The Sausage-Seller's Triumph in Council and Quarrel with Cleon — Aristophanes, Knights, lines 635–718, Greek & English

635

Βερέσχεθοί τε καὶ Κόβαλοι καὶ Μόθων,

O Bereschetoi and Kobaloi and Mothon,

ἀγορά τʼ ἐν ᾗ παῖς ὢν ἐπαιδεύθην ἐγώ,

and the Agora in which I was educated when a boy,

νῦν μοι φράσος καὶ γλῶτταν εὔπορον δότε

now give me boldness, and a ready tongue,

φωνήν τʼ ἀναιδῆ. ταῦτα φροντίζοντί μοι

and a shameless voice. As I was thinking on these things,

ἐκ δεξιᾶς ἀπέπαρδε καταπύγων ἀνήρ.

on the right a lewd man broke wind.

640

κἀγὼ προσέκυσα· κᾆτα τῷ πρωκτῷ θενὼν

And I did obeisance; and then, striking with my buttocks,

τὴν κιγκλίδʼ ἐξήραξα κἀναχανὼν μέγα

I shattered the latticed gate, and opening my mouth wide,

ἀνέκραγον· ὦ βουλὴ λόγους ἀγαθοὺς φέρων

I shouted: “O Council, bringing good news,

εὐαγγελίσασθαι πρῶτον ὑμῖν βούλομαι·

I wish first to announce glad tidings to you;

ἐξ οὗ γὰρ ἡμῖν ὁ πόλεμος κατερράγη,

for since the war broke out upon us,

645

οὐπώποτʼ ἀφύας εἶδον ἀξιωτέρας.¹

never yet have I seen anchovies more valuable (cheaper).”

τῶν δʼ εὐθέως τὰ πρόσωπα διεγαλήνισεν·

And straightway their faces cleared.

εἶτʼ ἐστεφάνουν μʼ εὐαγγέλια· κἀγὼ 'φρασα

Then they were crowning me for the good news; and I,

αὐτοῖς ἀπόρρητον ποιησάμενος ταχύ,

having quickly told them to make it a secret,

ἵνα τὰς ἀφύας ὠνοῖντο πολλὰς τοὐβολοῦ,

so that they might buy many anchovies for an obol,

650

τῶν δημιουργῶν ξυλλαβεῖν² τὰ τρύβλια.

advised them to seize all the dishes of the potters.

οἱ δʼ ἀνεκρότησαν καὶ πρὸς ἔμʼ ἐκεχήνεσαν.

And they applauded and gaped at me.

ὁ δʼ ὑπονοήσας ὁ Παφλαγών, εἰδὼς ἄρα

But the Paphlagonian, having suspected this, and knowing indeed

οἶς ἥδεθʼ ἡ βουλὴ μάλιστα ῥήμασιν,

with what words this Council is most pleased,

γνώμην ἔλεξεν· ἄνδρες, ἤδη μοι δοκεῖ

spoke his opinion: “Gentlemen, it seems to me now,

655

ἐπὶ συμφοραῖς ἀγαθαῖσιν εἰσηγγελμέναις

upon these good tidings that have been announced,

εὐαγγέλια θύειν ἑκατὸν βοῦς τῇ θεῷ.

we should sacrifice a hundred oxen to the Goddess as a thank-offering.”

ἐπένευσεν εἰς ἐκεῖνον ἡ βουλὴ πάλιν.

The Council nodded back toward him again.

κἄγωγʼ ὅτε δὴ γʼνων τοῖς βολίτοις ἡττημένος,

And I, when indeed I knew I was being defeated by the dung,

διακοσίαισι βουσὶν ὑπερηκόντισα,

outshot him with two hundred oxen,

660

τῇ δʼ Ἀγροτέρᾳ κατὰ χιλιῶν παρῄνεσα

and advised to make a vow to Agrotera

εὐχὴν ποιήσασθαι χιμάρων εἰς αὔριον,

of a thousand goats for tomorrow,

αἱ τριχίδες εἰ γενοίαθʼ ἑκατὸν τοὐβολοῦ.

if anchovies should become a hundred for an obol.

ἐκαραδόκησεν εἰς ἔμʼ ἡ βουλὴ πάλιν.

The Council looked back toward me again.

ὁ δὲ ταῦτʼ ἀκούσας ἐκπλαγεὶς ἐφληνάφα.

And he, hearing this, was struck with dismay and talked nonsense.

665

κᾆθʼ εἷλκον αὐτὸν οἱ πρυτάνεις χοἰ τοξόται.

And then the prytaneis and the archers dragged him away.

οἱ δʼ ἐθορύβουν περὶ τῶν ἀφύων ἑστηκότες·

And they, standing up, made a tumult about the anchovies;

ὁ δʼ ἠντεβόλει γʼ αὐτοὺς ὀλίγον μεῖναι χρόνον,

but he entreated them to wait a little while,

ἵνʼ ἅτθʼ ὁ κῆρυξ οὑκ Λακεδαίμονος λέγει

so that they might hear what the herald from Lacedaemon says,

πύθησθʼ, ἀφῖκται γὰρ περὶ σπονδῶν, λέγων.

”for he has arrived about a treaty,” he said.

670

οἱ δʼ ἐξ ἑνὸς στόματος ἅπαντες ἀνέκραγον·

But they all shouted out with one voice:

νυνὶ περὶ σπονδῶν; ἐπειδή γʼ ὦ μέλε

”Now about a treaty? Yes, indeed, my good man,

ᾔσθοντο τὰς ἀφύας παρʼ ἡμῖν ἀξίας.

since they have perceived that anchovies are cheap with us!

οὐ δεόμεθα σπονδῶν· ὁ πόλεμος ἑρπέτω.

We don’t need a treaty; let the war go on!”

ἐκεκράγεσάν τε τοὺς πρυτάνεις ἀφιέναι·

And they shouted to the prytaneis to dismiss them;

675

εἶθʼ ὑπερεπήδων τοὺς δρυφάκτους πανταχῇ.

then they leaped over the railings everywhere.

ἐγὼ δὲ τὰ κορίαννʼ ἐπριάμην ὑποδραμὼν

But I, running under, bought up all the coriander

ἅπαντα τά τε γήτεἰ ὅσʼ ἦν ἐν τἀγορᾷ·

and all the leeks that were in the market;

ἔπειτα ταῖς ἀφύαις ἐδίδουν ἡδύσματα

then I gave them as seasonings for the anchovies

ἀποροῦσιν αὐτοῖς προῖκα κἀχαριζόμην.

to those who were lacking, for free, and won their favor.

680

οἱ δʼ ὑπερεπῄνουν ὑπερεπύππαζόν τέ με

And they praised me exceedingly and cheered me,

ἅπαντες οὕτως ὥστε τὴν βουλὴν ὅλην

all of them, so that having won over the whole Council

ὀβολοῦ κοριάννοις ἀναλαβὼν ἐλήλυθα.

with an obol’s worth of coriander, I have returned.

πάντα τοι πέπραγας οἷα χρὴ τὸν εὐτυχοῦντα·

Chorus: You have done everything as behooves a lucky man;

ηὗρε δʼ ὁ πανοῦργος ἕτερον πολὺ πανουργίαις

but the rogue has found another far more accomplished in roguery,

685

μείζοσι κεκασμένον

distinguished by greater tricks,

καὶ δόλοισι ποικίλοις

and by various wiles,

ῥήμασίν θʼ αἱμύλοις.

and by flattering words.

ἀλλʼ ὅπως ἀγωνιεῖ φρόντιζε

But see that you fight out

τἀπίλοιπʼ ἄριστα·

the rest in the best way;

690

συμμάχους δʼ ἡμᾶς ἔχων εὔνους

and that you have us as friendly allies,

ἐπίστασαι πάλαι.

you have known for a long time.

καὶ μὴν ὁ Παφλαγὼν οὑτοσὶ προσέρχεται,

Sausage-Seller: And indeed, here comes the Paphlagonian,

ὠθῶν κολόκυμα καὶ ταράττων καὶ κυκῶν,

pushing a swollen wave, disturbing and muddling,

ὡς δὴ καταπιόμενός με. μορμὼ τοῦ θράσους.

as if indeed to swallow me down. A bugbear for his boldness!

εἰ μή σʼ ἀπολέσαιμʼ, εἴ τι τῶν αὐτῶν ἐμοὶ

Cleon: If I do not destroy you, if any of my usual

695

ψευδῶν ἐνείη, διαπέσοιμι³ πανταχῇ.

lies remain in me, may I fall to pieces everywhere.

ἥσθην ἀπειλαῖς, ἐγέλασα ψολοκομπίαις,

Sausage-Seller: I am delighted with your threats, I laugh at your smoke-boasts,

ἀπεπυδάρισα μόθωνα, περιεκόκκασα.

I dance a mothon-jig, and cuckoo around you.

οὔτοι μὰ τὴν Δήμητρʼ, ἐὰν μή σʼ ἐκφάγω

Cleon: Surely, by Demeter, unless I eat you up

ἐκ τῆσδε τῆς γῆς, οὐδέποτε βιώσομαι.

out of this land, may I never live!

700

ἣν μὴ κʼφάγῃς; ἐγὼ δέ γʼ, ἢν μή σʼ ἐκπίω

Sausage-Seller: Unless you eat me? And I indeed, unless I drink you up

κἀπεκροφήσας αὐτὸς ἐπιδιαρραγῶ.

and gulping you down, burst myself over you!

ἀπολῶ σε νὴ τὴν προεδρίαν τὴν ἐκ Πύλου.

Cleon: I will destroy you, by that front-row seat from Pylos!

ἰδοὺ προεδρίαν· οἷον ὅψομαί σʼ ἐγὼ

Sausage-Seller: Look at his front-row seat! How I shall see you

ἐκ τῆς προεδρίας ἔσχατον θεώμενον.

viewing from the front-row seat as the very last!

705

ἐν τῷ ξύλῳ δήσω σε νὴ τὸν οὐρανόν.

Cleon: I will bind you in the stocks, by heaven!

ὡς ὀξύθυμος. φέρε τί σοι δῶ καταφαγεῖν;

Sausage-Seller: How hot-tempered! Come, what shall I give you to eat?

ἐπὶ τῷ φάγοις ἥδιστʼ ἄν; ἐπὶ βαλλαντίῳ;

With what would you eat most gladly? With a purse?

ἐξαρπάσομαί σου τοῖς ὄνυξι τἄντερα.

Cleon: I will tear out your entrails with my nails!

ἀπονυχιῶ σου τἀν πρυτανείῳ σιτία.

Sausage-Seller: I will scrape off your free meals in the Prytaneum with my nails!

710

ἕλξω σε πρὸς τὸν δῆμον, ἵνα δῷς μοι δίκην.

Cleon: I will drag you to the Demus, so that you may pay me the penalty!

κἀγὼ δέ σʼ ἕλξω καὶ διαβαλῶ πλείονα.

Sausage-Seller: And I indeed will drag you and slander you even more!

ἀλλʼ ὦ πόνηρε σοὶ μὲν οὐδὲν πείθεται·

Cleon: But, you wretch, he believes you in nothing;

ἐγὼ δʼ ἐκείνου καταγελῶ γʼ ὅσον θέλω.

but I laugh at him as much as I wish.

ὡς σφόδρα σὺ τὸν δῆμον σεαυτοῦ νενόμικας.⁴

Sausage-Seller: How thoroughly you have considered the Demus your own!

715

ἐπίσταμαι γὰρ αὐτὸν οἷς ψωμίζεται.

Cleon: For I know with what morsels he is fed.

κᾆθʼ ὥσπερ αἱ τίτθαι γε σιτίζεις κακῶς.

Sausage-Seller: And then, just like nurses, you feed him badly;

μασώμενος γὰρ τῷ μὲν ὀλίγον ἐντίθης,

for chewing, you put a little in his mouth,

αὐτὸς δʼ ἐκείνου τριπλάσιον κατέσπακας.

but you yourself have swallowed down three times as much of it.

Syntax notes4 items

645ἀξιωτέρας
The adjective ἄξιος usually means 'worthy' or 'valuable', but in this context of cheap and abundant anchovies, it is used ironically or idiomatically to mean 'valuable for the price,' i.e., 'cheap' or 'a bargain.'
650ξυλλαβεῖν
An infinitive dependent on the verb φράζω (implied here as 'advised' or 'told'), expressing a command or advice to seize or buy up all the dishes of the potters.
695διαπέσοιμι
An optative of wish expressing a self-imprecation ('may I fall to pieces'). Paired with the conditional clause εἴ τι ... ἐνείη ('if any remain'), it forms a future less vivid or potential condition with a strong emotional coloring of self-curse.
714σεαυτοῦ νενόμικας
The perfect active verb νενόμικας (from νομίζω, 'to consider') is constructed with the genitive pronoun σεαυτοῦ ('of yourself'), functioning as a predicate genitive of possession, meaning 'you have considered the Demus to belong to yourself.'

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-22) · Revision history (2, latest 2026-09-22)

2026-09-22 AI review — source 1
2026-09-21 AI review — translation 1

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0019.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:635-718