Σῦκον αἰτεῖς
you are asking for a fig
Translated by William Hutton16 Feb 2014Vetting: high3 revisions
Translation
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those who flatter; for the Athenians used to flatter the farmers, wishing to get early figs from them; for they used to be an omen that they would come again for them in the next year.1
And again [there is] another proverb: "a fig upon Hermes;" in reference to things that are available for the benefit of those who want them. For when a fig appeared they dedicated it to Hermes, and whoever wanted to would take it.2
And [there is] another proverb: "just as the figs grew on your eyes;" in reference to things that hold onto some object inseparably. [He is] calling the tumors figs, or a lesion that occurs upon the eyes. He calls tumors on the eyes a fig, or a lesion that occurs upon the eyes. Aristophanes [writes]: "just as the figs grew on your eyes."3
And again [there is] another proverb: "a fig upon Hermes;" in reference to things that are available for the benefit of those who want them. For when a fig appeared they dedicated it to Hermes, and whoever wanted to would take it.2
And [there is] another proverb: "just as the figs grew on your eyes;" in reference to things that hold onto some object inseparably. [He is] calling the tumors figs, or a lesion that occurs upon the eyes. He calls tumors on the eyes a fig, or a lesion that occurs upon the eyes. Aristophanes [writes]: "just as the figs grew on your eyes."3
Greek original · Adler’s text
Σῦκον αἰτεῖς· ἐπὶ τῶν κολακευόντων· οἱ γὰρ Ἀθηναῖοι ἐκολάκευον τοὺς γεωργούς, βουλόμενοι παρ' αὐτῶν λαβεῖν πρώϊμα σῦκα· οἰωνίζοντο γὰρ αὐτοῖς καὶ πάλιν ἐλθεῖν ἐς νέωτα. καὶ πάλιν ἑτέρα παροιμία· Σῦκον ἐφ' Ἑρμῇ· ἐπὶ τῶν προκειμένων ἐπ' ὠφελείᾳ τοῖς βουλομένοις· ὁπότε γὰρ φανείη σῦκον, τῷ Ἑρμῇ τοῦτο ἀνετίθεσαν, καὶ ὁ βουλόμενος ἐλάμβανε. καὶ ἑτέρα παροιμία· Ὥσπερ τὰ σῦκ' ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔφυ· ἐπὶ τῶν προσφυῶς τινος πράγματος ἐχομένων. σῦκα λέγων τὰ σαρκώματα, ἢ ἕλκος γινόμενον ἐπὶ τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς. σῦκον λέγει τὰ ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς σαρκώματα, ἢ ἕλκος γινόμενον ἐπὶ τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς. Ἀριστοφάνης· ὥσπερ τὰ σῦκ' ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔφυ.
Betacode
*su=kon ai)tei=s: e)pi\ tw=n kolakeuo/ntwn: oi( ga\r *)aqhnai=oi e)kola/keuon tou\s gewrgou/s, boulo/menoi par' au)tw=n labei=n prw/i+ma su=ka: oi)wni/zonto ga\r au)toi=s kai\ pa/lin e)lqei=n e)s ne/wta. kai\ pa/lin e(te/ra paroimi/a: *su=kon e)f' *(ermh=|: e)pi\ tw=n prokeime/nwn e)p' w)felei/a| toi=s boulome/nois: o(po/te ga\r fanei/h su=kon, tw=| *(ermh=| tou=to a)neti/qesan, kai\ o( boulo/menos e)la/mbane. kai\ e(te/ra paroimi/a: *(/wsper ta\ su=k' e)pi\ tou\s o)fqalmou\s e)/fu: e)pi\ tw=n prosfuw=s tinos pra/gmatos e)xome/nwn. su=ka le/gwn ta\ sarkw/mata, h)\ e(/lkos gino/menon e)pi\ toi=s o)fqalmoi=s. su=kon le/gei ta\ e)pi\ tou\s o)fqalmou\s sarkw/mata, h)\ e(/lkos gino/menon e)pi\ toi=s o)fqalmoi=s. *)aristofa/nhs: w(/sper ta\ su=k' e)pi\ tou\s o)fqalmou\s e)/fu.
Notes (3)
- 1= Zenobius 5.91, with small differences; cf. sigma 1326 (= Photius sigma686 Theodoridis), ps.-Plutarch, Alexandrian Proverbs 1.87; Diogenianus 8.9; Hesychius sigma2235. The only literary occurrence of the phrase, with the verb in the second person singular as here, is Aristophanes, Wasps 302. ↩
- 2= Zenobius 5.92, with small differences; cf. Pausanias the Atticist sigma26, Hesychius sigma2236, Photius phi684 Theodoridis. There are no literary attestations of the phrase. ↩
- 3Aristophanes, Frogs 1247 (the only literary attestation of this "proverb"). The comments parallel, here repetitiously, material in the scholia to this passage, although in the scholia the term
sukw/mata (literally, 'figgings', hence 'fig-like growths') appears where the Suda hassarkw/mata ('tumors'). See also sigma 1321, Pollux 2.65; on the condition, Aetius 45.22. ↩
Linked from2 entries
- σ1321ΣυκάμινονmulberryA kind of tree. And a tumor or lesion which occurs both on the eyes and on the [?]seats, which is also called a fig.
- σ1326Σῦκον αἰτεῖνto ask for a fig[Meaning] to flatter; for when the figs are only just appearing, as if coming just at the right time they used to beg the fig-watchers to give [them]. See about erineos the fruit of the wild fig in the [entry for]…
Neighbouring entries
Revision history3 revisions · last 22 Jun 2024
- typo noted by James McKeown — Catharine Roth
- tweaks and cosmetics; raised status — David Whitehead
- set status — Catharine Roth
- Translated — William Hutton