- 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.tlg005.humanitext-grc2:1268-1357
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-27
At Trygaios' wedding, the sons of Lamachus and Cleonymus sing contrasting songs reflecting their fathers' reputations, after which the entire company exits singing a festive wedding hymn.
ἀλλʼ ὅ τι περ ᾄδειν ἐπινοεῖς ὦ παιδίον,
Trygaeus: But whatever you intend to sing, my boy,
αὐτοῦ παρʼ ἐμὲ στὰν πρότερον ἀναβαλοῦ ʼνθαδί.
Trygaeus: first stand right here beside me and rehearse it here.
νῦν αὖθʼ ὁπλοτέρων1 ἀνδρῶν ἀρχώμεθα—
Son of Lamachus: “Now again let us begin with the younger men—“
παῦσαι
Trygaeus: Stop!
ὁπλοτέρους ᾆδον, καὶ ταῦτ ὦ τρισκακόδαιμον
Trygaeus: Singing of younger (armed) men, and that too, you thrice-miserable wretch,
εἰρήνης οὔσης· ἀμαθές γʼ εἶ καὶ κατάρατον.
Trygaeus: when there is peace! You are indeed ignorant and cursed.
οἱ δʼ ὅτε δὴ σχεδὸν ἦσαν ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες,
Son of Lamachus: “And when they indeed were going near each other,
σύν ῥʼ ἔβαλον ῥινούς τε καὶ ἀσπίδας ὀμφαλοέσσας.
Son of Lamachus: they dashed together their ox-hide shields and bossed shields.”
ἀσπίδας; οὐ παύσει μεμνημένος ἀσπίδος ἡμῖν;
Trygaeus: Shields? Won’t you stop mentioning shields to us?
ἔνθα δʼ ἅμʼ οἰμωγή τε καὶ εὐχωλὴ πέλεν ἀνδρῶν.
Son of Lamachus: “And there arose at once the wailing and the vaunting of men.”
ἀνδρῶν οἰμωγή; κλαύσει νὴ τὸν Διόνυσον
Trygaeus: Wailing of men? By Dionysus, you shall weep
οἰμωγὰς ᾄδων, καὶ ταύτας ὀμφαλοέσσας.2
Trygaeus: for singing of wailings, and bossed ones at that!
ἀλλὰ τί δῆτʼ ᾄδω; σὺ γὰρ εἰπέ μοι οἷστισι χαίρεις.
Son of Lamachus: But what then should I sing? Tell me what kinds of songs you delight in.
ὣς οἱ μὲν δαίνυντο βοῶν κρέα, καὶ τὰ τοιαυτί·
Trygaeus: “Thus they were feasting on the flesh of oxen, and such things,”
ἄριστον προτίθεντο καὶ ἅτθʼ ἥδιστα πάσασθαι.
Trygaeus: “and they set out breakfast, whatever was sweetest to feast upon.” Sing such things.
ὣς οἱ μὲν δαίνυντο βοῶν κρέα, καὐχένας ἵππων
Son of Lamachus: “Thus they were feasting on the flesh of oxen, and
ἔκλυον ἱδρώοντας, ἐπεὶ πολέμου ἐκόρεσθεν.
Son of Lamachus: they loosed the sweaty necks of horses, when they were sated of war.”
εἶεν; ἐκόρεσθεν τοῦ πολέμου κᾆτʼ ἤσθιον.
Trygaeus: Good! “They were sated of war and then they ate.”
ταῦτʼ ᾆδε, ταῦθʼ, ὡς ἤσθιον κεκορημένοι.
Trygaeus: Sing this, sing how they ate, being sated.
θωρήσσοντʼ3 ἄρʼ ἔπειτα πεπαυμένοι—
Son of Lamachus: “Then indeed they armed themselves (or drank their fill) having ceased—“
ἄσμενοι, οἶμαι.
Trygaeus: Gladly, I think.
πύργων δʼ ἐξεχέοντο, βοὴ δʼ ἄσβεστος ὀρώρει.
Son of Lamachus: “And they poured out of the towers, and an unquenchable shout arose.”
κάκιστʼ ἀπόλοιο παιδάριον αὐταῖς μάχαις·
Trygaeus: May you perish most miserably, boy, along with your battles!
οὐδὲν γὰρ ᾄδεις πλὴν πολέμους. τοῦ καί ποτʼ εἶ;
Trygaeus: For you sing of nothing but wars. Whose son indeed are you?
ἐγώ;
Son of Lamachus: Me?
σὺ μέντοι νὴ Δίʼ.
Trygaeus: Yes you, indeed, by Zeus.
υἱὸς Λαμάχου.
Son of Lamachus: The son of Lamachus.
αἰβοῖ·
Trygaeus: Ugh!
ἦ γὰρ ἐγὼ θαύμαζον ἀκούων, εἰ σὺ μὴ εἴης
Trygaeus: Indeed, I was wondering as I listened, whether you were not
ἀνδρὸς βουλομάχου καὶ κλαυσιμάχου τινὸς υἱός.
Trygaeus: the son of some battle-desiring and battle-weeping man.
ἄπερρε καὶ τοῖς λογχοφόροισιν ᾆδʼ ἰών.
Trygaeus: Get lost, and go sing to the spear-bearers.
ποῦ μοι τὸ τοῦ Κλεωνύμου ʼστὶ παιδίον;
Trygaeus: Where is the child of Cleonymus for me?
ᾆσον πρὶν εἰσιέναι τι· σὺ γὰρ εὖ οἶδʼ ὅτι
Trygaeus: Sing something before going in; for you, I know well,
οὐ πράγματʼ ᾄσει· σώφρονος γὰρ εἶ πατρός.
Trygaeus: will not sing of troubles; for you are the son of a prudent father.
ἀσπίδι μὲν Σαΐων τις ἀγάλλεται, ἣν παρὰ θάμνῳ
Son of Cleonymus: “Some of the Saians glories in the shield, which by a bush,
ἔντος ἀμώμητον κάλλιπον οὐκ ἐθέλων.
Son of Cleonymus: a blameless armor, I left behind unwillingly.”
εἰπέ μοι ὦ πόσθων, ἐς τὸν σαυτοῦ πατέρʼ ᾄδεις;
Trygaeus: Tell me, you little fellow, are you singing with reference to your own father?
ψυχὴν δʼ ἐξεσάωσα—
Son of Cleonymus: “But I saved my life—“
κατῄσχυνας δὲ τοκῆας.
Trygaeus: And disgraced your parents.
ἀλλʼ εἰσίωμεν. εὖ γὰρ οἶδʼ ἐγὼ σαφῶς
Trygaeus: But let us go inside. For I know well and clearly
ὅτι ταῦθʼ ὅσʼ ᾖσας ἄρτι περὶ τῆς ἀσπίδος
Trygaeus: that you will certainly never forget what you just sang about the shield,
οὐ μὴ ʼπιλάθῃ ποτʼ ὢν ἐκείνου τοῦ πατρός.4
Trygaeus: being the son of that father.
ὑμῶν τὸ λοιπὸν ἔργον ἤδη ʼνταῦθα τῶν μενόντων
Trygaeus: For the rest, the task now belongs to you who remain here,
φλᾶν ταῦτα πάντα καὶ σποδεῖν, καὶ μὴ κενὰς παρέλκειν.
Trygaeus: to crush and devour all these things, and not to keep your jaws idle.
ἀλλʼ ἀνδρικῶς ἐμβάλλετε
Trygaeus: Fall to manfully,
καὶ σμώχετʼ ἀμφοῖν τοῖν γνάθοιν· οὐδὲν γὰρ ὦ πόνηροι
Trygaeus: and chew with both your jaws; for, you rascals,
λευκῶν ὀδόντων ἔργον ἐστʼ, ἢν μή τι καὶ μασῶνται.
Trygaeus: there is no use for white teeth unless they chew something.
ἡμῖν μελήσει ταῦτά γʼ· εὖ ποιεῖς δὲ καὶ σὺ φράζων.
Chorus: This will be our care; and you do well to remind us.
ἀλλʼ ὦ πρὸ τοῦ πεινῶντες ἐμβάλλεσθε τῶν λαγῴων·
Trygaeus: Come, you who formerly were starving, stuff yourselves with the hare’s meat;
ὡς οὐχὶ πᾶσαν ἡμέραν
Trygaeus: for it is not every day
πλακοῦσιν ἔστιν ἐντυχεῖν πλανωμένοις ἐρήμοις.
Trygaeus: that one can encounter stray, masterless cakes.
πρὸς ταῦτα βρύκετʼ ἢ τάχʼ ἡμῖν φημι μεταμελήσειν.
Trygaeus: Therefore devour them, or soon, I tell you, you will regret it.
εὐφημεῖν χρὴ καὶ τὴν νύμφην ἔξω τινὰ δεῦρο κομίζειν
Chorus: It is necessary to keep holy silence and for someone to bring the bride out here,
δᾷδάς τε φέρειν, καὶ πάντα λεὼν συγχαίρειν κἀπιχορεύειν.
Chorus: and to carry torches, and for all the people to rejoice and dance together.
καὶ τὰ σκεύη πάλιν ἐς τὸν ἀγρὸν νυνὶ χρὴ πάντα κομίζειν
Chorus: And now we must carry all the utensils back to the field,
ὀρχησαμένους καὶ σπείσαντας καὶ Ὑπέρβολον ἐξελάσαντας,
Chorus: having danced, made libations, driven out Hyperbolus,
κἀπευξαμένους τοῖσι θεοῖσιν
Chorus: and having prayed to the gods
διδόναι πλοῦτον τοῖς Ἕλλησιν,
Chorus: to grant wealth to the Greeks,
κριθάς τε ποιεῖν ἡμᾶς πολλὰς
Chorus: and to make us produce much barley,
πάντας ὁμοίως οἶνόν τε πολύν,
Chorus: all of us alike, and much wine,
σῦκά τε τρώγειν,
Chorus: and to eat figs,
τάς τε γυναῖκας τίκτειν ἡμῖν,
Chorus: and for our wives to bear children to us,
καὶ τἀγαθὰ πάνθʼ ὅσʼ ἀπωλέσαμεν
Chorus: and to gather back again from the beginning all the good things we lost,
συλλέξασθαι πάλιν ἐξ ἀρχῆς,λῆξαί τʼ αἴθωνα σίδηρον.
Chorus: and to make the flashing iron cease.
δεῦρʼ ὦ γύναι εἰς ἀγρόν,
Trygaeus: Come here, my wife, to the field,
χὤπως μετʼ ἐμοῦ καλὴ
Trygaeus: and see to it that you, beautiful as you are,
καλῶς κατακείσει.
Trygaeus: lie down beautifully with me.
Ὑμὴν Ὑμέναιʼ ὦ.
Chorus: Hymen, O Hymenaeus!
ὦ τρὶς μάκαρ ὡς δικαίως
Chorus: O thrice-blessed, how justly
τἀγαθὰ νῦν ἔχεις.
Chorus: you now possess your blessings.
Ὑμὴν Ὑμέναιʼ ὦ.
Chorus: Hymen, O Hymenaeus!
Ὑμὴν Ὑμέναιʼ ὦ.
Chorus: Hymen, O Hymenaeus!
τί δράσομεν αὐτήν;
Semi-chorus A: What shall we do to her?
τί δράσομεν αὐτήν;
Semi-chorus A: What shall we do to her?
τρυγήσομεν αὐτήν,
Semi-chorus B: We shall harvest her.
τρυγήσομεν αὐτήν.
Semi-chorus B: We shall harvest her.
ἀλλʼ ἀράμενοι φέρωμεν
Chorus: But let us lift and carry him,
οἱ προτεταγμένοι
Chorus: we who are stationed in front,
τὸν νυμφίον ὦνδρες.
Chorus: the bridegroom, O men!
Ὑμὴν Ὑμέναιʼ ὦ,
Chorus: Hymen, O Hymenaeus!
Ὑμὴν Ὑμέναιʼ ὦ,
Chorus: Hymen, O Hymenaeus!
οἰκήσετε γοῦν καλῶς
Chorus: You will live beautifully indeed,
οὐ πράγματʼ ἔχοντες, ἀλλὰ
Chorus: having no troubles, but
συκολογοῦντες.
Chorus: gathering figs.
Ὑμὴν Ὑμέναιʼ ὦ,
Chorus: Hymen, O Hymenaeus!
Ὑμὴν Ὑμέναιʼ ὦ.
Chorus: Hymen, O Hymenaeus!
τοῦ μὲν μέγα καὶ παχύ.
Semi-chorus A: His indeed is large and thick.
τῆς δʼ ἡδὺ τὸ σῦκον.
Semi-chorus B: Hers is a sweet fig.
φήσεις γʼ ὅταν ἐσθίῃς
Chorus: You will say so indeed when you eat
οἶνόν τε πίῃς πολύν.
Chorus: and drink much wine.
Ὑμὴν Ὑμέναιʼ ὦ,
Chorus: Hymen, O Hymenaeus!
Ὑμὴν Ὑμέναιʼ ὦ.
Chorus: Hymen, O Hymenaeus!
ὦ χαίρετε χαίρετʼ ἄνδρες,
Trygaeus: Farewell, farewell, O men,
κἂν ξυνέπησθέ μοι
Trygaeus: and if you follow with me,
πλακοῦντας ἔδεσθε.
Trygaeus: you shall eat cakes.
- 1270ὁπλοτέρων
A comparative adjective meaning "younger". However, because it evokes the word for "weapon" (ὅπλον), Trygaios interrupts, interpreting it as an attempt to sing of "armed men," which is inappropriate in times of peace.
- 1278ὀμφαλοέσσας
Originally meaning "bossed" or "having a central knob," this adjective in Homeric epic modifies "shields" (ἀσπίδας). Here, Trygaios comically transfers it to modify "wailings" (οἰμωγάς), parodying the grand epic style.
- 1286θωρήσσοντʼ
Meaning "to arm oneself with a breastplate" (from θώρηξ), but in contemporary slang it also meant "to drink one's fill" or "to get drunk." Trygaios' reply in §1286b, "Gladly, I think," plays on this association with post-war drinking at the feast.
- 1304ὢν ἐκείνου τοῦ πατρός
Accompanied by a genitive of origin, the participle ὢν expresses the causal relationship: "inasmuch as you are the son of that father" (i.e., the cowardly Cleonymus who threw away his shield).
Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-22) · Revision history (2, latest 2026-09-21)
- 2026-09-21 AI review — source 1
- 2026-09-21 AI review — translation 1