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Line 475

Ταρτησία μύραινα· τὼ νεφρὼ δέ σου

The term μύραινα (myraina) is a rare hapax legomenon in this context, appearing here as a comic insult rather than a standard noun. While often glossed as 'bitch' or 'she-wolf,' the etymology is debated; some scholars link it to the river Tarra (Tartessus) or a specific local dialectal form for a female canine, playing on the exoticism of 'Tartessian' to imply a foreign, uncouth origin for the insult. Aristophanes uses this obscure, dialect-heavy term to heighten the vulgarity and absurdity of the exchange, distinguishing it from more common abusive vocabulary.

Frogs. 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)

Βάτραχοι Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 2. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1907.) — 460 focus

Διόνυσος

ἄγε δὴ τίνα τρόπον τὴν θύραν κόψω; τίνα;
460

πῶς ἐνθάδʼ ἄρα κόπτουσιν οὑπιχώριοι;

Ξανθίας

οὐ μὴ διατρίψεις, ἀλλὰ γεύσει τῆς θύρας,

καθʼ Ἡρακλέα τὸ σχῆμα καὶ τὸ λῆμʼ ἔχων.

Διόνυσος

παῖ παῖ.

Ἄιακος

τίς οὗτος;

Διόνυσος

Ἡρακλῆς ὁ καρτερός.

Ἄιακος

ὦ βδελυρὲ κἀναίσχυντε καὶ τολμηρὲ σὺ
465

καὶ μιαρὲ καὶ παμμίαρε καὶ μιαρώτατε,

ὃς τὸν κύνʼ ἡμῶν ἐξελάσας τὸν Κέρβερον

ἀπῇξας ἄγχων κἀποδρὰς ᾤχου λαβών,

ὃν ἐγὼ ʼφύλαττον. ἀλλὰ νῦν ἔχει μέσος·

τοία Στυγός σε μελανοκάρδιος πέτρα
470

Ἀχερόντιός τε σκόπελος αἱματοσταγὴς

φρουροῦσι, Κωκυτοῦ τε περίδρομοι κύνες,

ἔχιδνά θʼ ἑκατογκέφαλος, ἣ τὰ σπλάγχνα σου

διασπαράξει, πλευμόνων τʼ ἀνθάψεται

Ταρτησία μύραινα· τὼ νεφρὼ δέ σου
475

αὐτοῖσιν ἐντέροισιν ᾑματωμένω

διασπάσονται Γοργόνες Τειθράσιαι,

ἐφʼ ἃς ἐγὼ δρομαῖον ὁρμήσω πόδα.

Ξανθίας

οὗτος τί δέδρακας;

Διόνυσος

ἐγκέχοδα· κάλει θεόν.

Ξανθίας

ὦ καταγέλαστʼ οὔκουν ἀναστήσει ταχὺ
480

πρίν τινά σʼ ἰδεῖν ἀλλότριον;

Διόνυσος

ἀλλʼ ὡρακιῶ.

ἀλλʼ οἶσε πρὸς τὴν καρδίαν μου σφογγιάν.

Ξανθίας

ἰδοὺ λαβέ, προσθοῦ.

Διόνυσος

ποῦ ʼστιν;

Ξανθίας

ὦ χρυσοῖ θεοὶ

ἐνταῦθʼ ἔχεις τὴν καρδίαν;

Διόνυσος

δείσασα γὰρ

ἐς τὴν κάτω μου κοιλίαν καθείρπυσεν.
485

Ξανθίας

ὦ δειλότατε θεῶν σὺ κἀνθρώπων.

Διόνυσος

ἐγώ;

πῶς δειλὸς ὅστις σφογγιὰν ᾔτησά σε;

οὐκ ἂν ἕτερός γʼ αὔτʼ ἠργάσατʼ ἀνήρ.

Ξανθίας

ἀλλὰ τί;

Διόνυσος

κατέκειτʼ ἂν ὀσφραινόμενος, εἴπερ δειλὸς ἦν·

ἐγὼ δʼ ἀνέστην καὶ προσέτʼ ἀπεψησάμην.
490

Ξανθίας

ἀνδρεῖά γʼ ὦ Πόσειδον.

Διόνυσος

οἶμαι νὴ Δία.

σὺ δʼ οὐκ ἔδεισας τὸν ψόφον τῶν ῥημάτων

καὶ τὰς ἀπειλάς;

Ξανθίας

οὐ μὰ Δίʼ οὐδʼ ἐφρόντισα.

Διόνυσος

ἴθι νυν ἐπειδὴ ληματίας κἀνδρεῖος εἶ,

σὺ μὲν γενοῦ ʼγὼ τὸ ῥόπαλον τουτὶ λαβὼν
495

καὶ τὴν λεοντῆν, εἴπερ ἀφοβόσπλαγχνος εἶ·

ἐγὼ δʼ ἔσομαί σοι σκευοφόρος ἐν τῷ μέρει.

Ξανθίας

φέρε δὴ ταχέως αὔτʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἀλλὰ πειστέον·

καὶ βλέψον ἐς τὸν Ἡρακλειοξανθίαν,

εἰ δειλὸς ἔσομαι καὶ κατὰ σὲ τὸ λῆμʼ ἔχων.
500

Διόνυσος

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ἀληθῶς οὑκ Μελίτης μαστιγίας.

φέρε νυν ἐγὼ τὰ στρώματʼ αἴρωμαι ταδί.

Translations (2)

Frogs (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Matthew Dillon). Migrated from Perseus legacy XML; source wording and notes retained. See TEI header and migration inventory.) — 460 focus

Dionysus

Well, how should I knock on the door now? How?

How do the natives here knock on doors?

Xanthias

Don't waste time, take a bite of the door,
540

Just like Heracles, since you've got his form and temper.

Dionysus

Hey! porter, porter!

Aeacus

Who is it?

Dionysus

Heracles the mighty.

Aeacus

O impious, daring, and most shameless wretch,
545

O villain, double villain, and arch-villain,

It was you who came before, and stole my dog,

Poor Cerberus! you gagged and seized him,

And then ran off—I was guarding him! but now we've got you,

Thus the black-hearted Stygian rock
550

and the crag of Acheron dripping with gore

can hold you; and the circling hounds of Cocytus

and Echidna with her hundred heads shall tear

your entrails; your lungs will be attacked by

the Tartesian Eel, your kidneys
555

bleeding with your very entrails

the Tithrasian Gorgons will rip apart.

To them I will direct my hasty foot.

Xanthias

Hey, what'd you do?

Dionysus

I made a mess. Call the god.
560

Xanthias

Ridiculous! Quick, get up,

before some stranger sees you!

Dionysus

But I feel faint

Bring me the sponge, and place it near my heart.

Xanthias

Here.
565

Dionysus

Please apply it.

Xanthias

Where? O golden Gods!

Is that where you have your heart?

Dionysus

It was terrified,

and crept into my bowels down below.
570

Xanthias

Of Gods and men you surely are the biggest coward.

Dionysus

Who, me?

A coward? how so? Didn't I ask you for the sponge?

Another man would not have acted thus.

Xanthias

What would he do?
575

Dionysus

A coward would have lain down flat, and smelt unpleasant—

I stood upright and wiped myself besides.

Xanthias

A manly act, by Poseidon.

Dionysus

God, I think so.

But weren't you scared of that rumble of words
580

and threats?

Xanthias

God no! I didn't even notice.

Dionysus

Well now, since you're so brave and heroic,

you be me, and take my club

and lion skin, if you've got fearless guts.
585

And I will be the porter in your place.

Xanthias

Give me that stuff quick; I cannot but obey.

Now look upon the Xanthian Heracles,

And see if I will be a coward and lose heart like you.

Dionysus

Oh no, you'll be a regular whipping-boy of Melite,
590

Let's go, I'll take up the pack here.

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.) — 460 focus

Dionysus: Come then, in what way shall I knock on the door? In what way?

460

Dionysus: How, then, do the locals strike here?

Xanthias: You will not linger, but rather taste the door,

Xanthias: having the appearance and the beard of Heracles.

Dionysus: boy, boy.

Aiacus: Who is this?

Dionysus: Heracles the strong.

Aeacus: O detestable, shameless, and bold you!

465

Aiakos: and vile and utterly vile and most vile,

Aiakos: who, having driven out our dog, Kerberos,

Aiakos: having pulled the rope and leaped, you departed having seized it,

Aeacus: Him whom I was guarding. But now he has the middle seat;

Aiakos: Such is the black-hearted rock of Styx that you are.

470

Aiakos: And the bloody, dripping rock of Achelous.

Aiake: the dogs, circling the Cocytus, guard,

Aiakos: O hundred-headed serpent, who has your entrails.

Aiaikos: He will tear to pieces, and will seize the lungs.

Aiaikos: Tartesian mullet; but your kidneys are...

475

Aiaikos: to the ones with bloodied weapons

Aiakos: The Tethrasian Gorgons will be torn apart,

Aiaikos: upon which I will launch my running foot.

Xanthias: What have you done, you?

Dionysus: I have been initiated; call the god.

Xanthias: O ridiculous one, will he not soon stand up?

480

Xanthias: Before seeing some outsider?

Dionysus: But it is the right time.

Dionysus: But he brought a sponge to my heart.

Xanthias: Here, take it, add it.

Dionysus: Where is he?

Xanthias: O golden gods

Xanthias: Here you have the heart?

Dionysus: for having feared,

Dionysus: he lowered himself into my lower belly.

485

Xanthias: O most cowardly of gods and men.

Dionysus: Me?

Dionysus: How cowardly is anyone who asked you for a sponge?

Dionysus: No, another man would not have done that.

Xanthias: But what?

Dionysus: he would have been lying down smelling, if indeed he was a coward.

Dionysus: But I stood up and stuck out my tongue.

490

Xanthias: Brave man, oh Poseidon.

Dionysus: I think, by Zeus.

Dionysus: But you were not afraid of the noise of the words.

Dionysus: And the threats?

Xanthias: No, by Zeus, I did not even pay attention.

Dionysus: Go now, since you are both a rogue and a manly man,

Dionysus: you, then, become [the one to carry] this club, having taken it.

495

Dionysus: and the lion-skin, if you are indeed without fear or compassion;

Dionysus: But I shall be your equipment-bearer in that part.

Xanthias: Come then quickly! For no, but one must be persuaded;

Xanthias: And look at the Heracleoxanthias,

Xanthias: If I am to be a coward and hold it according to you.

500

Dionysus: By Zeus, but truly, he is not Melite's whipper.

Dionysus: Come now, I shall lift up these couches.

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

475. mvp-tlg0019-tlg009-sanjaya-com-eng1-15

Line 475

Ταρτησία μύραινα· τὼ νεφρὼ δέ σου

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 475

Current edition Experimental

Διόνυσος ἄγε δὴ τίνα τρόπον τὴν θύραν κόψω; τίνα; 460 πῶς ἐνθάδʼ ἄρα κόπτουσιν οὑπιχώριοι;

Ξανθίας οὐ μὴ διατρίψεις, ἀλλὰ γεύσει τῆς θύρας, καθʼ Ἡρακλέα τὸ σχῆμα καὶ τὸ λῆμʼ ἔχων.

Διόνυσος παῖ παῖ.

Ἄιακος τίς οὗτος;

Διόνυσος Ἡρακλῆς ὁ καρτερός.

Ξανθίας οὗτος τί δέδρακας;

Διόνυσος ἐγκέχοδα· κάλει θεόν.

Ξανθίας ὦ καταγέλαστʼ οὔκουν ἀναστήσει ταχὺ 480 πρίν τινά σʼ ἰδεῖν ἀλλότριον;

Διόνυσος ἀλλʼ ὡρακιῶ. ἀλλʼ οἶσε πρὸς τὴν καρδίαν μου σφογγιάν.

Ξανθίας ἰδοὺ λαβέ, προσθοῦ.

Διόνυσος ποῦ ʼστιν;

Ξανθίας ὦ χρυσοῖ θεοὶ ἐνταῦθʼ ἔχεις τὴν καρδίαν;

Διόνυσος δείσασα γὰρ ἐς τὴν κάτω μου κοιλίαν καθείρπυσεν. 485

Ξανθίας ὦ δειλότατε θεῶν σὺ κἀνθρώπων.

Διόνυσος ἐγώ; πῶς δειλὸς ὅστις σφογγιὰν ᾔτησά σε; οὐκ ἂν ἕτερός γʼ αὔτʼ ἠργάσατʼ ἀνήρ.

Ξανθίας ἀλλὰ τί;

Διόνυσος κατέκειτʼ ἂν ὀσφραινόμενος, εἴπερ δειλὸς ἦν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἀνέστην καὶ προσέτʼ ἀπεψησάμην. 490

Ξανθίας ἀνδρεῖά γʼ ὦ Πόσειδον.

Διόνυσος οἶμαι νὴ Δία. σὺ δʼ οὐκ ἔδεισας τὸν ψόφον τῶν ῥημάτων καὶ τὰς ἀπειλάς;

Ξανθίας οὐ μὰ Δίʼ οὐδʼ ἐφρόντισα.

Ξανθίας φέρε δὴ ταχέως αὔτʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἀλλὰ πειστέον· καὶ βλέψον ἐς τὸν Ἡρακλειοξανθίαν, εἰ δειλὸς ἔσομαι καὶ κατὰ σὲ τὸ λῆμʼ ἔχων. 500

Διόνυσος μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ἀληθῶς οὑκ Μελίτης μαστιγίας. φέρε νυν ἐγὼ τὰ στρώματʼ αἴρωμαι ταδί.

Dionysus Well, how should I knock on the door now? How? How do the natives here knock on doors?

Xanthias Don't waste time, take a bite of the door, 540 Just like Heracles, since you've got his form and temper.

Dionysus Hey! porter, porter!

Aeacus Who is it?

Dionysus Heracles the mighty.

Xanthias Hey, what'd you do?

Dionysus I made a mess. Call the god. 560

Xanthias Ridiculous! Quick, get up, before some stranger sees you!

Dionysus But I feel faint Bring me the sponge, and place it near my heart.

Xanthias Here. 565

Dionysus Please apply it.

Xanthias Where? O golden Gods! Is that where you have your heart?

Dionysus It was terrified, and crept into my bowels down below. 570

Xanthias Of Gods and men you surely are the biggest coward.

Dionysus Who, me? A coward? how so? Didn't I ask you for the sponge? Another man would not have acted thus.

Xanthias What would he do? 575

Dionysus A coward would have lain down flat, and smelt unpleasant— I stood upright and wiped myself besides.

Xanthias A manly act, by Poseidon.

Dionysus God, I think so. But weren't you scared of that rumble of words 580 and threats?

Xanthias God no! I didn't even notice.

Dionysus Well now, since you're so brave and heroic, you be me, and take my club and lion skin, if you've got fearless guts. 585 And I will be the porter in your place.

Xanthias Give me that stuff quick; I cannot but obey. Now look upon the Xanthian Heracles, And see if I will be a coward and lose heart like you.

Dionysus Oh no, you'll be a regular whipping-boy of Melite, 590 Let's go, I'll take up the pack here.

Commentary

Line 475

Stable identifiers

Διόνυσος

ἄγε δὴ τίνα τρόπον τὴν θύραν κόψω; τίνα;
460

πῶς ἐνθάδʼ ἄρα κόπτουσιν οὑπιχώριοι;

Ξανθίας

οὐ μὴ διατρίψεις, ἀλλὰ γεύσει τῆς θύρας,

καθʼ Ἡρακλέα τὸ σχῆμα καὶ τὸ λῆμʼ ἔχων.

Διόνυσος

παῖ παῖ.

Ἄιακος

τίς οὗτος;

Διόνυσος

Ἡρακλῆς ὁ καρτερός.

Ξανθίας

οὗτος τί δέδρακας;

Διόνυσος

ἐγκέχοδα· κάλει θεόν.

Ξανθίας

ὦ καταγέλαστʼ οὔκουν ἀναστήσει ταχὺ
480

πρίν τινά σʼ ἰδεῖν ἀλλότριον;

Διόνυσος

ἀλλʼ ὡρακιῶ.

ἀλλʼ οἶσε πρὸς τὴν καρδίαν μου σφογγιάν.

Ξανθίας

ἰδοὺ λαβέ, προσθοῦ.

Διόνυσος

ποῦ ʼστιν;

Ξανθίας

ὦ χρυσοῖ θεοὶ

ἐνταῦθʼ ἔχεις τὴν καρδίαν;

Διόνυσος

δείσασα γὰρ

ἐς τὴν κάτω μου κοιλίαν καθείρπυσεν.
485

Ξανθίας

ὦ δειλότατε θεῶν σὺ κἀνθρώπων.

Διόνυσος

ἐγώ;

πῶς δειλὸς ὅστις σφογγιὰν ᾔτησά σε;

οὐκ ἂν ἕτερός γʼ αὔτʼ ἠργάσατʼ ἀνήρ.

Ξανθίας

ἀλλὰ τί;

Διόνυσος

κατέκειτʼ ἂν ὀσφραινόμενος, εἴπερ δειλὸς ἦν·

ἐγὼ δʼ ἀνέστην καὶ προσέτʼ ἀπεψησάμην.
490

Ξανθίας

ἀνδρεῖά γʼ ὦ Πόσειδον.

Διόνυσος

οἶμαι νὴ Δία.

σὺ δʼ οὐκ ἔδεισας τὸν ψόφον τῶν ῥημάτων

καὶ τὰς ἀπειλάς;

Ξανθίας

οὐ μὰ Δίʼ οὐδʼ ἐφρόντισα.

Ξανθίας

φέρε δὴ ταχέως αὔτʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἀλλὰ πειστέον·

καὶ βλέψον ἐς τὸν Ἡρακλειοξανθίαν,

εἰ δειλὸς ἔσομαι καὶ κατὰ σὲ τὸ λῆμʼ ἔχων.
500

Διόνυσος

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ἀληθῶς οὑκ Μελίτης μαστιγίας.

φέρε νυν ἐγὼ τὰ στρώματʼ αἴρωμαι ταδί.

Dionysus

Well, how should I knock on the door now? How?

How do the natives here knock on doors?

Xanthias

Don't waste time, take a bite of the door,
540

Just like Heracles, since you've got his form and temper.

Dionysus

Hey! porter, porter!

Aeacus

Who is it?

Dionysus

Heracles the mighty.

Xanthias

Hey, what'd you do?

Dionysus

I made a mess. Call the god.
560

Xanthias

Ridiculous! Quick, get up,

before some stranger sees you!

Dionysus

But I feel faint

Bring me the sponge, and place it near my heart.

Xanthias

Here.
565

Dionysus

Please apply it.

Xanthias

Where? O golden Gods!

Is that where you have your heart?

Dionysus

It was terrified,

and crept into my bowels down below.
570

Xanthias

Of Gods and men you surely are the biggest coward.

Dionysus

Who, me?

A coward? how so? Didn't I ask you for the sponge?

Another man would not have acted thus.

Xanthias

What would he do?
575

Dionysus

A coward would have lain down flat, and smelt unpleasant—

I stood upright and wiped myself besides.

Xanthias

A manly act, by Poseidon.

Dionysus

God, I think so.

But weren't you scared of that rumble of words
580

and threats?

Xanthias

God no! I didn't even notice.

Dionysus

Well now, since you're so brave and heroic,

you be me, and take my club

and lion skin, if you've got fearless guts.
585

And I will be the porter in your place.

Xanthias

Give me that stuff quick; I cannot but obey.

Now look upon the Xanthian Heracles,

And see if I will be a coward and lose heart like you.

Dionysus

Oh no, you'll be a regular whipping-boy of Melite,
590

Let's go, I'll take up the pack here.