1300.
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λειμῶνα Μουσῶν ἱερὸν ὀφθείην δρέπων·
The optative mood 'ὀφθείην' (aorist passive of ὁράω) functions here as a wish or prayer ('I wish that I might see'), a usage characteristic of the dramatic genre where characters often invoke divine favor or express deep longing for an ideal state. The construction 'λειμῶνα... δρέπων' creates a striking synchysis where the participle 'δρέπων' (gathering/harvesting) governs the accusative 'λειμῶνα' (meadow), metaphorically depicting the poet as a harvester of Muses' inspiration rather than literal crops. This image of the 'meadow of the Muses' is a distinct Aristophanic innovation on the traditional Hesiodic topography of the Muses, transforming the abstract concept of poetic inspiration into a tangible, harvestable landscape.
1301.
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οὗτος δʼ ἀπὸ πάντων †μὲν φέρει, πορνιδίων†,
The text is corrupt at the indicated point, marked by the dagger symbols (†). The phrase 'πορνιδίων' (of prostitutes) is widely regarded by scholars as a later interpolation or a corruption of the original text, likely introduced by a scribe attempting to clarify an obscure reference to the comic character's alleged vices. The original reading is uncertain; some conjectures suggest the word may have been 'πορνῶν' (of harlots) in a different grammatical construction, or that the entire phrase 'πορνιδίων' is a gloss that entered the text. The phrase 'ἀπὸ πάντων ... φέρει' (carries from all) is syntactically difficult without the intervening noun, and the corruption obscures the specific nature of the character's alleged misconduct or the grammatical object of 'φέρει'. This is a genuine crux in the text of the Frogs, with no consensus on the original reading.
1308.
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αὕτη ποθʼ ἡ Μοῦσʼ οὐκ ἐλεσβίαζεν, οὔ.
The verb ἐλεσβίαζεν is a rare hapax legomenon in this context, functioning as a verb of action derived from the geographical epithet 'Lesbian' (or specifically 'Lesbian-style'). While 'Lesbian' poetry is famously associated with sapphic meters and erotic themes, here Aristophanes uses the verb to mean 'to act in a Lesbian manner' or 'to be effeminate/sophisticated in a way associated with Lesbos,' serving as a specific insult against the Muse's current behavior or character. The use of the verb form rather than the adjective is a notable lexical choice for satirical effect.
