- Source
- Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 1. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0019.tlg003.humanitext-grc2:1-82
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-27
Suffering from massive debts due to his horse-loving son Pheidippides, the rustic father Strepsiades spends a sleepless night reminiscing about his mismatched marriage to an aristocratic city woman and the naming of their son, before conceiving a clever scheme to escape the debts and attempting to wake the boy.
ἰοὺ ἰού·
Strepsiades: Oh dear, oh dear!
ὦ Ζεῦ βασιλεῦ τὸ χρῆμα τῶν νυκτῶν ὅσον·1
Great Zeus, what a never-ending business the nights are!
ἀπέραντον. οὐδέποθʼ ἡμέρα γενήσεται;
Will it never be day?
καὶ μὴν πάλαι γʼ ἀλεκτρυόνος ἤκουσʼ ἐγώ·
And yet I heard the cock crowing long ago.
οἱ δʼ οἰκέται ῥέγκουσιν· ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἂν πρὸ τοῦ.2
But the servants are snoring; they wouldn’t have done that in the old days.
ἀπόλοιο δῆτʼ ὦ πόλεμε πολλῶν οὕνεκα,
May you perish, war, for many reasons,
ὅτʼ οὐδὲ κολάσʼ ἔξεστί μοι τοὺς οἰκέτας.
when I can’t even punish my own servants!
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὁ χρηστὸς οὑτοσὶ νεανίας
Nor does this fine young man here
ἐγείρεται τῆς νυκτός, ἀλλὰ πέρδεται
wake up during the night, but he farts
ἐν πέντε σισύραις ἐγκεκορδυλημένος.
wrapped up in five heavy blankets.
ἀλλʼ εἰ δοκεῖ ῥέγκωμεν ἐγκεκαλυμμένοι.
Well, if it seems best, let’s cover ourselves and snore.
ἀλλʼ οὐ δύναμαι δείλαιος εὕδειν δακνόμενος
But I cannot sleep, miserable as I am, being bitten
ὑπὸ τῆς δαπάνης καὶ τῆς φάτνης καὶ τῶν χρεῶν
by my expenses, the stable, and my debts
διὰ τουτονὶ τὸν υἱόν. ὁ δὲ κόμην ἔχων
because of this son of mine. And he, keeping his hair long,
ἱππάζεταί τε καὶ ξυνωρικεύεται
rides horses, drives chariots,
ὀνειροπολεῖ θʼ ἵππους· ἐγὼ δʼ ἀπόλλυμαι
and dreams of horses, while I am ruined,
ὁρῶν ἄγουσαν τὴν σελήνην εἰκάδας·3
seeing the moon bringing on the twenties (the end of the month).
οἱ γὰρ τόκοι χωροῦσιν. ἅπτε παῖ λύχνον,
For the interest is running on. Slave, light the lamp,
κἄκφερε τὸ γραμματεῖον, ἵνʼ ἀναγνῶ λαβὼν
and bring out the account book, so that I may take it and read
ὁπόσοις ὀφείλω καὶ λογίσωμαι τοὺς τόκους.
how many people I owe money to and calculate the interest.
φέρʼ ἴδω τί ὀφείλω; δώδεκα μνᾶς Πασίᾳ.
Let’s see: what do I owe? Twelve minas to Pasias.
τοῦ δώδεκα μνᾶς Πασίᾳ;4 τί ἐχρησάμην;
Why twelve minas to Pasias? What did I borrow it for?
ὅτʼ ἐπριάμην τὸν κοππατίαν. οἴμοι τάλας,
Ah, when I bought the branded horse (the Koppatias). Oh, wretched me,
εἴθʼ ἐξεκόπην πρότερον τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν λίθῳ.
I wish my eye had been knocked out with a stone beforehand!
Φίλων ἀδικεῖς· ἔλαυνε τὸν σαυτοῦ δρόμον.
Pheidippides (in his dream): Philon, you’re cheating! Drive in your own lane.
τοῦτʼ ἔστι τουτὶ τὸ κακὸν ὅ μʼ ἀπολώλεκεν·
Strepsiades: That is it, that is the very evil that has ruined me;
ὀνειροπολεῖ γὰρ καὶ καθεύδων ἱππικήν.
for even while sleeping, he dreams of horsemanship.
πόσους δρόμους ἐλᾷ τὰ πολεμιστήρια;
Pheidippides (in his dream): How many courses will the war-chariots run?
ἐμὲ μὲν σὺ πολλοὺς τὸν πατέρʼ ἐλαύνεις δρόμους.5
Strepsiades: You are driving me, your father, through many courses!
ἀτὰρ τί χρέος ἔβα με μετὰ τὸν Πασίαν;
But what debt came upon me after Pasias?
τρεῖς μναῖ διφρίσκου καὶ τροχοῖν Ἀμυνίᾳ.
Three minas to Amynias for a little chariot and a pair of wheels.
ἄπαγε τὸν ἵππον ἐξαλίσας οἴκαδε.
Pheidippides (in his dream): Lead the horse home after rolling him in the dust.
ἀλλʼ ὦ μέλʼ ἐξήλικας ἐμέ γʼ ἐκ τῶν ἐμῶν,
Strepsiades: But, you wretched boy, you have rolled me out of my own possessions,
ὅτε καὶ δίκας ὤφληκα χἄτεροι τόκου
since some have won lawsuits against me, and others say they will
ἐνεχυράσεσθαί φασιν.
seize my goods for interest.
ἐτεὸν ὦ πάτερ
Pheidippides: Seriously, father,
τί δυσκολαίνεις καὶ στρέφει τὴν νύχθʼ ὅλην;
why are you so cross and turning around all night long?
δάκνει μὲ δήμαρχός τις ἐκ τῶν στρωμάτων.
Strepsiades: A bailiff from the bedding is biting me.
ἔασον ὦ δαιμόνιε καταδαρθεῖν τί με.
Pheidippides: Let me get some sleep, my good man.
σὺ δʼ οὖν κάθευδε· τὰ δὲ χρέα ταῦτʼ ἴσθʼ ὅτι
Strepsiades: Well, go ahead and sleep; but know that all these debts
ἐς τὴν κεφαλὴν ἅπαντα τὴν σὴν τρέψεται.
will turn upon your own head!
φεῦ.
Alas!
εἴθʼ ὤφελʼ ἡ προμνήστριʼ ἀπολέσθαι κακῶς,
I wish that matchmaker had perished miserably,
ἥτις με γῆμʼ ἐπῆρε τὴν σὴν μητέρα·
who urged me to marry your mother!
ἐμοὶ γὰρ ἦν ἄγροικος ἥδιστος βίος
For I had a most pleasant, rustic life,
εὐρωτιῶν, ἀκόρητος, εἰκῇ κείμενος,
moldy, untidy, easygoing,
βρύων μελίτταις καὶ προβάτοις καὶ στεμφύλοις.
abounding in bees, sheep, and pressed olives.
ἔπειτʼ ἔγημα Μεγακλέους τοῦ Μεγακλέους
Then I, a countryman, married the niece of Megacles, son of Megacles,
ἀδελφιδῆν ἄγροικος ὢν ἐξ ἄστεως,
from the city,
σεμνὴν τρυφῶσαν ἐγκεκοισυρωμένην.
a haughty, luxurious, and Megacles-like lady.
ταύτην ὅτʼ ἐγάμουν, συγκατεκλινόμην ἐγὼ
When I married her, I lay down beside her
ὄζων τρυγὸς τρασιᾶς ἐρίων περιουσίας,
smelling of new wine, dry figs, and abundance of wool,
ἡ δʼ αὖ μύρου κρόκου καταγλωττισμάτων,
while she smelled of perfume, saffron, French kisses,
δαπάνης λαφυγμοῦ Κωλιάδος Γενετυλλίδος.
expense, wastefulness, Colias, and Genetyllis.
οὐ μὴν ἐρῶ γʼ ὡς ἀργὸς ἦν, ἀλλʼ ἐσπάθα.
I will not say she was idle; she was weaving (spending).
ἐγὼ δʼ ἂν αὐτῇ θοἰμάτιον δεικνὺς τοδὶ
And I, showing her this cloak of mine,
πρόφασιν ἔφασκον,6 ὦ γύναι λίαν σπαθᾷς.
would say as an excuse: “Wife, you are weaving too much.”
ἔλαιον ἡμῖν οὐκ ἔνεστʼ ἐν τῷ λύχνῳ.
Slave: We have no oil in the lamp.
οἴμοι· τί γάρ μοι τὸν πότην ἧπτες λύχνον;
Strepsiades: Oh no! Why did you light me that thirsty lamp?
δεῦρʼ ἔλθʼ ἵνα κλάῃς.b διὰ τί δῆτα κλαύσομαι;
Come over here so you can weep!
ὅτι τῶν παχειῶν ἐνετίθεις θρυαλλίδων.
Slave: Why indeed shall I weep?
μετὰ ταῦθʼ, ὅπως νῷν ἐγένεθʼ υἱὸς οὑτοσί,
Strepsiades: Because you put in one of the thick wicks.
ἐμοί τε δὴ καὶ τῇ γυναικὶ τἀγαθῇ,
After this, when this son was born to us—
περὶ τοὐνόματος δὴ ʼντεῦθεν ἐλοιδορούμεθα·
to me and my noble wife—
ἡ μὲν γὰρ ἵππον προσετίθει πρὸς τοὔνομα,
we began to quarrel about his name.
Ξάνθιππον ἤ Χαριππον ἢ Καλλιππίδην,
For she wanted to add ‘horse’ (hippos) to the name,
ἐγὼ δὲ τοῦ πάππου ʼτιθέμην Φειδωνίδην.
Xanthippus, Charippus, or Callippides,
τέως μὲν οὖν ἐκρινόμεθʼ· εἶτα τῷ χρόνῳ
while I wanted to name him Pheidonides after his grandfather.
κοινῇ ξυνέβημεν κἀθέμεθα Φειδιππίδην.
For a long time we disputed, but at last we
τοῦτον τὸν υἱὸν λαμβάνουσʼ ἐκορίζετο,
agreed in common and named him Pheidippides.
ὅταν σὺ μέγας ὢν ἅρμʼ ἐλαύνῃς πρὸς πόλιν,
She would take this son and fondle him, saying:
ὥσπερ Μεγακλέης, ξυστίδʼ ἔχων. ἐγὼ δʼ ἔφην,
”When you grow up and drive a chariot to the city, like Megacles, wearing a purple robe.”
ὅταν μὲν οὖν τὰς αἶγας ἐκ τοῦ φελλέως,
But I would say: “No, rather when you drive the goats from the crags,
ὥσπερ ὁ πατήρ σου, διφθέραν ἐνημμένος.
like your father, dressed in a leather jacket.”
ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐπίθετο τοῖς ἐμοῖς οὐδὲν λόγοις,
But he paid no heed to my words at all,
ἀλλʼ ἵππερόν μου κατέχεεν τῶν χρημάτων.
but poured a horse-fever over my money.
νῦν οὖν ὅλην τὴν νύκτα φροντίζων ὁδοῦ
Now, having pondered all night long,
μίαν ηὗρον ἀτραπὸν δαιμονίως ὑπερφυᾶ,
I have found one path, wonderfully, divinely excellent,
ἣν ἢν ἀναπείσω τουτονί, σωθήσομαι.
which, if I can persuade him to follow, I shall be saved.
ἀλλʼ ἐξεγεῖραι πρῶτον αὐτὸν βούλομαι.
But first I want to wake him up.
πῶς δῆτʼ ἂν ἥδιστʼ αὐτὸν ἐπεγείραιμι; πῶς;
How then could I wake him up most pleasantly? How?
Φειδιππίδη Φειδιππίδιον.
Pheidippides, my little Pheidippides!
τί ὦ πάτερ;
Pheidippides: What is it, father?
κύσον με καὶ τὴν χεῖρα δὸς τὴν δεξιάν.
Strepsiades: Kiss me and give me your right hand.
ἰδού. τί ἔστιν;
Pheidippides: There you are. What is the matter?
- 2τὸ χρῆμα τῶν νυκτῶν ὅσον
An idiomatic exclamatory construction where the noun χρῆμα (thing, matter) with a genitive denotes an extraordinary amount, size, or quality of something. Combined with the exclamatory adjective ὅσον, it means "how immense a thing the nights are!" or "what an endless stretch of nights!"
- 5οὐκ ἂν πρὸ τοῦ
The particle ἄν combined with the temporal phrase πρὸ τοῦ (before this time, in the past). A past imperfect verb (such as ἔρρεγκον, "they would snore") is omitted. It functions either as a past potential or counterfactual, meaning "they wouldn't have done so in former times."
- 17ἄγουσαν τὴν σελήνην εἰκάδας
The noun εἰκάς (the twentieth day of the month, plural εἰκάδες referring to the days in the twenties leading to the month's end) is the direct object of the active participle ἄγουσαν. Since interest was due at the end of the month, Strepsiades personifies the moon as "bringing on the (dreaded) twenties," signaling the approach of the payment deadline.
- 22τοῦ δώδεκα μνᾶς Πασίᾳ;
The genitive τοῦ (a contracted form of the interrogative pronoun τίνος) is a genitive of cause or purpose, equivalent to "for what?" or "on what account?". A preposition like ἕνεκα (for the sake of) is elliptically omitted. Strepsiades is asking himself the reason behind borrowing the twelve minas.
- 29ἐμὲ μὲν σὺ πολλοὺς τὸν πατέρʼ ἐλαύνεις δρόμους
The verb ἐλαύνω (to drive, harass) here takes a double accusative: the personal direct object representing the victim, "me, your father" (ἐμέ / τὸν πατέρα), and the cognate accusative "many courses" (πολλοὺς δρόμους). This creates a wordplay between the son driving horses in his sleep and driving his father to ruin through debt.
- 54ἂν ... ἔφασκον
The combination of the particle ἄν with the imperfect indicative (ἔφασκον, "I used to say") denotes a habitual or repeated action in the past ("would often do"). It describes Strepsiades' past custom of repeatedly complaining to his wife about her extravagance while showing her his worn-out cloak.