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Line 742

ὁ τὴν σκάφην λαβὼν προΐτω· τὰ κηρία

The imperative προΐτω (from προίημι) is a rare future form in the third person singular, distinct from the more common present imperative προίει or aorist subjunctive. Here it functions as a command for the official to 'lead the way' or 'go forward' to the assembly, a usage specific to the procedural context of the Ecclesia and the role of the κήρυξ (herald).

The term σκάφην (skaphēn) literally means 'boat' or 'trough,' but in the context of the Athenian assembly, it refers to the specific wooden box (often described as a 'ship' due to its shape) from which the lot-drawing officials (kleroteria) would draw the names of citizens to form the prytany or select jurors. The verb λαβὼν (having taken) implies the official has just retrieved this box from the sanctuary of a god or the public archives, marking the precise moment the procedural lottery begins.

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.) — 746 focus

Ἀνὴρ Β

ἐγὼ καταθήσω τἀμά; κακοδαίμων ἄρα

ἀνὴρ ἔσομαι καὶ νοῦν ὀλίγον κεκτημένος.

μὰ τὸν Ποσειδῶ γʼ οὐδέποτʼ, ἀλλὰ βασανιῶ

πρώτιστον αὐτὰ πολλάκις καὶ σκέψομαι.

οὐ γὰρ τὸν ἐμὸν ἱδρῶτα καὶ φειδωλίαν
750

οὐδὲν πρὸς ἔπος οὕτως ἀνοήτως ἐκβαλῶ,

πρὶν ἂν ἐκπύθωμαι πᾶν τὸ πρᾶγμʼ ὅπως ἔχει.

οὗτος τί τὰ σκευάρια ταυτὶ βούλεται;

πότερον μετοικιζόμενος ἐξενήνοχας

αὔτʼ ἢ φέρεις ἐνέχυρα θήσων;
755

Ἀνὴρ Α

οὐδαμῶς.

Ἀνὴρ Β

τί δῆτʼ ἐπὶ στοίχου ʼστὶν οὕτως; οὔτι μὴ

Ἱέρωνι τῷ κήρυκι πομπὴν πέμπετε;

Ἀνὴρ Α

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ἀποφέρειν αὐτὰ μέλλω τῇ πόλει

ἐς τὴν ἀγορὰν κατὰ τοὺς δεδογμένους νόμους.

Ἀνὴρ Β

μέλλεις ἀποφέρειν;
760

Ἀνὴρ Α

πάνυ γε.

Ἀνὴρ Β

κακοδαίμων ἄρʼ εἶ

νὴ τὸν Δία τὸν σωτῆρα.

Ἀνὴρ Α

πῶς;

Ἀνὴρ Β

πῶς; ῥᾳδίως.

Ἀνὴρ Α

τί δʼ; οὐχὶ πειθαρχεῖν με τοῖς νόμοισι δεῖ;

Ἀνὴρ Β

ποίοισιν ὦ δύστηνε;

Ἀνὴρ Α

τοῖς δεδογμένοις.

Ἀνὴρ Β

δεδογμένοισιν; ὡς ἀνόητος ἦσθʼ ἄρα.

Ἀνὴρ Α

ἀνόητος;
765

Ἀνὴρ Β

οὐ γάρ; ἠλιθιώτατος μὲν οὖν

ἁπαξαπάντων.

Ἀνὴρ Α

ὅτι τὸ ταττόμενον ποιῶ;

Ἀνὴρ Β

τὸ ταττόμενον γὰρ δεῖ ποιεῖν τὸν σώφρονα;

Ἀνὴρ Α

μάλιστα πάντων.

Ἀνὴρ Β

τὸν μὲν οὖν ἀβέλτερον.

Ἀνὴρ Α

σὺ δʼ οὐ καταθεῖναι διανοεῖ;

Ἀνὴρ Β

φυλάξομαι,

πρὶν ἄν γʼ ἴδω τὸ πλῆθος ὅ τι βουλεύεται.
770

Ἀνὴρ Α

τί γὰρ ἄλλο γʼ ἢ φέρειν παρεσκευασμένοι

τὰ χρήματʼ εἰσίν;

Ἀνὴρ Β

ἀλλʼ ἰδὼν ἐπειθόμην.

Ἀνὴρ Α

λέγουσι γοῦν ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς.

Ἀνὴρ Β

λέξουσι γάρ.

Ἀνὴρ Α

καί φασιν οἴσειν ἀράμενοι.

Ἀνὴρ Β

φήσουσι γάρ.

Ἀνὴρ Α

ἀπολεῖς ἀπιστῶν πάντʼ.
775

Ἀνὴρ Β

ἀπιστήσουσι γάρ.

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.) — 746 focus

Second Man
Watching First Man from a distance.

What folly to carry one's goods to the common store; I have a little more sense than that. No, no, by Poseidon, I want first to ponder and calculate over the thing at leisure. 750 I shall not be fool enough to strip myself of the fruits of my toil and thrift, if it is not for a very good reason; let us see first which way things turn. He walks over to Chremes. Hi! friend, what means this display of goods? 755 Are you moving or are you going to pawn you stuff?

First Man

Neither.

Second Man

Why then are you setting all these things out in line? Is it a procession that you are starting off to Hiero, the public crier?

First Man

No, but in accordance with the new law that has been decreed, I am going to carry all these things to the market-place to make a gift of them to the state.

Second Man

760 Oh! bah! you don't mean that.

First Man

Certainly.

Second Man

Oh! Zeus the Deliverer! you unfortunate man!

First Man

Why?

Second Man

Why? It's as clear as noonday.

First Man

Must the laws not be obeyed then?

Second Man

What laws, your poor fellow?

First Man

Those that have been decreed.

Second Man

Decreed! Are you mad, I ask you?

First Man

765 Am I mad?

Second Man

Oh! this is the height of folly!

First Man

Because I obey the law?

Second Man

Is that the duty of a smart man?

First Man

Absolutely.

Second Man

Say rather of a ninny.

First Man

Don't you propose taking what belongs to you to the common stock?

Second Man

I'll take good care I don't 770 until I see what the majority are doing.

First Man

There's but one opinion, namely, to contribute every single thing one has.

Second Man

I am waiting to see it, before I believe that.

First Man

At least, so they say in every street.

Second Man
Sardonically.

And they will go on saying so.

First Man

Everyone talks of contributing all he has.

Second Man
In the same tone.

And will go on talking of it.

First Man

775 You weary me with your doubts and dubitations.

Second Man
In the same tone.

Everybody else will doubt it.

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.) — 746 focus

MAN B: Shall I deposit my own things? Alas, then.

MAN B: I shall be a man, and possess a little sense.

Man B: By Poseidon, never, but I will torture him.

Man B: first I will consider these things often.

Man B: for [it is] not my sweat and stinginess

750

Man B: I will not throw out anything so foolishly in response to a word,

Man B: Before I find out the whole matter, how it stands.

Man B: What does this fellow want with these pots?

Man B: Have you moved your residence, or are you living abroad?

Man B: Or are you going to bring pledges?

755

Man A: Not at all.

Man B: But why is it standing in a line like that? It won't be!

MAN B: Do you send a procession to Hieron the herald?

MAN A: By Zeus, but I am about to carry these things away for the city.

MAN A: into the agora according to the decreed laws.

Man B: Are you about to bear?

760

Man A: Very much so.

MAN B: You are wretched, are you not?

MAN B: By Zeus the Savior.

MAN A: How?

MAN B: How? Easily.

Man A: Well then? Is it not necessary for me to obey the laws?

MAN B: By what [means], wretched man?

MAN A: The decrees.

MAN B: Are they decided? So you were foolish, then.

MAN A: A fool?

765

Man B: Didn't he? Well, he is certainly the most foolish.

Man B: Once and for all.

Man A: Why do I obey orders?

MAN B: "But must the moderate man do what is being assigned?"

Man A: "Most of all."

Man B: So, the useless one.

MAN A: And do you not intend to deposit?

Man B: I shall keep watch.

Man B: before I see the crowd what it is planning.

770

Man A: For what else, then, are we prepared except to carry?

Man A: Are the funds there?

MAN B: But having seen, I was persuaded.

MAN A: At least they say so in the streets.

Man B: For they will speak.

Man A: And they say that, having lifted it, they will carry it away.

MAN B: For they will say.

MAN A: You will lose everything by being untrustworthy.

775

MAN B: for they will not trust.

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

742. mvp-tlg0019-tlg010-sanjaya-com-eng1-24

Line 742

ὁ τὴν σκάφην λαβὼν προΐτω· τὰ κηρία

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 742

Current edition Experimental

Ἀνὴρ Α οὐδαμῶς.

Ἀνὴρ Β τί δῆτʼ ἐπὶ στοίχου ʼστὶν οὕτως; οὔτι μὴ Ἱέρωνι τῷ κήρυκι πομπὴν πέμπετε;

Ἀνὴρ Α μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ἀποφέρειν αὐτὰ μέλλω τῇ πόλει ἐς τὴν ἀγορὰν κατὰ τοὺς δεδογμένους νόμους.

Ἀνὴρ Β μέλλεις ἀποφέρειν; 760

Ἀνὴρ Α πάνυ γε.

Ἀνὴρ Β κακοδαίμων ἄρʼ εἶ νὴ τὸν Δία τὸν σωτῆρα.

Ἀνὴρ Α πῶς;

Ἀνὴρ Β πῶς; ῥᾳδίως.

Ἀνὴρ Α τί δʼ; οὐχὶ πειθαρχεῖν με τοῖς νόμοισι δεῖ;

Ἀνὴρ Β ποίοισιν ὦ δύστηνε;

Ἀνὴρ Α τοῖς δεδογμένοις.

Ἀνὴρ Β δεδογμένοισιν; ὡς ἀνόητος ἦσθʼ ἄρα.

Ἀνὴρ Α ἀνόητος; 765

Ἀνὴρ Β οὐ γάρ; ἠλιθιώτατος μὲν οὖν ἁπαξαπάντων.

Ἀνὴρ Α ὅτι τὸ ταττόμενον ποιῶ;

Ἀνὴρ Β τὸ ταττόμενον γὰρ δεῖ ποιεῖν τὸν σώφρονα;

Ἀνὴρ Α μάλιστα πάντων.

Ἀνὴρ Β τὸν μὲν οὖν ἀβέλτερον.

Ἀνὴρ Α σὺ δʼ οὐ καταθεῖναι διανοεῖ;

Ἀνὴρ Β φυλάξομαι, πρὶν ἄν γʼ ἴδω τὸ πλῆθος ὅ τι βουλεύεται. 770

Ἀνὴρ Α τί γὰρ ἄλλο γʼ ἢ φέρειν παρεσκευασμένοι τὰ χρήματʼ εἰσίν;

Ἀνὴρ Β ἀλλʼ ἰδὼν ἐπειθόμην.

Ἀνὴρ Α λέγουσι γοῦν ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς.

Ἀνὴρ Β λέξουσι γάρ.

Ἀνὴρ Α καί φασιν οἴσειν ἀράμενοι.

Ἀνὴρ Β φήσουσι γάρ.

Ἀνὴρ Α ἀπολεῖς ἀπιστῶν πάντʼ. 775

Ἀνὴρ Β ἀπιστήσουσι γάρ.

First Man Neither.

Second Man Why then are you setting all these things out in line? Is it a procession that you are starting off to Hiero, the public crier?

First Man No, but in accordance with the new law that has been decreed, I am going to carry all these things to the market-place to make a gift of them to the state.

Second Man 760 Oh! bah! you don't mean that.

First Man Certainly.

Second Man Oh! Zeus the Deliverer! you unfortunate man!

First Man Why?

Second Man Why? It's as clear as noonday.

First Man Must the laws not be obeyed then?

Second Man What laws, your poor fellow?

First Man Those that have been decreed.

Second Man Decreed! Are you mad, I ask you?

First Man 765 Am I mad?

Second Man Oh! this is the height of folly!

First Man Because I obey the law?

Second Man Is that the duty of a smart man?

First Man Absolutely.

Second Man Say rather of a ninny.

First Man Don't you propose taking what belongs to you to the common stock?

Second Man I'll take good care I don't 770 until I see what the majority are doing.

First Man There's but one opinion, namely, to contribute every single thing one has.

Second Man I am waiting to see it, before I believe that.

First Man At least, so they say in every street.

Second Man Sardonically. And they will go on saying so.

First Man Everyone talks of contributing all he has.

Second Man In the same tone. And will go on talking of it.

First Man 775 You weary me with your doubts and dubitations.

Second Man In the same tone. Everybody else will doubt it.

Commentary

Line 742

Stable identifiers

Ἀνὴρ Α

οὐδαμῶς.

Ἀνὴρ Β

τί δῆτʼ ἐπὶ στοίχου ʼστὶν οὕτως; οὔτι μὴ

Ἱέρωνι τῷ κήρυκι πομπὴν πέμπετε;

Ἀνὴρ Α

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ἀποφέρειν αὐτὰ μέλλω τῇ πόλει

ἐς τὴν ἀγορὰν κατὰ τοὺς δεδογμένους νόμους.

Ἀνὴρ Β

μέλλεις ἀποφέρειν;
760

Ἀνὴρ Α

πάνυ γε.

Ἀνὴρ Β

κακοδαίμων ἄρʼ εἶ

νὴ τὸν Δία τὸν σωτῆρα.

Ἀνὴρ Α

πῶς;

Ἀνὴρ Β

πῶς; ῥᾳδίως.

Ἀνὴρ Α

τί δʼ; οὐχὶ πειθαρχεῖν με τοῖς νόμοισι δεῖ;

Ἀνὴρ Β

ποίοισιν ὦ δύστηνε;

Ἀνὴρ Α

τοῖς δεδογμένοις.

Ἀνὴρ Β

δεδογμένοισιν; ὡς ἀνόητος ἦσθʼ ἄρα.

Ἀνὴρ Α

ἀνόητος;
765

Ἀνὴρ Β

οὐ γάρ; ἠλιθιώτατος μὲν οὖν

ἁπαξαπάντων.

Ἀνὴρ Α

ὅτι τὸ ταττόμενον ποιῶ;

Ἀνὴρ Β

τὸ ταττόμενον γὰρ δεῖ ποιεῖν τὸν σώφρονα;

Ἀνὴρ Α

μάλιστα πάντων.

Ἀνὴρ Β

τὸν μὲν οὖν ἀβέλτερον.

Ἀνὴρ Α

σὺ δʼ οὐ καταθεῖναι διανοεῖ;

Ἀνὴρ Β

φυλάξομαι,

πρὶν ἄν γʼ ἴδω τὸ πλῆθος ὅ τι βουλεύεται.
770

Ἀνὴρ Α

τί γὰρ ἄλλο γʼ ἢ φέρειν παρεσκευασμένοι

τὰ χρήματʼ εἰσίν;

Ἀνὴρ Β

ἀλλʼ ἰδὼν ἐπειθόμην.

Ἀνὴρ Α

λέγουσι γοῦν ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς.

Ἀνὴρ Β

λέξουσι γάρ.

Ἀνὴρ Α

καί φασιν οἴσειν ἀράμενοι.

Ἀνὴρ Β

φήσουσι γάρ.

Ἀνὴρ Α

ἀπολεῖς ἀπιστῶν πάντʼ.
775

Ἀνὴρ Β

ἀπιστήσουσι γάρ.

First Man

Neither.

Second Man

Why then are you setting all these things out in line? Is it a procession that you are starting off to Hiero, the public crier?

First Man

No, but in accordance with the new law that has been decreed, I am going to carry all these things to the market-place to make a gift of them to the state.

Second Man

760 Oh! bah! you don't mean that.

First Man

Certainly.

Second Man

Oh! Zeus the Deliverer! you unfortunate man!

First Man

Why?

Second Man

Why? It's as clear as noonday.

First Man

Must the laws not be obeyed then?

Second Man

What laws, your poor fellow?

First Man

Those that have been decreed.

Second Man

Decreed! Are you mad, I ask you?

First Man

765 Am I mad?

Second Man

Oh! this is the height of folly!

First Man

Because I obey the law?

Second Man

Is that the duty of a smart man?

First Man

Absolutely.

Second Man

Say rather of a ninny.

First Man

Don't you propose taking what belongs to you to the common stock?

Second Man

I'll take good care I don't 770 until I see what the majority are doing.

First Man

There's but one opinion, namely, to contribute every single thing one has.

Second Man

I am waiting to see it, before I believe that.

First Man

At least, so they say in every street.

Second Man
Sardonically.

And they will go on saying so.

First Man

Everyone talks of contributing all he has.

Second Man
In the same tone.

And will go on talking of it.

First Man

775 You weary me with your doubts and dubitations.

Second Man
In the same tone.

Everybody else will doubt it.