Humanitext Reader

Aristophanes · Acharnians §1046-1126

Sharing Peace with the Bride and the Contrasting Departures

Passage 13 of 14 · Greek

Summary

A messenger from a bridegroom and a bridesmaid request some peace from Dicaeopolis, who grants it only to the bride. Soon after, Lamachus receives sudden marching orders while Dicaeopolis is invited to a lavish banquet, leading to a highly contrastive and comical scene of their respective preparations.

§1046φωνῇ τοιαῦτα λάσκων.
shouting such things in a loud voice.
§1047ὀπτᾶτε ταυτὶ καὶ καλῶς ξανθίζετε.
Roast these, and brown them nicely!
§1048Δικαιόπολι.
Dicaeopolis!
§1048bτίς οὑτοσί;
Who is this?
τίς οὑτοσί;
Who is this?
§1049ἔπεμψέ τίς σοι νυμφίος ταυτὶ κρέα
A certain bridegroom sent you these meats from the wedding.
§1050ἐκ τῶν γάμων. §1050bκαλῶς γε ποιῶν ὅστις ἦν.
Very kind of him, whoever he was.
§1051ἐκέλευε δʼ ἐγχέαι σε τῶν κρεῶν χάριν, §1052ἵνα μὴ στρατεύοιτʼ ἀλλὰ βινοίη μένων, §1053ἐς τὸν ἀλάβαστον κύαθον εἰρήνης ἕνα.
And he asked you, in return for the meat, to pour one cup of peace into this alabaster bottle, so that he might not go to war but remain and make love to his bride.
§1054ἀπόφερʼ ἀπόφερε τὰ κρέα καὶ μή μοι δίδου,
Take back, take back the meat and do not give it to me!
§1055ὡς οὐκ ἂν ἐγχέαιμι μυρίων δραχμῶν.
I wouldn't pour it even for ten thousand drachmas.
§1056ἀλλʼ αὑτηὶ τίς ἔστιν;
But who is this woman here?
§1056bἡ νυμφεύτρια
The bridesmaid.
§1057δεῖται παρὰ τῆς νύμφης τι σοὶ λέξαι μόνῳ.
She begs to say something to you alone from the bride.
§1058φέρε δὴ τί σὺ λέγεις;
Come then, what do you say?
ὡς γέλοιον ὦ θεοὶ §1059τὸ δέημα τῆς νύμφης ὃ δεῖταί μου σφόδρα, §1060ὅπως ἂν οἰκουρῇ τὸ πέος τοῦ νυμφίου.
Oh gods, how ridiculous is the bride's request which she so earnestly asks of me, so that the bridegroom's tool may remain at home!
§1061φέρε δεῦρο τὰς σπονδάς, ἵνʼ αὐτῇ δῶ μόνῃ, §1062ὁτιὴ γυνή ʼστι τοῦ πολέμου τʼ οὐκ αἰτία.
Bring the peace treaty here, so that I may give some to her alone, since she is a woman and not responsible for the war.
§1063ὕπεχʼ ὧδε δεῦρο τοὐξάλειπτρον ὦ γύναι.
Hold your ointment-box here, O woman.
§1064οἶσθʼ ὡς ποιεῖτε;
Do you know what you must do?
τοῦτο τῇ νύμφῃ φράσον, §1065ὅταν στρατιώτας καταλέγωσι, τουτῳὶ §1066νύκτωρ ἀλειφέτω τὸ πέος τοῦ νυμφίου.
Tell the bride this: whenever they enroll soldiers, let her anoint the bridegroom's tool with this at night.
§1067ἀπόφερε τὰς σπονδάς.
Take away the treaty.
φέρε τὴν οἰνήρυσιν, §1068ἵνʼ οἶνον ἐγχέω λαβὼν ἐς τοὺς Χοᾶς.
Bring the ladle, so that I may take and pour wine for the Cups.
§1069καὶ μὴν ὁδί τις τὰς ὀφρῦς ἀνεσπακὼς· §1070ὥσπερ τι δεινὸν ἀγγελῶν ἐπείγεται.
Indeed, here is someone with his eyebrows raised, hurrying as if to announce some terrible news.
§1071ἰὼ πόνοι τε καὶ μάχαι καὶ Λάμαχοι.
Alas, troubles and battles and Lamachuses!
§1072τίς ἀμφὶ χαλκοφάλαρα δώματα κτυπεῖ;
Who is shouting around my bronze-embellished house?
§1073ἰέναι σʼ ἐκέλευον οἱ στρατηγοὶ τήμερον §1074ταχέως λαβόντα τοὺς λόχους καὶ τοὺς λόφους· §1075κἄπειτα τηρεῖν νειφόμενον τὰς ἐσβολάς.
The generals ordered you today to go quickly, taking your companies and your crests, and then to guard the passes in the snow.
§1076ὑπὸ τοὺς Χοᾶς γὰρ καὶ Χύτρους αὐτοῖσί τις §1077ἤγγειλε λῃστὰς ἐμβαλεῖν Βοιωτίους.
For during the Cups and the Pots, someone reported to them that Boeotian bandits are going to invade.
§1078ἰὼ στρατηγοὶ πλείονες ἢ βελτίονες.
Alas, generals more numerous than good!
§1079οὐ δεινὰ μὴ ʼξεῖναί με μηδʼ ἑορτάσαι;
Is it not terrible that I am not even allowed to keep the festival?
§1080ἰὼ στράτευμα πολεμολαμαχαϊκόν.
Alas, war-loving-Lamachean army!
§1081οἴμοι κακοδαίμων καταγελᾷς ἤδη σύ μου.
Wretched me! You are already mocking me.
§1082βούλει μάχεσθαι Γηρυόνῃ τετραπτίλῳ;
Do you wish to fight with a four-winged Geryon?
§1083αἰαῖ
Alas!
§1083aοἵαν ὁ κῆρυξ ἀγγελίαν ἤγγειλέ μοι.
What a message the herald has brought me!
§1084αἰαῖ τίνα δʼ αὖ μοι προστρέχει τις ἀγγελῶν;
Alas, who is this running to me with another announcement?
§1085Δικαιόπολι.
Dicaeopolis!
§1085bτί ἔστιν;
What is it?
§1085cἐπὶ δεῖπνον ταχὺ §1086βάδιζε τὴν κίστην λαβὼν καὶ τὸν χοᾶ.
Go quickly to dinner, taking your basket and your cup.
§1087ὁ τοῦ Διονύσου γάρ σʼ ἱερεὺς μεταπέμπεται.
For the priest of Dionysus sends for you.
§1088ἀλλʼ ἐγκόνει·
Hurry up!
δειπνεῖν κατακωλύεις πάλαι.
You have been keeping them from dining for a long time.
§1089τὰ δʼ ἄλλα πάντʼ ἐστὶν παρεσκευασμένα, §1090κλῖναι τράπεζαι προσκεφάλαια στρώματα §1091στέφανοι μύρον τραγήμαθʼ, αἱ πόρναι πάρα, §1092ἄμυλοι πλακοῦντες σησαμοῦντες ἴτρια, §1093ὀρχηστρίδες, τὰ φίλταθʼ Ἁρμοδίου, καλαί.
Everything else is ready: couches, tables, pillows, coverlets, crowns, perfume, sweetmeats, the courtesans are there, fine loaves, cakes, sesame cakes, sweets, dancing girls, the dear, beautiful girls of Harmodius.
§1094ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστα σπεῦδε.
So hasten as quickly as possible.
§1094bκακοδαίμων ἐγώ.
Wretched me!
§1095καὶ γὰρ σὺ μεγάλην ἐπεγράφου τὴν Γοργόνα.
Well, you had a large Gorgon painted on your shield.
§1096σύγκλῃε, καὶ δεῖπνόν τις ἐνσκευαζέτω.
Lock up, and let someone pack up the dinner!
§1097παῖ παῖ φέρʼ ἔξω δεῦρο τὸν γυλιὸν ἐμοί.
Boy, boy, bring out my knapsack here to me.
§1098παῖ παῖ φέρʼ ἔξω δεῦρο τὴν κίστην ἐμοί.
Boy, boy, bring out my dinner basket here to me.
§1099ἅλας θυμίτας οἶσε παῖ καὶ κρόμμυα.
Bring thyme-flavored salt, boy, and onions.
§1100ἐμοὶ δὲ τεμάχη· κρομμύοις γὰρ ἄχθομαι.
And for me, fish slices; for I detest onions.
§1101θρῖον ταρίχους οἶσε δεῦρο παῖ σαπροῦ.
Bring here, boy, a fig-leaf of rotten salt fish.
§1102κἀμοὶ σὺ δημοῦ θρῖον· ὀπρήσω δʼ ἐκεῖ.
And for me, a fat-filled fig-leaf; I will bake it there.
§1103ἔνεγκε δεῦρο τὼ πτερὼ τὼ κʼ τοῦ κράνους.
Bring here the two feathers from my helmet.
§1104ἐμοὶ δὲ τὰς φάττας γε φέρε καὶ τὰς κίχλας.
And for me, bring the pigeons and the thrushes.
§1105καλόν γε καὶ λευκὸν τὸ τῆς στρούθου πτερόν.
Indeed, the ostrich feather is beautiful and white.
§1106καλόν γε καὶ ξανθὸν τὸ τῆς φάττης κρέας.
Indeed, the pigeon's meat is beautiful and brown.
§1107ὦνθρωπε παῦσαι καταγελῶν μου τῶν ὅπλων.
Man, stop mocking my armor!
§1108ὦνθρωπε βούλει μὴ βλέπειν ἐς τὰς κίχλας;
Man, do you mind not staring at my thrushes?
§1109τὸ λοφεῖον ἐξένεγκε τῶν τριῶν λόφων.
Bring out the crest-box of my three crests.
§1110κἀμοὶ λεκάνιον τῶν λαγῴων δὸς κρεῶν.
And for me, give me a dish of hare's meat.
§1111ἀλλʼ ἢ τριχόβρωτες τοὺς λόφους που κατέφαγον.
But surely moths have eaten up my crests somewhere.
§1112ἀλλʼ ἤ πρὸ δείπνου τὴν μίμαρκυν κατέδομαι.
But surely I will devour my hare-stew before dinner.
§1113ὦνθρωπε βούλει μὴ προσαγορεύειν ἐμέ;
Man, do you mind not addressing me?
§1114οὐκ ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ χὠ παῖς ἐρίζομεν πάλαι.
Not at all, but my boy and I have been disputing for a long time.
§1115βούλει περιδόσθαι κἀπιτρέψαι Λαμάχῳ, §1116πότερον ἀκρίδες ἥδιόν ἐστιν ἤ κίχλαι;
Do you want to make a bet and leave it to Lamachus to decide, which is sweeter, locusts or thrushes?
§1117οἴμʼ ὡς ὑβρίζεις.
Alas, how you insult me!
§1117bτὰς ἀκρίδας κρίνει πολύ.
He decides by far in favor of locusts.
§1118παῖ παῖ καθελών μοι τὸ δόρυ δεῦρʼ ἔξω φέρε.
Boy, boy, take down my spear and bring it out here.
§1119παῖ παῖ σὺ δʼ ἀφελὼν δεῦρο τὴν χορδὴν φέρε.
Boy, boy, take off the sausage and bring it here.
§1120φέρε τοῦ δόρατος ἀφελκύσωμαι τοὔλυτρον.
Come, let me pull off the cover of my spear.
§1121ἔχʼ, ἀντέχου παῖ.
Hold on, boy, pull against me!
§1121bκαὶ σὺ παῖ τοῦδʼ ἀντέχου.
And you, boy, hold on to this too!
§1122τοὺς κιλλίβαντας οἶσε παῖ τῆς ἀσπίδος.
Bring the trestles for my shield, boy.
§1123καὶ τῆς ἐμῆς τοὺς κριβανίτας ἔκφερε.
And bring out the oven-baked bread for mine.
§1124φέρε δεῦρο γοργόνωτον ἀσπίδος κύκλον.
Bring here the Gorgon-backed circle of my shield.
§1125κἀμοὶ πλακοῦντος τυρόνωτον δὸς κύκλον.
And give me the cheese-backed circle of my cake.
§1126ταῦτʼ οὐ κατάγελώς ἐστιν ἀνθρώποις πλατύς;
Is this not a broad mockery for men?

Notes

  1. §1051τῶν κρεῶν χάριν, ἵνα μὴ στρατεύοιτʼ — The phrase τῶν κρεῶν χάριν ('in return for the meat') uses a genitive of exchange. The optative mood (στρατεύοιτο, βινοίη) in the ἵνα clause is used instead of the subjunctive because the main verb ἐκέλευε is in the past tense (imperfect), representing an oblique or past purpose (optative of oblique petition).
  2. §1064οἶσθʼ ὡς ποιεῖτε; — A plural variation of the idiomatic construction οἶσθʼ ὡς ποίησον ('Do you know what to do? Do it this way!'). Here, it functions as a strong imperative equivalent to: 'Do you know what you must do? Tell the bride this...'
  3. §1079οὐ δεινὰ μὴ ʼξεῖναί με μηδʼ ἑορτάσαι; — A construction consisting of οὐ δεινά [ἐστι] followed by an accusative and infinitive clause (μὴ ἐξεῖναι...): 'Is it not a terrible thing that I am not even allowed to keep the festival?' The negative particle μὴ negates the infinitive.
  4. §1114οὐκ ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ χὠ παῖς ἐρίζομεν πάλαι. — The idiomatic combination οὐκ ἀλλά ('no, but rather...') strongly refutes the preceding statement of the interlocutor and introduces a corrective explanation. Here Dicaeopolis retorts to Lamachus' demand to stop talking, claiming that he is actually arguing with his own servant.
  5. §1121ἀντέχου — The middle voice of ἀντέχομαι takes a genitive and means 'to hold on to, cling to, pull against'. In this context, Lamachus commands his servant to hold and pull the other end of the spear while he draws the cover off. Dicaeopolis parodies this action with his sausage in §1121b.
  6. §1123κριβανίτας — The accusative plural of κριβανίτης (bread baked in a clay oven or 'kribanos'). This is a pun by Dicaeopolis in response to Lamachus' request for shield-trestles (κιλλίβαντας), playing on the phonetic similarity (kil- / kri-) and the round shape of the shield vs. the round loaf of bread.

Cite this passage

Aristophanes, Acharnians §1046-1126. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0019.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1046-1126

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