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χάλα συναπτοὺς ἡνίας Λακωνικάς,

The phrase 'χάλα συναπτοὺς ἡνίας' presents a syntactic crux: the verb χάλα (imperative of χαλάω, 'loosen') typically governs the accusative of the object being loosened, yet the adjective συναπτοὺς ('bound together') modifies ἡνίας in a way that creates a semantic tension. Aristophanes exploits this tension for comic effect, instructing the character to 'loosen the bound reins,' an impossible or paradoxical action that highlights the absurdity of the situation (likely the chaotic attempt to control a chariot or political body). The adverb Λακωνικάς ('in the Spartan manner') further complicates the image, alluding to a specific, perhaps rigid or unconventional, Spartan driving technique that contrasts with the paradoxical command. This construction is not a standard grammatical anomaly but a deliberate rhetorical device where syntax and semantics collide to produce humor.

Ecclesiazusae. 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)

Ἐκκλησιάζουσαι Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 2. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1907.) — 504 focus

Πραξάγορα

ταυτὶ μὲν ἡμῖν ὦ γυναῖκες εὐτυχῶς

τὰ πράγματʼ ἐκβέβηκεν ἁβουλεύσαμεν.
505

ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστα πρίν τινʼ ἀνθρώπων ἰδεῖν,

ῥιπτεῖτε χλαίνας, ἐμβὰς ἐκποδὼν ἴτω,

χάλα συναπτοὺς ἡνίας Λακωνικάς,

βακτηρίας ἄφεσθε. καὶ μέντοι σὺ μὲν

ταύτας κατευτρέπιζʼ, ἐγὼ δὲ βούλομαι
510

εἴσω παρερπύσασα πρὶν τὸν ἄνδρα με

ἰδεῖν, καταθέσθαι θοἰμάτιον αὐτοῦ πάλιν

ὅθενπερ ἔλαβον τἄλλα θʼ ἁξηνεγκάμην.

Χορός

κεῖται καὶ δὴ πάνθʼ ἅπερ εἶπας, σὸν δʼ ἔργον τἄλλα διδάσκειν,

ὅ τί σοι δρῶσαι ξύμφορον ἡμεῖς δόξομεν ὀρθῶς ὑπακούειν.
515

οὐδεμιᾷ γὰρ δεινοτέρᾳ σου ξυμμείξασʼ οἶδα γυναικί.

Πραξάγορα

περιμείνατέ νυν, ἵνα τῆς ἀρχῆς ἣν ἄρτι κεχιεροτόνημαι,

ξυμβούλοισιν πάσαις ὑμῖν χρήσωμαι. καὶ γὰρ ἐκεῖ μοι

ἐν τῷ θορύβῳ καὶ τοῖς δεινοῖς ἀνδρειόταται γεγένησθε.

Βλέπυρος

αὕτη πόθεν ἥκεις Πραξαγόρα;
520

Πραξάγορα

τί δʼ ὦ μέλε

σοὶ τοῦθʼ;

Βλέπυρος

ὅ τί μοι τοῦτʼ ἔστιν; ὡς εὐηθικῶς.

Πραξάγορα

οὔτοι παρὰ τοῦ μοιχοῦ γε φήσεις.

Βλέπυρος

οὐκ ἴσως

ἑνός γε.

Πραξάγορα

καὶ μὴν βασανίσαι τουτί γέ σοι

ἔξεστι.

Βλέπυρος

πῶς;

Πραξάγορα

εἰ τῆς κεφαλῆς ὄζω μύρου.

Βλέπυρος

τί δʼ; οὐχὶ βινεῖται γυνὴ κἄνευ μύρου;
525

Πραξάγορα

οὐ δῆτα τάλαν ἔγωγε.

Βλέπυρος

πῶς οὖν ὄρθριον

ᾤχου σιωπῇ θοἰμάτιον λαβοῦσά μου;

Πραξάγορα

γυνή μέ τις νύκτωρ ἑταίρα καὶ φίλη

μετεπέμψατʼ ὠδίνουσα.

Βλέπυρος

κᾆτʼ οὐκ ἦν ἐμοὶ

φράσασαν ἰέναι;
530

Πραξάγορα

τῆς λεχοῦς δʼ οὐ φροντίσαι

οὕτως ἐχούσης ὦνερ;

Βλέπυρος

εἰποῦσάν γέ μοι.

ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ἐνταῦθά τι κακόν.

Πραξάγορα

μὰ τὼ θεὼ

ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ εἶχον ᾠχόμην· ἐδεῖτο δὲ

ἥπερ μεθῆκέ μʼ ἐξιέναι πάσῃ τέχνῃ.

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.) — 504 focus

They remove the beards as Praxagora and the other women enter from the right through the Orchestra.

Praxagora

Friends, success 505 has crowned our plans. But off with these cloaks and these boots quick, before any man sees you; unbuckle the Laconian straps and get rid of your staffs; To the Leader. 510 and you help them with their toilet. As for myself, I am going to slip quietly into the house and replace my husband's cloak and other gear where I took them from, before he can suspect anything.

Leader of the Chorus

There! it's done according to your bidding. 515 Now tell us how we can be of service to you, so that we may show you our obedience, for we have never seen a cleverer woman than you.

Praxagora

Wait! I only wish to use the power given me in accordance with your wishes; for, in the market-place, in the midst of the shouts and danger, I appreciated your indomitable courage. Just as she is about to enter the house Blepyrus appears in the doorway.

Blepyrus

520 Eh, Praxagora! where are you coming from?

Praxagora

How does that concern you, dear?

Blepyrus

Why, greatly! what a silly question!

Praxagora

You don't think I have come from a lover's?

Blepyrus

No, perhaps not from only one.

Praxagora

You can make yourself sure of that.

Blepyrus

And how?

Praxagora

You can see whether my hair smells of perfume.

Blepyrus

525 What? cannot a woman possibly be laid without perfume, eh!

Praxagora

The gods forfend, as far as I am concerned.

Blepyrus

Why did you go off at early dawn with my cloak?

Praxagora

A companion, a friend who was in labour, had sent to fetch me.

Blepyrus

530 Could you not have told me?

Praxagora

Oh, my dear, would you have me caring nothing for a poor woman in that plight?

Blepyrus

A word would have been enough. There's something behind all this.

Praxagora

No, I call the goddesses to witness! I went running off; the poor woman who summoned me begged me to come, whatever might betide.

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.) — 504 focus

Praxagora: These things have gone well for us, women.

Praxagora: The matter has gone beyond what we deliberated.

505

Praxagora: But as quickly as possible before anyone of men is seen,

Praxagora: Throw off your cloaks, and let him step out of the way.

Praxagora: Loosen the reins, woven together in the Spartan manner,

Praxagora: Put down your canes. And indeed, you, for your part

Praxagora: Arrange these, but I want to.

510

Praxagora: creeping inside before the man [sees] me.

Praxagora: To see, to take off his cloak again.

Praxagora: Just as I got the rest, I carried them for nine drachmas.

Chorus: That is so, and indeed all that you said; but it is your job to teach the rest.

Chorus: Whatever it is that we seem to be doing that is beneficial for you, we shall seem to obey it correctly.

515

Chorus: for I know of no woman more cunning with whom you have mingled.

Praxagora: Wait for a moment, so that I may finish the office which I have just been elected to,

Praxagora: I will use all of you as counselors. For that very reason, it is for me

Praxagora: In the tumult and the dangers you have become most courageous.

Blepyrus: Where have you come from, Praxagora?

520

Praxagora: But what, dear friends?

Praxagora: This to you?

Blepyrus: What is this to me? So foolishly.

Praxagora: You will not say it from the adulterer, then.

Blepyrus: Not perhaps

Blepyrus: At least one.

Praxagora: And I will indeed torture this for you.

Praxagora: It is permitted.

Blepyrus: How?

Praxagora: If I smell of perfume from my head.

Blepyrus: So what? Isn't a woman anointing herself even without perfume?

525

Praxagora: By no means, I certainly do not.

Blepyrus: so how [can it be] early?

Blepyrus: Go away quietly, having taken your cloak from me?

Praxagora: a woman, a certain courtesan and friend, at night

Praxagora: Send for me, as I am in labor.

Blepyrus: And then I wasn't there.

Blepyrus: 'To have her go, having given orders?'

530

Praxagora: nor should she worry about the bed.

Praxagora: So things are, then, O man?

Blepyrus: Tell me, having spoken.

Blepyrus: But there is something bad here.

Praxagora: by the two goddesses!

Praxagora: But just as I had it, I went; and she asked me

Praxagora: she who persuaded me to go out by every means.

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

508. mvp-tlg0019-tlg010-sanjaya-com-eng1-14

Line 508

χάλα συναπτοὺς ἡνίας Λακωνικάς,

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Line 508

Current edition Experimental

Βλέπυρος αὕτη πόθεν ἥκεις Πραξαγόρα; 520

Πραξάγορα τί δʼ ὦ μέλε σοὶ τοῦθʼ;

Βλέπυρος ὅ τί μοι τοῦτʼ ἔστιν; ὡς εὐηθικῶς.

Πραξάγορα οὔτοι παρὰ τοῦ μοιχοῦ γε φήσεις.

Βλέπυρος οὐκ ἴσως ἑνός γε.

Πραξάγορα καὶ μὴν βασανίσαι τουτί γέ σοι ἔξεστι.

Βλέπυρος πῶς;

Πραξάγορα εἰ τῆς κεφαλῆς ὄζω μύρου.

Βλέπυρος τί δʼ; οὐχὶ βινεῖται γυνὴ κἄνευ μύρου; 525

Πραξάγορα οὐ δῆτα τάλαν ἔγωγε.

Βλέπυρος πῶς οὖν ὄρθριον ᾤχου σιωπῇ θοἰμάτιον λαβοῦσά μου;

Πραξάγορα γυνή μέ τις νύκτωρ ἑταίρα καὶ φίλη μετεπέμψατʼ ὠδίνουσα.

Βλέπυρος κᾆτʼ οὐκ ἦν ἐμοὶ φράσασαν ἰέναι; 530

Πραξάγορα τῆς λεχοῦς δʼ οὐ φροντίσαι οὕτως ἐχούσης ὦνερ;

Βλέπυρος εἰποῦσάν γέ μοι. ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ἐνταῦθά τι κακόν.

Πραξάγορα μὰ τὼ θεὼ ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ εἶχον ᾠχόμην· ἐδεῖτο δὲ ἥπερ μεθῆκέ μʼ ἐξιέναι πάσῃ τέχνῃ.

Leader of the Chorus There! it's done according to your bidding. 515 Now tell us how we can be of service to you, so that we may show you our obedience, for we have never seen a cleverer woman than you.

Praxagora Wait! I only wish to use the power given me in accordance with your wishes; for, in the market-place, in the midst of the shouts and danger, I appreciated your indomitable courage. Just as she is about to enter the house Blepyrus appears in the doorway.

Blepyrus 520 Eh, Praxagora! where are you coming from?

Praxagora How does that concern you, dear?

Blepyrus Why, greatly! what a silly question!

Praxagora You don't think I have come from a lover's?

Blepyrus No, perhaps not from only one.

Praxagora You can make yourself sure of that.

Blepyrus And how?

Praxagora You can see whether my hair smells of perfume.

Blepyrus 525 What? cannot a woman possibly be laid without perfume, eh!

Praxagora The gods forfend, as far as I am concerned.

Blepyrus Why did you go off at early dawn with my cloak?

Praxagora A companion, a friend who was in labour, had sent to fetch me.

Blepyrus 530 Could you not have told me?

Praxagora Oh, my dear, would you have me caring nothing for a poor woman in that plight?

Blepyrus A word would have been enough. There's something behind all this.

Praxagora No, I call the goddesses to witness! I went running off; the poor woman who summoned me begged me to come, whatever might betide.

Commentary

Line 508

Stable identifiers

Βλέπυρος

αὕτη πόθεν ἥκεις Πραξαγόρα;
520

Πραξάγορα

τί δʼ ὦ μέλε

σοὶ τοῦθʼ;

Βλέπυρος

ὅ τί μοι τοῦτʼ ἔστιν; ὡς εὐηθικῶς.

Πραξάγορα

οὔτοι παρὰ τοῦ μοιχοῦ γε φήσεις.

Βλέπυρος

οὐκ ἴσως

ἑνός γε.

Πραξάγορα

καὶ μὴν βασανίσαι τουτί γέ σοι

ἔξεστι.

Βλέπυρος

πῶς;

Πραξάγορα

εἰ τῆς κεφαλῆς ὄζω μύρου.

Βλέπυρος

τί δʼ; οὐχὶ βινεῖται γυνὴ κἄνευ μύρου;
525

Πραξάγορα

οὐ δῆτα τάλαν ἔγωγε.

Βλέπυρος

πῶς οὖν ὄρθριον

ᾤχου σιωπῇ θοἰμάτιον λαβοῦσά μου;

Πραξάγορα

γυνή μέ τις νύκτωρ ἑταίρα καὶ φίλη

μετεπέμψατʼ ὠδίνουσα.

Βλέπυρος

κᾆτʼ οὐκ ἦν ἐμοὶ

φράσασαν ἰέναι;
530

Πραξάγορα

τῆς λεχοῦς δʼ οὐ φροντίσαι

οὕτως ἐχούσης ὦνερ;

Βλέπυρος

εἰποῦσάν γέ μοι.

ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ἐνταῦθά τι κακόν.

Πραξάγορα

μὰ τὼ θεὼ

ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ εἶχον ᾠχόμην· ἐδεῖτο δὲ

ἥπερ μεθῆκέ μʼ ἐξιέναι πάσῃ τέχνῃ.

Leader of the Chorus

There! it's done according to your bidding. 515 Now tell us how we can be of service to you, so that we may show you our obedience, for we have never seen a cleverer woman than you.

Praxagora

Wait! I only wish to use the power given me in accordance with your wishes; for, in the market-place, in the midst of the shouts and danger, I appreciated your indomitable courage. Just as she is about to enter the house Blepyrus appears in the doorway.

Blepyrus

520 Eh, Praxagora! where are you coming from?

Praxagora

How does that concern you, dear?

Blepyrus

Why, greatly! what a silly question!

Praxagora

You don't think I have come from a lover's?

Blepyrus

No, perhaps not from only one.

Praxagora

You can make yourself sure of that.

Blepyrus

And how?

Praxagora

You can see whether my hair smells of perfume.

Blepyrus

525 What? cannot a woman possibly be laid without perfume, eh!

Praxagora

The gods forfend, as far as I am concerned.

Blepyrus

Why did you go off at early dawn with my cloak?

Praxagora

A companion, a friend who was in labour, had sent to fetch me.

Blepyrus

530 Could you not have told me?

Praxagora

Oh, my dear, would you have me caring nothing for a poor woman in that plight?

Blepyrus

A word would have been enough. There's something behind all this.

Praxagora

No, I call the goddesses to witness! I went running off; the poor woman who summoned me begged me to come, whatever might betide.