Ἀεὶ τοῖς ἐρῶσιν σύνεσμεν

always we associate with love(r)s

Translated by Jennifer Benedict · 18 Mar 2001 · Vetting: high · 7 revisions

Translation

Aristophanes [sc. says this] about birds.¹ Because lovers give noble birds to please their beloveds. And the nuthatch or some other sort of bird appears fortunate for lovers.² "I, o Leukippe, [am] a fortunate nuthatch."³
The [bird] now, I think, called a sitaris.

Greek original

Ἀεὶ τοῖς ἐρῶσιν σύνεσμεν· Ἀριστοφάνης περὶ ὀρνίθων. διὰ τὸ τοὺς ἐραστὰς ὄρνιθας εὐγενεῖς χαρίζεσθαι τοῖς ἐρωμένοις. καὶ ἡ σίττη δὲ καὶ εἴ τι τοιοῦτον ὄρνεον δεξιὰ πρὸς τοὺς ἔρωτας φαίνεται. ἐγὼ μὲν, ὦ Λευκίππη, δεξιὰ σίττη. ἡ νῦν οἶμαι λεγομένη σιτάρις.

Betacode

*)aei\ toi=s e)rw=sin su/nesmen: *)aristofa/nhs peri\ o)rni/qwn. dia\ to\ tou\s e)rasta\s o)/rniqas eu)genei=s xari/zesqai toi=s e)rwme/nois. kai\ h( si/tth de\ kai\ ei)/ ti toiou=ton o)/rneon decia\ pro\s tou\s e)/rwtas fai/netai. e)gw\ me\n, w)= *leuki/pph, decia\ si/tth. h( nu=n oi)=mai legome/nh sita/ris.

Notes (2)

[1] Aristophanes, Birds 704 (without 'always': web address 1 below). The scholia there supply the material which now follows; see further below, n.3.
2So on vase-paintings: see Dunbar [below] 447. (For this sense of dexios, with particular reference to birds, see LSJ s.v., II.) ↩
3Poetae Lyrici Graeci 3.695. (The scholiast's version is somewhat different, e.g. the addressee is male: Leukippos.)

↩

References

Aristophanes, Birds, edited with introduction and commentary by Nan Dunbar (Oxford 1995)

External resources

Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu

Neighbours in Adler order

α640Ἀείρρυτοςever-flowing α641Ἀείτηςbeloved youth α642Ἀεί τις ἐν Κύδωνοςalways someone at Kydon's α643Ἀεὶ τοῖς ἐρῶσιν σύνεσμενalways we associate with love(r)s α644Ἀείϋπνοςever-sleeping α645Ἀείφρουροςalways on watch, everlasting α646Ἀειφυγίαpermanent exile, perpetual exile

Revisions (7)

1 May 2015David Whiteheadtweaked and expanded notes
12 Jan 2012David Whiteheadmodified aspects of tr; expanded n.2; tweaks and cosmetics
16 Mar 2008Jennifer Benedictupdated link
15 Aug 2006David Whiteheadanother keyword; cosmetics
19 Mar 2001David Whiteheadmodified translation; augmented notes; added keyword
18 Mar 2001Jennifer Benedicttranslated

Greek original

Betacode

*)aei\ toi=s e)rw=sin su/nesmen: *)aristofa/nhs peri\ o)rni/qwn. dia\ to\ tou\s e)rasta\s o)/rniqas eu)genei=s xari/zesqai toi=s e)rwme/nois. kai\ h( si/tth de\ kai\ ei)/ ti toiou=ton o)/rneon decia\ pro\s tou\s e)/rwtas fai/netai. e)gw\ me\n, w)= *leuki/pph, decia\ si/tth. h( nu=n oi)=mai legome/nh sita/ris.

Notes (2)

[1] Aristophanes, Birds 704 (without 'always': web address 1 below). The scholia there supply the material which now follows; see further below, n.3.

2So on vase-paintings: see Dunbar [below] 447. (For this sense of dexios, with particular reference to birds, see LSJ s.v., II.) ↩

3Poetae Lyrici Graeci 3.695. (The scholiast's version is somewhat different, e.g. the addressee is male: Leukippos.)