Πρὸς κενὴν ᾄδεις

you are singing to an empty [jar]

Translated by David Whitehead21 Feb 2010Vetting: high4 revisions

13 words

You are singing to a broken [jar], said of someone labouring in vain.

Greek original · Adler’s text

Πρὸς κενὴν ᾄδεις· πρὸς ἐρρωγυῖαν ᾄδεις, ἐπὶ τοῦ μάτην πονοῦντος.

Betacode

*pro\s kenh\n a)/|deis: pro\s e)rrwgui=an a)/|deis, e)pi\ tou= ma/thn ponou=ntos.

Notes

Variants of the a)/llws a)/|deis registered by the paroemiographers.
See also pi 2646.

Linked from1 entry

π2646Πρὸς ἐρρωγυῖαν ᾄδειςyou are singing to a broken [jar][sc. A proverbial saying] in reference to someone labouring in vain.

Neighbouring entries

π2722Προσκεκλήσεσθαιto be going to be summoned π2723Προσκεκρουκώςhaving collided with π2724Πρὸς κενὴν ᾄδειςyou are singing to an empty [jar]π2725Πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζειςyou are kicking against the pricks π2726οὕτω φησὶν Ἀριστοφάνηςpillow

Revision history4 revisions · last 28 Nov 2011

28 Nov 2011Revised — David Whitehead
24 Feb 2010tweaked note — David Whitehead
24 Feb 2010my typo — Catharine Roth
24 Feb 2010added note and keyword, set status — Catharine Roth
21 Feb 2010Translated — David Whitehead