Aristophanes, Ecclesiazusae, ed. F. W. Hall, ed. William M. Geldart, 1010

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Νεανίας

ἐγὼ δὲ ταῖς γε τηλικαύταις ἄχθομαι,
1010

κοὐκ ἂν πιθοίμην οὐδέποτʼ.

Γραῦς Α

ἀλλὰ νὴ Δία

ἀναγκάσει τουτί σε.

Νεανίας

τοῦτο δʼ ἔστι τί;

Γραῦς Α

ψήφισμα, καθʼ ὅ σε δεῖ βαδίζειν ὡς ἐμέ.

Νεανίας

λέγʼ αὐτὸ τί ποτε κἄστι.

Γραῦς Α

καὶ δή σοι λέγω.

ἔδοξε ταῖς γυναιξίν, ἢν ἀνὴρ νέος
1015

νέας ἐπιθυμῇ, μὴ σποδεῖν αὐτὴν πρὶν ἂν

τὴν γραῦν προκρούσῃ πρῶτον· ἢν δὲ μὴ ʼθέλῃ

πρότερον προκρούειν ἀλλʼ ἐπιθυμῇ τῆς νέας,

ταῖς πρεσβυτέραις γυναιξὶν ἔστω τὸν νέον

ἕλκειν ἀνατεὶ λαβομένας τοῦ παττάλου.
1020

Νεανίας

οἴμοι Προκρούστης τήμερον γενήσομαι.

Γραῦς Α

τοῖς γὰρ νόμοις τοῖς ἡμετέροισι πειστέον.

Νεανίας

τί δʼ ἢν ἀφαιρῆταί μʼ ἀνὴρ τῶν δημοτῶν

ἢ τῶν φίλων ἐλθών τις;

Γραῦς Α

ἀλλʼ οὐ κύριος

ὑπὲρ μέδιμνόν ἐστʼ ἀνὴρ οὐδεὶς ἔτι.
1025

Νεανίας

ἐξωμοσία δʼ οὐκ ἔστιν;

Γραῦς Α

οὐ γὰρ δεῖ στροφῆς.

Νεανίας

ἀλλʼ ἔμπορος εἶναι σκήψομαι.

Γραῦς Α

κλάων γε σύ.

Νεανίας

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν;

Γραῦς Α

δεῦρʼ ἀκολουθεῖν ὡς ἐμέ.

Νεανίας

καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀνάγκη μοὐστί;

Γραῦς Α

Διομήδειά γε.

Νεανίας

ὑποστόρεσαί νυν πρῶτα τῆς ὀριγάνου
1030

καὶ κλήμαθʼ ὑπόθου συγκλάσασα τέτταρα,

καὶ ταινίωσαι καὶ παράθου τὰς ληκύθους,

ὕδατός τε κατάθου τοὔστρακον πρὸ τῆς θύρας.

Γραῦς Α

ἦ μὴν ἔτʼ ὠνήσει σὺ καὶ στεφάνην ἐμοί.

Νεανίας

νὴ τὸν Δίʼ ἤνπερ ᾖ γέ που τῶν κηρίνων·
1035

οἶμαι γὰρ ἔνδον διαπεσεῖσθαί σʼ αὐτίκα.

Νεᾶνις

ποῖ τοῦτον ἕλκεις;

Γραῦς Α

τὸν ἐμὸν αὐτῆς εἰσάγω.

Νεᾶνις

οὐ σωφρονοῦσά γʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἡλικίαν ἔχει

παρὰ σοὶ καθεύδειν τηλικοῦτος ὤν, ἐπεὶ

μήτηρ ἂν αὐτῷ μᾶλλον εἴης ἢ γυνή.
1040

ὥστʼ εἰ καταστήσεσθε τοῦτον τὸν νόμον,

τὴν γῆν ἅπασαν Οἰδιπόδων ἐμπλήσετε.

Γραῦς Α

ὦ παμβδελυρὰ φθονοῦσα τόνδε τὸν λόγον

ἐξηῦρες· ἀλλʼ ἐγώ σε τιμωρήσομαι.

Νεανίας

νὴ τὸν Δία τὸν σωτῆρα κεχάρισαί γέ μοι
1045

ὦ γλυκύτατον τὴν γραῦν ἀπαλλάξασά μου·

ὥστʼ ἀντὶ τούτων τῶν ἀγαθῶν εἰς ἑσπέραν

μεγάλην ἀποδώσω καὶ παχεῖάν σοι χάριν.

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.) — 1010 focus

Young Man

1010 And I abhor such as you, and I will never, never consent.

First Old Woman

But, by Zeus, here is something will force you to it.

She shows him a document.

Young Man

What's that?

First Old Woman

A decree, which orders you to enter my house.

Young Man

Read it out then, and let's hear.

First Old Woman

Listen. 1015 “The women have decreed that if a young man desires a young girl, he can only lay her after having satisfied an old woman; and if he refuses and goes to seek the maiden, the old women are authorized 1020 to seize him and drag him in.”

Young Man

Alas! I shall become a Procrustes.

First Old Woman

Obey the law.

Young Man

But if a fellow-citizen, a friend, came to pay my ransom?

First Old Woman

1025 No man may dispose of anything above a medimnus.

Young Man

But may I not enter an excuse?

First Old Woman

There's no evasion.

Young Man

I shall declare myself a merchant and so escape service.

First Old Woman

Beware what you do!

Young Man

Well! what is to be done?

First Old Woman

Follow me

Young Man

Is it absolutely necessary?

First Old Woman

Yes, as surely as if Diomedes had commanded it.

Young Man

1030 Well then, first spread out a layer of origanum upon four pieces of wood; bind fillets round your head, bring phials of scent and place a bowl filled with lustral water before your door.

First Old Woman

Will you buy a chaplet for me too?

Young Man

1035 Yes, if you outlast the tapers; for I expect to see you fall down dead as you go in.

Young Girl
Running out of her house.

Where are you dragging this unfortunate man to?

First Old Woman

To my own bed.

Young Girl

That's not right. A young fellow like him is not of the age to suit you. 1040 You ought to be his mother rather than his wife. With these laws in force, the earth will be filled with Oedipuses.

She takes him away with her.

First Old Woman

Oh! you cursed pest! it's envy that makes you say this; but I will be revenged.

She goes back into her house.

Young Man

1045 By Zeus the Deliverer, what a service you have done me, by freeing me of this old wretch! with what ardor I will show you my gratitude in a substantial form!

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.) — 1010 focus

Young Man: But I am burdened by such great women,

1010

Young man: And I would never be persuaded.

Old Woman A: But by Zeus,

Old Woman A: This will force you.

Young Man: But what is this?

Old Woman A: a decree, in accordance with which you must walk as I do.

Young man: Say what it is.

Old Woman A: And indeed I tell you.

Old Woman A: It was resolved by the women, if [there is] a young man

1015

Old Woman A: She desires a young woman, not to give her up before

Old Woman A: Let him first test the old woman; if she is unwilling.

Old Woman A: first let her refuse, but let her desire the young woman,

Old Woman A: Let the older women have the new [husband].

Old Woman A: To drag them up, taking hold of the pot.

1020

Young man: Alas! Today I shall become Procrustes.

Old Woman A: For we must obey our own laws.

Young Man: But what will a man of the citizens take away from me?

Young Man: Or has someone from among the friends come?

Old Woman A: But she is not the lawful wife.

OLD WOMAN A: No man is left worth a medimnus.

1025

Young man: 'But is there not perjury?'

Gräus A: For there is no need of a turn.

Young Man: But I will pretend to be a merchant.

Old Woman A: You are weeping.

Young man: What then must we do?

Old Woman A: Come here and follow me.

Young Man: And must these things be done in secret from me?

Old Woman A: By Diomede, indeed.

Young Man: Now first, pull down your shirt a bit of the oregano.

1030

Young Man: And, having broken four vines, take them up.

Young man: Bind the ribbons and put the oil flasks alongside.

Young Man: Put the water-jar and the strainer in front of the door.

Old Woman A: Yes, indeed, you will still buy a wreath for me.

Young man: By Zeus, whoever he may be, he is certainly one of the bees.

1035

Young Man: I think you will fall down inside right away.

Young Man: Where are you dragging this man?

Old Woman A: I am bringing in her own.

Young Woman: She is not self-controlled; for she does not have the appropriate age.

Young man: to sleep beside you, being so old, since

Young Woman: You would be more of a mother to him than a wife.

1040

Young Woman: So, if you will establish this law,

Young woman: You will fill the whole earth with Oedipuses.

Old Woman A: O you most hateful, envious of this speech!

Old Woman A: You discovered it; but I will punish you.

Young man: By Zeus the Savior, you have granted me a favor.

1045

Young man: Oh, having most sweetly dismissed the old woman from me;

Young man: so instead of these good things, until evening

Young Man: I will render you a great and fat thanks.

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Νεανίας ἐγὼ δὲ ταῖς γε τηλικαύταις ἄχθομαι, 1010 κοὐκ ἂν πιθοίμην οὐδέποτʼ.

Γραῦς Α ἀλλὰ νὴ Δία ἀναγκάσει τουτί σε.

Νεανίας τοῦτο δʼ ἔστι τί;

Γραῦς Α ψήφισμα, καθʼ ὅ σε δεῖ βαδίζειν ὡς ἐμέ.

Νεανίας λέγʼ αὐτὸ τί ποτε κἄστι.

Νεανίας οἴμοι Προκρούστης τήμερον γενήσομαι.

Γραῦς Α τοῖς γὰρ νόμοις τοῖς ἡμετέροισι πειστέον.

Νεανίας τί δʼ ἢν ἀφαιρῆταί μʼ ἀνὴρ τῶν δημοτῶν ἢ τῶν φίλων ἐλθών τις;

Γραῦς Α ἀλλʼ οὐ κύριος ὑπὲρ μέδιμνόν ἐστʼ ἀνὴρ οὐδεὶς ἔτι. 1025

Νεανίας ἐξωμοσία δʼ οὐκ ἔστιν;

Γραῦς Α οὐ γὰρ δεῖ στροφῆς.

Νεανίας ἀλλʼ ἔμπορος εἶναι σκήψομαι.

Γραῦς Α κλάων γε σύ.

Νεανίας τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν;

Γραῦς Α δεῦρʼ ἀκολουθεῖν ὡς ἐμέ.

Νεανίας καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀνάγκη μοὐστί;

Γραῦς Α Διομήδειά γε.

Γραῦς Α ἦ μὴν ἔτʼ ὠνήσει σὺ καὶ στεφάνην ἐμοί.

Νεανίας νὴ τὸν Δίʼ ἤνπερ ᾖ γέ που τῶν κηρίνων· 1035 οἶμαι γὰρ ἔνδον διαπεσεῖσθαί σʼ αὐτίκα.

Νεᾶνις ποῖ τοῦτον ἕλκεις;

Γραῦς Α τὸν ἐμὸν αὐτῆς εἰσάγω.

Γραῦς Α ὦ παμβδελυρὰ φθονοῦσα τόνδε τὸν λόγον ἐξηῦρες· ἀλλʼ ἐγώ σε τιμωρήσομαι.

Current edition Perseus

Young Man 1010 And I abhor such as you, and I will never, never consent.

First Old Woman But, by Zeus, here is something will force you to it.

Young Man What's that?

First Old Woman A decree, which orders you to enter my house.

Young Man Read it out then, and let's hear.

First Old Woman Listen. 1015 “The women have decreed that if a young man desires a young girl, he can only lay her after having satisfied an old woman; and if he refuses and goes to seek the maiden, the old women are authorized 1020 to seize him and drag him in.”

Young Man Alas! I shall become a Procrustes.

First Old Woman Obey the law.

Young Man But if a fellow-citizen, a friend, came to pay my ransom?

First Old Woman 1025 No man may dispose of anything above a medimnus.

Young Man But may I not enter an excuse?

First Old Woman There's no evasion.

Young Man I shall declare myself a merchant and so escape service.

First Old Woman Beware what you do!

Young Man Well! what is to be done?

First Old Woman Follow me

Young Man Is it absolutely necessary?

First Old Woman Yes, as surely as if Diomedes had commanded it.

Young Man 1030 Well then, first spread out a layer of origanum upon four pieces of wood; bind fillets round your head, bring phials of scent and place a bowl filled with lustral water before your door.

First Old Woman Will you buy a chaplet for me too?

Young Man 1035 Yes, if you outlast the tapers; for I expect to see you fall down dead as you go in.

Young Girl Running out of her house. Where are you dragging this unfortunate man to?

First Old Woman To my own bed.

Young Girl That's not right. A young fellow like him is not of the age to suit you. 1040 You ought to be his mother rather than his wife. With these laws in force, the earth will be filled with Oedipuses.

First Old Woman Oh! you cursed pest! it's envy that makes you say this; but I will be revenged.

Young Man 1045 By Zeus the Deliverer, what a service you have done me, by freeing me of this old wretch! with what ardor I will show you my gratitude in a substantial form!

Stable identifiers

Νεανίας

ἐγὼ δὲ ταῖς γε τηλικαύταις ἄχθομαι,
1010

κοὐκ ἂν πιθοίμην οὐδέποτʼ.

Γραῦς Α

ἀλλὰ νὴ Δία

ἀναγκάσει τουτί σε.

Νεανίας

τοῦτο δʼ ἔστι τί;

Γραῦς Α

ψήφισμα, καθʼ ὅ σε δεῖ βαδίζειν ὡς ἐμέ.

Νεανίας

λέγʼ αὐτὸ τί ποτε κἄστι.

Νεανίας

οἴμοι Προκρούστης τήμερον γενήσομαι.

Γραῦς Α

τοῖς γὰρ νόμοις τοῖς ἡμετέροισι πειστέον.

Νεανίας

τί δʼ ἢν ἀφαιρῆταί μʼ ἀνὴρ τῶν δημοτῶν

ἢ τῶν φίλων ἐλθών τις;

Γραῦς Α

ἀλλʼ οὐ κύριος

ὑπὲρ μέδιμνόν ἐστʼ ἀνὴρ οὐδεὶς ἔτι.
1025

Νεανίας

ἐξωμοσία δʼ οὐκ ἔστιν;

Γραῦς Α

οὐ γὰρ δεῖ στροφῆς.

Νεανίας

ἀλλʼ ἔμπορος εἶναι σκήψομαι.

Γραῦς Α

κλάων γε σύ.

Νεανίας

τί δῆτα χρὴ δρᾶν;

Γραῦς Α

δεῦρʼ ἀκολουθεῖν ὡς ἐμέ.

Νεανίας

καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀνάγκη μοὐστί;

Γραῦς Α

Διομήδειά γε.

Γραῦς Α

ἦ μὴν ἔτʼ ὠνήσει σὺ καὶ στεφάνην ἐμοί.

Νεανίας

νὴ τὸν Δίʼ ἤνπερ ᾖ γέ που τῶν κηρίνων·
1035

οἶμαι γὰρ ἔνδον διαπεσεῖσθαί σʼ αὐτίκα.

Νεᾶνις

ποῖ τοῦτον ἕλκεις;

Γραῦς Α

τὸν ἐμὸν αὐτῆς εἰσάγω.

Γραῦς Α

ὦ παμβδελυρὰ φθονοῦσα τόνδε τὸν λόγον

ἐξηῦρες· ἀλλʼ ἐγώ σε τιμωρήσομαι.

Young Man

1010 And I abhor such as you, and I will never, never consent.

First Old Woman

But, by Zeus, here is something will force you to it.

Young Man

What's that?

First Old Woman

A decree, which orders you to enter my house.

Young Man

Read it out then, and let's hear.

First Old Woman

Listen. 1015 “The women have decreed that if a young man desires a young girl, he can only lay her after having satisfied an old woman; and if he refuses and goes to seek the maiden, the old women are authorized 1020 to seize him and drag him in.”

Young Man

Alas! I shall become a Procrustes.

First Old Woman

Obey the law.

Young Man

But if a fellow-citizen, a friend, came to pay my ransom?

First Old Woman

1025 No man may dispose of anything above a medimnus.

Young Man

But may I not enter an excuse?

First Old Woman

There's no evasion.

Young Man

I shall declare myself a merchant and so escape service.

First Old Woman

Beware what you do!

Young Man

Well! what is to be done?

First Old Woman

Follow me

Young Man

Is it absolutely necessary?

First Old Woman

Yes, as surely as if Diomedes had commanded it.

Young Man

1030 Well then, first spread out a layer of origanum upon four pieces of wood; bind fillets round your head, bring phials of scent and place a bowl filled with lustral water before your door.

First Old Woman

Will you buy a chaplet for me too?

Young Man

1035 Yes, if you outlast the tapers; for I expect to see you fall down dead as you go in.

Young Girl
Running out of her house.

Where are you dragging this unfortunate man to?

First Old Woman

To my own bed.

Young Girl

That's not right. A young fellow like him is not of the age to suit you. 1040 You ought to be his mother rather than his wife. With these laws in force, the earth will be filled with Oedipuses.

First Old Woman

Oh! you cursed pest! it's envy that makes you say this; but I will be revenged.

Young Man

1045 By Zeus the Deliverer, what a service you have done me, by freeing me of this old wretch! with what ardor I will show you my gratitude in a substantial form!