Humanitext Reader

Aristophanes · The Frogs §245-340

Arrival in Hades and Encounter with Empusa

Passage 4 of 18 · Greek

Summary

Having won the singing contest against the frogs, Dionysus arrives on the shores of the Underworld and reunites with Xanthias. While terrified by the monster Empusa in the darkness, they soon hear the pure, sacred songs of the initiates.

§245πολυκολύμβοισι μέλεσιν, §246ἢ Διὸς φεύγοντες ὄμβρον §247ἔνυδρον ἐν βυθῷ χορείαν §248αἰόλαν ἐφθεγξάμεσθα §249πομφολυγοπαφλάσμασιν.
with songs of many dives, or fleeing the rain of Zeus, in the watery depths we uttered our varied dance with bubble-splashing sounds.
§251βρεκεκεκὲξ κοὰξ κοάξ.
Brekekekex koax koax.
§252τουτὶ παρʼ ὑμῶν λαμβάνω.
D: This indeed I take from you.
§253δεινά τἄρα πεισόμεσθα.
Frogs: Terrible things then we shall suffer.
§254δεινότερα δʼ ἔγωγʼ, ἐλαύνων §255εἰ διαρραγήσομαι.
D: But I much worse, rowing if I am going to burst.
§256βρεκεκεκὲξ κοὰξ κοάξ.
Brekekekex koax koax.
§257οἰμώζετʼ·
D: Go howl!
οὐ γάρ μοι μέλει.
For I don't care.
§258ἀλλὰ μὴν κεκραξόμεσθά γʼ §259ὁπόσον ἡ φάρυξ ἂν ἡμῶν §260χανδάνῃ διʼ ἡμέρας.
Frogs: But indeed we will scream as much as our throat can contain, all day long.
§261βρεκεκεκὲξ κοὰξ κοάξ.
Brekekekex koax koax.
§262τούτῳ γὰρ οὐ νικήσετε.
D: For with this you will not win.
§263οὐδὲ μὴν ἡμᾶς σὺ πάντως.
Frogs: Nor indeed will you us, by any means.
§264οὐδὲ μὴν ὑμεῖς γʼ ἐμὲ §264aοὐδέποτε·
D: Nor indeed will you me, ever.
κεκράξομαι γὰρ §265κἂν δέῃ διʼ ἡμέρας §265aβρεκεκεκὲξ κοὰξ κοάξ, §266ἕως ἂν ὑμῶν ἐπικρατήσω τῷ κοάξ, §267βρεκεκεκὲξ κοὰξ κοάξ.
For I will scream even if it is necessary, all day long, Brekekekex koax koax, until I master you in the "koax", Brekekekex koax koax.
§268ἔμελλον ἄρα παύσειν ποθʼ ὑμᾶς τοῦ κοάξ.
D: I was bound, then, to silence you eventually from your "koax".
§269ὢ παῦε παῦε, παραβαλοῦ τὼ κωπίω,
Charon: Oh stop, stop!
§270ἔκβαινʼ, ἀπόδος τὸν ναῦλον.
Bring the two oars alongside, step out, pay the fare.
§270bἔχε δὴ τὠβολώ.
D: There, take the two obols.
§271ὁ Ξανθίας.
D: Xanthias!
ποῦ Ξανθίας;
Where is Xanthias?
ἦ Ξανθία.
Hey, Xanthias!
§272ἰαῦ.
X: Yoo-hoo!
§272bβάδιζε δεῦρο.
D: Walk over here.
§272cχαῖρʼ ὦ δέσποτα.
X: Hail, master!
§273τί ἔστι τἀνταυθοῖ;
D: What is it like over there?
§273bσκότος καὶ βόρβορος.
X: Darkness and mud.
§274κατεῖδες οὖν που τοὺς πατραλοίας αὐτόθι §275καὶ τοὺς ἐπιόρκους, οὓς ἔλεγεν ἡμῖν;
D: Did you see then anywhere the father-beaters there, and the oath-breakers, whom he was telling us of?
§275bσὺ δʼ οὔ;
X: And you didn't?
§276νὴ τὸν Ποσειδῶ ʼγωγε, καὶ νυνί γʼ ὁρῶ.
D: By Poseidon, I did indeed, and indeed I see them right now.
§277ἄγε δὴ τί δρῶμεν;
Come then, what are we to do?
§277bπροϊέναι βέλτιστα νῷν, §278ὡς οὗτος ὁ τόπος ἐστὶν οὗ τὰ θηρία §279τὰ δείνʼ ἔφασκʼ ἐκεῖνος.
X: It is best for the two of us to go forward, as this is the place where those wild beasts, the terrible ones, that man said were.
§279bὡς οἰμώξεται.
D: How he will suffer!
§280ἠλαζονεύεθʼ ἵνα φοβηθείην ἐγώ, §281εἰδώς με μάχιμον ὄντα φιλοτιμούμενος.
He was bragging so that I would be afraid, knowing me to be warlike, out of jealousy.
§282οὐδὲν γὰρ οὕτω γαῦρόν ἐσθʼ ὡς Ἡρακλῆς.
For nothing is so boastful as Heracles.
§283ἐγὼ δέ γʼ εὐξαίμην ἂν ἐντυχεῖν τινι §284λαβεῖν τʼ ἀγώνισμʼ ἄξιόν τι τῆς ὁδοῦ.
But I would pray to meet someone, and to get some contest worthy of our journey.
§285νὴ τὸν Δία καὶ μὴν αἰσθάνομαι ψόφου τινός.
X: By Zeus, and indeed I perceive some noise.
§286ποῦ ποῦ ʼστιν;
D: Where, where is it?
§286bἐξόπισθεν.
X: Behind.
§286cἐξόπισθʼ ἴθι.
D: Go behind.
§287ἀλλʼ ἐστὶν ἐν τῷ πρόσθε.
X: But it's in front.
§287bπρόσθε νυν ἴθι.
D: Go in front then.
§288καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ νὴ τὸν Δία θηρίον μέγα.
X: And indeed I see, by Zeus, a great beast.
§289ποῖόν τι;
D: What kind of thing?
§289bδεινόν· παντοδαπὸν γοῦν γίγνεται §290τοτὲ μέν γε βοῦς, νυνὶ δʼ ὀρεύς, τοτὲ δʼ αὖ γυνὴ §291ὡραιοτάτη τις.
X: Terrible; at any rate it becomes all kinds of things: at one time indeed an ox, and now a mule, and at another time again a woman a most beautiful one.
§291bποῦ ʼστι;
D: Where is she?
φέρʼ ἐπʼ αὐτὴν ἴω.
Let me go to her!
§292ἀλλʼ οὐκέτʼ αὖ γυνή ʼστιν, ἀλλʼ ἤδη κύων.
X: But she is no longer a woman, but now a dog.
§293Ἔμπουσα τοίνυν ἐστί.
D: It is Empusa then.
§293bπυρὶ γοῦν λάμπεται §294ἅπαν τὸ πρόσωπον.
X: At any rate, she blazes with fire all over her face.
§294bκαὶ σκέλος χαλκοῦν ἔχει;
D: And does she have a leg of bronze?
§295νὴ τὸν Ποσειδῶ, καὶ βολίτινον θάτερον, §296σάφʼ ἴσθι.
X: By Poseidon, yes, and the other one is of cow-dung, be well assured.
§296bποῖ δῆτʼ ἂν τραποίμην;
D: Where indeed should I turn?
§296cποῖ δʼ ἐγώ;
X: And where should I?
§297ἱερεῦ διαφύλαξόν μʼ, ἵνʼ ὦ σοι ξυμπότης.
D: Priest, protect me, so that I may be your drinking companion!
§298ἀπολούμεθʼ ὦναξ Ἡράκλεις.
X: We are ruined, O Lord Heracles!
§298bοὐ μὴ καλεῖς μʼ §299ὦνθρωφʼ, ἱκετεύω, μηδὲ κατερεῖς τοὔνομα.
D: Do not call me, man, I beg you, nor speak my name.
§300Διόνυσε τοίνυν.
X: Dionysus then.
§300bτοῦτό γʼ ἧττον θατέρου.
D: This indeed is less bad than the other.
§301ἴθʼ ᾗπερ ἔρχει.
X: Go where you are going.
§301bδεῦρο δεῦρʼ ὦ δέσποτα.
Here, here, master!
§302τί δʼ ἔστι;
D: What is it?
§302bθάρρει· πάντʼ ἀγαθὰ πεπράγαμεν, §303ἔξεστί θʼ ὥσπερ Ἡγέλοχος ἡμῖν λέγειν, §304ἐκ κυμάτων γὰρ αὖθις αὖ γαλῆν ὁρῶ. §305ἥμπουσα φρούδη.
X: Cheer up; we have fared entirely well, and it is possible for us to say, just as Hegelochus says: "For out of the waves again I see a calm." Empusa is gone.
§305bκατόμοσον.
D: Swear it.
§305cνὴ τὸν Δία.
X: By Zeus.
§306καὖθις κατόμοσον.
D: Swear it again.
§306bνὴ Δίʼ.
X: By Zeus.
§306cὄμοσον.
D: Swear it.
§306dνὴ Δία.
X: By Zeus.
§307οἴμοι τάλας, ὡς ὠχρίασʼ αὐτὴν ἰδών.
D: Ah, wretched me! How pale I turned, seeing her.
§308ὁδὶ δὲ δείσας ὑπερεπυρρίασέ σου.
X: And this one here, out of fear, turned super-red for you.
§309οἴμοι, πόθεν μοι τὰ κακὰ ταυτὶ προσέπεσεν;
D: Alas, from where did these evils fall upon me?
§310τίνʼ αἰτιάσομαι θεῶν μ' ἀπολλύναι;
Whom of the gods shall I blame for destroying me?
§311αἰθέρα Διὸς δωμάτιον ἢ χρόνου πόδα;
The ether, the little room of Zeus, or the foot of Time?
§312οὗτος.
X: Hey you.
§312bτί ἔστιν;
D: What is it?
§312cοὐ κατήκουσας;
X: Didn't you hear?
§312dτίνος;
D: What?
§313αὐλῶν πνοῆς.
X: A breath of flutes.
§313bἔγωγε, καὶ δᾴδων γέ με §314αὔρα τις εἰσέπνευσε μυστικωτάτη.
D: I did indeed, and indeed a certain most mystic breeze from torches blew over me.
§315ἀλλʼ ἠρεμὶ πτήξαντες ἀκροασώμεθα.
But, crouching quietly, let us listen.
§316Ἴακχʼ ὦ Ἴακχε.
Initiates: Iacchus, O Iacchus!
§317Ἴακχʼ ὦ Ἴακχε.
Iacchus, O Iacchus!
§318τοῦτʼ ἔστʼ ἐκεῖνʼ ὦ δέσποθʼ·
X: This is that very thing, master!
οἱ μεμυημένοι §319ἐνταῦθά που παίζουσιν, οὓς ἔφραζε νῷν.
The initiated are playing somewhere here, of whom he was telling us.
§320ᾄδουσι γοῦν τὸν Ἴακχον ὅνπερ Διαγόρας.
At any rate, they are singing of Iacchus, just as Diagoras does.
§321κἀμοὶ δοκοῦσιν.
D: To me too they seem to.
ἡσυχίαν τοίνυν ἄγειν §322βέλτιστόν ἐσθʼ, ἕως ἂν εἰδῶμεν σαφῶς.
Therefore to keep quiet is best, until we know clearly.
§324Ἴακχʼ ὦ πολυτίμητʼ ἐν ἕδραις ἐνθάδε ναίων, §325Ἴακχʼ ὦ Ἴακχε,
Initiates: Iacchus, highly honored, dwelling here in your seats, Iacchus, O Iacchus!
§326ἐλθὲ τόνδʼ ἀνὰ λειμῶνα χορεύσων §327ὁσίους ἐς θιασώτας, §328πολύκαρπον μὲν τινάσσων §329περὶ κρατὶ σῷ βρύοντα §330στέφανον μύρτων, θρασεῖ δʼ ἐγκατακρούων §331ποδὶ τὰν ἀκόλαστον §332φιλοπαίγμονα τιμάν, §335χαρίτων πλεῖστον ἔχουσαν μέρος, ἁγνάν, ἱερὰν §336ὁσίοις μύσταις χορείαν.
Come to dance throughout this meadow, to your holy companions of the revel, shaking indeed, blooming around your head, a crown of myrtle, and stamping with bold foot the unbridled play-loving honor, having the greatest share of the Graces, pure, sacred dance for the holy initiates.
§337ὦ πότνια πολυτίμητε Δήμητρος κόρη, §338ὡς ἡδύ μοι προσέπνευσε χοιρείων κρεῶν.
D: O revered, highly honored maiden daughter of Demeter, how sweetly a breath of pork has wafted to me!
§339οὔκουν ἀτρέμʼ ἕξεις, ἤν τι καὶ χορδῆς λάβῃς;
X: Won't you keep quiet, even if you get some sausage?
§340†ἔγειρε φλογέας λαμπάδας ἐν χερσὶ γὰρ ἥκει τινάσσων†,
Initiates: Awake the flaming torches, for he comes shaking them in his hands.

Notes

  1. §248χορείαν — Accusative of cognate object (internal object) with the verb ἐφθεγξάμεσθα ("we uttered"), representing the fusion of song and dance.
  2. §259ὁπόσον ἂν... χανδάνῃ — A general relative clause formed by the relative pronoun ὁπόσον and the subjunctive χανδάνῃ with the particle ἄν. The verb χανδάνω ("to contain/hold") is used metaphorically to mean "as loudly as our throat can sustain."
  3. §277bνῷν — First-person dual dative, modifying the adjective βέλτιστα ("best"). It means "for the two of us."
  4. §295θάτερον — A crasis of the article τό and the pronoun ἕτερον ("the other"), referring in this context to "the other leg" of the monster.
  5. §338χορείων κρεῶν — Genitive of origin or source (or partitive genitive) governed by the verb προσέπνευσε ("wafted"), indicating the source of the smell.

Cite this passage

Aristophanes, The Frogs §245-340. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0019.tlg009.humanitext-grc2:245-340

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