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Γραῦς Α

οὗτος τί κόπτεις; μῶν ἐμὲ ζητεῖς;

Νεανίας

πόθεν;

Γραῦς Α

καὶ τὴν θύραν γʼ ἤραττες.

Νεανίας

ἀποθάνοιμʼ ἄρα.

Γραῦς Α

τοῦ δαὶ δεόμενος δᾷδʼ ἔχων ἐλήλυθας;

Νεανίας

Ἀναφλύστιον ζητῶν τινʼ ἄνθρωπον.

Γραῦς Α

τίνα;

Νεανίας

οὐ τὸν Σεβῖνον, ὃν σὺ προσδοκᾷς ἴσως.
980

Γραῦς Α

νὴ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην, ἤν τε βούλῃ γʼ ἤν τε μή.

Νεανίας

ἀλλʼ οὐχὶ νυνὶ τὰς ὑπερεξηκοντέτεις

εἰσάγομεν, ἀλλʼ εἰσαῦθις ἀναβεβλήμεθα.

τὰς ἐντὸς εἴκοσιν γὰρ ἐκδικάζομεν.

Γραῦς Α

ἐπὶ τῆς προτέρας ἀρχῆς γε ταῦτʼ ἦν ὦ γλύκων·
985

νυνὶ δὲ πρῶτον εἰσάγειν ἡμᾶς δοκεῖ.

Νεανίας

τῷ βουλομένῳ γε κατὰ τὸν ἐν πεττοῖς νόμον.

Γραῦς Α

ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ δειπνεῖς κατὰ τὸν ἐν πεττοῖς νόμον.

Νεανίας

οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅ τι λέγεις· τηνδεδί μοι κρουστέον.

Γραῦς Α

ὅταν γε κρούσῃς τὴν ἐμὴν πρῶτον θύραν.
990

Νεανίας

ἀλλʼ οὐχὶ νυνὶ κρησέραν αἰτούμεθα.

Γραῦς Α

οἶδʼ ὅτι φιλοῦμαι· νῦν δὲ θαυμάζεις ὅτι

θύρασί μʼ ηὗρες· ἀλλὰ πρόσαγε τὸ στόμα.

Νεανίας

ἀλλʼ ὦ μέλʼ ὀρρωδῶ τὸν ἐραστήν σου.

Γραῦς Α

τίνα;

Νεανίας

τὸν τῶν γραφέων ἄριστον.
995

Γραῦς Α

οὗτος δʼ ἔστι τίς;

Νεανίας

ὃς τοῖς νεκροῖσι ζωγραφεῖ τὰς ληκύθους.

ἀλλʼ ἄπιθʼ, ὅπως μή σʼ ἐπὶ θύραισιν ὄψεται.

Γραῦς Α

οἶδʼ οἶδʼ ὅ τι βούλει.

Νεανίας

καὶ γὰρ ἐγώ σε νὴ Δία.

Γραῦς Α

μὰ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην ἥ μʼ ἔλαχε κληρουμένη,

μὴ ʼγώ σʼ ἀφήσω.
1000

Νεανίας

παραφρονεῖς ὦ γρᾴδιον.

Γραῦς Α

ληρεῖς· ἐγὼ δʼ ἄξω σʼ ἐπὶ τἀμὰ στρώματα.

Νεανίας

τί δῆτα κρεάγρας τοῖς κάδοις ὠνούμεθα,

ἐξὸν καθέντα γρᾴδιον τοιουτονὶ

ἐκ τῶν φρεάτων τοὺς κάδους ξυλλαμβάνειν;

Γραῦς Α

μὴ σκῶπτέ μʼ ὦ τάλαν ἀλλʼ ἕπου δεῦρʼ ὡς ἐμέ.
1005

Νεανίας

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἀνάγκη μοὐστίν, εἰ μὴ τῶν ἐμῶν

τὴν πεντακοσιοστὴν κατέθηκας τῇ πόλει.

Γραῦς Α

νὴ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην δεῖ γε μέντοι σʼ. ὡς ἐγὼ

τοῖς τηλικούτοις ξυγκαθεύδουσʼ ἥδομαι.

Ecclesiazusae. Aristophanes. ed. F. W. Hall, ed. William M. Geldart. Oxford. 1907.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Ἐκκλησιάζουσαι (Greek) (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 2. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1907.)

Translations (2)

Ecclesiazusae (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Anonymous; 1938 compilation). Migrated from Perseus legacy XML; source wording and notes retained. See TEI header and migration inventory.) — 976 focus

First Old Woman
Reappearing suddenly.

What are you knocking for? Are you looking for me?

Young Man

What an idea!

First Old Woman

But you were tapping at the door.

Young Man

Death would be sweeter.

First Old Woman

Why do you come with that torch in your hand?

Young Man

I am looking for a man from Anaphlystia.

First Old Woman

What's his name?

Young Man

980 Oh! it's not Sebinus, whom no doubt you are expecting.

First Old Woman
Taking him by the arm.

By Aphrodite, you must, whether you like it or not.

Young Man
Shaking her off.

We are not now concerned with cases dated sixty years back; they are remanded for a later day; we are dealing only with those of less than twenty.

First Old Woman

985 That was under the old order of things, sweetheart, but now you must first busy yourself with us.

Young Man

Aye, if I want to, according to the rules of draughts, where we may either take or leave.

First Old Woman

But it's not according to the rules of draughts that you take your seat at the banquet.

Young Man

I don't know what you mean; it's at this door I want to knock.

First Old Woman
Standing in his way.

990 Not before knocking at mine first.

Young Man
Haughtily.

For the moment I really have no need for old leather.

First Old Woman

I know that you love me; perhaps you are surprised to find me at the door. But come, let me kiss you.

Young Man
Pulling back; sarcastically.

No, no, my dear, I am afraid of your lover.

First Old Woman

Of whom?

Young Man

995 The most gifted of painters.

First Old Woman

And who is he?

Young Man

The artist who paints the little bottles on coffins. But get you indoors, lest he should find you at the door.

First Old Woman

I know what you want.

Young Man

I can say as much of you.

First Old Woman
Hanging on to him.

By Aphrodite, who has granted me this good chance, 1000 I won't let you go.

Young Man

You are drivelling, you little old hag.

First Old Woman

Rubbish! I am going to lead you to my couch.

Young Man

What need for buying hooks? I will let her down to the bottom of the well and pull up the buckets with her old carcass, for she's crooked enough for that.

First Old Woman

1005 A truce to your jeering, poor boy, and follow me.

Young Man

Nothing compels me to do so, unless you have paid the levy of five hundredths for me.

First Old Woman

Look, by Aphrodite, there is nothing that delights me as much as sleeping with a lad of your years.

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.) — 976 focus

Old Woman A: Why are you hitting this? Or are you looking for me?

Young man: From where?

Old Woman A: And you were scratching the door.

Young Man: Then let me die.

Old Woman A: But do you come having a torch, since you are in need?

Young Man: I am looking for a certain man from Anaphlystus.

OLD WOMAN A: whom?

Young Man: Not Sebinos, whom you perhaps expect.

980

Old Woman A: By Aphrodite, whether you wish it or not.

Young Man: But not now the sixty-one?

Young man: we are bringing him in, but we have put him off again.

Young man: for we judge those inside twenty.

OLD WOMAN A: At the time of the former magistracy, these things were so, you sweet ones;

985

Old Woman A: Now, however, it seems to me to lead us for the first time.

Young man: To whomever wishes, according to the law in the game of knucklebones.

Old Woman A: But you do not dine according to the law of the dice.

Young man: I do not know what you are saying; I must knock on this door.

Old Woman A: When you knock on my door first.

990

Young man: But we are not asking for a softer skin now.

OLD WOMAN A: I know that I am kissed; but now you wonder that

Old Woman A: You found me at the door; but bring your mouth here.

Young Man: But oh, I am very frightened of your lover.

Old Woman A: whom?

Young Man: The best of the scribes.

995

Old Woman A: Who is this man?

Young man: 'He who paints the lekythoi for the dead.'

Young Man: But go away, so that he may not see you at the door.

Old Woman A: I know, I know what you want.

Young Man: And I, by Zeus, [say the same] about you too.

Old Woman A: By Aphrodite, who drew the lot for me,

Old Woman A: I will not let you go.

1000

Young man: You are out of your mind, old woman.

Old Woman A: You are talking nonsense; but I will take you to my beds.

Young Man: But then, why are we buying meat for the jars?

Young Man: It is possible for such an old woman to sit down.

Young Man: 'Shall we draw the buckets from the wells together?'

Old Woman A: Don't mock me, you poor wretch, but follow me here, just as I do.

1005

Young man: But I am not compelled, unless by those of mine.

Young Man: You have deposited the five-hundredth [drachma] for the city.

Old Woman A: By Aphrodite, however, you must, just as I do.

Old Woman A: I take pleasure in sleeping with men of such age.

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

987. mvp-tlg0019-tlg010-sanjaya-com-eng1-39

Line 987

τῷ βουλομένῳ γε κατὰ τὸν ἐν πεττοῖς νόμον.

The phrase κατὰ τὸν ἐν πεττοῖς νόμον refers to a specific procedural rule in the Athenian assembly where decisions were sometimes made by drawing lots (pebbles) rather than by a show of hands or a standing vote. This mechanism, often associated with the election of officials or specific legislative decisions, was a subject of significant political debate in Athens, particularly regarding its potential for manipulation or its role in ensuring equality among citizens. The use of this phrase here highlights the satirical Aristophanes' engagement with contemporary democratic practices, suggesting that the proposed radical reforms in the play are being framed within the established, albeit controversial, legal frameworks of the polis.

988. mvp-tlg0019-tlg010-sanjaya-com-eng1-40

Line 988

ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ δειπνεῖς κατὰ τὸν ἐν πεττοῖς νόμον.

The phrase κατὰ τὸν ἐν πεττοῖς νόμον (according to the law in pebbles) refers to the specific Athenian legal procedure where jurors cast their votes using pebbles (πέτροι) into jars, distinguishing it from the later use of wax tablets. While the pebble vote was standard in the courts, the phrase here is likely a satirical hyperbole or a specific reference to a procedural detail (perhaps regarding the timing or method of a verdict) that the play's characters are treating with the gravity of a statutory constraint, highlighting the comic conflation of civic ritual and domestic authority.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Γραῦς Α οὗτος τί κόπτεις; μῶν ἐμὲ ζητεῖς;

Νεανίας πόθεν;

Γραῦς Α καὶ τὴν θύραν γʼ ἤραττες.

Νεανίας ἀποθάνοιμʼ ἄρα.

Γραῦς Α τοῦ δαὶ δεόμενος δᾷδʼ ἔχων ἐλήλυθας;

Νεανίας Ἀναφλύστιον ζητῶν τινʼ ἄνθρωπον.

Γραῦς Α τίνα;

Νεανίας οὐ τὸν Σεβῖνον, ὃν σὺ προσδοκᾷς ἴσως. 980

Γραῦς Α νὴ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην, ἤν τε βούλῃ γʼ ἤν τε μή.

Νεανίας ἀλλʼ οὐχὶ νυνὶ τὰς ὑπερεξηκοντέτεις εἰσάγομεν, ἀλλʼ εἰσαῦθις ἀναβεβλήμεθα. τὰς ἐντὸς εἴκοσιν γὰρ ἐκδικάζομεν.

Γραῦς Α ἐπὶ τῆς προτέρας ἀρχῆς γε ταῦτʼ ἦν ὦ γλύκων· 985 νυνὶ δὲ πρῶτον εἰσάγειν ἡμᾶς δοκεῖ.

Νεανίας τῷ βουλομένῳ γε κατὰ τὸν ἐν πεττοῖς νόμον.

Γραῦς Α ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ δειπνεῖς κατὰ τὸν ἐν πεττοῖς νόμον.

Νεανίας οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅ τι λέγεις· τηνδεδί μοι κρουστέον.

Γραῦς Α ὅταν γε κρούσῃς τὴν ἐμὴν πρῶτον θύραν. 990

Νεανίας ἀλλʼ οὐχὶ νυνὶ κρησέραν αἰτούμεθα.

Γραῦς Α οἶδʼ ὅτι φιλοῦμαι· νῦν δὲ θαυμάζεις ὅτι θύρασί μʼ ηὗρες· ἀλλὰ πρόσαγε τὸ στόμα.

Νεανίας ἀλλʼ ὦ μέλʼ ὀρρωδῶ τὸν ἐραστήν σου.

Γραῦς Α τίνα;

Νεανίας τὸν τῶν γραφέων ἄριστον. 995

Γραῦς Α οὗτος δʼ ἔστι τίς;

Νεανίας ὃς τοῖς νεκροῖσι ζωγραφεῖ τὰς ληκύθους. ἀλλʼ ἄπιθʼ, ὅπως μή σʼ ἐπὶ θύραισιν ὄψεται.

Γραῦς Α οἶδʼ οἶδʼ ὅ τι βούλει.

Νεανίας καὶ γὰρ ἐγώ σε νὴ Δία.

Γραῦς Α μὰ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην ἥ μʼ ἔλαχε κληρουμένη, μὴ ʼγώ σʼ ἀφήσω. 1000

Νεανίας παραφρονεῖς ὦ γρᾴδιον.

Γραῦς Α ληρεῖς· ἐγὼ δʼ ἄξω σʼ ἐπὶ τἀμὰ στρώματα.

Νεανίας τί δῆτα κρεάγρας τοῖς κάδοις ὠνούμεθα, ἐξὸν καθέντα γρᾴδιον τοιουτονὶ ἐκ τῶν φρεάτων τοὺς κάδους ξυλλαμβάνειν;

Γραῦς Α μὴ σκῶπτέ μʼ ὦ τάλαν ἀλλʼ ἕπου δεῦρʼ ὡς ἐμέ. 1005

Νεανίας ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἀνάγκη μοὐστίν, εἰ μὴ τῶν ἐμῶν τὴν πεντακοσιοστὴν κατέθηκας τῇ πόλει.

Γραῦς Α νὴ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην δεῖ γε μέντοι σʼ. ὡς ἐγὼ τοῖς τηλικούτοις ξυγκαθεύδουσʼ ἥδομαι.

Current edition Perseus

First Old Woman Reappearing suddenly. What are you knocking for? Are you looking for me?

Young Man What an idea!

First Old Woman But you were tapping at the door.

Young Man Death would be sweeter.

First Old Woman Why do you come with that torch in your hand?

Young Man I am looking for a man from Anaphlystia.

First Old Woman What's his name?

Young Man 980 Oh! it's not Sebinus, whom no doubt you are expecting.

First Old Woman Taking him by the arm. By Aphrodite, you must, whether you like it or not.

Young Man Shaking her off. We are not now concerned with cases dated sixty years back; they are remanded for a later day; we are dealing only with those of less than twenty.

First Old Woman 985 That was under the old order of things, sweetheart, but now you must first busy yourself with us.

Young Man Aye, if I want to, according to the rules of draughts, where we may either take or leave.

First Old Woman But it's not according to the rules of draughts that you take your seat at the banquet.

Young Man I don't know what you mean; it's at this door I want to knock.

First Old Woman Standing in his way. 990 Not before knocking at mine first.

Young Man Haughtily. For the moment I really have no need for old leather.

First Old Woman I know that you love me; perhaps you are surprised to find me at the door. But come, let me kiss you.

Young Man Pulling back; sarcastically. No, no, my dear, I am afraid of your lover.

First Old Woman Of whom?

Young Man 995 The most gifted of painters.

First Old Woman And who is he?

Young Man The artist who paints the little bottles on coffins. But get you indoors, lest he should find you at the door.

First Old Woman I know what you want.

Young Man I can say as much of you.

First Old Woman Hanging on to him. By Aphrodite, who has granted me this good chance, 1000 I won't let you go.

Young Man You are drivelling, you little old hag.

First Old Woman Rubbish! I am going to lead you to my couch.

Young Man What need for buying hooks? I will let her down to the bottom of the well and pull up the buckets with her old carcass, for she's crooked enough for that.

First Old Woman 1005 A truce to your jeering, poor boy, and follow me.

Young Man Nothing compels me to do so, unless you have paid the levy of five hundredths for me.

First Old Woman Look, by Aphrodite, there is nothing that delights me as much as sleeping with a lad of your years.

Commentary

Line 987

Line 988

Stable identifiers

Γραῦς Α

οὗτος τί κόπτεις; μῶν ἐμὲ ζητεῖς;

Νεανίας

πόθεν;

Γραῦς Α

καὶ τὴν θύραν γʼ ἤραττες.

Νεανίας

ἀποθάνοιμʼ ἄρα.

Γραῦς Α

τοῦ δαὶ δεόμενος δᾷδʼ ἔχων ἐλήλυθας;

Νεανίας

Ἀναφλύστιον ζητῶν τινʼ ἄνθρωπον.

Γραῦς Α

τίνα;

Νεανίας

οὐ τὸν Σεβῖνον, ὃν σὺ προσδοκᾷς ἴσως.
980

Γραῦς Α

νὴ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην, ἤν τε βούλῃ γʼ ἤν τε μή.

Νεανίας

ἀλλʼ οὐχὶ νυνὶ τὰς ὑπερεξηκοντέτεις

εἰσάγομεν, ἀλλʼ εἰσαῦθις ἀναβεβλήμεθα.

τὰς ἐντὸς εἴκοσιν γὰρ ἐκδικάζομεν.

Γραῦς Α

ἐπὶ τῆς προτέρας ἀρχῆς γε ταῦτʼ ἦν ὦ γλύκων·
985

νυνὶ δὲ πρῶτον εἰσάγειν ἡμᾶς δοκεῖ.

Νεανίας

τῷ βουλομένῳ γε κατὰ τὸν ἐν πεττοῖς νόμον.

Γραῦς Α

ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ δειπνεῖς κατὰ τὸν ἐν πεττοῖς νόμον.

Νεανίας

οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅ τι λέγεις· τηνδεδί μοι κρουστέον.

Γραῦς Α

ὅταν γε κρούσῃς τὴν ἐμὴν πρῶτον θύραν.
990

Νεανίας

ἀλλʼ οὐχὶ νυνὶ κρησέραν αἰτούμεθα.

Γραῦς Α

οἶδʼ ὅτι φιλοῦμαι· νῦν δὲ θαυμάζεις ὅτι

θύρασί μʼ ηὗρες· ἀλλὰ πρόσαγε τὸ στόμα.

Νεανίας

ἀλλʼ ὦ μέλʼ ὀρρωδῶ τὸν ἐραστήν σου.

Γραῦς Α

τίνα;

Νεανίας

τὸν τῶν γραφέων ἄριστον.
995

Γραῦς Α

οὗτος δʼ ἔστι τίς;

Νεανίας

ὃς τοῖς νεκροῖσι ζωγραφεῖ τὰς ληκύθους.

ἀλλʼ ἄπιθʼ, ὅπως μή σʼ ἐπὶ θύραισιν ὄψεται.

Γραῦς Α

οἶδʼ οἶδʼ ὅ τι βούλει.

Νεανίας

καὶ γὰρ ἐγώ σε νὴ Δία.

Γραῦς Α

μὰ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην ἥ μʼ ἔλαχε κληρουμένη,

μὴ ʼγώ σʼ ἀφήσω.
1000

Νεανίας

παραφρονεῖς ὦ γρᾴδιον.

Γραῦς Α

ληρεῖς· ἐγὼ δʼ ἄξω σʼ ἐπὶ τἀμὰ στρώματα.

Νεανίας

τί δῆτα κρεάγρας τοῖς κάδοις ὠνούμεθα,

ἐξὸν καθέντα γρᾴδιον τοιουτονὶ

ἐκ τῶν φρεάτων τοὺς κάδους ξυλλαμβάνειν;

Γραῦς Α

μὴ σκῶπτέ μʼ ὦ τάλαν ἀλλʼ ἕπου δεῦρʼ ὡς ἐμέ.
1005

Νεανίας

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἀνάγκη μοὐστίν, εἰ μὴ τῶν ἐμῶν

τὴν πεντακοσιοστὴν κατέθηκας τῇ πόλει.

Γραῦς Α

νὴ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην δεῖ γε μέντοι σʼ. ὡς ἐγὼ

τοῖς τηλικούτοις ξυγκαθεύδουσʼ ἥδομαι.

First Old Woman
Reappearing suddenly.

What are you knocking for? Are you looking for me?

Young Man

What an idea!

First Old Woman

But you were tapping at the door.

Young Man

Death would be sweeter.

First Old Woman

Why do you come with that torch in your hand?

Young Man

I am looking for a man from Anaphlystia.

First Old Woman

What's his name?

Young Man

980 Oh! it's not Sebinus, whom no doubt you are expecting.

First Old Woman
Taking him by the arm.

By Aphrodite, you must, whether you like it or not.

Young Man
Shaking her off.

We are not now concerned with cases dated sixty years back; they are remanded for a later day; we are dealing only with those of less than twenty.

First Old Woman

985 That was under the old order of things, sweetheart, but now you must first busy yourself with us.

Young Man

Aye, if I want to, according to the rules of draughts, where we may either take or leave.

First Old Woman

But it's not according to the rules of draughts that you take your seat at the banquet.

Young Man

I don't know what you mean; it's at this door I want to knock.

First Old Woman
Standing in his way.

990 Not before knocking at mine first.

Young Man
Haughtily.

For the moment I really have no need for old leather.

First Old Woman

I know that you love me; perhaps you are surprised to find me at the door. But come, let me kiss you.

Young Man
Pulling back; sarcastically.

No, no, my dear, I am afraid of your lover.

First Old Woman

Of whom?

Young Man

995 The most gifted of painters.

First Old Woman

And who is he?

Young Man

The artist who paints the little bottles on coffins. But get you indoors, lest he should find you at the door.

First Old Woman

I know what you want.

Young Man

I can say as much of you.

First Old Woman
Hanging on to him.

By Aphrodite, who has granted me this good chance, 1000 I won't let you go.

Young Man

You are drivelling, you little old hag.

First Old Woman

Rubbish! I am going to lead you to my couch.

Young Man

What need for buying hooks? I will let her down to the bottom of the well and pull up the buckets with her old carcass, for she's crooked enough for that.

First Old Woman

1005 A truce to your jeering, poor boy, and follow me.

Young Man

Nothing compels me to do so, unless you have paid the levy of five hundredths for me.

First Old Woman

Look, by Aphrodite, there is nothing that delights me as much as sleeping with a lad of your years.