Εἶτ' ἐφ' ὕδωρ κακός
then a wretch on water-duty
Translated by David Whitehead17 Apr 2003Vetting: high4 revisions
Translation
The proverb is applied to those down on their luck. For in the [sc. Athenian] jurycourts the most menial task was to measure out the water for the [sc. speeches of the] litigants. This sort of person was the man allocated to it.
Greek original · Adler’s text
Εἶτ' ἐφ' ὕδωρ κακός· ἐπὶ τῶν δυσκληρούντων ἡ παροιμία εἴρηται. ἐν γὰρ τοῖς δικαστηρίοις τὸ φαυλότατον ἔργον ἦν ὕδωρ διαμετρεῖν τοῖς δικαζομένοις. ἐγένετο δὲ τοιοῦτος ὁ ἀπόκληρος.
Betacode
*ei)=t' e)f' u(/dwr kako/s: e)pi\ tw=n dusklhrou/ntwn h( paroimi/a ei)/rhtai. e)n ga\r toi=s dikasthri/ois to\ faulo/taton e)/rgon h)=n u(/dwr diametrei=n toi=s dikazome/nois. e)ge/neto de\ toiou=tos o( a)po/klhros.