Μερὶς οὐ πνίξ
a portion (and) not a choker
Translated by David Whitehead17 Mar 2009Vetting: high3 revisions
Translation
With the stronger seizing food from the weaker and choking on it, since they were not able to help themselves, apportioning was thought of; and each man, taking the same as each, used to declare "a portion, not a choker".1
Alternatively, write it thus: "a portion does not choke". So when the powerful used to snatch, there was a choker; but when the [sc. idea of a] portion was thought of, the poor used to say, "a portion, not a choker."2
Alternatively, write it thus: "a portion does not choke". So when the powerful used to snatch, there was a choker; but when the [sc. idea of a] portion was thought of, the poor used to say, "a portion, not a choker."2
Greek original · Adler’s text
Μερὶς οὐ πνίξ· τῶν δυνατωτέρων ἁρπαζόντων τὰς τροφὰς τῶν ἀσθενεστέρων καὶ ἐπὶ τούτῳ ἐκείνων πνιγομένων, ἐπεὶ ἄρα αὑτοῖς βοηθεῖν οὐκ ἠδύναντο, ἐπενοήθη ὁ διαμερισμός· καὶ ἕκαστος ἑκάστῳ τὸ ἴσον λαμβάνων ἐπεφώνει, μερὶς οὐ πνίξ. ἢ οὕτως γράφε, μερὶς οὐ πνίγει. ὅτε οὖν οἱ δυνατοὶ ἥρπαζον, ἦν πνίξ· ὅτε δὲ ἐπενοήθη ἡ μερίς, ἔλεγον οἱ πένητες, μερὶς οὐ πνίξ.
Betacode
*meri\s ou) pni/c: tw=n dunatwte/rwn a(rpazo/ntwn ta\s trofa\s tw=n a)sqeneste/rwn kai\ e)pi\ tou/tw| e)kei/nwn pnigome/nwn, e)pei\ a)/ra au(toi=s bohqei=n ou)k h)du/nanto, e)penoh/qh o( diamerismo/s: kai\ e(/kastos e(ka/stw| to\ i)/son lamba/nwn e)pefw/nei, meri\s ou) pni/c. h)\ ou(/tws gra/fe, meri\s ou) pni/gei. o(/te ou)=n oi( dunatoi\ h(/rpazon, h)=n pni/c: o(/te de\ e)penoh/qh h( meri/s, e)/legon oi( pe/nhtes, meri\s ou) pni/c.
Notes (2)
Linked from2 entries
Neighbouring entries
Revision history3 revisions · last 16 May 2013
- Revised — David Whitehead
- augmented notes; another keyword — David Whitehead
- set status — Catharine Roth
- Translated — David Whitehead