Μὴ σύ γε μελαμπύγου τύχῃς

take care you don't meet a black-bottom

Translated by David Whitehead9 Aug 2006Vetting: high3 revisions

34 words

[Meaning] take care you don't meet someone virile and strong. [A proverbial phrase] in reference to those behaving unlawfully; as [if to say] take care you don't meet someone strong and pay the penalty.

Greek original · Adler’s text

Μὴ σύ γε μελαμπύγου τύχῃς· μή τινος ἀνδρείου καὶ ἰσχυροῦ τύχῃς. ἐπὶ τῶν παράνομα δρώντων· ὡς μή τινος ἰσχυροῦ τυχόντος δίκην δώσει.

Betacode

*mh\ su/ ge melampu/gou tu/xh|s: mh/ tinos a)ndrei/ou kai\ i)sxurou= tu/xh|s. e)pi\ tw=n para/noma drw/ntwn: w(s mh/ tinos i)sxurou= tuxo/ntos di/khn dw/sei.

Notes

Zenobius 5.10, etc.
See also mu 449.

Linked from1 entry

μ449Μελαμπύγου τύχοιςmay you meet a black-bottomBlack-bottoms were braggarts, sons of Limne. When they were behaving most disgracefully, their mother said they should watch out in case they fell in with a hairy-arse. So when they had fallen in with Heracles they were…

Neighbouring entries

μ985ΜηστάρνηMestarne μ986ΜήστωρMestor; advisor μ987Μὴ σύ γε μελαμπύγου τύχῃςtake care you don't meet a black-bottom μ988Μὴ τέγγεσθεdon't soften μ989Μήτε νεῖν μήτε γράμματα ἐπίστασθαιto know neither swimming nor letters

Revision history3 revisions · last 22 May 2013

22 May 2013Revised — David Whitehead
10 Aug 2006Revised — David Whitehead
9 Aug 2006set status — Catharine Roth
9 Aug 2006Translated — David Whitehead

Translation

Greek original · Adler’s text

Notes

Linked from1 entry

Neighbouring entries

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