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Line 1055

νέκυσιν ἐπὶ πορείαν.

The phrase 'νέκυσιν ἐπὶ πορείαν' presents a syntactic and semantic tension characteristic of Aristophanic comedy. The dative plural 'νέκυσιν' ('to the dead') functions as a dative of direction or purpose, yet it is coupled with 'ἐπὶ πορείαν' ('on a journey'), a phrase typically reserved for the living. This oxymoron encapsulates the central conceit of the play's prologue: the chorus of women, disguised as men and pretending to be dead or in mourning, are actually embarking on a 'journey' to the Thesmophoria, blurring the boundary between the world of the dead and the living. The construction is not merely a standard dative of reference but a deliberate rhetorical device highlighting the absurdity of the situation.

Thesmophoriazusae. 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)

Θεσμοφοριάζουσαι Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 2. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1907.) — 1056 focus

Εὐριπίδης

χαῖρʼ ὦ φίλη παῖ· τὸν δὲ πατέρα Κηφέα

ὅς σʼ ἐξέθηκεν ἀπολέσειαν οἱ θεοί.

Μνησίλοχος

σὺ δʼ εἶ τίς ἥτις τοὐμὸν ᾤκτιρας πάθος;

Εὐριπίδης

Ἠχὼ λόγων ἀντῳδὸς ἐπικοκκάστρια,

ἥπερ πέρυσιν ἐν τῷδε ταὐτῷ χωρίῳ
1060

Εὐριπίδῃ καὐτὴ ξυνηγωνιζόμην.

ἀλλʼ ὦ τέκνον σὲ μὲν τὸ σαυτῆς χρὴ ποιεῖν,

κλάειν ἐλεινῶς.

Μνησίλοχος

σὲ δʼ ἐπικλάειν ὕστερον.

Εὐριπίδης

ἐμοὶ μελήσει ταῦτά γʼ. ἀλλʼ ἄρχου λόγων.

Μνησίλοχος

ὦ νὺξ ἱερὰ
1065

ὡς μακρὸν ἵππευμα διώκεις

ἀστεροειδέα νῶτα διφρεύουσʼ

αἰθέρος ἱερᾶς

τοῦ σεμνοτάτου διʼ Ὀλύμπου;

Εὐριπίδης

διʼ Ὀλύμπου.

Μνησίλοχος

τί ποτʼ Ἀνδρομέδα περίαλλα κακῶν
1070

μέρος ἐξέλαχον—

Εὐριπίδης

μέρος ἐξέλαχον—

Μνησίλοχος

θανάτου τλήμων;

Εὐριπίδης

θανάτου τλήμων;

Μνησίλοχος

ἀπολεῖς μʼ ὦ γραῦ στωμυλλομένη.

Εὐριπίδης

στωμυλλομένη.

Μνησίλοχος

νὴ Δίʼ ὀχληρά γʼ εἰσήρρηκας
1075

λίαν.

Εὐριπίδης

λίαν.

Μνησίλοχος

ὦγάθʼ ἔασόν με μονῳδῆσαι,

καὶ χαριεῖ μοι. παῦσαι.

Εὐριπίδης

παῦσαι.

Μνησίλοχος

βάλλʼ ἐς κόρακας.

Εὐριπίδης

βάλλʼ ἐς κόρακας.

Μνησίλοχος

τί κακόν;
1080

Εὐριπίδης

τί κακόν;

Μνησίλοχος

ληρεῖς.

Εὐριπίδης

ληρεῖς.

Μνησίλοχος

οἴμωζʼ.

Εὐριπίδης

οἴμωζʼ.

Μνησίλοχος

ὀτότυζʼ.

Εὐριπίδης

ὀτότυζʼ.

Τοξότης

οὖτος σί λαλῖς;

Εὐριπίδης

οὖτος σί λαλῖς;

Τοξότης

πρυτάνεις καλέσω;

Εὐριπίδης

πρυτάνεις καλέσω;

Τοξότης

σί κακόν;
1085

Εὐριπίδης

σί κακόν;

Τοξότης

πῶτε τὸ πωνή;

Εὐριπίδης

πῶτε τὸ πωνή;

Τοξότης

σὺ λαλῖς;

Εὐριπίδης

σὺ λαλῖς;

Τοξότης

κλαύσει.

Εὐριπίδης

κλαύσει.

Τοξότης

κακκάσκι μοι;

Εὐριπίδης

κακκάσκι μοι;

Μνησίλοχος

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλὰ γυνὴ πλησίον αὕτη.
1090

Εὐριπίδης

πλησίον αὕτη.

Τοξότης

ποῦ στʼ ηʼ μιαρά; καὶ δὴ πεύγει.

ποῖ ποῖ πεύγεις;

Εὐριπίδης

ποῖ ποῖ πεύγεις;

Τοξότης

οὐ καιρήσεις;

Εὐριπίδης

οὐ καιρήσεις;

Τοξότης

ἔτι γὰρ γρύζεις;
1095

Εὐριπίδης

ἔτι γὰρ γρύζεις;

Τοξότης

λαβὲ τὴ μιαρά.

Εὐριπίδης

λαβὲ τὴ μιαρά.

Τοξότης

λάλο καὶ κατάρατο γύναικο.

Translations (2)

Thesmophoriazusae (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Anonymous; 1938 compilation). Migrated from Perseus legacy XML; source wording and notes retained. See TEI header and migration inventory.) — 1056 focus

In the following scene Euripides, from off stage, impersonates Echo.

Euripides

Hail! beloved girl. As for your father, Cepheus, who has exposed you in this guise, may the gods annihilate him.

Mnesilochus

And who are you whom my misfortunes have moved to pity?

Euripides

I am Echo, the nymph who repeats all she hears. 1060 It was I, who last year lent my help to Euripides in this very place. But, my child, give yourself up to the sad laments that belong to your pitiful condition.

Mnesilochus

And you will repeat them?

Euripides

I will not fail you. Begin.

Mnesilochus

1065 “Oh! thou divine Night! how slowly thy chariot threads its way through the starry vault, across the sacred realms of the Air and mighty Olympus .”

Euripides

Mighty Olympus .

Mnesilochus

1070 “Why is it necessary that Andromeda should have all the woes for her share?”

Euripides

For her share.

Mnesilochus

“Sad death!”

Euripides

Sad death!

Mnesilochus

You weary me, old babbler.

Euripides

Old babbler.

Mnesilochus

1075 Oh! you are too unbearable.

Euripides

Unbearable.

Mnesilochus

Friend, let me talk by myself. Do please let me. Come, that's enough.

Euripides

That's enough.

Mnesilochus

Go and hang yourself!

Euripides

Go and hang yourself!

Mnesilochus

1080 What a plague!

Euripides

What a plague!

Mnesilochus

Fool!

Euripides

Fool!

Mnesilochus

Go and howl!

Euripides

Go and howl!

Mnesilochus

Go and hang!

Euripides

Go and hang!

Scythian Archer

Hey! what are you jabbering about?

Euripides

What are you jabbering about?

Scythian Archer

I shall go and call the Magistrates.

Euripides

I shall go and call the Magistrates.

Scythian Archer

1085 This is odd!

Euripides

This is odd!

Scythian Archer

Whence comes this voice?

Euripides

Whence comes this voice?

Scythian Archer

You are mad.

Euripides

You are mad.

Scythian Archer

Ah! beware!

Euripides

Ah! beware!

Scythian Archer
To Mnesilochus

Are you mocking me?

Euripides

Are you mocking me?

Mnesilochus

1090 No, it's this woman, who stands near you.

Euripides

Who stands near you.

Scythian Archer

Where is the hussy! Hey, she's running away. Wh—where are you running to?

Euripides

Wh—where are you running to?

Scythian Archer

You shall not get away.

Euripides

You shall not get away.

Scythian Archer

1095 You are chattering still?

Euripides

You are chattering still?

Scythian Archer

Stop the hussy.

Euripides

Stop the hussy.

Scythian Archer

What a babbling, cursed woman!

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.) — 1056 focus

Euripides: hail, dear child; but the father Cepheus

Euripides: May the gods destroy the one who exposed you.

Mnesilochus: And who are you, that have pitied my suffering?

Euripides: Echo, the female parrot of words,

Euripides: who last year in this very place

1060

Euripides: I even competed with Euripides.

Euripides: but, child, you yourself must do your own thing,

Euripides: to weep miserably.

Mnesilochus: and later I will break you.

Euripides: 'I will take care of these things. But begin speaking.'

Mnesilochus: O holy night!

1065

Mnesilochus: What a long chase you are pursuing!

Mnesilochus: they are driving a chariot with star-shaped backs.

Mnesilochus: 'of the holy aether'

Mnesilochus: "For the most reverent [one] through Olympus?"

Euripides: through Olympus.

Mnesilochus: What, pray tell, is Andromeda, a woman surrounded by evils?

1070

Mnesilochus: I drew a portion—

Euripides: I have drawn a portion—

Mnesilochus: O miserable one, death?

Euripides: 'Wretch, of death?'

Mnesilochus: You will destroy me, old woman, by chattering.

Euripides: 'You are being petulant.'

Mnesilochus: By Zeus, you are an annoying fellow!

1075

Mnesilochus: Very much so.

Euripides: "Very much."

Mnesilochus: Oh good, let me sing alone,

Mnesilochus: And she will do me a favor. Stop.

Euripides: Stop.

Mnesilochus: Go to the crows!

Euripides: Go to the crows.

Mnesilochus: What evil is this?

1080

Euripides: 'What evil?'

Mnesilochus: You are talking nonsense.

Euripides: You are talking nonsense.

Mnesilochus: alack!

Euripides: Alas!

Mnesilochus: I'm being punched in the face.

Euripides: [I have] a sore throat.

Archer: Is this you, you chatterbox?

Euripides: Is this you, a chatterbox?

Bowman: Shall I summon the prytanes?

Euripides: Shall I summon the prytanes?

Bowman: Is this an evil?

1085

Euripides: "And this is bad?"

Bowman: How is the mare?

Euripides: How is the foal?

Bowman: Are you talking?

Euripides: Are you talking?

Bowman: he will weep.

Euripides: he will weep.

Triballian: 'Are you sneezing for me?'

Euripides: 'Are you coughing at me?'

Mnesilochus: By Zeus, but this woman is nearby.

1090

Euripides: 'This one is nearby.'

Bowman: Where in the world is that filthy woman? And now she is burning!

Bowman: Where, where are you making off to?

Euripides: Where, where are you fleeing?

Archers: You will not have time?

Euripides: "You will not get a chance?"

Bowman: You are still grumbling, then?

1095

Euripides: "Are you still grumbling, then?"

Archers: take the filthy one.

Euripides: take the filthy one.

Archer: Talkative and cursed woman.

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

1055. mvp-tlg0019-tlg008-sanjaya-com-eng1-35

Line 1055

νέκυσιν ἐπὶ πορείαν.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 1055

Current edition Experimental

Εὐριπίδης χαῖρʼ ὦ φίλη παῖ· τὸν δὲ πατέρα Κηφέα ὅς σʼ ἐξέθηκεν ἀπολέσειαν οἱ θεοί.

Μνησίλοχος σὺ δʼ εἶ τίς ἥτις τοὐμὸν ᾤκτιρας πάθος;

Μνησίλοχος σὲ δʼ ἐπικλάειν ὕστερον.

Εὐριπίδης ἐμοὶ μελήσει ταῦτά γʼ. ἀλλʼ ἄρχου λόγων.

Μνησίλοχος ὦ νὺξ ἱερὰ 1065 ὡς μακρὸν ἵππευμα διώκεις ἀστεροειδέα νῶτα διφρεύουσʼ αἰθέρος ἱερᾶς τοῦ σεμνοτάτου διʼ Ὀλύμπου;

Εὐριπίδης διʼ Ὀλύμπου.

Μνησίλοχος τί ποτʼ Ἀνδρομέδα περίαλλα κακῶν 1070 μέρος ἐξέλαχον—

Εὐριπίδης μέρος ἐξέλαχον—

Μνησίλοχος θανάτου τλήμων;

Εὐριπίδης θανάτου τλήμων;

Μνησίλοχος ἀπολεῖς μʼ ὦ γραῦ στωμυλλομένη.

Εὐριπίδης στωμυλλομένη.

Μνησίλοχος νὴ Δίʼ ὀχληρά γʼ εἰσήρρηκας 1075 λίαν.

Εὐριπίδης λίαν.

Μνησίλοχος ὦγάθʼ ἔασόν με μονῳδῆσαι, καὶ χαριεῖ μοι. παῦσαι.

Εὐριπίδης παῦσαι.

Μνησίλοχος βάλλʼ ἐς κόρακας.

Εὐριπίδης βάλλʼ ἐς κόρακας.

Μνησίλοχος τί κακόν; 1080

Εὐριπίδης τί κακόν;

Μνησίλοχος ληρεῖς.

Εὐριπίδης ληρεῖς.

Μνησίλοχος οἴμωζʼ.

Εὐριπίδης οἴμωζʼ.

Μνησίλοχος ὀτότυζʼ.

Εὐριπίδης ὀτότυζʼ.

Τοξότης οὖτος σί λαλῖς;

Εὐριπίδης οὖτος σί λαλῖς;

Τοξότης πρυτάνεις καλέσω;

Εὐριπίδης πρυτάνεις καλέσω;

Τοξότης σί κακόν; 1085

Εὐριπίδης σί κακόν;

Τοξότης πῶτε τὸ πωνή;

Εὐριπίδης πῶτε τὸ πωνή;

Τοξότης σὺ λαλῖς;

Εὐριπίδης σὺ λαλῖς;

Τοξότης κλαύσει.

Εὐριπίδης κλαύσει.

Τοξότης κακκάσκι μοι;

Εὐριπίδης κακκάσκι μοι;

Μνησίλοχος μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλὰ γυνὴ πλησίον αὕτη. 1090

Εὐριπίδης πλησίον αὕτη.

Τοξότης ποῦ στʼ ηʼ μιαρά; καὶ δὴ πεύγει. ποῖ ποῖ πεύγεις;

Εὐριπίδης ποῖ ποῖ πεύγεις;

Τοξότης οὐ καιρήσεις;

Εὐριπίδης οὐ καιρήσεις;

Τοξότης ἔτι γὰρ γρύζεις; 1095

Εὐριπίδης ἔτι γὰρ γρύζεις;

Τοξότης λαβὲ τὴ μιαρά.

Εὐριπίδης λαβὲ τὴ μιαρά.

Τοξότης λάλο καὶ κατάρατο γύναικο.

Euripides Hail! beloved girl. As for your father, Cepheus, who has exposed you in this guise, may the gods annihilate him.

Mnesilochus And who are you whom my misfortunes have moved to pity?

Euripides I am Echo, the nymph who repeats all she hears. 1060 It was I, who last year lent my help to Euripides in this very place. But, my child, give yourself up to the sad laments that belong to your pitiful condition.

Mnesilochus And you will repeat them?

Euripides I will not fail you. Begin.

Mnesilochus 1065 “Oh! thou divine Night! how slowly thy chariot threads its way through the starry vault, across the sacred realms of the Air and mighty Olympus .”

Euripides Mighty Olympus .

Mnesilochus 1070 “Why is it necessary that Andromeda should have all the woes for her share?”

Euripides For her share.

Mnesilochus “Sad death!”

Euripides Sad death!

Mnesilochus You weary me, old babbler.

Euripides Old babbler.

Mnesilochus 1075 Oh! you are too unbearable.

Euripides Unbearable.

Mnesilochus Friend, let me talk by myself. Do please let me. Come, that's enough.

Euripides That's enough.

Mnesilochus Go and hang yourself!

Euripides Go and hang yourself!

Mnesilochus 1080 What a plague!

Euripides What a plague!

Mnesilochus Fool!

Euripides Fool!

Mnesilochus Go and howl!

Euripides Go and howl!

Εὐριπίδης

χαῖρʼ ὦ φίλη παῖ· τὸν δὲ πατέρα Κηφέα

ὅς σʼ ἐξέθηκεν ἀπολέσειαν οἱ θεοί.

Μνησίλοχος

σὺ δʼ εἶ τίς ἥτις τοὐμὸν ᾤκτιρας πάθος;

Μνησίλοχος

σὲ δʼ ἐπικλάειν ὕστερον.

Εὐριπίδης

ἐμοὶ μελήσει ταῦτά γʼ. ἀλλʼ ἄρχου λόγων.

Μνησίλοχος

ὦ νὺξ ἱερὰ
1065

ὡς μακρὸν ἵππευμα διώκεις

ἀστεροειδέα νῶτα διφρεύουσʼ

αἰθέρος ἱερᾶς

τοῦ σεμνοτάτου διʼ Ὀλύμπου;

Εὐριπίδης

διʼ Ὀλύμπου.

Μνησίλοχος

τί ποτʼ Ἀνδρομέδα περίαλλα κακῶν
1070

μέρος ἐξέλαχον—

Εὐριπίδης

μέρος ἐξέλαχον—

Μνησίλοχος

θανάτου τλήμων;

Εὐριπίδης

θανάτου τλήμων;

Μνησίλοχος

ἀπολεῖς μʼ ὦ γραῦ στωμυλλομένη.

Εὐριπίδης

στωμυλλομένη.

Μνησίλοχος

νὴ Δίʼ ὀχληρά γʼ εἰσήρρηκας
1075

λίαν.

Εὐριπίδης

λίαν.

Μνησίλοχος

ὦγάθʼ ἔασόν με μονῳδῆσαι,

καὶ χαριεῖ μοι. παῦσαι.

Εὐριπίδης

παῦσαι.

Μνησίλοχος

βάλλʼ ἐς κόρακας.

Εὐριπίδης

βάλλʼ ἐς κόρακας.

Μνησίλοχος

τί κακόν;
1080

Εὐριπίδης

τί κακόν;

Μνησίλοχος

ληρεῖς.

Εὐριπίδης

ληρεῖς.

Μνησίλοχος

οἴμωζʼ.

Εὐριπίδης

οἴμωζʼ.

Μνησίλοχος

ὀτότυζʼ.

Εὐριπίδης

ὀτότυζʼ.

Τοξότης

οὖτος σί λαλῖς;

Εὐριπίδης

οὖτος σί λαλῖς;

Τοξότης

πρυτάνεις καλέσω;

Εὐριπίδης

πρυτάνεις καλέσω;

Τοξότης

σί κακόν;
1085

Εὐριπίδης

σί κακόν;

Τοξότης

πῶτε τὸ πωνή;

Εὐριπίδης

πῶτε τὸ πωνή;

Τοξότης

σὺ λαλῖς;

Εὐριπίδης

σὺ λαλῖς;

Τοξότης

κλαύσει.

Εὐριπίδης

κλαύσει.

Τοξότης

κακκάσκι μοι;

Εὐριπίδης

κακκάσκι μοι;

Μνησίλοχος

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλὰ γυνὴ πλησίον αὕτη.
1090

Εὐριπίδης

πλησίον αὕτη.

Τοξότης

ποῦ στʼ ηʼ μιαρά; καὶ δὴ πεύγει.

ποῖ ποῖ πεύγεις;

Εὐριπίδης

ποῖ ποῖ πεύγεις;

Τοξότης

οὐ καιρήσεις;

Εὐριπίδης

οὐ καιρήσεις;

Τοξότης

ἔτι γὰρ γρύζεις;
1095

Εὐριπίδης

ἔτι γὰρ γρύζεις;

Τοξότης

λαβὲ τὴ μιαρά.

Εὐριπίδης

λαβὲ τὴ μιαρά.

Τοξότης

λάλο καὶ κατάρατο γύναικο.

Euripides

Hail! beloved girl. As for your father, Cepheus, who has exposed you in this guise, may the gods annihilate him.

Mnesilochus

And who are you whom my misfortunes have moved to pity?

Euripides

I am Echo, the nymph who repeats all she hears. 1060 It was I, who last year lent my help to Euripides in this very place. But, my child, give yourself up to the sad laments that belong to your pitiful condition.

Mnesilochus

And you will repeat them?

Euripides

I will not fail you. Begin.

Mnesilochus

1065 “Oh! thou divine Night! how slowly thy chariot threads its way through the starry vault, across the sacred realms of the Air and mighty Olympus .”

Euripides

Mighty Olympus .

Mnesilochus

1070 “Why is it necessary that Andromeda should have all the woes for her share?”

Euripides

For her share.

Mnesilochus

“Sad death!”

Euripides

Sad death!

Mnesilochus

You weary me, old babbler.

Euripides

Old babbler.

Mnesilochus

1075 Oh! you are too unbearable.

Euripides

Unbearable.

Mnesilochus

Friend, let me talk by myself. Do please let me. Come, that's enough.

Euripides

That's enough.

Mnesilochus

Go and hang yourself!

Euripides

Go and hang yourself!

Mnesilochus

1080 What a plague!

Euripides

What a plague!

Mnesilochus

Fool!

Euripides

Fool!

Mnesilochus

Go and howl!

Euripides

Go and howl!

Mnesilochus

Go and hang!

Euripides

Go and hang!

Scythian Archer

Hey! what are you jabbering about?

Euripides

What are you jabbering about?