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Line 1629

βακταρικροῦσα.

The hapax legomenon βακταρικροῦσα (baktarikrousa) is a coined compound adjective describing the bird's sound, blending the root of βᾶκτρος (a type of flute or reed pipe) with κρούω (to strike or sound). The word is a deliberate comic neologism by Aristophanes, likely evoking the shrill, piercing quality of the birds' song to contrast with the human musical tradition, while simultaneously alluding to the satyr play tradition where such grotesque or burlesque sounds were common. Its rarity and the author's specific morphological construction mark it as a key instance of Aristophanic wordplay.

Birds. 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)

Ὄρνιθες Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 1. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906.) — 1646 focus

Πισθέταιρος

οἴμοι τάλας οἷόν σε περισοφίζεται.

δεῦρʼ ὡς ἔμʼ ἀποχώρησον, ἵνα τί σοι φράσω.

διαβάλλεταί σʼ ὁ θεῖος ὦ πόνηρε σύ.

τῶν γὰρ πατρῴων οὐδʼ ἀκαρῆ μέτεστί σοι

κατὰ τοὺς νόμους· νόθος γὰρ εἶ κοὐ γνήσιος.
1650

Ἡρακλῆς

ἐγὼ νόθος; τί λέγεις;

Πισθέταιρος

σὺ μέντοι νὴ Δία

ὤν γε ξένης γυναικός. ἢ πῶς ἄν ποτε

ἐπίκληρον εἶναι τὴν Ἀθηναίαν δοκεῖς,

οὖσαν θυγατέρʼ, ὄντων ἀδελφῶν γνησίων;

Ἡρακλῆς

τί δʼ ἢν ὁ πατὴρ ἐμοὶ διδῷ τὰ χρήματα
1655

νοθεἶ ἀποθνῄσκων;

Πισθέταιρος

ὁ νόμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἐᾷ.

οὗτος ὁ Ποσειδῶν πρῶτος, ὃς ἐπαίρει σε νῦν,

ἀνθέξεταί σου τῶν πατρῴων χρημάτων

φάσκων ἀδελφὸς αὐτὸς εἶναι γνήσιος.

ἐρῶ δὲ δὴ καὶ τὸν Σόλωνός σοι νόμον·
1660

νόθῳ δὲ μὴ εἶναι ἀγχιστείαν παίδων ὄντων

γνησίων. ἐὰν δὲ παῖδες μὴ ὦσι γνήσιοι, τοῖς
1665

ἐγγυτάτω γένους μετεῖναι τῶν χρημάτων.

Ἡρακλῆς

ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐδὲν τῶν πατρῴων χρημάτων

μέτεστιν;

Πισθέταιρος

οὐ μέντοι μὰ Δία. λέξον δέ μοι,

ἤδη σʼ ὁ πατὴρ εἰσήγαγʼ ἐς τοὺς φράτερας;

Ἡρακλῆς

οὐ δῆτʼ ἐμέ γε. καὶ δῆτʼ ἐθαύμαζον πάλαι.
1670

Πισθέταιρος

τί δῆτʼ ἄνω κέχηνας αἴκειαν βλέπων;

ἀλλʼ ἢν μεθʼ ἡμῶν ᾖς, καταστήσας σʼ ἐγὼ

τύραννον ὀρνίθων παρέξω σοι γάλα.

Ἡρακλῆς

δίκαιʼ ἔμοιγε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖς λέγειν

περὶ τῆς κόρης, κἄγωγε παραδίδωμί σοι.
1675

Πισθέταιρος

τί δαὶ σὺ φῄς;

Ποσειδῶν

τἀναντία ψηφίζομαι.

Πισθέταιρος

ἐν τῷ Τριβαλλῷ πᾶν τὸ πρᾶγμα. τί σὺ λέγεις;

Τριβαλλός

καλάνι κόραυνα καὶ μεγάλα βασιλιναῦ

ὄρνιτο παραδίδωμι.

Ἡρακλῆς

παραδοῦναι λέγει.

Ποσειδῶν

μὰ τὸν Δίʼ οὐχ οὗτός γε παραδοῦναι λέγει,
1680

εἰ μὴ † βαδίζειν † ωἅσπερ αἱ χελιδόσιν λέγει.

Πισθέταιρος

οὐκοῦν παραδοῦναι ταῖς χελιδόσιν λέγει.

Ποσειδῶν

σφὼ νῦν διαλλάττεσθε καὶ ξυμβαίνετε·

ἐγὼ δʼ, ἐπειδὴ σφῷν δοκεῖ, σιγήσομαι.

Ἡρακλῆς

ἡμῖν ἃ λέγεις σὺ πάντα συγχωρεῖν δοκεῖ.
1685

ἀλλʼ ἴθι μεθʼ ἡμῶν αὐτὸς ἐς τὸν οὐρανόν,

ἵνα τὴν Βασίλειαν καὶ τὰ πάντʼ ἐκεῖ λάβῃς.

Πισθέταιρος

ἐς καιρὸν ἆρα κατεκόπησαν οὑτοιὶ

ἐς τοὺς γάμους.

Ἡρακλῆς

βούλεσθε δῆτʼ ἐγὼ τέως

ὀπτῶ τὰ κρέα ταυτὶ μένων; ὑμεῖς δʼ ἴτε.
1690

Ποσειδῶν

ὀπτᾷς τὰ κρέα; πολλήν γε τενθείαν λέγεις.

οὐκ εἶ μεθʼ ἡμῶν;

Ἡρακλῆς

εὖ γε μέντἂν διετέθην.

Πισθέταιρος

ἀλλὰ γαμικὴν χλανίδα δότω τις δεῦρό μοι.

Translations (3)

Birds Perseus (Aristophanes. The Complete Greek Drama, Vol. 2. Anonymous, translator. O'Neill, Eugene; Oates, Whitney Jennings, editors. New York: Random House, 1938 (printing).)

No corresponding passage available

Birds (OCR draft) Experimental (Anonymous translation, 1938 compilation; legacy Perseus source migration. Preserved separately from the revised canonical perseus-eng2 at the project owner's request.) — 1646 focus

Pisthetaerus

Oh! by the gods! how he is cajoling you. Step aside, that I may have a word with you. Your uncle is getting the better of you, my poor friend. 1650 The law will not allow you an obolus of the paternal property, for you are a bastard and not a legitimate child.

Heracles

I a bastard! What's that you tell me?

Pisthetaerus

Why, certainly; are you not born of a stranger woman? Besides, is not Athena recognized as Zeus' sole heiress? And no daughter would be that, if she had a legitimate brother.

Heracles

1655 But what if my father wished to give me his property on his death-bed, even though I be a bastard?

Pisthetaerus

The law forbids it, and this same Poseidon would be the first to lay claim to his wealth, in virtue of being his legitimate brother. Listen; 1660 thus runs Solon's law: “A bastard shall not inherit, if there are 1665 legitimate children; and if there are no legitimate children, the property shall pass to the nearest kin.”

Heracles

And I get nothing whatever of the paternal property?

Pisthetaerus

Absolutely nothing. But tell me, has your father had you entered on the registers of his phratry?

Heracles

1670 No, and I have long been surprised at the omission.

Pisthetaerus

Why do you shake your fist at heaven? Do you want to fight? Why, be on my side, I will make you a king and will feed you on bird's milk and honey.

Heracles

Your further condition seems fair to me. 1675 I cede you the young damsel.

Poseidon

But I, I vote against this opinion.

Pisthetaerus

Then it all depends on the Triballus. To the Triballus. What do you say?

Triballus

Givum bird pretty gel bigum queen.

Heracles

He says give her.

Poseidon

1680 Why no, he does not say anything of the sort, or else, like the swallows he does not know how to walk.

Pisthetaerus

Exactly so. Does he not say she must be given to the swallows?

Poseidon
Resignedly.

All right, you two arrange the matter; make peace, since you wish it so; I'll hold my tongue.

Heracles

1685 We are of a mind to grant you all that you ask. But come up there with us to receive Basileia and the celestial bounty.

Pisthetaerus

Here are birds already dressed, and very suitable for a nuptial feast.

Heracles

1690 You go and, if you like, I will stay here to roast them.

Pisthetaerus

You to roast them? you are too much the glutton; come along with us.

Heracles

Ah! how well I would have treated myself!

Pisthetaerus

Let some one bring me a beautiful and magnificent tunic for the wedding. The tunic is brought. Pisthetaerus and the three gods depart.

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.) — 1646 focus

Pisthetaerus: Alas, wretched one, how cleverly you have been outwitted.

Pisthetaerus: Come here and withdraw from me, so that I may tell you something.

Pisthetaerus: Your uncle is slandering you, you villain.

Pisthetaerus: for you have no share even in your barren ancestral property.

Pisthetaerus: In accordance with the laws, for you are a bastard and not legitimate.

1650

Heracles: I am a bastard? What are you saying?

Pisthetaerus: But you, by Zeus,

Pisthetaerus: Since he is a foreign woman. Or how could ever

Pisthetaerus: You think that the Athenian girl is an heiress,

Pisthetaerus: A daughter being born, with legitimate brothers?

Heracles: And what did my father give me the money for?

1655

Heracles: 'Are you dying, bastard?'

Pisthetaerus: The law does not allow it.

Pisthetaerus: This Poseidon, who is now lifting you up,

Pisthetairos: It will endure against you from your ancestral property.

Pisthetaerus: claiming to be himself a legitimate brother.

Pisthetaerus: And I will tell you Solon's law too.

1660

Pisthetaerus: and may there be no kinship with children, if they are illegitimate.

Pisthetaerus: legitimate. But if there are no legitimate children, to the...

1665

Pisthetaerus: to be as close as possible to the source of the money.

Heracles: But for me, I have none of my father's property.

Heracles: Is there any?

Pisthetaerus: Not at all, by Zeus. But tell me,

Pisthetairos: Has your father already introduced you to the phratries?

Heracles: Not I, by Zeus. And indeed I have long been wondering.

1670

Pisthetaerus: Why then do you stare up so intently while gazing at a swallow?

Pisthetaerus: But if you will be with us, I will set you up

Pisthetaerus: I will serve you a tyrant of birds with milk.

Heracles: You seem to me to speak justly, and that for a long time.

Heracles: concerning the girl, I too am handing her over to you.

1675

Pisthetaerus: And what do you say?

Poseidon: I vote the opposite.

Pisthetaerus: In the Trerbalians, the whole matter. What are you saying?

Triballus: great jays and large robins.

Triballus: I hand over the bird.

Heracles: He says to surrender.

Poseidon: By Zeus, this one is certainly not saying that he will surrender,

1680

Poseidon: If he does not walk, just as the swallows say.

Pisthetaerus: Then he says that he is to hand them over to the swallows.

Poseidon: Now reconcile with each other and agree!

Poseidon: But I, since it seems good to you both, will be silent.

Heracles: It seems to me that I should forgive all the things you say.

1685

Heracles: But come yourself with us to heaven,

Heraclitus: in order that you may take the kingship and all things there.

Pisthetaerus: Have these men been cut down at the right moment?

Pisthetaerus: to the weddings.

Heracles: So do you want me, then, for now

Heracles: Should I roast these meats while staying? But you go.

1690

Poseidon: Are you roasting the meat? You are speaking of a great roasting.

Poseidon: Are you not with us?

Heracles: Well, I was in good spirits indeed.

Pisthetaerus: But let someone bring me here a bridal cloak.

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

1629. mvp-tlg0019-tlg006-sanjaya-com-eng1-98

Line 1629

βακταρικροῦσα.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 1629

Current edition Experimental

Ἡρακλῆς ἐγὼ νόθος; τί λέγεις;

Πισθέταιρος σὺ μέντοι νὴ Δία ὤν γε ξένης γυναικός. ἢ πῶς ἄν ποτε ἐπίκληρον εἶναι τὴν Ἀθηναίαν δοκεῖς, οὖσαν θυγατέρʼ, ὄντων ἀδελφῶν γνησίων;

Ἡρακλῆς τί δʼ ἢν ὁ πατὴρ ἐμοὶ διδῷ τὰ χρήματα 1655 νοθεἶ ἀποθνῄσκων;

Ἡρακλῆς ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐδὲν τῶν πατρῴων χρημάτων μέτεστιν;

Πισθέταιρος οὐ μέντοι μὰ Δία. λέξον δέ μοι, ἤδη σʼ ὁ πατὴρ εἰσήγαγʼ ἐς τοὺς φράτερας;

Ἡρακλῆς οὐ δῆτʼ ἐμέ γε. καὶ δῆτʼ ἐθαύμαζον πάλαι. 1670

Πισθέταιρος τί δῆτʼ ἄνω κέχηνας αἴκειαν βλέπων; ἀλλʼ ἢν μεθʼ ἡμῶν ᾖς, καταστήσας σʼ ἐγὼ τύραννον ὀρνίθων παρέξω σοι γάλα.

Ἡρακλῆς δίκαιʼ ἔμοιγε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖς λέγειν περὶ τῆς κόρης, κἄγωγε παραδίδωμί σοι. 1675

Πισθέταιρος τί δαὶ σὺ φῄς;

Ποσειδῶν τἀναντία ψηφίζομαι.

Πισθέταιρος ἐν τῷ Τριβαλλῷ πᾶν τὸ πρᾶγμα. τί σὺ λέγεις;

Τριβαλλός καλάνι κόραυνα καὶ μεγάλα βασιλιναῦ ὄρνιτο παραδίδωμι.

Ἡρακλῆς παραδοῦναι λέγει.

Ποσειδῶν μὰ τὸν Δίʼ οὐχ οὗτός γε παραδοῦναι λέγει, 1680 εἰ μὴ † βαδίζειν † ωἅσπερ αἱ χελιδόσιν λέγει.

Πισθέταιρος οὐκοῦν παραδοῦναι ταῖς χελιδόσιν λέγει.

Ποσειδῶν σφὼ νῦν διαλλάττεσθε καὶ ξυμβαίνετε· ἐγὼ δʼ, ἐπειδὴ σφῷν δοκεῖ, σιγήσομαι.

Ἡρακλῆς ἡμῖν ἃ λέγεις σὺ πάντα συγχωρεῖν δοκεῖ. 1685 ἀλλʼ ἴθι μεθʼ ἡμῶν αὐτὸς ἐς τὸν οὐρανόν, ἵνα τὴν Βασίλειαν καὶ τὰ πάντʼ ἐκεῖ λάβῃς.

Πισθέταιρος ἐς καιρὸν ἆρα κατεκόπησαν οὑτοιὶ ἐς τοὺς γάμους.

Ἡρακλῆς βούλεσθε δῆτʼ ἐγὼ τέως ὀπτῶ τὰ κρέα ταυτὶ μένων; ὑμεῖς δʼ ἴτε. 1690

Ποσειδῶν ὀπτᾷς τὰ κρέα; πολλήν γε τενθείαν λέγεις. οὐκ εἶ μεθʼ ἡμῶν;

Ἡρακλῆς εὖ γε μέντἂν διετέθην.

Πισθέταιρος ἀλλὰ γαμικὴν χλανίδα δότω τις δεῦρό μοι.

Pisthetaerus Oh! by the gods! how he is cajoling you. Step aside, that I may have a word with you. Your uncle is getting the better of you, my poor friend. 1650 The law will not allow you an obolus of the paternal property, for you are a bastard and not a legitimate child.

Heracles I a bastard! What's that you tell me?

Pisthetaerus Why, certainly; are you not born of a stranger woman? Besides, is not Athena recognized as Zeus' sole heiress? And no daughter would be that, if she had a legitimate brother.

Heracles 1655 But what if my father wished to give me his property on his death-bed, even though I be a bastard?

Heracles And I get nothing whatever of the paternal property?

Pisthetaerus Absolutely nothing. But tell me, has your father had you entered on the registers of his phratry?

Heracles 1670 No, and I have long been surprised at the omission.

Pisthetaerus Why do you shake your fist at heaven? Do you want to fight? Why, be on my side, I will make you a king and will feed you on bird's milk and honey.

Heracles Your further condition seems fair to me. 1675 I cede you the young damsel.

Poseidon But I, I vote against this opinion.

Pisthetaerus Then it all depends on the Triballus. To the Triballus. What do you say?

Triballus Givum bird pretty gel bigum queen.

Heracles He says give her.

Poseidon 1680 Why no, he does not say anything of the sort, or else, like the swallows he does not know how to walk.

Pisthetaerus Exactly so. Does he not say she must be given to the swallows?

Poseidon Resignedly. All right, you two arrange the matter; make peace, since you wish it so; I'll hold my tongue.

Heracles 1685 We are of a mind to grant you all that you ask. But come up there with us to receive Basileia and the celestial bounty.

Pisthetaerus Here are birds already dressed, and very suitable for a nuptial feast.

Heracles 1690 You go and, if you like, I will stay here to roast them.

Pisthetaerus You to roast them? you are too much the glutton; come along with us.

Heracles Ah! how well I would have treated myself!

Pisthetaerus Let some one bring me a beautiful and magnificent tunic for the wedding. The tunic is brought. Pisthetaerus and the three gods depart.

Commentary

Line 1629

Stable identifiers

Ἡρακλῆς

ἐγὼ νόθος; τί λέγεις;

Πισθέταιρος

σὺ μέντοι νὴ Δία

ὤν γε ξένης γυναικός. ἢ πῶς ἄν ποτε

ἐπίκληρον εἶναι τὴν Ἀθηναίαν δοκεῖς,

οὖσαν θυγατέρʼ, ὄντων ἀδελφῶν γνησίων;

Ἡρακλῆς

τί δʼ ἢν ὁ πατὴρ ἐμοὶ διδῷ τὰ χρήματα
1655

νοθεἶ ἀποθνῄσκων;

Ἡρακλῆς

ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐδὲν τῶν πατρῴων χρημάτων

μέτεστιν;

Πισθέταιρος

οὐ μέντοι μὰ Δία. λέξον δέ μοι,

ἤδη σʼ ὁ πατὴρ εἰσήγαγʼ ἐς τοὺς φράτερας;

Ἡρακλῆς

οὐ δῆτʼ ἐμέ γε. καὶ δῆτʼ ἐθαύμαζον πάλαι.
1670

Πισθέταιρος

τί δῆτʼ ἄνω κέχηνας αἴκειαν βλέπων;

ἀλλʼ ἢν μεθʼ ἡμῶν ᾖς, καταστήσας σʼ ἐγὼ

τύραννον ὀρνίθων παρέξω σοι γάλα.

Ἡρακλῆς

δίκαιʼ ἔμοιγε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖς λέγειν

περὶ τῆς κόρης, κἄγωγε παραδίδωμί σοι.
1675

Πισθέταιρος

τί δαὶ σὺ φῄς;

Ποσειδῶν

τἀναντία ψηφίζομαι.

Πισθέταιρος

ἐν τῷ Τριβαλλῷ πᾶν τὸ πρᾶγμα. τί σὺ λέγεις;

Τριβαλλός

καλάνι κόραυνα καὶ μεγάλα βασιλιναῦ

ὄρνιτο παραδίδωμι.

Ἡρακλῆς

παραδοῦναι λέγει.

Ποσειδῶν

μὰ τὸν Δίʼ οὐχ οὗτός γε παραδοῦναι λέγει,
1680

εἰ μὴ † βαδίζειν † ωἅσπερ αἱ χελιδόσιν λέγει.

Πισθέταιρος

οὐκοῦν παραδοῦναι ταῖς χελιδόσιν λέγει.

Ποσειδῶν

σφὼ νῦν διαλλάττεσθε καὶ ξυμβαίνετε·

ἐγὼ δʼ, ἐπειδὴ σφῷν δοκεῖ, σιγήσομαι.

Ἡρακλῆς

ἡμῖν ἃ λέγεις σὺ πάντα συγχωρεῖν δοκεῖ.
1685

ἀλλʼ ἴθι μεθʼ ἡμῶν αὐτὸς ἐς τὸν οὐρανόν,

ἵνα τὴν Βασίλειαν καὶ τὰ πάντʼ ἐκεῖ λάβῃς.

Πισθέταιρος

ἐς καιρὸν ἆρα κατεκόπησαν οὑτοιὶ

ἐς τοὺς γάμους.

Ἡρακλῆς

βούλεσθε δῆτʼ ἐγὼ τέως

ὀπτῶ τὰ κρέα ταυτὶ μένων; ὑμεῖς δʼ ἴτε.
1690

Ποσειδῶν

ὀπτᾷς τὰ κρέα; πολλήν γε τενθείαν λέγεις.

οὐκ εἶ μεθʼ ἡμῶν;

Ἡρακλῆς

εὖ γε μέντἂν διετέθην.

Πισθέταιρος

ἀλλὰ γαμικὴν χλανίδα δότω τις δεῦρό μοι.

Pisthetaerus

Oh! by the gods! how he is cajoling you. Step aside, that I may have a word with you. Your uncle is getting the better of you, my poor friend. 1650 The law will not allow you an obolus of the paternal property, for you are a bastard and not a legitimate child.

Heracles

I a bastard! What's that you tell me?

Pisthetaerus

Why, certainly; are you not born of a stranger woman? Besides, is not Athena recognized as Zeus' sole heiress? And no daughter would be that, if she had a legitimate brother.

Heracles

1655 But what if my father wished to give me his property on his death-bed, even though I be a bastard?

Heracles

And I get nothing whatever of the paternal property?

Pisthetaerus

Absolutely nothing. But tell me, has your father had you entered on the registers of his phratry?

Heracles

1670 No, and I have long been surprised at the omission.

Pisthetaerus

Why do you shake your fist at heaven? Do you want to fight? Why, be on my side, I will make you a king and will feed you on bird's milk and honey.

Heracles

Your further condition seems fair to me. 1675 I cede you the young damsel.

Poseidon

But I, I vote against this opinion.

Pisthetaerus

Then it all depends on the Triballus. To the Triballus. What do you say?

Triballus

Givum bird pretty gel bigum queen.

Heracles

He says give her.

Poseidon

1680 Why no, he does not say anything of the sort, or else, like the swallows he does not know how to walk.

Pisthetaerus

Exactly so. Does he not say she must be given to the swallows?

Poseidon
Resignedly.

All right, you two arrange the matter; make peace, since you wish it so; I'll hold my tongue.

Heracles

1685 We are of a mind to grant you all that you ask. But come up there with us to receive Basileia and the celestial bounty.

Pisthetaerus

Here are birds already dressed, and very suitable for a nuptial feast.

Heracles

1690 You go and, if you like, I will stay here to roast them.

Pisthetaerus

You to roast them? you are too much the glutton; come along with us.

Heracles

Ah! how well I would have treated myself!

Pisthetaerus

Let some one bring me a beautiful and magnificent tunic for the wedding. The tunic is brought. Pisthetaerus and the three gods depart.