Μήπω γε μήπω
not yet at any rate, not yet
Translated by Steven Embree8 Jun 2009Vetting: high4 revisions
Translation
This sort of form of expression is called a reduplication, using the same words twice. It makes the expression prominent and exceedingly robust; for being alarmed he needs a delay.
Greek original · Adler’s text
Μήπω γε, μήπω· ἐπαναδίπλωσις καλεῖται τὸ τοιοῦτο σχῆμα τοῦ λόγου, τὸ δὶς τοῖς αὐτοῖς ὀνόμασι χρῆσθαι. ἐμφαντικὸν δὲ καὶ λίαν ἐνεργητικὸν ἀπεργάζεται τὸν λόγον· δεδιττόμενος γὰρ δεῖται ὑπερθέσεως.
Betacode
*mh/pw ge, mh/pw: e)panadi/plwsis kalei=tai to\ toiou=to sxh=ma tou= lo/gou, to\ di\s toi=s au)toi=s o)no/masi xrh=sqai. e)mfantiko\n de\ kai\ li/an e)nerghtiko\n a)perga/zetai to\n lo/gon: deditto/menos ga\r dei=tai u(perqe/sews.
Notes
- From the scholia to Aristophanes, Clouds 267 (web address 1), where the headword phrase occurs (albeit, in the best manuscripts, in reverse order:
mh/pw, mh/pw ge ).
The last phrase in the scholion/gloss refers to the character who utters these words, Strepsiades, who is apprehensive about the imminent arrival of the Clouds.
External resources
- Web address 1 perseus.tufts.edu
Neighbouring entries
μ972Μὴ πολλάκις πρὸς τὸν αὐτὸν λίθον παίεινnot to stumble against the same rock many times if one has an agreed-upon occasionμ973υνκνοων—Μήποτ' εὖ ἔρδειν γέροντα μηδὲ παῖδα μηδὲ γυναῖκα @1 μηδὲ γείτονος κύνα μήτε κυβερνήτην φίλυπνον μὴ λάλον κωπηλάτηνnever do good to an old man or a child or a women or a neighbour's dog or a sleep-loving helmsman or a garrulous rowerμ974Μήπω γε μήπωnot yet at any rate, not yetμ975Μὴ προδοὺς ἡμᾶς γένῃdo not become one who has betrayed usμ976Μὴ πρὸς ἐμὲ τὰ ποικίλαdon’t [direct] at me your subtleties
Revision history4 revisions · last 2 Sep 2020
- tweaked translation — Catharine Roth
- tweaked note, modified link — Catharine Roth
- Revised — David Whitehead
- modified tr; augmented notes and keywords; tweaks and cosmetics — David Whitehead
- Translated — Steven Embree