Ἀΐσσουσιν

they dart

Translated by Jennifer Benedict · 27 Jan 2000 · Vetting: high · 11 revisions

Translation

[Meaning] they rush,¹ they flit.
Polybius [writes]:² "for in Rome Marcus Porcius³ when he heard of the prowess of Scipio,⁴ when another man said to him "what have you heard?" said "he alone has his wits about him, the others dart like shadows."⁵

Greek original

Ἀΐσσουσιν· ὁρμῶσι, φοιτῶσι. Πολύβιος· ἐν γὰρ τῇ Ῥώμῃ Μάρκον Πόρκιον ἀκούσαντα τὰς ἀριστείας Σκιπίωνος εἰπεῖν πάλιν ἄλλον πρὸς ἐκεῖνον· τί ἀκήκοας; εἰπεῖν οἶος πέπνυται, τοὶ δὲ σκιαὶ ἀΐσσουσιν.

Betacode

*)ai/+ssousin: o(rmw=si, foitw=si. *polu/bios: e)n ga\r th=| *(rw/mh| *ma/rkon *po/rkion a)kou/santa ta\s a)ristei/as *skipi/wnos ei)pei=n pa/lin a)/llon pro\s e)kei=non: ti/ a)kh/koas; ei)pei=n oi)=os pe/pnutai, toi\ de\ skiai\ a)i/+ssousin.

Notes (5)

cf. alpha 687 and the other cross-references there.
1From the scholia to Homer, Iliad 11.553, where the headword occurs (web address 1 below); cf. alpha 4349, eta 147. ↩
2Polybius 36.8.7. The syntax of the sentence that follows is confused and may not represent Polybius's original wording. See F.W. Walbank, A Historical Commentary on Polybius, iii (Oxford 1979) 662-3. ↩
3Cato the Elder (kappa 1113). ↩
4Aemilianus. ↩
5A reference to Homer, Odyssey 10.494f.: "to him [Teiresias] alone Persephone granted the privilege of retaining his wits; the others flit like shadows." [web address 2 below] The anecdote is also attested at Diodorus Siculus 32.9a.2; Livy, epitome 49; Plutarch, Moralia 200A; 804f-805A; and cf. kappa 1113.

↩

External resources

Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu
Web address 2 perseus.tufts.edu

Linked from (4)

α687Ἀΐξαςhaving darted α697Ἀΐτηςdarting α700Ἀϊχθήτηνthey two were driven α4349ᾌττειdarts

Neighbours in Adler order

α688ἌϊροςAiros α689Ἄϊςinvisible, Hades α690Ἀΐσθωνbreathing out α691Ἀΐσσουσινthey dart α692Ἀϊστίunseen α693Ἄϊστοςunseen α694Ἀϊστωθείηmight be made to disappear

Revisions (11)

1 May 2015David Whitehead
16 Jan 2012Catharine Rothupgraded links, added keyword
16 Jan 2012David Whiteheadanother note; tweaks
18 Mar 2008Jennifer Benedictadded links
16 Jul 2006David Whiteheadanother keyword; tweaks and cosmetics
15 Jul 2006Catharine Rothcosmetics, cross-references
13 May 2002David Whiteheadaugmented notes and keywords; cosmetics
15 Nov 2000Gregory Hays
15 Nov 2000Gregory HaysRevised translation; added notes.
27 Jan 2000Jennifer Benedicttranslated

Greek original

Betacode

*)ai/+ssousin: o(rmw=si, foitw=si. *polu/bios: e)n ga\r th=| *(rw/mh| *ma/rkon *po/rkion a)kou/santa ta\s a)ristei/as *skipi/wnos ei)pei=n pa/lin a)/llon pro\s e)kei=non: ti/ a)kh/koas; ei)pei=n oi)=os pe/pnutai, toi\ de\ skiai\ a)i/+ssousin.

Notes (5)

cf. alpha 687 and the other cross-references there.

1From the scholia to Homer, Iliad 11.553, where the headword occurs (web address 1 below); cf. alpha 4349, eta 147. ↩

2Polybius 36.8.7. The syntax of the sentence that follows is confused and may not represent Polybius's original wording. See F.W. Walbank, A Historical Commentary on Polybius, iii (Oxford 1979) 662-3. ↩

3Cato the Elder (kappa 1113). ↩

4Aemilianus. ↩

5A reference to Homer, Odyssey 10.494f.: "to him [Teiresias] alone Persephone granted the privilege of retaining his wits; the others flit like shadows." [web address 2 below] The anecdote is also attested at Diodorus Siculus 32.9a.2; Livy, epitome 49; Plutarch, Moralia 200A; 804f-805A; and cf. kappa 1113.