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David Whitehead
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250 entries
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Translator: David Whitehead
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Clear all
ε
676
Ἐκ τοῦ γεύματος γινώσκω
from the taste I recognize (it)
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those grasping many things from a small [sample].
high
short
ε
690
Ἐκ τριχὸς κρέμαται
it is hanging by a hair
A proverb in reference to those taking excessive risks.
high
short
ε
803
Ἐλεύθεραι αἶγες ἀρότρων
nanny-goats [are] free of ploughs
A proverb in reference to those relieved of some burden or evils.
high
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20
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20
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19
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19
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ΑΙ
alphaiota
ΑΙ
alphaiota
2
2
short
ε
806
Ἐλευθεριώτερος Σπάρτης
freer than Sparta
[sc. A proverb arising] because of the [Spartans'] independent and noble spirit. Hence they did not even surround themselves with walls, educated [in this regard?] by laws. Rather, they were not even willing to …
high
short
ε
814
Ἐλέφαντα ἐκ μυίας ποιεῖν
to make an elephant out of a fly
[sc. A proverbial saying] in reference to those whose words exalt trivial things and make them great. In Lucian's In Praise of a Fly: "in case I seem, as the proverb has it, to …
high
short
ε
816
Ἐλέφαντος οὐδὲν διαφέρεις
you are no different from an elephant
[sc. A proverbial saying] in reference to large and insensible people/things; inasmuch as that is what the creature [is] like. Also [sc. attested is 'you are making] an elephant out of a fly', in …
high
short
ε
932
Ἐμαυτῷ βαλανεύσω
I will be my own bathman
In effect, I will attend to myself. It is said whenever the bathman takes the ladle for himself and attends to it. Alternatively from those who hide acorns [bala/nous] in the fire.
high
short
ε
1060
Ἐμοὶ μελήσει ταῦτα καὶ λευκαῖς κόραις
I will attend to these matters and (so will) white maidens
They say that when certain barbarians attacked Delphi, the god [Apollo] was asked [what needed to be done] and said: 'I will attend to these matters and with white maidens'. Subsequently he appeared with …
high
short
ε
1110
Ἐν ἅλῳ κρύπτῃ
you would hide on a threshing-floor
[A proverbial phase] in reference to those unable to escape notice, inasmuch as a threshing-floor [is] visible all round.
high
short
ε
1111
Ἐν ἅλῳ δρακάζεις
you are absconding on a threshing-floor
That is, you would hide [there]. [A proverbial phrase] in reference to the impossible.
high
short
ε
1112
Ἐν ἀμούσοις καὶ κόρυδος φθέγγεται
amongst the unmusical even a lark sings
[no gloss]
high
short
ε
1147
Ἐν γὰρ ἀμηχανίῃ καὶ Καρκίνος ἔμμορε τιμῆς
for in a hopeless situation even Karkinos got his share of honour
[A proverbial phrase] in reference to nonentities who are thought worthy of honour through some accident.
high
short
ε
1150
Ἐν γῇ πένεσθαι μᾶλλον ἢ πλουτοῦντα πλεῖν
better to be a poor man on land than to make a voyage as a rich one
[no gloss]
high
short
ε
1154
Ἐν δὲ διχοστασίῃ καὶ Ἀνδροκλέης πολεμαρχεῖ
at a time of division even Androkles is polemarch
A proverb in reference to nonentities, who are thought worthy of honour through some accident. Of a similar kind is the one which says 'for in a hopeless situation even Karkinos got his share …
high
short
ε
1190
Ἐνδύεταί μοι τὴν λεοντῆν
I am putting on the lionskin
[A proverbial phrase] in reference to those attempting great things. [Arising] out of a metaphor of Herakles.
high
short
ε
1192
Ἐνδυμίωνος ὕπνον καθεύδεις
you are sleeping Endymion's sleep
The proverb is applied to somnolent people; [it arose] because Sleep became enamoured of Endymion while he was still sleeping, and they say that he was intimate with him [in that state].
high
short
ε
1266
Ἔνεστι κἂν μύρμηκι χολή
there is venom even in an ant
It is tantamount to [saying] don't despise even small things.
high
short
ε
1331
Ἐνιαυτὸς Μέτωνος
year of Meton, Meton's year
[Meaning] the nineteen-year period. For Meton the mathematician set out a cycle of time and assigned it nineteen [years].
high
short
ε
1359
Ἐν θέρει τὴν χλαῖναν κατατρίβεις
you are wearing out your cloak in summer
[A proverbial saying] in reference to those not doing what is necessary at the right time.
high
short
ε
1368
Ἔνθ' οὔτε μίμνειν ἀνέμους οὔτ' ἐκπλεῖν ἐᾷ
the wind allows neither staying there nor sailing out
This is said in reference to those who have fallen into difficult circumstances. Philoctetes in Aeschylus speaks it.
high
short
ε
1377
Ἐν Καρὶ τὸν κίνδυνον
the risk in a Carian
[A proverb] in reference to those selling their own woes for a wage. Because of the fact that the Carians were the first men to serve as mercenary soldiers. So the proverb is said …
high
short
ε
1378
Ἐν Καρὸς εἵπετο τάξει
he followed in a Carian's role
Meaning in that of a mercenary. For Carians were the first to serve as mercenaries.
high
short
ε
1379
Ἓν κηρίον
a single honeycomb
[sc. A proverbial phrase] applied to those who are voicing the same views, or [fellow-]agitators, or [fellow-]conspirators.
high
short
ε
1425
Ἐν πέντε κριτῶν γόνασι
in (the) laps of five judges
[sc. This proverbial phrase arose] inasmuch as, long ago, 5 judges used to judge the comedies, as Epicharmus says. In Homer it takes the form 'it lies in the laps of the gods'. [The …
high
short
ε
1426
Ἐν πίθῳ τὴν κεραμίαν μανθάνειν
to learn the potter's craft on a wine-jar
A proverbial saying in reference to those going beyond their first lessons and clutching at greater things. That is, disregarding their first lessons and striving for the final ones.
high
short
ε
1428
Ἐν Πυθίῳ κρεῖττον ἦν ἀποπατῆσαι
it would have been better to relieve oneself in the Pythion
i.e. to take a risk. For when certain people were so contemptuous of Apollo as to relieve themselves in his temple-precinct, Peisistratus enacted a law, that anyone caught doing this would die. But when …
high
medium
ε
1429
Ἐν πυρὶ βέβηκας
you walked in a fire
One should refer this to those wishing to linger on precarious and dangerous matters. And because he [who is] in a fire ought to step quickly out.
high
short
ε
1438
Ἐν σκότῳ ὀρχεῖσθαι
to dance in the dark
[A proverbial saying] in reference to those toiling over things that are unwitnessed, and do not have a clearcut result.
high
short
ε
1481
Ἐντὸς ἑβδόμης
before (the) seventh
At Athens it was forbidden to lead out an army before [the] seventh.
high
short
ε
1482
Ἐν τῷ μέρει τις καὶ τὸ πῦρ σκαλευσάτω
let someone also take a turn to poke the fire
A proverb in reference to those not contributing equally to a common effort. "[He] having given more gifts and taken [them] in turn".
high
short
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