Αἴ κε πάθοι τά κ' ἔρεξε δίκη δ' ἰθεῖα γένοιτο
if he should endure the sufferings which he has inflicted, the punishment would be just
Translated by Catharine Roth3 Nov 2002Vetting: high4 revisions
Translation
An oracle given concerning the murders and injustices of Aurelian.1
Aristophanes [writes]: "every one of the Athenians when he goes in yells at the servants and asks: 'Where is my pot? Who gave away the head of the sprat? Has my last year's bowl perished? Where is yesterday's garlic? Who nibbled on the olives?'" These [are] all trivial matters. But "perished" [is used] instead of "is broken."2
Aristophanes [writes]: "every one of the Athenians when he goes in yells at the servants and asks: 'Where is my pot? Who gave away the head of the sprat? Has my last year's bowl perished? Where is yesterday's garlic? Who nibbled on the olives?'" These [are] all trivial matters. But "perished" [is used] instead of "is broken."2
Greek original · Adler’s text
Αἴ κε πάθοι τά κ' ἔρεξε, δίκη δ' ἰθεῖα γένοιτο· χρησμὸς δοθεὶς περὶ τῶν Αὐρηλιανοῦ φόνων καὶ ἀδικιῶν. Ἀριστοφάνης· Ἀθηναίων πᾶς τις εἰσιὼν κέκραγε πρὸς τοὺς οἰκέτας ζητεῖ τε· ποῦ 'στι μ' ἡ χύτρα; τίς τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀπεδήδοκε τῆς μαινίδος; τὸ τρυβλίον τὸ περυσινὸν τέθνηκέ μοι; ποῦ τὸ σκόροδον τὸ χθεσινόν; τίς τὰς ἐλάας παρέτραγε; ταῦτα μικροπρεπῆ πάντα. τὸ δὲ τέθνηκεν, ἀντὶ τοῦ κέκλασται.
Betacode
*ai)/ ke pa/qoi ta/ k' e)/rece, di/kh d' i)qei=a ge/noito: xrhsmo\s doqei\s peri\ tw=n *au)rhlianou= fo/nwn kai\ a)dikiw=n. *)aristofa/nhs: *)aqhnai/wn pa=s tis ei)siw\n ke/krage pro\s tou\s oi)ke/tas zhtei= te: pou= 'sti m' h( xu/tra; ti/s th\n kefalh\n a)pedh/doke th=s maini/dos; to\ trubli/on to\ perusino\n te/qnhke/ moi; pou= to\ sko/rodon to\ xqesino/n; ti/s ta\s e)la/as pare/trage; tau=ta mikropreph= pa/nta. to\ de\ te/qnhken, a)nti\ tou= ke/klastai.
Notes (2)
- The headword phrase is partially repeated at epsilon 3074 (end).↩
- 1cf. Julian, Symposium 12 (Lacombrade), assigning it to Delphi. However, this 'oracle' is an approximation of a dictum quoted in Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 1132b27 (read
ta/ t' e)/rece, di/kh k' ), and attributed to Rhadamanthys (rho 12, rho 13); proverbial in Appendix Proverbiorum 2.12. An anonymous commentator on the Ethics quotes this as two verses -- the first one isei) kaka/ tis spei/rai, kaka\ ke/rdea k' a)mh/seien ("if anyone should sow evils, he should reap evil gains") -- and attributes them to Hesiod: fr. 286 Merkelbach/West. On the emperor Aurelian, see generally alpha 4458. ↩- 2Aristophanes, Frogs 981-988, with scholia; cf. mu 1051. The passage does not seem to have any connection with the oracle against Aurelian.
- 1cf. Julian, Symposium 12 (Lacombrade), assigning it to Delphi. However, this 'oracle' is an approximation of a dictum quoted in Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 1132b27 (read
Linked from4 entries
- α2976Ἀπεδήδοκεate up[Meaning he/she/it] devoured.
- α4458ΑὐρηλιανόςAurelian, Aurelianus, AurelianosEmperor of the Romans, a man who had awesome skill in the arts of war, but being undisciplined in his thinking and inclining markedly toward savagery, he submitted many of the notables in the city to the death penalty…
- αι166Αἴ κε ποθίif anywhere[Meaning] if ever.
- ε3074Ἐρώτησις ἔνδοξοςprobable question[Reputable question,] dialectical premise. Now not every premise [is] a question but the dialectical [premise sc. is]. Not every question [is] a dialectical premise, for there are many kinds of question. For those who…
Neighbouring entries
Revision history4 revisions · last 26 Nov 2015
- cosmeticule — Catharine Roth
- expanded n.1; more keywords; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- more keywords; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- augmented and modified notes; added keywords; cosmetics — David Whitehead
- Translated — Catharine Roth