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Line 1036

διὰ δακτυλίου μὲν οὖν ἔμεγʼ ἂν διελκύσαις.

The phrase διὰ δακτυλίου is a specific idiom for 'through a ring' (i.e., using a signet ring to stamp or authenticate a transaction or letter), functioning here as a metaphor for a trivial or easily manipulated means of control. While the idiom itself is known, its application in this context—where the character suggests he could be dragged out of poverty or a situation by such a minor token—highlights the satirical critique of how easily social status and wealth could be altered by bureaucratic or legal formalities in Athens. The construction διελκύσαις (aorist active subjunctive of διελκύω) with the preposition διὰ emphasizes the instrumentality of the ring as the means of extraction.

Wealth. 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)

Πλοῦτος Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 2. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1907.) — 1052 focus

Γραῦς

ἆ ἆ,

τὴν δᾷδα μή μοι πρόσφερʼ.

Χρεμύλος

εὖ μέντοι λέγει.

ἐὰν γὰρ αὐτὴν εἷς μόνος σπινθὴρ λάβῃ

ὥσπερ παλαιὰν εἰρεσιώνην καύσεται.

Νεανίας

βούλει διὰ χρόνου πρός με παῖσαι;
1055

Γραῦς

ποῖ τάλαν;

Νεανίας

αὐτοῦ, λαβοῦσα κάρυα.

Γραῦς

παιδιὰν τίνα;

Νεανίας

πόσους ἔχεις ὀδόντας.

Χρεμύλος

ἀλλὰ γνώσομαι

κἄγωγʼ· ἔχει γὰρ τρεῖς ἴσως ἢ τέτταρας.

Νεανίας

ἀπότεισον· ἕνα γὰρ γόμφιον μόνον φορεῖ.

Γραῦς

ταλάντατʼ ἀνδρῶν οὐχ ὑγιαίνειν μοι δοκεῖς,
1060

πλυνόν με ποιῶν ἐν τοσούτοις ἀνδράσιν.

Νεανίας

ὄναιο μέντἄν, εἴ τις ἐκπλύνειέ σε.

Χρεμύλος

οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεὶ νῦν μὲν καπηλικῶς ἔχει,

εἰ δʼ ἐκπλυνεῖται τοῦτο τὸ ψιμύθιον,

ὄψει κατάδηλα τοῦ προσώπου τὰ ῥάκη.
1065

Γραῦς

γέρων ἀνὴρ ὢν οὐχ ὑγιαίνειν μοι δοκεῖς.

Νεανίας

πειρᾷ μὲν οὖν ἴσως σε καὶ τῶν τιτθίων

ἐφάπτεταί σου λανθάνειν δοκῶν ἐμέ.

Γραῦς

μὰ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην οὐκ ἐμοῦ γʼ ὦ βδελυρὲ σύ.

Χρεμύλος

μὰ τὴν Ἑκάτην οὐ δῆτα· μαινοίμην γὰρ ἄν.
1070

ἀλλʼ ὦ νεανίσκʼ οὐκ ἐῶ τὴν μείρακα

μισεῖν σε ταύτην.

Νεανίας

ἀλλʼ ἔγωγʼ ὑπερφιλῶ.

Χρεμύλος

καὶ μὴν κατηγορεῖ γέ σου.

Νεανίας

τί κατηγορεῖ;

Χρεμύλος

εἶναί σʼ ὑβριστήν φησι καὶ λέγειν ὅτι

πάλαι ποτʼ ἦσαν ἄλκιμοι Μιλήσιοι.
1075

Νεανίας

ἐγὼ περὶ ταύτης οὐ μαχοῦμαί σοι.

Χρεμύλος

τὸ τί;

Νεανίας

αἰσχυνόμενος τὴν ἡλικίαν τὴν σήν, ἐπεὶ

οὐκ ἄν ποτʼ ἄλλῳ τοῦτʼ ἐπέτρεψʼ ἐγὼ ποιεῖν·

νῦν δʼ ἄπιθι χαίρων συλλαβὼν τὴν μείρακα.

Χρεμύλος

οἶδʼ οἶδα τὸν νοῦν· οὐκέτʼ ἀξιοῖς ἴσως
1080

εἶναι μετʼ αὐτῆς.

Γραῦς

ὁ δʼ ἐπιτρέψων ἐστὶ τίς;

Νεανίας

οὐκ ἂν διαλεχθείην διεσπλεκωμένῃ

ὑπὸ μυρίων ἐτῶν γε καὶ τρισχιλίων.

Χρεμύλος

ὅμως δʼ ἐπειδὴ καὶ τὸν οἶνον ἠξίους

πίνειν, συνεκποτέʼ ἐστί σοι καὶ τὴν τρύγα.
1085

Νεανίας

ἀλλʼ ἔστι κομιδῇ τρὺξ παλαιὰ καὶ σαπρά.

Χρεμύλος

οὐκοῦν τρύγοιπος ταῦτα πάντʼ ἰάσεται.

Νεανίας

ἀλλʼ εἴσιθʼ εἴσω· τῷ θεῷ γὰρ βούλομαι

ἐλθὼν ἀναθεῖναι τοὺς στεφάνους τούσδʼ οὓς ἔχω.

Γραῦς

ἐγὼ δέ γʼ αὐτῷ καὶ φράσαι τι βούλομαι.
1090

Νεανίας

ἐγὼ δέ γʼ οὐκ εἴσειμι.

Χρεμύλος

θάρρει, μὴ φοβοῦ.

οὐ γὰρ βιάσεται.

Νεανίας

πάνυ καλῶς τοίνυν λέγεις.

ἱκανὸν γὰρ αὐτὴν πρότερον ὑπεπίττουν χρόνον.

Γραῦς

βάδιζʼ· ἐγὼ δέ σου κατόπιν εἰσέρχομαι.

Χρεμύλος

ὡς εὐτόνως ὦ Ζεῦ βασιλεῦ τὸ γρᾴδιον
1095

ὥσπερ λεπὰς τῷ μειρακίῳ προσείχετο.

Χοροῦ

Translations (2)

Wealth (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Anonymous; 1938 compilation). Migrated from Perseus legacy XML; source wording and notes retained. See TEI header and migration inventory.) — 1052 focus

He holds his torch close to her, in order to inspect her more closely.

Old Woman

Oh! oh! keep your distance with that torch.

Chremylus
aside

It's just as well; if a single spark were to reach her, she would catch fire like an old olive branch.

Youth

1055 I propose to have a game with you.

Old Woman
eagerly

Where, naughty boy?

Youth

Here. Take some nuts in your hand.

Old Woman

What game is this?

Youth

Let's play at guessing how many ... teeth you have.

Chremylus

Ah! I'll tell you; she's got three, or perhaps four.

Youth

Pay up; you've lost! she has only one single grinder.

Old Woman

1060 You wretch! you're not in your right senses. Do you insult me thus before this crowd?

Youth

I am washing you thoroughly; that's doing you a service.

Chremylus

No, no! as she is there, she can still deceive; but if this white-lead is washed off, 1065 her wrinkles will come out plainly.

Old Woman

You are only an old fool!

Youth

Ah! he is playing the gallant, he is playing with your tits, and thinks I do not see it.

Old Woman
To Chremylus

Oh! no, by Aphrodite, don't do that, you naughty jealous fellow.

Chremylus

1070 Oh! most certainly not, by Hecate! Verily and indeed I would need to be mad! But, young man, I cannot forgive you, if you cast off this beautiful child.

Youth

Why, I adore her.

Chremylus

But nevertheless she accuses you ...

Youth

Accuses me of what?

Chremylus

... of having told her insolently, 1075 “Once upon a time the Milesians were brave.”

Youth

Oh! I shall not dispute with you about her.

Chremylus

Why not?

Youth

Out of respect for your age; with anyone but you I should not be so easy; come, take the girl and be happy.

Chremylus

1080 I see, I see; you don't want her any more.

Old Woman

Nay! this is a thing that cannot be allowed.

Youth

I cannot argue with a woman who has been laid by every one of these thirteen thousand men.

He points to the audience.

Chremylus

Yet, since you liked the wine, 1085 you should now consume the lees.

Youth

But these lees are quite rancid and fusty.

Chremylus

Pass them through a straining-cloth; they'll clarify.

Youth

But I want to go in with you to offer these chaplets to the god.

Old Woman

1090 And I too have something to tell him.

Youth

Then I won't enter.

Chremylus

Come, have no fear; she won't harm you.

Youth

That's true; I've been managing the old bark so long.

Old Woman

Go in; I'll follow after you.

They enter the house.

Chremylus

1095 Good gods! that old hag has fastened herself to her youth like a limpet to its rock.

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.) — 1052 focus

Old Woman: Ah ah,

Old Woman: Don't bring the torch to me.

Chremylus: Well, he speaks truly.

Chremylus: for if one single spark seizes it

Chremylus: He will burn it like an old ship.

Young Man: Do you want to play with me for a while?

1055

Old Woman: Where are you going, you wretch?

Young Man: There, take the walnuts.

Old Woman: a little girl?

Young man: How many teeth do you have?

Chremylus: But I will find out.

Chremylus: And I too, for he has perhaps three or four.

Young Man: Pay up, for he wears only one nail.

Woman: You do not seem to me to be well, with your talents of men,

1060

Old Woman: While you are washing me in the midst of so many men.

Young Man: I wish that someone were washing you.

Chremylus: Not at all, since now it is in a retail manner,

Chremylus: but if this white lead is washed out,

Chremylus: You will see the rags of his face clearly.

1065

Old Woman: Although you are an old man, you do not seem to me to be healthy.

Young man: Well, perhaps you will try even the little breasts.

Young Man: He seems to be trying to touch you, but he is trying to escape my notice.

Old Woman: By Aphrodite, it is not [my fault], you wretch.

Chremylus: By Hecate, not at all; for I would go mad.

1070

Chremylus: But, young man, I will not allow the girl.

Chremylus: to hate her like this.

Young Man: But I love him greatly.

Chremylus: And indeed he accuses you.

Young man: 'What is he accusing?'

Chremylus: he says that you are a brute and that you say that

Chremylus: In times long past, the Milesians were valiant.

1075

Young Man: I shall not fight with you about this matter.

Chremylus: "What is it?"

Young man: ashamed of your age, since

Young Man: I would never entrust this to another to do.

Young man: Now go away, rejoicing, having taken hold of the little girl.

Chremylus: I know, I know the mind; perhaps you no longer deserve it.

1080

Chremylus: She is with him.

OLD WOMAN: And who is the one who will give it over?

Young Man: I would not have conversed with her while she was being entangled.

Young man: By ten thousand years and three thousand.

Chremylus: Nevertheless, since you also deemed the wine worthy,

Chremylus: you have to drink along with the must.

1085

Young Man: But it is indeed a very old and rotten mess.

Chremylus: Will a vintager then cure all these things?

Young Man: But come inside, for I wish to offer a sacrifice to the god.

Young Man: to come and hang up these crowns which I have.

OLD WOMAN: But I want to tell him something as well.

1090

Young Man: But I certainly will not go in.

Chremylus: Have courage, do not be afraid.

Chremylus: For he will not be forced.

Young Man: Very well, then, you speak.

Young Man: For I had given her enough time before.

Old Woman: Go! I will enter after you.

Chremylus: How strongly, O king Zeus, the old woman!

1095

Chremylus: Just as he was holding the basket to the boy.

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

1036. mvp-tlg0019-tlg011-sanjaya-com-eng1-28

Line 1036

διὰ δακτυλίου μὲν οὖν ἔμεγʼ ἂν διελκύσαις.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 1036

Current edition Experimental

Γραῦς ἆ ἆ, τὴν δᾷδα μή μοι πρόσφερʼ.

Χρεμύλος εὖ μέντοι λέγει. ἐὰν γὰρ αὐτὴν εἷς μόνος σπινθὴρ λάβῃ ὥσπερ παλαιὰν εἰρεσιώνην καύσεται.

Νεανίας βούλει διὰ χρόνου πρός με παῖσαι; 1055

Γραῦς ποῖ τάλαν;

Νεανίας αὐτοῦ, λαβοῦσα κάρυα.

Γραῦς παιδιὰν τίνα;

Νεανίας πόσους ἔχεις ὀδόντας.

Χρεμύλος ἀλλὰ γνώσομαι κἄγωγʼ· ἔχει γὰρ τρεῖς ἴσως ἢ τέτταρας.

Νεανίας ἀπότεισον· ἕνα γὰρ γόμφιον μόνον φορεῖ.

Γραῦς ταλάντατʼ ἀνδρῶν οὐχ ὑγιαίνειν μοι δοκεῖς, 1060 πλυνόν με ποιῶν ἐν τοσούτοις ἀνδράσιν.

Νεανίας ὄναιο μέντἄν, εἴ τις ἐκπλύνειέ σε.

Χρεμύλος οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεὶ νῦν μὲν καπηλικῶς ἔχει, εἰ δʼ ἐκπλυνεῖται τοῦτο τὸ ψιμύθιον, ὄψει κατάδηλα τοῦ προσώπου τὰ ῥάκη. 1065

Γραῦς γέρων ἀνὴρ ὢν οὐχ ὑγιαίνειν μοι δοκεῖς.

Νεανίας πειρᾷ μὲν οὖν ἴσως σε καὶ τῶν τιτθίων ἐφάπτεταί σου λανθάνειν δοκῶν ἐμέ.

Γραῦς μὰ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην οὐκ ἐμοῦ γʼ ὦ βδελυρὲ σύ.

Χρεμύλος μὰ τὴν Ἑκάτην οὐ δῆτα· μαινοίμην γὰρ ἄν. 1070 ἀλλʼ ὦ νεανίσκʼ οὐκ ἐῶ τὴν μείρακα μισεῖν σε ταύτην.

Νεανίας ἀλλʼ ἔγωγʼ ὑπερφιλῶ.

Χρεμύλος καὶ μὴν κατηγορεῖ γέ σου.

Νεανίας τί κατηγορεῖ;

Χρεμύλος εἶναί σʼ ὑβριστήν φησι καὶ λέγειν ὅτι πάλαι ποτʼ ἦσαν ἄλκιμοι Μιλήσιοι. 1075

Νεανίας ἐγὼ περὶ ταύτης οὐ μαχοῦμαί σοι.

Χρεμύλος τὸ τί;

Νεανίας αἰσχυνόμενος τὴν ἡλικίαν τὴν σήν, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἄν ποτʼ ἄλλῳ τοῦτʼ ἐπέτρεψʼ ἐγὼ ποιεῖν· νῦν δʼ ἄπιθι χαίρων συλλαβὼν τὴν μείρακα.

Χρεμύλος οἶδʼ οἶδα τὸν νοῦν· οὐκέτʼ ἀξιοῖς ἴσως 1080 εἶναι μετʼ αὐτῆς.

Γραῦς ὁ δʼ ἐπιτρέψων ἐστὶ τίς;

Νεανίας οὐκ ἂν διαλεχθείην διεσπλεκωμένῃ ὑπὸ μυρίων ἐτῶν γε καὶ τρισχιλίων.

Χρεμύλος ὅμως δʼ ἐπειδὴ καὶ τὸν οἶνον ἠξίους πίνειν, συνεκποτέʼ ἐστί σοι καὶ τὴν τρύγα. 1085

Νεανίας ἀλλʼ ἔστι κομιδῇ τρὺξ παλαιὰ καὶ σαπρά.

Χρεμύλος οὐκοῦν τρύγοιπος ταῦτα πάντʼ ἰάσεται.

Νεανίας ἀλλʼ εἴσιθʼ εἴσω· τῷ θεῷ γὰρ βούλομαι ἐλθὼν ἀναθεῖναι τοὺς στεφάνους τούσδʼ οὓς ἔχω.

Γραῦς ἐγὼ δέ γʼ αὐτῷ καὶ φράσαι τι βούλομαι. 1090

Νεανίας ἐγὼ δέ γʼ οὐκ εἴσειμι.

Χρεμύλος θάρρει, μὴ φοβοῦ. οὐ γὰρ βιάσεται.

Νεανίας πάνυ καλῶς τοίνυν λέγεις. ἱκανὸν γὰρ αὐτὴν πρότερον ὑπεπίττουν χρόνον.

Γραῦς βάδιζʼ· ἐγὼ δέ σου κατόπιν εἰσέρχομαι.

Χρεμύλος ὡς εὐτόνως ὦ Ζεῦ βασιλεῦ τὸ γρᾴδιον 1095 ὥσπερ λεπὰς τῷ μειρακίῳ προσείχετο.

Old Woman Oh! oh! keep your distance with that torch.

Chremylus aside It's just as well; if a single spark were to reach her, she would catch fire like an old olive branch.

Youth 1055 I propose to have a game with you.

Old Woman eagerly Where, naughty boy?

Youth Here. Take some nuts in your hand.

Old Woman What game is this?

Youth Let's play at guessing how many ... teeth you have.

Chremylus Ah! I'll tell you; she's got three, or perhaps four.

Youth Pay up; you've lost! she has only one single grinder.

Old Woman 1060 You wretch! you're not in your right senses. Do you insult me thus before this crowd?

Youth I am washing you thoroughly; that's doing you a service.

Chremylus No, no! as she is there, she can still deceive; but if this white-lead is washed off, 1065 her wrinkles will come out plainly.

Old Woman You are only an old fool!

Youth Ah! he is playing the gallant, he is playing with your tits, and thinks I do not see it.

Old Woman To Chremylus Oh! no, by Aphrodite, don't do that, you naughty jealous fellow.

Chremylus 1070 Oh! most certainly not, by Hecate! Verily and indeed I would need to be mad! But, young man, I cannot forgive you, if you cast off this beautiful child.

Youth Why, I adore her.

Chremylus But nevertheless she accuses you ...

Youth Accuses me of what?

Chremylus ... of having told her insolently, 1075 “Once upon a time the Milesians were brave.”

Youth Oh! I shall not dispute with you about her.

Chremylus Why not?

Youth Out of respect for your age; with anyone but you I should not be so easy; come, take the girl and be happy.

Chremylus 1080 I see, I see; you don't want her any more.

Old Woman Nay! this is a thing that cannot be allowed.

Youth I cannot argue with a woman who has been laid by every one of these thirteen thousand men.

Chremylus Yet, since you liked the wine, 1085 you should now consume the lees.

Youth But these lees are quite rancid and fusty.

Chremylus Pass them through a straining-cloth; they'll clarify.

Youth But I want to go in with you to offer these chaplets to the god.

Old Woman 1090 And I too have something to tell him.

Youth Then I won't enter.

Chremylus Come, have no fear; she won't harm you.

Youth That's true; I've been managing the old bark so long.

Old Woman Go in; I'll follow after you.

Chremylus 1095 Good gods! that old hag has fastened herself to her youth like a limpet to its rock.

Commentary

Line 1036

Stable identifiers

Γραῦς

ἆ ἆ,

τὴν δᾷδα μή μοι πρόσφερʼ.

Χρεμύλος

εὖ μέντοι λέγει.

ἐὰν γὰρ αὐτὴν εἷς μόνος σπινθὴρ λάβῃ

ὥσπερ παλαιὰν εἰρεσιώνην καύσεται.

Νεανίας

βούλει διὰ χρόνου πρός με παῖσαι;
1055

Γραῦς

ποῖ τάλαν;

Νεανίας

αὐτοῦ, λαβοῦσα κάρυα.

Γραῦς

παιδιὰν τίνα;

Νεανίας

πόσους ἔχεις ὀδόντας.

Χρεμύλος

ἀλλὰ γνώσομαι

κἄγωγʼ· ἔχει γὰρ τρεῖς ἴσως ἢ τέτταρας.

Νεανίας

ἀπότεισον· ἕνα γὰρ γόμφιον μόνον φορεῖ.

Γραῦς

ταλάντατʼ ἀνδρῶν οὐχ ὑγιαίνειν μοι δοκεῖς,
1060

πλυνόν με ποιῶν ἐν τοσούτοις ἀνδράσιν.

Νεανίας

ὄναιο μέντἄν, εἴ τις ἐκπλύνειέ σε.

Χρεμύλος

οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεὶ νῦν μὲν καπηλικῶς ἔχει,

εἰ δʼ ἐκπλυνεῖται τοῦτο τὸ ψιμύθιον,

ὄψει κατάδηλα τοῦ προσώπου τὰ ῥάκη.
1065

Γραῦς

γέρων ἀνὴρ ὢν οὐχ ὑγιαίνειν μοι δοκεῖς.

Νεανίας

πειρᾷ μὲν οὖν ἴσως σε καὶ τῶν τιτθίων

ἐφάπτεταί σου λανθάνειν δοκῶν ἐμέ.

Γραῦς

μὰ τὴν Ἀφροδίτην οὐκ ἐμοῦ γʼ ὦ βδελυρὲ σύ.

Χρεμύλος

μὰ τὴν Ἑκάτην οὐ δῆτα· μαινοίμην γὰρ ἄν.
1070

ἀλλʼ ὦ νεανίσκʼ οὐκ ἐῶ τὴν μείρακα

μισεῖν σε ταύτην.

Νεανίας

ἀλλʼ ἔγωγʼ ὑπερφιλῶ.

Χρεμύλος

καὶ μὴν κατηγορεῖ γέ σου.

Νεανίας

τί κατηγορεῖ;

Χρεμύλος

εἶναί σʼ ὑβριστήν φησι καὶ λέγειν ὅτι

πάλαι ποτʼ ἦσαν ἄλκιμοι Μιλήσιοι.
1075

Νεανίας

ἐγὼ περὶ ταύτης οὐ μαχοῦμαί σοι.

Χρεμύλος

τὸ τί;

Νεανίας

αἰσχυνόμενος τὴν ἡλικίαν τὴν σήν, ἐπεὶ

οὐκ ἄν ποτʼ ἄλλῳ τοῦτʼ ἐπέτρεψʼ ἐγὼ ποιεῖν·

νῦν δʼ ἄπιθι χαίρων συλλαβὼν τὴν μείρακα.

Χρεμύλος

οἶδʼ οἶδα τὸν νοῦν· οὐκέτʼ ἀξιοῖς ἴσως
1080

εἶναι μετʼ αὐτῆς.

Γραῦς

ὁ δʼ ἐπιτρέψων ἐστὶ τίς;

Νεανίας

οὐκ ἂν διαλεχθείην διεσπλεκωμένῃ

ὑπὸ μυρίων ἐτῶν γε καὶ τρισχιλίων.

Χρεμύλος

ὅμως δʼ ἐπειδὴ καὶ τὸν οἶνον ἠξίους

πίνειν, συνεκποτέʼ ἐστί σοι καὶ τὴν τρύγα.
1085

Νεανίας

ἀλλʼ ἔστι κομιδῇ τρὺξ παλαιὰ καὶ σαπρά.

Χρεμύλος

οὐκοῦν τρύγοιπος ταῦτα πάντʼ ἰάσεται.

Νεανίας

ἀλλʼ εἴσιθʼ εἴσω· τῷ θεῷ γὰρ βούλομαι

ἐλθὼν ἀναθεῖναι τοὺς στεφάνους τούσδʼ οὓς ἔχω.

Γραῦς

ἐγὼ δέ γʼ αὐτῷ καὶ φράσαι τι βούλομαι.
1090

Νεανίας

ἐγὼ δέ γʼ οὐκ εἴσειμι.

Χρεμύλος

θάρρει, μὴ φοβοῦ.

οὐ γὰρ βιάσεται.

Νεανίας

πάνυ καλῶς τοίνυν λέγεις.

ἱκανὸν γὰρ αὐτὴν πρότερον ὑπεπίττουν χρόνον.

Γραῦς

βάδιζʼ· ἐγὼ δέ σου κατόπιν εἰσέρχομαι.

Χρεμύλος

ὡς εὐτόνως ὦ Ζεῦ βασιλεῦ τὸ γρᾴδιον
1095

ὥσπερ λεπὰς τῷ μειρακίῳ προσείχετο.

Old Woman

Oh! oh! keep your distance with that torch.

Chremylus
aside

It's just as well; if a single spark were to reach her, she would catch fire like an old olive branch.

Youth

1055 I propose to have a game with you.

Old Woman
eagerly

Where, naughty boy?

Youth

Here. Take some nuts in your hand.

Old Woman

What game is this?

Youth

Let's play at guessing how many ... teeth you have.

Chremylus

Ah! I'll tell you; she's got three, or perhaps four.

Youth

Pay up; you've lost! she has only one single grinder.

Old Woman

1060 You wretch! you're not in your right senses. Do you insult me thus before this crowd?

Youth

I am washing you thoroughly; that's doing you a service.

Chremylus

No, no! as she is there, she can still deceive; but if this white-lead is washed off, 1065 her wrinkles will come out plainly.

Old Woman

You are only an old fool!

Youth

Ah! he is playing the gallant, he is playing with your tits, and thinks I do not see it.

Old Woman
To Chremylus

Oh! no, by Aphrodite, don't do that, you naughty jealous fellow.

Chremylus

1070 Oh! most certainly not, by Hecate! Verily and indeed I would need to be mad! But, young man, I cannot forgive you, if you cast off this beautiful child.

Youth

Why, I adore her.

Chremylus

But nevertheless she accuses you ...

Youth

Accuses me of what?

Chremylus

... of having told her insolently, 1075 “Once upon a time the Milesians were brave.”

Youth

Oh! I shall not dispute with you about her.

Chremylus

Why not?

Youth

Out of respect for your age; with anyone but you I should not be so easy; come, take the girl and be happy.

Chremylus

1080 I see, I see; you don't want her any more.

Old Woman

Nay! this is a thing that cannot be allowed.

Youth

I cannot argue with a woman who has been laid by every one of these thirteen thousand men.

Chremylus

Yet, since you liked the wine, 1085 you should now consume the lees.

Youth

But these lees are quite rancid and fusty.

Chremylus

Pass them through a straining-cloth; they'll clarify.

Youth

But I want to go in with you to offer these chaplets to the god.

Old Woman

1090 And I too have something to tell him.

Youth

Then I won't enter.

Chremylus

Come, have no fear; she won't harm you.

Youth

That's true; I've been managing the old bark so long.

Old Woman

Go in; I'll follow after you.

Chremylus

1095 Good gods! that old hag has fastened herself to her youth like a limpet to its rock.