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Κηρύκαινα

ὦ πάντες ἀστοί, νῦν γὰρ οὕτω ταῦτʼ ἔχει,

χωρεῖτʼ ἐπείγεσθʼ εὐθὺ τῆς στρατηγίδος,
835

ὅπως ἂν ὑμῖν ἡ τύχη κληρουμένοις

φράσῃ καθʼ ἕκαστον ἄνδρʼ ὅποι δειπνήσετε·

ὡς αἱ τράπεζαί γʼ εἰσὶν ἐπινενησμέναι

ἀγαθῶν ἁπάντων καὶ παρεσκευασμέναι,

κλῖναί τε σισυρῶν καὶ δαπίδων †νενασμέναι†,
840

κρατῆρα συγκιρνᾶσιν, αἱ μυροπώλιδες

ἑστᾶσʼ ἐφεξῆς, τὰ τεμάχη ῥιπίζεται,

λαγῷʼ ἀναπηγνύασι, πόπανα πέττεται,

στέφανοι πλέκονται, φρύγεται τραγήματα,

χύτρας ἔτνους ἕψουσιν αἱ νεώταται.
845

Σμοῖος δʼ ἐν αὐταῖς ἱππικὴν στολὴν ἔχων

τὰ τῶν γυναικῶν διακαθαίρει τρύβλια.

Γέρων δὲ χωρεῖ χλανίδα καὶ κονίποδε

ἔχων, καχάζων μεθʼ ἑτέρου νεανίου·

ἐμβὰς δὲ κεῖται καὶ τρίβων ἐρριμμένος.
850

πρὸς ταῦτα χωρεῖθʼ, ὡς ὁ τὴν μᾶζαν φέρων

ἕστηκεν· ἀλλὰ τὰς γνάθους διοίγνυτε.

Ἀνὴρ Β

οὐκοῦν βαδιοῦμαι δῆτα. τί γὰρ ἕστηκʼ ἔχων

ἐνταῦθʼ, ἐπειδὴ ταῦτα τῇ πόλει δοκεῖ;

Ἀνὴρ Α

καὶ ποῖ βαδιεῖ σὺ μὴ καταθεὶς τὴν οὐσίαν;
855

Ἀνὴρ Β

ἐπὶ δεῖπνον.

Ἀνὴρ Α

οὐ δῆτʼ, ἤν γʼ ἐκείναις νοῦς ἐνῇ,

πρίν γʼ ἂν ἀπενέγκῃς.

Ἀνὴρ Β

ἀλλʼ ἀποίσω.

Ἀνὴρ Α

πηνίκα;

Ἀνὴρ Β

οὐ τοὐμὸν ὦ τᾶν ἐμποδὼν ἔσται.

Ἀνὴρ Α

τί δή;

Ἀνὴρ Β

ἑτέρους ἀποίσειν φήμʼ ἔθʼ ὑστέρους ἐμοῦ.

Ἀνὴρ Α

βαδιεῖ δὲ δειπνήσων ὅμως;
860

Ἀνὴρ Β

τί γὰρ πάθω;

τὰ δυνατὰ γὰρ δεῖ τῇ πόλει ξυλλαμβάνειν

τοὺς εὖ φρονοῦντας.

Ἀνὴρ Α

ἢν δὲ κωλύσωσι, τί;

Ἀνὴρ Β

ὁμόσʼ εἶμι κύψας.

Ἀνὴρ Α

ἢν δὲ μαστιγῶσι, τί;

Ἀνὴρ Β

καλούμεθʼ αὐτάς.

Ἀνὴρ Α

ἢν δὲ καταγελῶσι, τί;

Ἀνὴρ Β

ἐπὶ ταῖς θύραις ἑστώς—
865

Ἀνὴρ Α

τί δράσεις; εἰπέ μοι.

Ἀνὴρ Β

τῶν ἐσφερόντων ἁρπάσομαι τὰ σιτία.

Ἀνὴρ Α

βάδιζε τοίνυν ὕστερος· σὺ δʼ ὦ Σίκων

καὶ Παρμένων αἴρεσθε τὴν παμπησίαν.

Ἀνὴρ Β

φέρε νυν ἐγώ σοι ξυμφέρω.

Ἀνὴρ Α

μὴ μηδαμῶς.

δέδοικα γὰρ μὴ καὶ παρὰ τῇ στρατηγίδι,
870

ὅταν κατατιθῶ, προσποιῇ τῶν χρημάτων.

Ἀνὴρ Β

νὴ τὸν Δία δεῖ γοῦν μηχανήματός τινος,

ὅπως τὰ μὲν ὄντα χρήμαθʼ ἕξω, τοισδεδὶ

τῶν ματτομένων κοινῇ μεθέξω πως ἐγώ.

ὀρθῶς ἔμοιγε φαίνεται· βαδιστέον
875

ὁμόσʼ ἐστὶ δειπνήσοντα κοὐ μελλητέον.

Χοροῦ

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.) — 834 focus

Herald
A woman.

Let all citizens 835 come, let them hasten at our leader's bidding! It is the new law. The lot will teach each citizen where he is to dine; the tables are already laid and loaded with the most exquisite dishes; 840 the couches are covered with the softest of cushions; the wine and water are already being mixed in the ewers; the slaves are standing in a row and waiting to pour scent over the guests; the fish is being grilled, the hares are on the spit and the cakes are being kneaded, chaplets are being plaited and the fritters are frying; 845 the youngest women are watching the pea-soup in the saucepans, and in the midst of them all stands Smoeus, dressed as a knight, washing the crockery. And Geron has come, dressed in a grand tunic and finely shod; he is joking with another young fellow 850 and has already divested himself of his heavy shoes and his cloak. The pantry man is waiting, so come and use your jaws.

Exit.

Second Man

All right, I'll go. Why should I delay, since the state commands me?

First Man

855 And where are you going to, since you have not deposited your belongings?

Second Man

To the feast.

First Man

If the women have any wits, they will first insist on your depositing your goods.

Second Man

But I am going to deposit them.

First Man

When?

Second Man

I am not the man to make delays.

First Man

How do you mean?

Second Man

There will be many less eager than I.

First Man

860 In the meantime you are going to dine.

Second Man

What else should I do? Every sensible man must give his help to the state.

First Man

But if admission is forbidden you?

Second Man

I shall duck my head and slip in.

First Man

And if the women have you beaten?

Second Man

I shall summon them.

First Man

And if they laugh in your face?

Second Man

865 I shall stand near the door —

First Man

And then?

Second Man

... and seize upon the dishes as they pass.

First Man

Then go there, but after me. Sicon and Parmeno, pick up all this baggage.

Second Man

Come, I will help you carry it.

First Man
Pushing him away.

No, no, 870 I should be afraid of your pretending to the leader that what I am depositing belonged to you.

Exit with his belongings.

Second Man

Let me see! let me think of some good trick by which I can keep my goods and yet take my share of the common feast. He reflects for a moment. 875 Ha! that's a fine idea! Quick! I'll go and dine, ha! ha!

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.) — 834 focus

Herald-woman: O all citizens, for now things stand thus,

Cryer-woman: Go, hurry straight on from the general's wife,

835

Heraldess: May it happen that fortune comes to you as you draw lots.

Cryer-woman: Tell each man where you will dine.

Herald: As the tables are indeed set out for a meal.

Cryke: [we are] prepared for all good things,

Herald-woman: beds of rushes and mats, well-stuffed,

840

Kerykaina: the myrrh-sellers are mixing the krater.

Herald-woman: Stand in a row, the pieces are being thrown,

Herald-woman: they are boiling a hare, a cake is baking,

Cry: garlands are being woven, the savory dishes are being cooked,

Herald-woman: the youngest women are boiling a pot of beans.

845

Herald: And Smoios, wearing cavalry attire, is among them.

Cryce: The women are washing out the cooking pots.

Cryce: But the old man is going, wearing a cloak and dust-covered shoes.

Cryer: Having, laughing with another young man;

Kerykaina: He has stepped in, and a cloak lies thrown.

850

Kerykaina: go toward these things, just as the one carrying the cake.

Crier: Stand still! But open your jaws.

Man B: Well then, I shall certainly walk. For what purpose am I standing here holding [this]?

MAN B: Here, since this seems right to the city?

Man A: And where are you going without having deposited your property?

855

Man B: for dinner.

MAN A: Certainly not, if they have any sense,

Man A: before you carry it off.

MAN B: But I shall go away.

MAN A: When?

MAN B: My own it will not be in the way, oh women!

Man A: Why, then?

Man B: I say that he will take others away later than me.

MAN A: But he is walking, even though, to dine?

860

MAN B: For what shall I suffer?

Man B: For the city must seize the possibilities.

MAN B: those who think well.

Man A: But if they should prevent it, so what?

Man B: By the gods, I will go bent over.

Man A: But if they whip them, so what?

MAN B: We are summoning them.

Man A: If they laugh at him, so what?

Man B: standing by the doors—

865

MAN A: What will you do? Tell me.

MAN B: I will snatch the grain from those who bring it.

Man A: Then walk behind; but you, oh Sikon, ...

MAN A: And Parmenon, choose the most beautiful woman.

MAN B: Come now, I will benefit you.

Man A: Not at all.

MAN A: For I fear lest even with the female general,

870

Man A: When I put it down, pretend that you do not want the money.

MAN B: By Zeus, at least one device is needed,

Man B: so that I will have the money that exists, at least

MAN B: I too shall somehow partake in the madness of the crowd.

MAN B: It seems right to me; we must walk.

875

Man B: It's a sworn oath to dine and not to delay.

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

840. mvp-tlg0019-tlg010-sanjaya-com-eng1-31

Line 840

κλῖναί τε σισυρῶν καὶ δαπίδων †νενασμέναι†,

The word νενασμέναι is marked by an obelus (†) in the critical apparatus, indicating it is a conjecture rather than a transmitted reading. The participle is morphologically irregular here, appearing as a perfect passive participle of νάσσω (to beat, to thrash) in a feminine plural form agreeing with κλῖναί, yet the semantic fit is tenuous; some editors propose it may be a corruption of a different root or a hapax legomenon arising from the comic context of the 'women's assembly' where domestic items are being reimagined as political tools. The textual uncertainty stems from the difficulty of finding a satisfactory sense for 'thrashed beds of reeds and tiles' without assuming a specific, perhaps lost, metaphorical usage or a scribal error in the transmission of the verb form.

851. mvp-tlg0019-tlg010-sanjaya-com-eng1-32

Line 851

πρὸς ταῦτα χωρεῖθʼ, ὡς ὁ τὴν μᾶζαν φέρων

The genitive construction ὁ τὴν μᾶζαν φέρων functions as a substantive comparative clause ('just as the one carrying the bread'), where the article ὁ nominalizes the participle. While the article-participle construction is standard, the specific elliptical comparison relying on a well-known, non-textual cultural practice (the carrying of the first-fruits bread or 'maza' at sacrifices) without an explicit antecedent for the simile in the immediate context requires recognition of the specific ritual context of the Bread of the First Fruits (πρώταρτος) to understand the implied standard of behavior being invoked here.

868. mvp-tlg0019-tlg010-sanjaya-com-eng1-33

Line 868

καὶ Παρμένων αἴρεσθε τὴν παμπησίαν.

The vocative Παρμένων is a comic invention for the historical Parmenion, the famous general of Philip II and Alexander the Great. Aristophanes exploits the phonetic similarity between the general's name and the verb παρμένων (having stood by/remaining), creating a pun on the adjective παμπησίαν (completely/utterly, from πᾶς + πᾶσις, literally 'all-together'). The humor relies on the audience recognizing the general's name as a vocative address while simultaneously parsing the word as a command to 'choose the all-together [thing]', a syntactic ambiguity central to the wordplay.

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Ἀνὴρ Β οὐκοῦν βαδιοῦμαι δῆτα. τί γὰρ ἕστηκʼ ἔχων ἐνταῦθʼ, ἐπειδὴ ταῦτα τῇ πόλει δοκεῖ;

Ἀνὴρ Α καὶ ποῖ βαδιεῖ σὺ μὴ καταθεὶς τὴν οὐσίαν; 855

Ἀνὴρ Β ἐπὶ δεῖπνον.

Ἀνὴρ Α οὐ δῆτʼ, ἤν γʼ ἐκείναις νοῦς ἐνῇ, πρίν γʼ ἂν ἀπενέγκῃς.

Ἀνὴρ Β ἀλλʼ ἀποίσω.

Ἀνὴρ Α πηνίκα;

Ἀνὴρ Β οὐ τοὐμὸν ὦ τᾶν ἐμποδὼν ἔσται.

Ἀνὴρ Α τί δή;

Ἀνὴρ Β ἑτέρους ἀποίσειν φήμʼ ἔθʼ ὑστέρους ἐμοῦ.

Ἀνὴρ Α βαδιεῖ δὲ δειπνήσων ὅμως; 860

Ἀνὴρ Β τί γὰρ πάθω; τὰ δυνατὰ γὰρ δεῖ τῇ πόλει ξυλλαμβάνειν τοὺς εὖ φρονοῦντας.

Ἀνὴρ Α ἢν δὲ κωλύσωσι, τί;

Ἀνὴρ Β ὁμόσʼ εἶμι κύψας.

Ἀνὴρ Α ἢν δὲ μαστιγῶσι, τί;

Ἀνὴρ Β καλούμεθʼ αὐτάς.

Ἀνὴρ Α ἢν δὲ καταγελῶσι, τί;

Ἀνὴρ Β ἐπὶ ταῖς θύραις ἑστώς— 865

Ἀνὴρ Α τί δράσεις; εἰπέ μοι.

Ἀνὴρ Β τῶν ἐσφερόντων ἁρπάσομαι τὰ σιτία.

Ἀνὴρ Α βάδιζε τοίνυν ὕστερος· σὺ δʼ ὦ Σίκων καὶ Παρμένων αἴρεσθε τὴν παμπησίαν.

Ἀνὴρ Β φέρε νυν ἐγώ σοι ξυμφέρω.

Ἀνὴρ Α μὴ μηδαμῶς. δέδοικα γὰρ μὴ καὶ παρὰ τῇ στρατηγίδι, 870 ὅταν κατατιθῶ, προσποιῇ τῶν χρημάτων.

Current edition Perseus

Second Man All right, I'll go. Why should I delay, since the state commands me?

First Man 855 And where are you going to, since you have not deposited your belongings?

Second Man To the feast.

First Man If the women have any wits, they will first insist on your depositing your goods.

Second Man But I am going to deposit them.

First Man When?

Second Man I am not the man to make delays.

First Man How do you mean?

Second Man There will be many less eager than I.

First Man 860 In the meantime you are going to dine.

Second Man What else should I do? Every sensible man must give his help to the state.

First Man But if admission is forbidden you?

Second Man I shall duck my head and slip in.

First Man And if the women have you beaten?

Second Man I shall summon them.

First Man And if they laugh in your face?

Second Man 865 I shall stand near the door —

First Man And then?

Second Man ... and seize upon the dishes as they pass.

First Man Then go there, but after me. Sicon and Parmeno, pick up all this baggage.

Second Man Come, I will help you carry it.

First Man Pushing him away. No, no, 870 I should be afraid of your pretending to the leader that what I am depositing belonged to you.

Second Man Let me see! let me think of some good trick by which I can keep my goods and yet take my share of the common feast. He reflects for a moment. 875 Ha! that's a fine idea! Quick! I'll go and dine, ha! ha!

Commentary

Line 840

Line 851

Line 868

Stable identifiers

Ἀνὴρ Β

οὐκοῦν βαδιοῦμαι δῆτα. τί γὰρ ἕστηκʼ ἔχων

ἐνταῦθʼ, ἐπειδὴ ταῦτα τῇ πόλει δοκεῖ;

Ἀνὴρ Α

καὶ ποῖ βαδιεῖ σὺ μὴ καταθεὶς τὴν οὐσίαν;
855

Ἀνὴρ Β

ἐπὶ δεῖπνον.

Ἀνὴρ Α

οὐ δῆτʼ, ἤν γʼ ἐκείναις νοῦς ἐνῇ,

πρίν γʼ ἂν ἀπενέγκῃς.

Ἀνὴρ Β

ἀλλʼ ἀποίσω.

Ἀνὴρ Α

πηνίκα;

Ἀνὴρ Β

οὐ τοὐμὸν ὦ τᾶν ἐμποδὼν ἔσται.

Ἀνὴρ Α

τί δή;

Ἀνὴρ Β

ἑτέρους ἀποίσειν φήμʼ ἔθʼ ὑστέρους ἐμοῦ.

Ἀνὴρ Α

βαδιεῖ δὲ δειπνήσων ὅμως;
860

Ἀνὴρ Β

τί γὰρ πάθω;

τὰ δυνατὰ γὰρ δεῖ τῇ πόλει ξυλλαμβάνειν

τοὺς εὖ φρονοῦντας.

Ἀνὴρ Α

ἢν δὲ κωλύσωσι, τί;

Ἀνὴρ Β

ὁμόσʼ εἶμι κύψας.

Ἀνὴρ Α

ἢν δὲ μαστιγῶσι, τί;

Ἀνὴρ Β

καλούμεθʼ αὐτάς.

Ἀνὴρ Α

ἢν δὲ καταγελῶσι, τί;

Ἀνὴρ Β

ἐπὶ ταῖς θύραις ἑστώς—
865

Ἀνὴρ Α

τί δράσεις; εἰπέ μοι.

Ἀνὴρ Β

τῶν ἐσφερόντων ἁρπάσομαι τὰ σιτία.

Ἀνὴρ Α

βάδιζε τοίνυν ὕστερος· σὺ δʼ ὦ Σίκων

καὶ Παρμένων αἴρεσθε τὴν παμπησίαν.

Ἀνὴρ Β

φέρε νυν ἐγώ σοι ξυμφέρω.

Ἀνὴρ Α

μὴ μηδαμῶς.

δέδοικα γὰρ μὴ καὶ παρὰ τῇ στρατηγίδι,
870

ὅταν κατατιθῶ, προσποιῇ τῶν χρημάτων.

Second Man

All right, I'll go. Why should I delay, since the state commands me?

First Man

855 And where are you going to, since you have not deposited your belongings?

Second Man

To the feast.

First Man

If the women have any wits, they will first insist on your depositing your goods.

Second Man

But I am going to deposit them.

First Man

When?

Second Man

I am not the man to make delays.

First Man

How do you mean?

Second Man

There will be many less eager than I.

First Man

860 In the meantime you are going to dine.

Second Man

What else should I do? Every sensible man must give his help to the state.

First Man

But if admission is forbidden you?

Second Man

I shall duck my head and slip in.

First Man

And if the women have you beaten?

Second Man

I shall summon them.

First Man

And if they laugh in your face?

Second Man

865 I shall stand near the door —

First Man

And then?

Second Man

... and seize upon the dishes as they pass.

First Man

Then go there, but after me. Sicon and Parmeno, pick up all this baggage.

Second Man

Come, I will help you carry it.

First Man
Pushing him away.

No, no, 870 I should be afraid of your pretending to the leader that what I am depositing belonged to you.

Second Man

Let me see! let me think of some good trick by which I can keep my goods and yet take my share of the common feast. He reflects for a moment. 875 Ha! that's a fine idea! Quick! I'll go and dine, ha! ha!