Ἀλλ' ἅπαν γένοιτ' ἂν ἤδη
but now anything might happen
Translated by Jennifer Benedict · 31 Mar 2000 · Vetting: high · 10 revisions
Translation
["But now anything might happen.] I applaud the old proverb. For one must look under every stone, lest a politician bite." The proverb [is as follows]: "under every stone a scorpion sleeps: watch out!"
Greek original
Ἀλλ' ἅπαν γένοιτ' ἂν ἤδη· τὴν παροιμίαν δ' ἐπαινῶ τὴν παλαιάν. ὑπὸ λίθῳ γὰρ παντί που χρὴ μὴ δάκῃ ῥήτωρ ἀθρεῖν. ἡ δὲ παροιμία· ὑπὸ παντὶ λίθῳ σκορπίος εὕδει· φυλάσσεο.
Betacode
*)all' a(/pan ge/noit' a)\n h)/dh: th\n paroimi/an d' e)painw= th\n palaia/n. u(po\ li/qw| ga\r panti/ pou xrh\ mh\ da/kh| r(h/twr a)qrei=n. h( de\ paroimi/a: u(po\ panti\ li/qw| skorpi/os eu(/dei: fula/sseo.
Notes
- cf. upsilon 554.
Aristophanes, Thesmophoriazusae 527-530 (web address 1 below), with scholion.
For variants on this alleged proverb, attributed to the mid-C5 poetess Praxilla of Sikyon by the scholiast, see the drinking-song quoted by Athenaeus, Deipnosophists 15.695D = 15.50 #20 Kaibel ("Under every stone, my friend, there lurks a scorpion. Take care that it does not strike you; all kinds of trickery attend the unseen") and Sophocles fr. 138 Nauck ("For in every stone a scorpion stands guard").
For another satirical theriomorphisation of ancient Athenian politicians -- this time as snakes -- see Hyperides fr. 80 Jensen (at pi 585).
External resources
- Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu
Neighbours in Adler order
Revisions (10)
- Catharine Rothcosmeticule
- David Whiteheadexpanded a ref
- Catharine Rothcoding
- Catharine Rothupgraded link
- David Whiteheadx-ref; more keywords; tweaks and cosmetics
- David Whiteheadadded note
- David Whiteheadadded note and keywords; cosmetics
- William HuttonAdded note and text link.
- Jennifer Benedicttranslated