Εὐδαιμονέστερος τῶν Καρκίνου στροβίλων
happier than the pirouettes of Karkinos
Translated by Marcelo Boeri7 Jul 2003Vetting: high3 revisions
Translation
Meaning most unhappy. [Said] in irony. 'Pirouettes' is what Aristophanes is calling the sons of the poet Karkinos,1 whom he has previously called 'quails' and 'long-shaped wallet-necks' because of their bodily sharpness.2 Alternatively, joking with the name karkinos ["crab"]; for crabs, just like strobiloi, are hard-shelled.3 Or on account of being whirled about in the dance; since pirouettes also have [the properties] of pine-cones in a way. Or because a pirouette is a turning-round. So [Aristophanes] did call [them] pirouettes, insofar as elsewhere [he] also [called them] stork-necked.4
And Sophocles [says]: '[sc. I am] not one accounted happy for his eminent fate'. Meaning [for a fate] not good, but bad. Not of am eminent fate where happiness is concerned, but on the contrary, the extremity of unhappiness.5
And Sophocles [says]: '[sc. I am] not one accounted happy for his eminent fate'. Meaning [for a fate] not good, but bad. Not of am eminent fate where happiness is concerned, but on the contrary, the extremity of unhappiness.5