the Isthmian Games 880 I shall have a tent for my tool.

Trygaeus to the audience. Come, who wishes to take the charge of her? No one? Come, Theoria, I am going to lead you into the midst of the spectators and confide you to their care.

Servant Ah! there is one who makes a sign to you.

Trygaeus Who is it?

Servant It's Ariphrades. He wishes to take her home at once.

Servant God, what a beautiful one! It's black with smoke because the Senate used to do its cooking there before the war.

Commentary

Line 865a

Stable identifiers

Οἰκέτης

ὦ δέσποθʼ ἥκεις;

Τρυγαῖος

ὡς ἐγὼ ʼπυθόμην τινός.

Οἰκέτης

τί δʼ ἔπαθες;
825

Τρυγαῖος

ἤλγουν τὼ σκέλει μακρὰν ὁδὸν

διεληλυθώς.

Οἰκέτης

ἴθι νυν κάτειπέ μοι—

Τρυγαῖος

τὸ τί;

Οἰκέτης

ἄλλον τινʼ εἶδες ἄνδρα κατὰ τὸν ἀέρα

πλανώμενον πλὴν σαυτόν;

Τρυγαῖος

οὔκ, εἰ μή γέ που

ψυχὰς δύʼ ἢ τρεῖς διθυραμβοδιδασκάλων.

Οἰκέτης

τί δʼ ἔδρων;
830

Τρυγαῖος

ξυνελέγοντʼ ἀναβολὰς ποτώμεναι

τὰς ἐνδιαεριαυερινηχέτους τινάς.

Οἰκέτης

οὐκ ἦν ἄρʼ οὐδʼ ἃ λέγουσι, κατὰ τὸν ἀέρα

ὡς ἀστέρες γιγνόμεθʼ, ὅταν τις ἀποθάνῃ;

Τρυγαῖος

μάλιστα.

Οἰκέτης

καὶ τίς ἐστιν ἀστὴρ νῦν ἐκεῖ;

Τρυγαῖος

Ἴων ὁ Χῖος, ὅσπερ ἐποίησεν πάλαι
835

ἐνθάδε τὸν ἀοῖόν ποθʼ· ὡς δʼ ἦλθʼ, εὐθέως

ἀοῖον αὐτὸν πάντες ἐκάλουν ἀστέρα.

Οἰκέτης

τίνες γάρ εἰσʼ οἱ διατρέχοντες ἀστέρες,

οἳ καόμενοι θέουσιν;

Οἰκέτης

πόθεν δʼ ἔλαβες ταύτας;

Τρυγαῖος

ὁπόθεν; ἐκ τοὐρανοῦ.

Οἰκέτης

οὐκ ἂν ἔτι δοίην τῶν θεῶν τριώβολον,

εἰ πορνοβοσκοῦσʼ ὥσπερ ἡμεῖς οἱ βροτοί.

Τρυγαῖος

οὔκ, ἀλλὰ κἀκεῖ ζῶσιν ἀπὸ τούτων τινές.
850

ἄγε νυν ἴωμεν.

Οἰκέτης

εἰπέ μοι, δῶ καταφαγεῖν

ταύτῃ τι;

Τρυγαῖος

μηδέν· οὐ γὰρ ἐθελήσει θαγεῖν

οὔτʼ ἄρτον οὔτε μᾶζαν, εἰωθυῖʼ ἀεὶ

παρὰ τοῖς θεοῖσιν ἀμβροσίαν λείχειν ἄνω.

Οἰκέτης

λείχειν ἄρʼ αὐτῇ κἀνθάδε σκευαστέον.
855

Χορός

εὐδαιμονικῶς γʼ ὁ πρεσβύτης,

ὅσα γʼ ὧδʼ ἰδεῖν,

τὰ νῦν τάδε πράττει.

Τρυγαῖος

τί δῆτʼ ἐπειδὰν νυμφίον μʼ ὁρᾶτε λαμπρὸν ὄντα;

Χορός

ζηλωτὸς ἔσει, γέρον,
860

αὖθις νέος ὢν πάλιν,

μύρῳ κατάλειπτος.

Τρυγαῖος

οἶμαι. τί δῆθʼ ὅταν ξυνὼν τῶν τιτθίων ἔχωμαι;

Χορός

εὐδαιμονέστερος φανεῖ τῶν Καρκίνου στροβίλων.

Οἰκέτης

ἡ παῖς λέλουται καὶ τὰ τῆς πυγῆς καλά·

ὁ πλακοῦς πέπεπται, σησαμῆ ξυμπλάττεται.

καὶ τἄλλʼ ἁπαξάπαντα· τοῦ πέους δὲ δεῖ.
870

Τρυγαῖος

ἴθι νυν ἀποδῶμεν τήνδε τὴν Θεωρίαν

ἀνύσαντε τῇ βουλῇ.

Οἰκέτης

τίς αὑτηί;

Τρυγαῖος

τί φῄς;

αὕτη Θεωρία ʼστίν.

Οἰκέτης

ἣν ἡμεῖς ποτε

ἐπαίομεν Βραυρωνάδʼ ὑποπεπωκότες;

Τρυγαῖος

σάφʼ ἴσθι, κἀλήφθη γε μόλις.
875

Οἰκέτης

ὦ δέσποτα

ὅσην ἔχει τὴν πρωκτοπεντετηρίδα.

Τρυγαῖος

εἶεν, τίς ἐσθʼ ὑμῶν δίκαιος, τίς ποτε;

τίς διαφυλάξει τήνδε τῇ βουλῇ λαβών;

οὗτος τί περιγράφεις;

Οἰκέτης

τὸ δεῖνʼ εἰς Ἴσθμια

σκηνὴν ἐμαυτοῦ τῷ πέει καταλαμβάνω.
880

Τρυγαῖος

οὔπω λέγεθʼ ὑμεῖς τίς ὁ φυλάξων. δεῦρο σύ·

καταθήσομαι γὰρ αὐτὸς ἐς μέσους ἄγων.

Οἰκέτης

ἐκεινοσὶ νεύει.

Τρυγαῖος

τίς;

Οἰκέτης

ὅστις; Ἀριφράδης,

ἄγειν παρʼ αὑτὸν ἀντιβολῶν.

Οἰκέτης

διὰ ταῦτα καὶ κεκάπνικʼ ἄρʼ· ἐνταυθοῖ γὰρ οὖν

πρὸ τοῦ πολέμου τὰ λάσανα τῇ βουλῇ ποτʼ ἦν.

Χορός

ἦ χρηστὸς ἀνὴρ πολίτης
910

ἐστὶν ἅπασιν ὅστις

γʼ ἐστὶ τοιοῦτος.

Τρυγαῖος

ὅταν τρυγᾶτʼ, εἴσεσθε πολλῷ μᾶλλον οἷός εἰμι.

Χορός

καὶ νῦν σύ γε δῆλος εἶ·

σωτὴρ γὰρ ἅπασιν ἀνθρώποις

γεγένησαι.
915

Τρυγαῖος

φήσεις ἐπειδὰν ἐκπίῃς οἴνου νέου λεπαστήν.

Χορός

καὶ πλήν γε τῶν θεῶν ἀεί σʼ ἡγησόμεσθα πρῶτον.

Τρυγαῖος

πολλῶν γὰρ ὑμῖν ἄξιος

Τρυγαῖος ἁθμονεὺς ἐγώ,

δεινῶν ἀπαλλάξας πόνων
920

τὸν δημότην ὅμιλον,

καὶ τὸν γεωργικὸν λεὼν

Ὑπέρβολόν τε παύσας.

Servant
Returning from the house.

The girl has quitted the bath; she is charming from head to foot, belly and buttocks too; the cake is baked and they are kneading the sesame-biscuit; 870 nothing is lacking but the bridegroom's tool.

Trygaeus

Let us first hasten to lodge Theoria in the hands of the Senate.

Servant

Tell me, who is this woman?

Trygaeus

Why, it's the same Theoria.

Servant

The one we used to go to Brauron with, to get tipsy and frolic?

Trygaeus

875 You know, I could scarcely get hold of her.

Servant

Ah! you charmer! what pleasure your pretty bottom will afford me every four years!

Trygaeus
To the audience.

Let's see, which one of you is steady enough to be trusted by the Senate with the care of this charming wench? To the Servant. Hi! you, friend! what are you drawing there?

Servant
Who has been making signs in the air.

It's er—well, at the Isthmian Games 880 I shall have a tent for my tool.

Trygaeus
to the audience.

Come, who wishes to take the charge of her? No one? Come, Theoria, I am going to lead you into the midst of the spectators and confide you to their care.

Servant

Ah! there is one who makes a sign to you.

Trygaeus

Who is it?

Servant

It's Ariphrades. He wishes to take her home at once.

Servant

God, what a beautiful one! It's black with smoke because the Senate used to do its cooking there before the war.