Aristophanes, Ecclesiazusae, 604

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Praxagora: But nothing will ever be useful to him at all.

Blepyrus: And so, for what reason?

Praxagora: No one will do anything out of poverty; for all will have everything,

605

Praxagora: loaves, slices of bread, cloaks, wine, garlands, chickpeas.

Praxagora: So what gain is there in not putting it down? For you, having discovered [it], demonstrate it.

Blepyrus: Then surely these men are stealing even more now than before, aren't they, to whom these things are present?

Praxagora: For, friend, when we used the previous laws:

Praxagora: Now, then, life will be in common, so what is the profit not to contribute?

610

Blepyrus: If he sees a girl and desires her and wants to have sex with her,

Blepyrus: He will have taken some of these to give, but he will share in those that are common.

Blepyrus: 'Sleeping together with him.'

Praxagora: But she will be allowed to lie down with him as a dowry.

Praxagora: For I make these too share in sleeping with the men.

Praxagora: and to beget children for whoever wants to.

615

Blepyrus: How then is it that not all go?

Blepyrus: 'Will they come to the most beautiful of them and then try to prop them up?'

Praxagora: The lowest and flattest women sit beside the dignified ones;

Praxagora: And if he desires this, first he should knock down the ugly one.

Blepyrus: And how could we, the old men, if we lived with the ugly ones,

Blepyrus: Will the penis not cease before you arrive there, as you say?

620

Praxagora: They are not fighting; be assured about you; do not fear; they are not fighting.

Blepyrus: About what?

Praxagora: to not be trampled underfoot. And such a thing exists for you as well.

Blepyrus: Your opinion is that something has been decided, for it has been deliberated, in order that...

Blepyrus: let there be no empty hole in any woman; but what will the men do?

Blepyrus: For they will flee from the most ugly and will walk toward the beautiful.

625

Praxagora: But the worse ones will watch over the better ones as they depart.

Praxagora: from dinner and they will keep watch on the public buildings;

Praxagora: And it will not be permitted to beat down the beautiful and the great.

Praxagora: to the women, before they grant [favors] to the ugly and the small.

Blepyrus: Then Lyasicrates' nose will now be wise like the beautiful ones.

630

Praxagora: By Apollo, your opinion is not only democratic but also thoroughly democratic!

Praxagora: there will be many of the most serious and of those who have seals,

Praxagora: When he holds a tablet and speaks first, give way and then watch.

Praxagora: when I, having already arranged it, will hand over to you the right to speak second.

Ecclesiazusae. Aristophanes. . 2026-09-08.

Current edition Experimental

English (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.) — 604 focus

Πραξάγορα

ἀλλʼ οὐδέν τοι χρήσιμον ἔσται πάντως αὐτῷ.

Βλέπυρος

κατὰ δὴ τί;

Πραξάγορα

οὐδεὶς οὐδὲν πενίᾳ δράσει· πάντα γὰρ ἕξουσιν ἅπαντες,
605

ἄρτους τεμάχη μάζας χλαίνας οἶνον στεφάνους ἐρεβίνθους.

ὥστε τί κέρδος μὴ καταθεῖναι; σὺ γὰρ ἐξευρὼν ἀπόδειξον.

Βλέπυρος

οὔκουν καὶ νῦν οὗτοι μᾶλλον κλέπτουσʼ οἷς ταῦτα πάρεστιν;

Πραξάγορα

πρότερόν γʼ ὦταῖρʼ ὅτε τοῖσι νόμοις διεχρώμεθα τοῖς προτέροισιν·

νῦν δʼ ἔσται γὰρ βίος ἐκ κοινοῦ, τί τὸ κέρδος μὴ καταθεῖναι;
610

Βλέπυρος

ἢν μείρακʼ ἰδὼν ἐπιθυμήσῃ καὶ βούληται σκαλαθῦραι,

ἕξει τούτων ἀφελὼν δοῦναι, τῶν ἐκ κοινοῦ δὲ μεθέξει

ξυγκαταδαρθών.

Πραξάγορα

ἀλλʼ ἐξέσται προῖκʼ αὐτῷ ξυγκαταδαρθεῖν.

καὶ ταύτας γὰρ κοινὰς ποιῶ τοῖς ἀνδράσι συγκατακεῖσθαι

καὶ παιδοποιεῖν τῷ βουλομένῳ.
615

Βλέπυρος

πῶς οὖν οὐ πάντες ἴασιν

ἐπὶ τὴν ὡραιοτάτην αὐτῶν καὶ ζητήσουσιν ἐρείδειν;

Πραξάγορα

αἱ φαυλότεραι καὶ σιμότεραι παρὰ τὰς σεμνὰς καθεδοῦνται·

κᾆτʼ ἢν ταύτης ἐπιθυμήσῃ, τὴν αἰσχρὰν πρῶθʼ ὑποκρούσει.

Βλέπυρος

καὶ πῶς ἡμᾶς τοὺς πρεσβύτας, ἢν ταῖς αἰσχραῖσι συνῶμεν,

οὐκ ἐπιλείψει τὸ πέος πρότερον πρὶν ἐκεῖσʼ οἷ φῂς ἀφικέσθαι;
620

Πραξάγορα

οὐχὶ μαχοῦνται· περὶ σοῦ θάρρει· μὴ δείσῃς· οὐχὶ μαχοῦνται.

Βλέπυρος

περὶ τοῦ;

Πραξάγορα

τοῦ μὴ ξυγκαταδαρθεῖν. καὶ σοὶ τοιοῦτον ὑπάρχει.

Βλέπυρος

τὸ μὲν ὑμέτερον γνώμην τινʼ ἔχει· προβεβούλευται γάρ, ὅπως ἂν

μηδεμιᾶς ᾖ τρύπημα κενόν· τὸ δὲ τῶν ἀνδρῶν τί ποιήσει;

φεύξονται γὰρ τοὺς αἰσχίους, ἐπὶ τοὺς δὲ καλοὺς βαδιοῦνται.
625

Πραξάγορα

ἀλλὰ φυλάξουσʼ οἱ φαυλότεροι τοὺς καλλίους ἀπιόντας

ἀπὸ τοῦ δείπνου καὶ τηρήσουσʼ ἐπὶ τοῖσιν δημοσίοισιν·

κοὐκ ἐξέσται παρὰ τοῖσι καλοῖς καὶ τοῖς μεγάλοις καταδαρθεῖν

ταῖσι γυναιξὶ πρὶν ἂν τοῖς αἰσχροῖς καὶ τοῖς μικροῖς χαρίσωνται.

Βλέπυρος

ἡ Λυσικράτους ἄρα νυνὶ ῥὶς ἴσα τοῖσι καλοῖσι φρονήσει.
630

Πραξάγορα

νὴ τὸν Ἀπόλλω καὶ δημοτική γʼ ἡ γνώμη καὶ καταχήνη

τῶν σεμνοτέρων ἔσται πολλὴ καὶ τῶν σφραγῖδας ἐχόντων,

ὅταν ἐμβάδʼ ἔχων εἴπῃ πρότερος, παραχώρει κᾆτʼ ἐπιτήρει,

ὅταν ἤδη ʼγὼ διαπραξάμενος παραδῶ σοι δευτεριάζειν.

Translations (1)

Ecclesiazusae (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Anonymous; 1938 compilation). Migrated from Perseus legacy XML; source wording and notes retained. See TEI header and migration inventory.) — 604 focus

Praxagora

But his riches will no longer be of any use to him.

Blepyrus

Why?

Praxagora

605 The poor will no longer be obliged to work; each will have all that he needs, bread, salt fish, cakes, tunics, wine, chaplets and chick-pease; of what advantage will it be to him not to contribute his share to the common wealth? What do you think of it?

Blepyrus

But is it not the biggest robbers that have all these things?

Praxagora

Yes, formerly, under the old order of things; 610 but now that all goods are in common, what will he gain by not bringing his wealth into the general stock?

Blepyrus

If someone saw a pretty wench and wished to lay her, he would take some of his reserve store to make her a present and stay the night with her; this would not prevent him claiming his share of the common property.

Praxagora

But he can sleep with her for nothing; I intend that women shall belong to all men in common, and each 615 shall beget children by any man that wishes to have her.

Blepyrus

But all will go to the prettiest woman and try to lay her.

Praxagora

The ugliest and the most flat-nosed will be side by side with the most charming, and to win the latter's favours, a man will first have to get into the former.

Blepyrus

But what about us oldsters? If we have to lay the old women first, how can we keep 620 our tools from failing before we get into the Promised Land?

Praxagora

They will make no resistance. Never fear; they will make no resistance.

Blepyrus

Resistance to what?

Praxagora

To the pleasure of the thing. This is the way that matters will be ordered for you.

Blepyrus

It's very well conceived for you women, for every wench's hole will be filled; but what about the men? 625 The women will run away from the ugly ones and chase the good-looking.

Praxagora

The ugly will follow the handsomest into the public places after supper and see to it that the law, which forbids the women to sleep with the big, handsome men before having satisfied the ugly shrimps, is complied with.

Blepyrus

630 Thus ugly Lysicrates' nose will be as proud as the handsomest face?

Praxagora

Yes, by Apollo! this is a truly popular decree, and what a set-back it will be for one of those elegants with their fingers loaded with rings, when a man with heavy shoes says to him, “Give way to me and wait till I have done; you will pass in after me.”

Aristophanes Ecclesiazusae 604

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Current edition Experimental

Πραξάγορα

ἀλλʼ οὐδέν τοι χρήσιμον ἔσται πάντως αὐτῷ.

Βλέπυρος

κατὰ δὴ τί;

Βλέπυρος

οὔκουν καὶ νῦν οὗτοι μᾶλλον κλέπτουσʼ οἷς ταῦτα πάρεστιν;

Πραξάγορα

πρότερόν γʼ ὦταῖρʼ ὅτε τοῖσι νόμοις διεχρώμεθα τοῖς προτέροισιν·

νῦν δʼ ἔσται γὰρ βίος ἐκ κοινοῦ, τί τὸ κέρδος μὴ καταθεῖναι;
610

Βλέπυρος

ἢν μείρακʼ ἰδὼν ἐπιθυμήσῃ καὶ βούληται σκαλαθῦραι,

ἕξει τούτων ἀφελὼν δοῦναι, τῶν ἐκ κοινοῦ δὲ μεθέξει

ξυγκαταδαρθών.

Πραξάγορα

ἀλλʼ ἐξέσται προῖκʼ αὐτῷ ξυγκαταδαρθεῖν.

καὶ ταύτας γὰρ κοινὰς ποιῶ τοῖς ἀνδράσι συγκατακεῖσθαι

καὶ παιδοποιεῖν τῷ βουλομένῳ.
615

Βλέπυρος

πῶς οὖν οὐ πάντες ἴασιν

ἐπὶ τὴν ὡραιοτάτην αὐτῶν καὶ ζητήσουσιν ἐρείδειν;

Πραξάγορα

αἱ φαυλότεραι καὶ σιμότεραι παρὰ τὰς σεμνὰς καθεδοῦνται·

κᾆτʼ ἢν ταύτης ἐπιθυμήσῃ, τὴν αἰσχρὰν πρῶθʼ ὑποκρούσει.

Βλέπυρος

καὶ πῶς ἡμᾶς τοὺς πρεσβύτας, ἢν ταῖς αἰσχραῖσι συνῶμεν,

οὐκ ἐπιλείψει τὸ πέος πρότερον πρὶν ἐκεῖσʼ οἷ φῂς ἀφικέσθαι;
620

Πραξάγορα

οὐχὶ μαχοῦνται· περὶ σοῦ θάρρει· μὴ δείσῃς· οὐχὶ μαχοῦνται.

Βλέπυρος

περὶ τοῦ;

Πραξάγορα

τοῦ μὴ ξυγκαταδαρθεῖν. καὶ σοὶ τοιοῦτον ὑπάρχει.

Βλέπυρος

ἡ Λυσικράτους ἄρα νυνὶ ῥὶς ἴσα τοῖσι καλοῖσι φρονήσει.
630

Praxagora

But his riches will no longer be of any use to him.

Blepyrus

Why?

Praxagora

605 The poor will no longer be obliged to work; each will have all that he needs, bread, salt fish, cakes, tunics, wine, chaplets and chick-pease; of what advantage will it be to him not to contribute his share to the common wealth? What do you think of it?

Blepyrus

But is it not the biggest robbers that have all these things?

Praxagora

Yes, formerly, under the old order of things; 610 but now that all goods are in common, what will he gain by not bringing his wealth into the general stock?

Blepyrus

If someone saw a pretty wench and wished to lay her, he would take some of his reserve store to make her a present and stay the night with her; this would not prevent him claiming his share of the common property.

Praxagora

But he can sleep with her for nothing; I intend that women shall belong to all men in common, and each 615 shall beget children by any man that wishes to have her.

Blepyrus

But all will go to the prettiest woman and try to lay her.

Praxagora

The ugliest and the most flat-nosed will be side by side with the most charming, and to win the latter's favours, a man will first have to get into the former.

Blepyrus

But what about us oldsters? If we have to lay the old women first, how can we keep 620 our tools from failing before we get into the Promised Land?

Praxagora

They will make no resistance. Never fear; they will make no resistance.

Blepyrus

Resistance to what?

Praxagora

To the pleasure of the thing. This is the way that matters will be ordered for you.

Blepyrus

It's very well conceived for you women, for every wench's hole will be filled; but what about the men? 625 The women will run away from the ugly ones and chase the good-looking.

Praxagora

The ugly will follow the handsomest into the public places after supper and see to it that the law, which forbids the women to sleep with the big, handsome men before having satisfied the ugly shrimps, is complied with.

Blepyrus

630 Thus ugly Lysicrates' nose will be as proud as the handsomest face?

Praxagora

Yes, by Apollo! this is a truly popular decree, and what a set-back it will be for one of those elegants with their fingers loaded with rings, when a man with heavy shoes says to him, “Give way to me and wait till I have done; you will pass in after me.”

Stable identifiers

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Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

Πραξάγορα ἀλλʼ οὐδέν τοι χρήσιμον ἔσται πάντως αὐτῷ.

Βλέπυρος κατὰ δὴ τί;

Βλέπυρος οὔκουν καὶ νῦν οὗτοι μᾶλλον κλέπτουσʼ οἷς ταῦτα πάρεστιν;

Πραξάγορα πρότερόν γʼ ὦταῖρʼ ὅτε τοῖσι νόμοις διεχρώμεθα τοῖς προτέροισιν· νῦν δʼ ἔσται γὰρ βίος ἐκ κοινοῦ, τί τὸ κέρδος μὴ καταθεῖναι; 610

Βλέπυρος ἢν μείρακʼ ἰδὼν ἐπιθυμήσῃ καὶ βούληται σκαλαθῦραι, ἕξει τούτων ἀφελὼν δοῦναι, τῶν ἐκ κοινοῦ δὲ μεθέξει ξυγκαταδαρθών.

Πραξάγορα ἀλλʼ ἐξέσται προῖκʼ αὐτῷ ξυγκαταδαρθεῖν. καὶ ταύτας γὰρ κοινὰς ποιῶ τοῖς ἀνδράσι συγκατακεῖσθαι καὶ παιδοποιεῖν τῷ βουλομένῳ. 615

Βλέπυρος πῶς οὖν οὐ πάντες ἴασιν ἐπὶ τὴν ὡραιοτάτην αὐτῶν καὶ ζητήσουσιν ἐρείδειν;

Πραξάγορα αἱ φαυλότεραι καὶ σιμότεραι παρὰ τὰς σεμνὰς καθεδοῦνται· κᾆτʼ ἢν ταύτης ἐπιθυμήσῃ, τὴν αἰσχρὰν πρῶθʼ ὑποκρούσει.

Βλέπυρος καὶ πῶς ἡμᾶς τοὺς πρεσβύτας, ἢν ταῖς αἰσχραῖσι συνῶμεν, οὐκ ἐπιλείψει τὸ πέος πρότερον πρὶν ἐκεῖσʼ οἷ φῂς ἀφικέσθαι; 620

Πραξάγορα οὐχὶ μαχοῦνται· περὶ σοῦ θάρρει· μὴ δείσῃς· οὐχὶ μαχοῦνται.

Βλέπυρος περὶ τοῦ;

Πραξάγορα τοῦ μὴ ξυγκαταδαρθεῖν. καὶ σοὶ τοιοῦτον ὑπάρχει.

Βλέπυρος ἡ Λυσικράτους ἄρα νυνὶ ῥὶς ἴσα τοῖσι καλοῖσι φρονήσει. 630

Praxagora But his riches will no longer be of any use to him.

Blepyrus Why?

Praxagora 605 The poor will no longer be obliged to work; each will have all that he needs, bread, salt fish, cakes, tunics, wine, chaplets and chick-pease; of what advantage will it be to him not to contribute his share to the common wealth? What do you think of it?

Blepyrus But is it not the biggest robbers that have all these things?

Praxagora Yes, formerly, under the old order of things; 610 but now that all goods are in common, what will he gain by not bringing his wealth into the general stock?

Blepyrus If someone saw a pretty wench and wished to lay her, he would take some of his reserve store to make her a present and stay the night with her; this would not prevent him claiming his share of the common property.

Praxagora But he can sleep with her for nothing; I intend that women shall belong to all men in common, and each 615 shall beget children by any man that wishes to have her.

Blepyrus But all will go to the prettiest woman and try to lay her.

Praxagora The ugliest and the most flat-nosed will be side by side with the most charming, and to win the latter's favours, a man will first have to get into the former.

Blepyrus But what about us oldsters? If we have to lay the old women first, how can we keep 620 our tools from failing before we get into the Promised Land?

Praxagora They will make no resistance. Never fear; they will make no resistance.

Blepyrus Resistance to what?

Praxagora To the pleasure of the thing. This is the way that matters will be ordered for you.

Blepyrus It's very well conceived for you women, for every wench's hole will be filled; but what about the men? 625 The women will run away from the ugly ones and chase the good-looking.

Praxagora The ugly will follow the handsomest into the public places after supper and see to it that the law, which forbids the women to sleep with the big, handsome men before having satisfied the ugly shrimps, is complied with.

Blepyrus 630 Thus ugly Lysicrates' nose will be as proud as the handsomest face?

Praxagora Yes, by Apollo! this is a truly popular decree, and what a set-back it will be for one of those elegants with their fingers loaded with rings, when a man with heavy shoes says to him, “Give way to me and wait till I have done; you will pass in after me.”

Stable identifiers

Πραξάγορα

ἀλλʼ οὐδέν τοι χρήσιμον ἔσται πάντως αὐτῷ.

Βλέπυρος

κατὰ δὴ τί;

Βλέπυρος

οὔκουν καὶ νῦν οὗτοι μᾶλλον κλέπτουσʼ οἷς ταῦτα πάρεστιν;

Πραξάγορα

πρότερόν γʼ ὦταῖρʼ ὅτε τοῖσι νόμοις διεχρώμεθα τοῖς προτέροισιν·

νῦν δʼ ἔσται γὰρ βίος ἐκ κοινοῦ, τί τὸ κέρδος μὴ καταθεῖναι;
610

Βλέπυρος

ἢν μείρακʼ ἰδὼν ἐπιθυμήσῃ καὶ βούληται σκαλαθῦραι,

ἕξει τούτων ἀφελὼν δοῦναι, τῶν ἐκ κοινοῦ δὲ μεθέξει

ξυγκαταδαρθών.

Πραξάγορα

ἀλλʼ ἐξέσται προῖκʼ αὐτῷ ξυγκαταδαρθεῖν.

καὶ ταύτας γὰρ κοινὰς ποιῶ τοῖς ἀνδράσι συγκατακεῖσθαι

καὶ παιδοποιεῖν τῷ βουλομένῳ.
615

Βλέπυρος

πῶς οὖν οὐ πάντες ἴασιν

ἐπὶ τὴν ὡραιοτάτην αὐτῶν καὶ ζητήσουσιν ἐρείδειν;

Πραξάγορα

αἱ φαυλότεραι καὶ σιμότεραι παρὰ τὰς σεμνὰς καθεδοῦνται·

κᾆτʼ ἢν ταύτης ἐπιθυμήσῃ, τὴν αἰσχρὰν πρῶθʼ ὑποκρούσει.

Βλέπυρος

καὶ πῶς ἡμᾶς τοὺς πρεσβύτας, ἢν ταῖς αἰσχραῖσι συνῶμεν,

οὐκ ἐπιλείψει τὸ πέος πρότερον πρὶν ἐκεῖσʼ οἷ φῂς ἀφικέσθαι;
620

Πραξάγορα

οὐχὶ μαχοῦνται· περὶ σοῦ θάρρει· μὴ δείσῃς· οὐχὶ μαχοῦνται.

Βλέπυρος

περὶ τοῦ;

Πραξάγορα

τοῦ μὴ ξυγκαταδαρθεῖν. καὶ σοὶ τοιοῦτον ὑπάρχει.

Βλέπυρος

ἡ Λυσικράτους ἄρα νυνὶ ῥὶς ἴσα τοῖσι καλοῖσι φρονήσει.
630

Praxagora

But his riches will no longer be of any use to him.

Blepyrus

Why?

Praxagora

605 The poor will no longer be obliged to work; each will have all that he needs, bread, salt fish, cakes, tunics, wine, chaplets and chick-pease; of what advantage will it be to him not to contribute his share to the common wealth? What do you think of it?

Blepyrus

But is it not the biggest robbers that have all these things?

Praxagora

Yes, formerly, under the old order of things; 610 but now that all goods are in common, what will he gain by not bringing his wealth into the general stock?

Blepyrus

If someone saw a pretty wench and wished to lay her, he would take some of his reserve store to make her a present and stay the night with her; this would not prevent him claiming his share of the common property.

Praxagora

But he can sleep with her for nothing; I intend that women shall belong to all men in common, and each 615 shall beget children by any man that wishes to have her.

Blepyrus

But all will go to the prettiest woman and try to lay her.

Praxagora

The ugliest and the most flat-nosed will be side by side with the most charming, and to win the latter's favours, a man will first have to get into the former.

Blepyrus

But what about us oldsters? If we have to lay the old women first, how can we keep 620 our tools from failing before we get into the Promised Land?

Praxagora

They will make no resistance. Never fear; they will make no resistance.

Blepyrus

Resistance to what?

Praxagora

To the pleasure of the thing. This is the way that matters will be ordered for you.

Blepyrus

It's very well conceived for you women, for every wench's hole will be filled; but what about the men? 625 The women will run away from the ugly ones and chase the good-looking.

Praxagora

The ugly will follow the handsomest into the public places after supper and see to it that the law, which forbids the women to sleep with the big, handsome men before having satisfied the ugly shrimps, is complied with.

Blepyrus

630 Thus ugly Lysicrates' nose will be as proud as the handsomest face?

Praxagora

Yes, by Apollo! this is a truly popular decree, and what a set-back it will be for one of those elegants with their fingers loaded with rings, when a man with heavy shoes says to him, “Give way to me and wait till I have done; you will pass in after me.”