Greek Reading: 96

Today's stories come from Colson's Stories and Legends: A First Greek Reader which is available at the Internet Archive. These are the last two stories from Colson; I have included a lot of stories from Colson because his book, unlike many of the others, contains original texts, not just copies of Chambry, etc.

You'll find the stories below, first in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English; the title is linked to the Internet Archive page.

Σαλπιγκτής

στρατιῶταί τινες νικήσαντες τοὺς πολεμίους σαλπιγκτὴν ἔλαβον. ἐπεὶ δὲ ἔμελλον ἀποκτείνειν, εἶπεν, ὦ ἄνδρες, μὴ τοῦτο ποιήσητε. ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐδένα ὑμῶν ἀπἔκτεινα. ὁρᾶτε δὲ ὅτι οὐδὲν ὅπλον ἔχω, πλὴν ταύτης τῆς σάλπιγγος. οἱ δὲ ἄνδρες εἶπον, διὰ δὲ τοῦτο ἔτι μᾶλλον δίκαιος εἶ ἀποθανεῖν, ὅτι σὺ μὲν αὐτὸς οὐ πολεμεῖς, τοὺς δὲ ἄλλους ἐς μαχὴν ἐγείρεις.

στρατιῶταί τινες 

νικήσαντες τοὺς πολεμίους 

σαλπιγκτὴν ἔλαβον. 

ἐπεὶ δὲ ἔμελλον ἀποκτείνειν, 

εἶπεν, 

ὦ ἄνδρες, μὴ τοῦτο ποιήσητε. 

ἐγὼ γὰρ 

οὐδένα ὑμῶν ἀπἔκτεινα. 

ὁρᾶτε δὲ 

ὅτι οὐδὲν ὅπλον ἔχω, 

πλὴν ταύτης τῆς σάλπιγγος.

οἱ δὲ ἄνδρες εἶπον, 

διὰ δὲ τοῦτο 

ἔτι μᾶλλον δίκαιος εἶ ἀποθανεῖν, 

ὅτι σὺ μὲν αὐτὸς 

οὐ πολεμεῖς, 

τοὺς δὲ ἄλλους 

ἐς μαχὴν ἐγείρεις.

στρατιῶταί τινες  ...  Some soldiers

νικήσαντες τοὺς πολεμίους  ...  conquered the enemy 

σαλπιγκτὴν ἔλαβον  ...  and seized their trumpeter. 

ἐπεὶ δὲ ἔμελλον ἀποκτείνειν  ...  When they were about to kill him

εἶπεν  ...  he said, 

ὦ ἄνδρες  ...  O men, 

μὴ τοῦτο ποιήσητε  ...  you should not do this. 

ἐγὼ γὰρ  ...  For I 

οὐδένα ὑμῶν ἀπἔκτεινα  ...  killed not one of you. 

ὁρᾶτε δὲ ὅτι ...  And you see that

οὐδὲν ὅπλον ἔχω  ...  I have no weapons, 

πλὴν ταύτης τῆς σάλπιγγος  ...  only this trumpet.

οἱ δὲ ἄνδρες εἶπον  ...  The men said, 

διὰ δὲ τοῦτο  ...  "That is why 

ἔτι μᾶλλον δίκαιος εἶ  ...  you are all the more deserving 

ἀποθανεῖν  ...  of death, 

ὅτι σὺ μὲν αὐτὸς  ...  because you yourself 

οὐ πολεμεῖς  ...  did not engage in battle, 

ἐγείρεις δὲ τοὺς ἄλλους  ...  but you roused the others 

ἐς μαχὴν  ...  to fight.

illustration by Walter Crane

Κατὰ τὸν Νεῖλον

λόγος τίς ἐστιν, ὡς ἄνθρωπος φόνον ποιήσας ἐδιώκετο. γενόμενος δὲ κατὰ τὸν Νεῖλον, λέοντα ὁρᾷ. φοβηθεὶς δὲ ἀναβαίνει ἐς δένδρον. ἐν δὲ τῷ δένδρῳ εὑρίσκει δράκοντα. καὶ πάλιν αὖ τοῦτον φοβηθείς, ῥίπτει ἑαυτὸν ἐς τὸν ποταμόν. ἐν δὲ τῷ ποταμῷ ὄντα κροκόδειλος κατεσθίει. τοὺς γὰρ φονέας καὶ ἡ γῆ καὶ ὁ ἀὴρ καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ ἀποστυγοῦσι.

λόγος τίς ἐστιν, 

ὡς ἄνθρωπος 

φόνον ποιήσας 

ἐδιώκετο. 

γενόμενος δὲ 

κατὰ τὸν Νεῖλον, 

λέοντα ὁρᾷ. 

φοβηθεὶς δὲ 

ἀναβαίνει ἐς δένδρον. 

ἐν δὲ τῷ δένδρῳ 

εὑρίσκει δράκοντα. 

καὶ πάλιν αὖ 

τοῦτον φοβηθείς, 

ῥίπτει ἑαυτὸν 

ἐς τὸν ποταμόν. 

ἐν δὲ τῷ ποταμῷ ὄντα 

κροκόδειλος κατεσθίει. 

τοὺς γὰρ φονέας 

καὶ ἡ γῆ καὶ ὁ ἀὴρ καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ 

ἀποστυγοῦσι.

λόγος τίς ἐστιν  ...  There is a story 

ὡς ἄνθρωπος  ...  that a man

φόνον ποιήσας  ...  had committed murder

ἐδιώκετο  ...  and was being pursued.

γενόμενος δὲ  ...  When he reaches 

κατὰ τὸν Νεῖλον  ...  the Nile river, 

λέοντα ὁρᾷ  ...  he sees a lion. 

φοβηθεὶς δὲ  ...  Terrified, 

ἀναβαίνει ἐς δένδρον  ...  he climbs a tree. 

ἐν δὲ τῷ δένδρῳ  ...  In the tree 

εὑρίσκει δράκοντα  ...  he discovers a dragon. 

καὶ πάλιν αὖ  ...  And once again, 

τοῦτον φοβηθείς  ...  terrified at this, 

ῥίπτει ἑαυτὸν  ...  he throws himself 

ἐς τὸν ποταμόν  ...  into the river. 

ἐν δὲ τῷ ποταμῷ ὄντα  ...  When he is in the river, 

κροκόδειλος κατεσθίει  ...  a crocodile eats him. 

καὶ ἡ γῆ καὶ ὁ ἀὴρ καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ  ...  Earth, Air, and Water 

ἀποστυγοῦσι τοὺς φονέας  ...  abhor murderers.  

crocodile mosaic from Flickr

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Animal Vocabulary: August 28

Here are today's animal names; it's Group 190. Click on the word to learn more at Logeion ("egg" is not exactly an animal, but it is animal-related!):

λύκος ~ λύκου (noun m.): wolf 

ᾠόν ~ ᾠοῦ (noun n.): egg 

κόραξ ~ κόρακος (noun m.): crow 

ὄνος ~ ὄνου (noun m.): donkey 

γλαύξ ~ γλαυκός (noun f.): owl 

These are the proverbs (and there are always more proverbs at the blog):

Λύκων φιλία.

ᾨὸν τίλλεις.

Κόραξ ὑδρεύει.

Ὄνου παρακύψεως.

Τίς γλαῦκ' Ἀθήναζ' ἤγαγεν;

And now, some commentary:

Λύκων φιλία.

The friendship of wolves.

This is not much of a friendship, since wolves have no loyalty whatsoever. You can also find this idea expressed as a single word: λυκοφιλία.

ᾨὸν τίλλεις.

You're plucking an egg.

In other words: you are wasting your time! Unlike a bird, which can be plucked, a bird's egg is completely smooth; there is nothing to pluck. This is another proverbial adynaton (impossibility).

Κόραξ ὑδρεύει.

The crow is drawing water.

This saying alludes to an anecdote told about a crow drinking from a bucket or vase of water by using stones to raise the level of the water. It also appears as an Aesop's fable: The Crow and the Pitcher. Actual crows have done this in modern experiments! You can see a video here: Clever crow uses physics to get its food.

Ἐξ ὄνου παρακύψεως.

Because of a donkey's peeking.

This is a proverb about how a tiny action can lead to disastrous consequences, and it can also be used to refer to a frivolous lawsuit. The proverb is based on a story about a donkey who out of curiosity stuck his nose into the window of a shop; this scared some birds in the shop, and, in their frenzy, the birds then broke all the clay pots in the shop. The owner of the shop then took the donkey's owner to court on a charge of "the donkey's peeping."

Τίς γλαῦκ' Ἀθήναζ' ἤγαγεν;

Who brought an owl to Athens?

This line comes from Aristophanes's Birds. The motif of "owls to Athens" is like the British equivalent of "coals to Newcastle." There's no reason to bring an owl to Athens because Athens is full of owls, both because of owls being the bird of Athena, and also because of the owls that appear on Athenian coins.

Athenian coin, 5th century B.C.E.

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: 95

Today's stories come from Colson's Stories and Legends: A First Greek Reader which is available at the Internet Archive. You'll find the stories below, first in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English; the title is linked to the Internet Archive page.

Λύκοι καὶ πρόβατα

οἱ λύκοι ἐμάχοντο τοῖς προβάτοις. καὶ πρῶτον μὲν οὐκ ἐδύναντο νικῶν διὰ τοὺς κύνας. ἔπειτα πρέσβεις ἀποστείλαντες κελεύουσι τὰ πρόβατα ἀποπέμπειν τοὺς κύνας, ὡς αἰτίους ὄντας τοῦ πολέμου. εἰ γὰρ οὗτοι μὴ παρεῖεν, ἔλεγον ὅτι εἴη ἂν εἰρήνη. τὰ δὲ πρόβατα πειθόμενα ἀπέπεμψε τοὺς κύνας. τὴν δὲ ποίμνην ἀφύλακτον οὖσαν οἱ λύκοι ῥᾳδίως διέφθειραν.

οἱ λύκοι 

ἐμάχοντο τοῖς προβάτοις. 

καὶ πρῶτον μὲν 

οὐκ ἐδύναντο νικῶν 

διὰ τοὺς κύνας. 

ἔπειτα 

πρέσβεις ἀποστείλαντες 

κελεύουσι τὰ πρόβατα 

ἀποπέμπειν τοὺς κύνας, 

ὡς αἰτίους ὄντας τοῦ πολέμου. 

εἰ γὰρ οὗτοι μὴ παρεῖεν, 

ἔλεγον ὅτι 

εἴη ἂν εἰρήνη. 

τὰ δὲ πρόβατα 

πειθόμενα 

ἀπέπεμψε τοὺς κύνας. 

τὴν δὲ ποίμνην 

ἀφύλακτον οὖσαν 

οἱ λύκοι ῥᾳδίως διέφθειραν.

οἱ λύκοι  ...  The wolves

ἐμάχοντο τοῖς προβάτοις  ...  waged war on the sheep. 

καὶ πρῶτον μὲν  ...  And at first 

οὐκ ἐδύναντο νικῶν  ...  the wolves could not win

διὰ τοὺς κύνας  ...  on account of the dogs.

ἔπειτα  ...  Then the wolves

πρέσβεις ἀποστείλαντες  ...  sent ambassadors 

κελεύουσι τὰ πρόβατα  ...  and ordered the sheep 

ἀποπέμπειν τοὺς κύνας  ...  to send the dogs away, 

ὡς αἰτίους ὄντας  ...  as they were the cause

τοῦ πολέμου  ...  of the war. 

εἰ γὰρ οὗτοι μὴ παρεῖεν  ...  If the dogs were gone, 

ἔλεγον ὅτι  ...  the wolves said that 

εἴη ἂν εἰρήνη  ...  there would be peace. 

τὰ δὲ πρόβατα πειθόμενα  ...  The sheep believed it

ἀπέπεμψε τοὺς κύνας  ...  and send the dogs away. 

οἱ δὲ λύκοι  ...  Then the wolves 

ῥᾳδίως διέφθειραν  ...  easily destroyed

τὴν ποίμνην  ...  the flock 

ἀφύλακτον οὖσαν  ...  now that it was defenseless. 

illustration by Barlow

Φιλάργυρος

ΦΙΛΟΣ. τί κλαίεις, ὦ τᾶν;

ΦΙΛΑΡΓΥΡΟΣ. καὶ πῶς οὔ με δεῖ κλαίειν; πολὺν γὰρ ἔχων χρυσὸν κατώρυξα ἐν τῇ κήπῳ. καὶ τοῦτο ποιῶν ἔδοξα ἐμαυτῷ λεληθέναι ἅπαντας. νῦν δέ τις κλέπτης νύκτωρ ἔλθὼν ἀφῄρηκε. 

ΦΙΛΟΣ. Μὴ κλαῖε, ὦ φίλε: ἀλλὰ λίθον λαβὼν ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ τόπῳ κατάθες, καὶ τοῦτον νόμεζε εἶναί σοι τὸν χρυσόν· οὐδὲ γάρ, ὅτε εἶχες τὸν θησαυρόν, ἐχρῶ ποτε αὐτῷ.

ΦΙΛΟΣ. 

τί κλαίεις, ὦ τᾶν;

ΦΙΛΑΡΓΥΡΟΣ. 

καὶ πῶς οὔ με δεῖ κλαίειν; 

πολὺν γὰρ ἔχων χρυσὸν 

κατώρυξα ἐν τῇ κήπῳ. 

καὶ τοῦτο ποιῶν 

ἔδοξα ἐμαυτῷ 

λεληθέναι ἅπαντας. 

νῦν δέ τις κλέπτης 

νύκτωρ ἔλθὼν 

ἀφῄρηκε. 

ΦΙΛΟΣ. 

Μὴ κλαῖε, ὦ φίλε: 

ἀλλὰ λίθον λαβὼν 

ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ τόπῳ κατάθες, 

καὶ τοῦτον νόμεζε 

εἶναί σοι τὸν χρυσόν· 

οὐδὲ γάρ, 

ὅτε εἶχες τὸν θησαυρόν, 

ἐχρῶ ποτε αὐτῷ.

ΦΙΛΟΣ. 

ὦ τᾶν  ...  My good man,

τί κλαίεις  ...  why are you crying?

ΦΙΛΑΡΓΥΡΟΣ. 

καὶ πῶς  ...  And how 

οὔ με δεῖ κλαίειν  ...  could I fail to cry?

πολὺν γὰρ ἔχων χρυσὸν  ...  For I had a lot of gold

κατώρυξα ἐν τῇ κήπῳ  ...  and buried it in the garden.

καὶ τοῦτο ποιῶν  ...  And by doing that

ἔδοξα ἐμαυτῷ  ...  I thought

λεληθέναι ἅπαντας  ...  I had escaped all notice. 

νῦν δέ τις κλέπτης  ...  But now some thief 

νύκτωρ ἔλθὼν  ...  came by night

ἀφῄρηκε  ...  and took it away.

ΦΙΛΟΣ. 

Μὴ κλαῖε, ὦ φίλε  ...  Don't cry, my friend: 

ἀλλὰ λίθον λαβὼν  ...  just get a stone

κατάθες  ...  and put it

ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ τόπῳ  ...  in the same place, 

καὶ τοῦτον νόμεζε  ...  and consider it

εἶναί σοι τὸν χρυσόν  ...  to be your gold.

οὐδὲ γάρ  ...  For you did not, 

ὅτε εἶχες τὸν θησαυρόν  ...  while you had the treasure, 

ἐχρῶ ποτε αὐτῷ  ...  every make use of it.

illustration by Grandville

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Crossword 49-50-51

Here is the review for proverbs in groups 49-50-51 with the crossword puzzle! You can click on those group links to review those posts and/or click on the linked sayings below for the post with that specific saying:

• Ἀγαθὴ σοφία ὑπὲρ σκεύη πολέμου.
  
• Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν.
  
• Γόνυ κνήμης ἔγγιον.
  
• Ἐγὼ γὰρ εἰμὶ τῶν ἐμῶν ἐμὸς μόνος.
  
• Θησαυρός ἐστι τοῦ βίου τὰ πράγματα.
  
• Λεγιὼν ὄνομά μοι, ὅτι πολλοί ἐσμεν.
  
• Ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολὺς ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ.
  
• Οὐδὲν σιωπῆς ἔστι χρησιμώτερον.
  
• Τὰ ἐλάχιστα ληπτέον τῶν κακῶν.
  
• Τί δειλοί ἐστε; Οὔπω ἔχετε πίστιν;
  
• Τί ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη ζητεῖ σημεῖον;
  
• Τὸ πεπρωμένον φυγεῖν ἀδύνατον.
  
• Τοῖς πλουσίοις πολλὰ παραμύθια.
  
• Ψυχῆς εἰκὼν ὁ λόγος ἐστίν.
  
• Ὤδινεν ὄρος, εἶτα μῦν ἀπέτεκεν.
  

Here are the sayings without spaces: see if you can find the word breaks! (I'm just doing the shorter ones because the long ones just keep running over longer than the line.)

γ ο ν υ κ ν η μ η σ ε γ γ ι ο ν.

ψ υ χ η σ ε ι κ ω ν ο λ ο γ ο σ ε σ τ ι ν.

τ ι η γ ε ν ε α α υ τ η ζ η τ ε ι σ η μ ε ι ο ν;

ω δ ι ν ε ν ο ρ ο σ ε ι τ α μ υ ν α π ε τ ε κ ε ν.

τ α ε λ α χ ι σ τ α λ η π τ ε ο ν τ ω ν κ α κ ω ν.

τ ο π ε π ρ ω μ ε ν ο ν φ υ γ ε ι ν α δ υ ν α τ ο ν.

α γ α θ η σ ο φ ι α υ π ε ρ σ κ ε υ η π ο λ ε μ ο υ.

ο υ δ ε ν σ ι ω π η σ ε σ τ ι χ ρ η σ ι μ ω τ ε ρ ο ν.

τ ο ι σ π λ ο υ σ ι ο ι σ π ο λ λ α π α ρ α μ υ θ ι α.

ε γ ω γ α ρ ε ι μ ι τ w ν ε μ ω ν ε μ ο σ μ ο ν ο ς.

ο μ ι σ θ ο σ υ μ ω ν π ο λ υ σ ε ν τ ῳ ο υ ρ α ν ῳ.

And here's the crossword puzzle based on a missing word from each proverb: printable Crossword PDF. I've pasted in screenshots below so you can see what the crossword looks like:

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too :

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: 94

Today's stories come from Colson's Stories and Legends: A First Greek Reader which is available at the Internet Archive. You'll find the stories below, first in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English; the title is linked to the Internet Archive page.

Λέων καὶ γυνή

ὁ λέων ἐρῶν τινὸς παρθένον τὸν πατέρα δοῦναι ἐκείνην, ὡς γυναῖκα, ἤτησε. ὁ δὲ πατὴρ ἔ-φη, “ἔγωγε μὲν ἕτοιμός εἶμι, ἡ δὲ κόρη τοὺς σοὺς ὄνυχας καὶ ὀδόντας φοβεῖται." καὶ ὁ λέων, ἀκούσας ταῦτα, τούς τε ὄνυχας καὶ ὀδόντας ἐξεἶλε. ὁ δὲ πατήρ, ορῶν ἐκεῖνον ἤδη ἀβλαβῆ ὄντα, ῥᾳδίως τῷ ξύλῳ ἀπέκτεινε.

ὁ λέων 

ἐρῶν τινὸς παρθένον 

τὸν πατέρα 

δοῦναι ἐκείνην, 

ὡς γυναῖκα, 

ἤτησε. 

ὁ δὲ πατὴρ ἔφη, 

ἔγωγε μὲν ἕτοιμός εἶμι, 

ἡ δὲ κόρη 

τοὺς σοὺς ὄνυχας 

καὶ ὀδόντας 

φοβεῖται. 

καὶ ὁ λέων, 

ἀκούσας ταῦτα, 

τούς τε ὄνυχας 

καὶ ὀδόντας 

ἐξεἶλε. 

ὁ δὲ πατήρ, 

ορῶν ἐκεῖνον 

ἤδη ἀβλαβῆ ὄντα, 

ῥᾳδίως τῷ ξύλῳ ἀπέκτεινε.

ὁ λέων  ...  A lion

ἐρῶν  ...  fell in love 

τινὸς παρθένον  ...  with a man's young daughter

ἤτησε τὸν πατέρα  ...  and asked her father

δοῦναι ἐκείνην  ...  to give her to him

ὡς γυναῖκα  ...  as his wife.

ὁ δὲ πατὴρ ἔφη  ...  The father said, 

ἔγωγε μὲν ἕτοιμός εἶμι  ...  I am quite willing, 

ἡ δὲ κόρη φοβεῖται  ...  but the girl fears

τοὺς σοὺς ὄνυχας  ...  your claws 

καὶ ὀδόντας  ...  and your teeth.

καὶ ὁ λέων  ...  and the lion, 

ἀκούσας ταῦτα  ...  when he heard this, 

ἐξεἶλε  ...  extracted

τούς τε ὄνυχας  ... both his claws 

καὶ ὀδόντας  ...  and his teeth.

ὁ δὲ πατήρ  ...  Then the father, 

ορῶν ἐκεῖνον  ...  seeing that he

ἤδη ἀβλαβῆ ὄντα  ...  was now harmless, 

ῥᾳδίως ἀπέκτεινε  ...  easily killed him

τῷ ξύλῳ  ...  with a club.

illustration by Walter Crane

Ἀνὴρ γεωργὸς καὶ παῖδες

(another version)

ἀνὴρ γεωργὸς ἔμελλεν ἀποθνήσκειν. αἰσθόμενος δὲ τοὺς παῖδας ἀμελεῖς ὄντας τῆς γεωργίας, τοιαῦτα ἔφη, ὦ παῖδες, πολύς μοι χρυσὸς ἀπόκειται ἐν τῷ ἀμπελῶνι. τοῦτον εὑρόντες πλούσιοι ἔσεσθε. ἀποθανόντος δὲ ἐκείνου οἱ παῖδες πάντα τὸν ἀμπελῶνα ἔσκaψαν, νομίζοντες ὡς ὁ θησαυρὸς ἐκεῖ που κέκρυπται. καὶ τὸν μὲν θησαυρὸν οὐχ εὗρον· αἱ δὲ ἄμπελοι πολλῷ πλείω καρπὸν ἀνέδωκαν, ὥστε πλούσιοι οἱ ἄνδρες ἐγένοντο.

ἀνὴρ γεωργὸς 

ἔμελλεν ἀποθνήσκειν. 

αἰσθόμενος δὲ 

τοὺς παῖδας 

ἀμελεῖς ὄντας τῆς γεωργίας, 

τοιαῦτα ἔφη, 

ὦ παῖδες, 

πολύς μοι χρυσὸς 

ἀπόκειται ἐν τῷ ἀμπελῶνι. 

τοῦτον εὑρόντες 

πλούσιοι ἔσεσθε. 

ἀποθανόντος δὲ ἐκείνου 

οἱ παῖδες 

πάντα τὸν ἀμπελῶνα 

ἔσκaψαν, 

νομίζοντες 

ὡς ὁ θησαυρὸς 

ἐκεῖ που κέκρυπται. 

καὶ τὸν μὲν θησαυρὸν 

οὐχ εὗρον· 

αἱ δὲ ἄμπελοι 

πολλῷ πλείω καρπὸν 

ἀνέδωκαν, 

ὥστε πλούσιοι 

οἱ ἄνδρες ἐγένοντο.

ἀνὴρ γεωργὸς  ...  A farmer 

ἔμελλεν ἀποθνήσκειν  ...  was about to die. 

αἰσθόμενος δὲ  ...  He realized that

τοὺς παῖδας  ...  his sons

ἀμελεῖς ὄντας  ...  were neglectful 

τῆς γεωργίας  ...  of the farming,

τοιαῦτα ἔφη  ...  so he said this to them:

ὦ παῖδες  ...  O sons, 

πολύς μοι χρυσὸς  ...  My great wealth in gold 

ἀπόκειται ἐν τῷ ἀμπελῶνι  ...  is stashed in the vineyard.

τοῦτον εὑρόντες  ...  When you find it, 

πλούσιοι ἔσεσθε  ...  you will be wealthy.

ἀποθανόντος δὲ ἐκείνου  ...  After he died,

οἱ παῖδες ἔσκaψαν  ...  the sons dug up

πάντα τὸν ἀμπελῶνα  ...  the whole vineyard,

νομίζοντες ὡς ὁ θησαυρὸς  ...  thinking the treasure 

ἐκεῖ που κέκρυπται  ...  was hidden there somewhere.

καὶ τὸν μὲν θησαυρὸν  ...  The treasure 

οὐχ εὗρον  ...  they did not find,

αἱ δὲ ἄμπελοι ἀνέδωκαν  ...  but the vines yielded

πολλῷ πλείω καρπὸν  ...  much more fruit by far,

ὥστε οἱ ἄνδρες  ...  so the men

πλούσιοι ἐγένοντο  ...  became rich.

17th-century Aesop illustration

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Animal Vocabulary: Aug. 19

Here are today's animal names; it's Group 189. Click on the word to learn more at Logeion:

ὄρνις ~ ὄρνιθος (noun c.): bird 

δελφίς ~ δελφῖνος (noun m.): dolphin 

πίθηκος ~ πιθήκου (noun m.): ape 

χελιδών ~ χελιδόνος (noun f.): swallow 

κάμηλος ~ καμήλου (noun c.): camel 

These are the proverbs (and there are always more proverbs at the blog):

Φέρει καὶ ὄρνις γάλα.

Δελφῖνα πρὸς τὸ οὐραῖον δεῖς.

Πίθηκος ὁ πίθηκος κἂν χρύσεα ἔχῃ σύμβολα.

Μία χελιδὼν ἔαρ οὐ ποιεῖ οὐδὲ μία μέλισσα μέλι.

Ἡ κάμηλος ἐπιθυμήσασα κεράτων καὶ τὰ ὦτα προσαπώλεσε.

And now, some commentary:

Φέρει καὶ ὄρνις γάλα.

Even a chicken gives milk.

This refers to a land of supernatural abundance: in that magical land, even a chicken gives milk, not just eggs. Compare the English saying, "Rare as hens' teeth." You can also find this idea expressed simply as ὀρνίθων γάλα, "hens' milk," referring to something implausible or even absurd.

Δελφῖνα πρὸς τὸ οὐραῖον δεῖς.

You're tying a dolphin by the tail.

Because dolphin tails are slippery, and also because dolphin tails are strong (Erasmus reports that dolphins used their tails to overturn boats!), you are not going to keep hold of the dolphin; it's going to slip away. 

Πίθηκος ὁ πίθηκος κἂν χρύσεα ἔχῃ σύμβολα.

An ape's an ape even if he has gold insignia.

Compare the English rhyming proverb, "An ape's an ape, a varlet's a varlet, though they be clad in silk or scarlet." The Greek saying appears in Lucian who marks it as a παροιμία, a proverb: πίθηκος γὰρ ὁ πίθηκος, ἡ παροιμία φησί, κἂν χρύσεα ἔχῃ σύμβολα. 

Μία χελιδὼν ἔαρ οὐ ποιεῖ οὐδὲ μία μέλισσα μέλι.

One swallow does not make a spring, not does one bee make honey.

Compare the English saying, "One swallow doesn't make a summer." I don't know of an English saying that pairs up the single swallow and the single bee as this Greek saying does.

Ἡ κάμηλος ἐπιθυμήσασα κεράτων καὶ τὰ ὦτα προσαπώλεσε.

The camel, wanting horns, lost her ears as well.

This saying comes from an Aesop's fable where the camel, envious of the horned animals, asks Zeus to give her horns, but he gets angry and crops her ears instead. Here is Barlow's illustration of that fable:

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: 93

Today's stories come from Colson's Stories and Legends: A First Greek Reader which is available at the Internet Archive. You'll find the stories below, first in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English; the title is linked to the Internet Archive page.

Μύρμηκες καὶ τέττιγες 

(another version)

ΤΕΤ. ὦ μύρμηκες, μεταδίδοτε ἡμῖν τῆς τροφῆς. χειμὼν γάρ ἐστι, καὶ λιμῷ ἡμεῖς μὲν πιεζόμεθα, ὑμεῖς δὲ πολὺν σῖτον ἐοίκατε ἔχειν.

ΜΥΡ. καὶ εἰκότως, ὦ τέττιγες, τοῦ γὰρ θέρους ἐπονοῦμεν καὶ πολὺ συνήγομεν· ὑμεῖς δὲ τί ἐποιεῖτε;

ΤΕΤ. ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἡμεῖς ἐσχολάζομεν. ἤδομεν γὰρ πάνυ μουσικῶς.

ΜΥΡ. ἀλλ᾽ εἰ τοῦ θέρους ηὐλεῖτε, τοῦ χειμῶνος ὀρχεῖσθε.

ΤΕΤ. ὦ μύρμηκες, 

μεταδίδοτε ἡμῖν τῆς τροφῆς. 

χειμὼν γάρ ἐστι, 

καὶ λιμῷ ἡμεῖς μὲν πιεζόμεθα, 

ὑμεῖς δὲ 

πολὺν σῖτον ἐοίκατε ἔχειν.

ΜΥΡ. καὶ εἰκότως, ὦ τέττιγες, 

τοῦ γὰρ θέρους ἐπονοῦμεν 

καὶ πολὺ συνήγομεν· 

ὑμεῖς δὲ τί ἐποιεῖτε;

ΤΕΤ. ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἡμεῖς ἐσχολάζομεν. 

ἤδομεν γὰρ πάνυ μουσικῶς.

ΜΥΡ. ἀλλ᾽ εἰ τοῦ θέρους ηὐλεῖτε, 

τοῦ χειμῶνος ὀρχεῖσθε.

ΤΕΤ. ὦ μύρμηκες  ...  O ants, 

μεταδίδοτε ἡμῖν  ...  please share with us

τῆς τροφῆς  ...  some of your food. 

χειμὼν γάρ ἐστι  ...  for it is now winter, 

καὶ ἡμεῖς μὲν πιεζόμεθα  ...  and we are beset

λιμῷ  ...  with hunger, 

ὑμεῖς δὲ  ...  while you 

ἐοίκατε ἔχειν  ...  seem to have

πολὺν σῖτον  ...  a lot of food.

ΜΥΡ. καὶ εἰκότως  ...  And rightly so, 

ὦ τέττιγες  ...  O grasshoppers, 

τοῦ γὰρ θέρους  ...  for during the summer

ἐπονοῦμεν  ...  we labored 

καὶ πολὺ συνήγομεν  ...  and gathered much.

ὑμεῖς δὲ τί ἐποιεῖτε  ...  What were you doing?

ΤΕΤ. ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἡμεῖς  ...  But we were not 

ἐσχολάζομεν  ...  just relaxing! 

ἤδομεν γὰρ  ...  For we sang 

πάνυ μουσικῶς  ...  quite harmoniously.

ΜΥΡ. ἀλλ᾽ εἰ τοῦ θέρους  ...  Well, if during the summer 

ηὐλεῖτε  ...  you played music, 

τοῦ χειμῶνος  ...  then during the winter 

ὀρχεῖσθε  ...  you must dance.

illustration by Winter

Σκίαν τοῦ ὄνου

(another version)

νεανίας τις ὄνον ἐμισθώσατο. ἐπεὶ δὲ θερμὸς ὁ ἥλιος ἐγένετο, καταβὰς ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄνου, ἐβούλετο ὑπὸ τῇ σκίᾳ αὐτοῦ καθίζειν. ὁ δὲ μισθώσας οὐκ εἴα. ἔλεξε γὰρ, ὅτι τὸν μὲν ὄνον ἐμίσθωσεν, τὴν δὲ σκίαν οὔ. ὁ δὲ νεανίας εἶπεν, ὅτι ὁ μισθούμενος τὸν ὄνον μισθοῦται καὶ τὴν σκίαν. οἱ μὲν οὖν περὶ τούτου ἤριζον. μαχομένων δὲ ἐκείνων ὁ ὄνος αὐτὸς ἀπἔφυγεν.

νεανίας τις 

ὄνον ἐμισθώσατο. 

ἐπεὶ δὲ θερμὸς ὁ ἥλιος ἐγένετο, 

καταβὰς ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄνου, 

ἐβούλετο ὑπὸ τῇ σκίᾳ αὐτοῦ καθίζειν. 

ὁ δὲ μισθώσας οὐκ εἴα. 

ἔλεξε γὰρ ὅτι 

τὸν μὲν ὄνον ἐμίσθωσεν, 

τὴν δὲ σκίαν οὔ. 

ὁ δὲ νεανίας εἶπεν ὅτι 

ὁ μισθούμενος τὸν ὄνον 

μισθοῦται καὶ τὴν σκίαν. 

οἱ μὲν οὖν περὶ τούτου ἤριζον. 

μαχομένων δὲ ἐκείνων 

ὁ ὄνος αὐτὸς ἀπἔφυγεν.

νεανίας τις  ...  A certain young man

ὄνον ἐμισθώσατο  ...  rented a donkey. 

ἐπεὶ δὲ ὁ ἥλιος  ...  And when the sun 

θερμὸς ἐγένετο  ...  grew hot, 

καταβὰς ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄνου  ...  he got down off the donkey, 

ἐβούλετο καθίζειν  ...  and wanted to rest

ὑπὸ τῇ σκίᾳ αὐτοῦ  ...  in the donkey's shadow. 

ὁ δὲ μισθώσας  ...  But the donkey-driver

οὐκ εἴα  ...  wouldn't allow him to do so. 

ἔλεξε γὰρ  ...  For he said 

ὅτι ἐμίσθωσεν  ...  that the man had rented

τὸν μὲν ὄνον  ...  the donkey,

τὴν δὲ σκίαν οὔ  ...  but not the shadow. 

ὁ δὲ νεανίας εἶπεν  ...  The young man said 

ὅτι ὁ μισθούμενος  ...  that someone who rented 

τὸν ὄνον  ...  the donkey 

μισθοῦται καὶ τὴν σκίαν  ...  rented the shadow too. 

οἱ μὲν οὖν ἤριζον  ...  And so they argued

περὶ τούτου  ...  about it,

μαχομένων δὲ ἐκείνων  ...  and while they argued 

ὁ ὄνος αὐτὸς ἀπἔφυγεν  ...  the donkey ran away.

illustration by Weir

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Animal Vocabulary: Aug. 14

Here are today's animal names; it's Group 188. Click on the word to learn more at Logeion:

βοῦς ~ βοός (noun c.): ox, cow 

ὄνος ~ ὄνου (noun m.): donkey 

κάμηλος ~ καμήλου (noun c.): camel 

μῦς ~ μυός (noun m.): mouse 

πίθηκος ~ πιθήκου (noun m.): ape 

These are the proverbs (and there are always more proverbs at the blog):

Βοῦς ἐν πόλει.

Ὄνος ἐν μύροις.

Κάμηλος ὀρχεῖται.

Ἐλέφας μῦν οὐ δάκνει.

Γέρων πίθηκος οὐχ ἁλίσκεται.

And now, some commentary:

Βοῦς ἐν πόλει.

An ox in the city.

Compare the English saying "a bull in a china shop," although the idea here is more that you just don't expect to find an ox in the city, so it is something strange and surprising. Cattle are great... but not in the city! 

Ὄνος ἐν μύροις.

A donkey in perfume.

This is another proverb of incongruity: perfume is a very fine thing, but a perfumed donkey is just not right. This can be applied in two different ways: the donkey could stand for someone pretentious who is putting on airs, or it could refer to someone who stumbles into something whose value that they do not recognize, as if a donkey stumbled into a perfume shop when he was just looking for something to eat. You can also find the saying in this form: Ὄνος ἐν μύρῳ.

Κάμηλος ὀρχεῖται.

The camel is dancing.

This is another example of something ridiculous: camels have many talents, but dancing is not one of them. There is an Aesop's fable in which a camel attempts to make a good impression on the other animals by dancing, and instead they just laugh.

Ἐλέφας μῦν οὐ δάκνει.

An elephant doesn't bite a mouse.

Another proverb of incongruity! A mouse is too small to be worthy of the elephant's attention, much less provoke an attack. So, if you're an elephant and you happen to notice a mouse, just let it go; don't sweat the small stuff. You've seen a variation on this saying before in a previous blog post: Ἐλέφας μῦν οὐχ ἁλίσκει. 

Γέρων πίθηκος οὐχ ἁλίσκεται.

An old ape is not caught.

The idea is that if an ape has survived to old age, it's learned to beware of traps and tricks. You might be able to catch a young, inexperienced monkey, but not an old one. You've seen a similar saying about old foxes in a past post: Γέρων ἀλώπηξ οὐχ ἁλίσχεται.

Aesop's dancing camel

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: 92

Today's stories come from Colson's Stories and Legends: A First Greek Reader which is available at the Internet Archive. You'll find the stories below, first in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English; the title is linked to the Internet Archive page.

Ἀνήρ καὶ δύο γυναῖκες

ἀνδρί τινι μέσην ἥβην ἔχοντι δύο ἦσαν γυναῖκες. καὶ τούτων ἡ μὲν ἦν νέα, ἡ δὲ ἑτέρα γραῦς. ἡ δὲ γραῦς βουλομένη τὸν ἄνδρα πρεσβύτερον φαίνεσθαι τὰς μελαίνας τρίχας ἔτιλλε. ἡ δὲ νέα ἔτῶλλε τὰς πολιάς, ἵνα νεώτερος δοκοίη. τετιλμένων δὲ πασῶν τῶν τριχῶν, ὁ ἀνήρ, φαλακρὸς γενόμενος, οὐδετέρᾳ ἤρεσκε.

ἀνδρί τινι 

μέσην ἥβην ἔχοντι 

δύο ἦσαν γυναῖκες. 

καὶ τούτων 

ἡ μὲν ἦν νέα, 

ἡ δὲ ἑτέρα γραῦς. 

ἡ δὲ γραῦς βουλομένη 

τὸν ἄνδρα 

πρεσβύτερον φαίνεσθαι 

τὰς μελαίνας τρίχας ἔτιλλε. 

ἡ δὲ νέα 

ἔτῶλλε τὰς πολιάς, 

ἵνα νεώτερος δοκοίη. 

τετιλμένων δὲ 

πασῶν τῶν τριχῶν, 

ὁ ἀνήρ, 

φαλακρὸς γενόμενος, 

οὐδετέρᾳ ἤρεσκε.

ἀνδρί τινι  ...  A certain man

μέσην ἥβην ἔχοντι  ...  who was middle-aged 

δύο ἦσαν γυναῖκες  ...  had two wives.

καὶ τούτων  ...  Of these,

ἡ μὲν ἦν νέα  ...  one was young,

ἡ δὲ ἑτέρα γραῦς  ...  the other an old woman.

ἡ δὲ γραῦς βουλομένη  ...  The old woman wanted

τὸν ἄνδρα  ...  for her husband

πρεσβύτερον φαίνεσθαι  ...  to look older,  

ἔτιλλε  ...  so she plucked

τὰς μελαίνας τρίχας  ...  his black hairs.

ἡ δὲ νέα  ...  But the young wife

ἔτῶλλε τὰς πολιάς  ...  plucked the grey hairs

ἵνα νεώτερος δοκοίη  ...  to he appeared younger.

πασῶν δὲ τῶν τριχῶν  ...  All his hairs 

τετιλμένων  ...  having been plucked,

ὁ ἀνήρ  ...  the man

φαλακρὸς γενόμενος  ...  became bald

οὐδετέρᾳ ἤρεσκε  ...  and pleased neither one.

illustration by Tenniel

Τροφὸς καὶ λύκος 

(another version)

παιδίον τι μικρὸν νυκτὸς ἔκλαιε καὶ ἐβρυχᾶτο. ἡ δὲ τροφὸς αὐτοῦ ὀργιζομένη παύεσθαι ἐκέλευε. “εἰ δὲ μὴ παύσει, ἔφη, “δώσω σε τῷ λύκῳ. ἔτυχε δὲ λύκος ἔξω ὧν τοῦ οἴκου, ἀκούσας δὲ ταῦτα ἥδετο, μάλα γὰρ ἐπείνα. πολὺν οὖν χρόνον ἔμενεν, ἕως τὸ παιδίον ἐκβάλλοιτοι. ἡκούσης δὲ ἡμέρας, ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἐξεβάλλετο ὁ παῖς, ἀπῴχετο λέγων, “ οἱ ἐνταῦθα οἰκοῦντες ἄλλα μὲν λέγουσι, ἄλλα δὲ πράττουσι."

παιδίον τι μικρὸν 

νυκτὸς ἔκλαιε 

καὶ ἐβρυχᾶτο. 

ἡ δὲ τροφὸς αὐτοῦ 

ὀργιζομένη 

παύεσθαι ἐκέλευε. 

εἰ δὲ μὴ παύσει, 

ἔφη, 

δώσω σε 

τῷ λύκῳ. 

ἔτυχε δὲ λύκος 

ἔξω ὧν τοῦ οἴκου, 

ἀκούσας δὲ ταῦτα 

ἥδετο, 

μάλα γὰρ ἐπείνα. 

πολὺν οὖν χρόνον 

ἔμενεν, 

ἕως τὸ παιδίον ἐκβάλλοιτοι. 

ἡκούσης δὲ ἡμέρας, 

ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἐξεβάλλετο 

ὁ παῖς, 

ἀπῴχετο λέγων, 

οἱ ἐνταῦθα οἰκοῦντες 

ἄλλα μὲν λέγουσι, 

ἄλλα δὲ πράττουσι.

παιδίον τι μικρὸν  ...  A little child 

νυκτὸς ἔκλαιε  ...  cried at night 

καὶ ἐβρυχᾶτο  ...  and howled. 

ἡ δὲ τροφὸς αὐτοῦ  ...  The child's nurse 

ὀργιζομένη  ...  got angry 

παύεσθαι ἐκέλευε  ...  and told him to stop. 

εἰ δὲ μὴ παύσει  ...  If you don't stop crying, 

ἔφη  ...  she said, 

δώσω σε  ...  I will throw you 

τῷ λύκῳ  ...  to the wolf. 

ἔτυχε δὲ λύκος  ...  A wolf happened to be 

ἔξω ὧν τοῦ οἴκου  ...  outside the house, 

ἀκούσας δὲ ταῦτα  ...  and, hearing this,  

ἥδετο  ...  he rejoiced, 

μάλα γὰρ ἐπείνα  ...  a he was very hungry. 

πολὺν οὖν χρόνον  ...  For a long time 

ἔμενεν  ...  he waited, 

ἕως τὸ παιδίον  ...  until the child 

ἐκβάλλοιτοι  ...  was thrown out. 

ἡκούσης δὲ ἡμέρας  ...  When morning came, 

ὁ παῖς  ...  and the child

ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἐξεβάλλετο  ...  still had not been thrown out 

ἀπῴχετο λέγων  ...  he went away, saying: 

οἱ ἐνταῦθα οἰκοῦντες  ...  The people who live here 

ἄλλα μὲν λέγουσι  ...  say one thing, 

ἄλλα δὲ πράττουσι  ...  and do another.

illustration by Grandville

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Crossword 46-47-48

Here is the review for proverbs in groups 46-47-48 with the crossword puzzle! You can click on those group links to review those posts and/or click on the linked sayings below for the post with that specific saying:

• Δεῖ τοὺς μὲν εἶναι δυστυχεῖς, τοὺς δ’ εὐτυχεῖς.
  
• Δὶς καὶ τρὶς τὸ καλόν, τὸ δὲ κακὸν οὐδ' ἅπαξ.
  
• Ἡ κύων ἐν φάτνῃ.
  
• Ἦσαν ὡς πρόβατα μὴ ἔχοντα ποιμένα.
  
• Θυμὸς ἔσχατον γηράσκει.
  
• Λιμὸς δὲ πολλῶν γίγνεται διδάσκαλος.
  
• Μακάριοι οἱ κλαίοντες νῦν, ὅτι γελάσετε.
  
• Μακάριος ἄνθρωπος ὃς εὗρεν σοφίαν.
  
• Οὐκ ἐπ᾽ ἄρτῳ μόνῳ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος.
  
• Οὐχ εὕδει Διὸς ὀφθαλμός.
  
• Πάντα γὰρ δυνατὰ παρὰ τῷ θεῷ.
  
• Πάντα γὰρ καιρῷ καλά.
  
• Πολλὰ τὰ δεινά, κοὐδὲν ἀνθρώπου δεινότερον πέλει.
  
• Στρεπτὴ δὲ γλῶσσ' ἐστὶ βροτῶν.
  
• Χελώνην Πεγάσῳ κρίνεις.
  

Here are the sayings without spaces: see if you can find the word breaks! (I'm just doing the shorter ones because the long ones just keep running over longer than the line.)

η κ υ ω ν ε ν φ α τ ν ῃ.

π α ν τ α γ α ρ κ α ι ρ ῳ κ α λ α.

θ υ μ ο σ ε σ χ α τ ο ν γ η ρ α σ κ ε ι.

χ ε λ ω ν η ν π ε γ α σ ῳ κ ρ ι ν ε ι ς.

ο υ χ ε υ δ ε ι δ ι ο σ ο φ θ α λ μ ο ς.

π α ν τ α γ α ρ δ υ ν α τ α π α ρ α τ ῳ θ ε ῳ.

σ τ ρ ε π τ η δ ε γ λ ω σ σ ε σ τ ι β ρ ο τ ω ν.

μ α κ α ρ ι ο σ α ν θ ρ ω π ο σ ο σ ε υ ρ ε ν σ ο φ ι α ν.

η σ α ν ω σ π ρ ο β α τ α μ η ε χ ο ν τ α π ο ι μ ε ν α.

λ ι μ ο σ δ ε π ο λ λ ω ν γ ι γ ν ε τ α ι δ ι δ α σ κ α λ ο ς.

ο υ κ ε π α ρ τ ῳ μ ο ν ῳ ζ η σ ε τ α ι ο α ν θ ρ ω π ο ς.

μ α κ α ρ ι ο ι ο ι κ λ α ι ο ν τ ε σ ν υ ν ο τ ι γ ε λ α σ ε τ ε.

And here's the crossword puzzle based on a missing word from each proverb: printable Crossword PDF. I've pasted in screenshots below so you can see what the crossword looks like:

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too :

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: 91

Today's stories come from Colson's Stories and Legends: A First Greek Reader which is available at the Internet Archive. You'll find the stories below, first in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English; the title is linked to the Internet Archive page.

Ἁλιεύς καὶ ἰχθύς

ἁλιεύς ποτε δικτύῳ μικρὸν ἰχθὺν ἔλαβε. ὁ ἰχθὺς ἔλεγεν, "ὦ ἄνθρωπε, ορᾷς ἐμέ, ὅτι μικρὸς εἶμι. νῦν οὖν ἀπόλυσον ἐμέ. μείζω δὲ γενόμενον, τότε δὴ ἄγρευε. τοῦτο γάρ σοι ποιοῦντι πολὺ κέρδος ἔσται." ὁ δὲ ἁλιεὺς ἀπεκρίνατο "οὐ δῆτ'

ἀνὴρ γάρ ἐστι μωρός, ὅστις ἐλπίδας

κενὰς διώκων, κέρδος ἀποβάλλει παρόν."

ἁλιεύς ποτε 

δικτύῳ μικρὸν ἰχθὺν ἔλαβε. 

ὁ ἰχθὺς ἔλεγεν, 

ὦ ἄνθρωπε, 

ορᾷς ἐμέ, 

ὅτι μικρὸς εἶμι. 

νῦν οὖν ἀπόλυσον ἐμέ. 

μείζω δὲ γενόμενον, 

τότε δὴ ἄγρευε. 

τοῦτο γάρ σοι ποιοῦντι 

πολὺ κέρδος ἔσται.

ὁ δὲ ἁλιεὺς ἀπεκρίνατο,

οὐ δῆτ'

ἀνὴρ γάρ ἐστι μωρός, 

ὅστις ἐλπίδας κενὰς διώκων, 

κέρδος ἀποβάλλει παρόν.

ἁλιεύς ποτε  ... A fisherman once

μικρὸν ἰχθὺν ἔλαβε  ... caught  little fish 

δικτύῳ  ...  in his net. 

ὁ ἰχθὺς ἔλεγεν  ... The fish said, 

ὦ ἄνθρωπε  ... O person, 

ορᾷς ἐμέ  ... you see me, 

ὅτι μικρὸς εἶμι  ... that I'm small.

νῦν οὖν ἀπόλυσον ἐμέ  ... So let me go now

μείζω δὲ γενόμενον  ... and when I'm bigger

τότε δὴ ἄγρευε  ... catch me then. 

τοῦτο γάρ σοι ποιοῦντι  ... If you do this 

πολὺ κέρδος ἔσται  ... you'll have a big reward.

ὁ δὲ ἁλιεὺς ἀπεκρίνατο  ... The fisherman replied,

οὐ δῆτ'  ... No indeed!

ἀνὴρ γάρ ἐστι μωρός  ... For that man is a fool, 

ὅστις ἐλπίδας κενὰς διώκων  ... who chases empty hopes 

ἀποβάλλει  ...  and throws away

κέρδος παρόν  ... the reward he's got.

The last two lines are iambic verse:

ἀνὴρ γάρ ἐστι μωρός, ὅστις ἐλπίδας

κενὰς διώκων, κέρδος ἀποβάλλει παρόν.

17th-century Aesop

Γεωργὸς καὶ πελαργός

γεωργός, αἰσθόμενος ὅτι ὁ σπόρος ὑπὸ τῶν γεράνων διαφθείρεται, πάγην ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ ἔθηκε. καὶ πολλὰς μὲν γεράνους ἔλαβε, μετὰ δὲ τούτων πελαργὸν. ὁ δὲ πελαργὸς ἀπολύεσθαι ἠξίωσε. “οὐ γάρ εἰμι γέρανος, ἔφη, “πελαργὸς δέ, ζῷον εὐσεβέστατον, ὅς, ὅτι τιμῶ τὸν πατέρα, ὑπὸ πάντων τιμῶμαι. ὁ δὲ ἀνὴρ ἔφη, ἴσως ἀληθῆ λέγεις. ἐπεὶ δὲ μετὰ τῶν πονηρῶν ὁμιλεῖς, μετὰ τούτων καί σε δεῖ κολάζεσθαι.

γεωργός, 

αἰσθόμενος ὅτι 

ὁ σπόρος 

ὑπὸ τῶν γεράνων διαφθείρεται, 

πάγην ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ ἔθηκε. 

καὶ πολλὰς μὲν γεράνους ἔλαβε, 

μετὰ δὲ τούτων πελαργὸν. 

ὁ δὲ πελαργὸς ἀπολύεσθαι ἠξίωσε. 

οὐ γάρ εἰμι γέρανος, ἔφη, 

πελαργὸς δέ, 

ζῷον εὐσεβέστατον, 

ὅς, 

ὅτι τιμῶ τὸν πατέρα, 

ὑπὸ πάντων τιμῶμαι. 

ὁ δὲ ἀνὴρ ἔφη, 

ἴσως ἀληθῆ λέγεις. 

ἐπεὶ δὲ μετὰ τῶν πονηρῶν ὁμιλεῖς, 

μετὰ τούτων καί σε δεῖ κολάζεσθαι.

γεωργός  ...  A farmer,

αἰσθόμενος ὅτι  ...  realizing that 

ὁ σπόρος διαφθείρεται  ...  his crop was being destroyed

ὑπὸ τῶν γεράνων  ... by cranes, 

πάγην ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ ἔθηκε  ...  laid a trap in the field 

καὶ πολλὰς μὲν γεράνους ἔλαβε  ...  and he caught many cranes,

μετὰ δὲ τούτων πελαργὸν  ...  and with them a stork. 

ὁ δὲ πελαργὸς  ...  The stork

ἀπολύεσθαι ἠξίωσε  ...  thought he should be released.

οὐ γάρ εἰμι γέρανος  ...  For I am not a crane, 

ἔφη  ...  he said, 

πελαργὸς δέ  ...  but a stork, 

ζῷον εὐσεβέστατον  ...  a most pious animal

ὅς  ...  who, 

ὅτι τιμῶ τὸν πατέρα  ...  because I honor my father, 

ὑπὸ πάντων τιμῶμαι  ...  am honored by all. 

ὁ δὲ ἀνὴρ ἔφη  ...  The man said, 

ἴσως ἀληθῆ λέγεις  ...  Perhaps you speak the truth, 

ἐπεὶ δὲ  ...  but since 

μετὰ τῶν πονηρῶν ὁμιλεῖς  ...  you consorted with the wicked, 

μετὰ τούτων  ...  with them 

καί σε δεῖ κολάζεσθαι  ...  you too must be punished.

About the fabled filial piety of storks, see Thompson's Glossary of Greek Birds.

19th-century Aesop illustration

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Animal Vocabulary: Aug. 5

Here are today's animal names; it's Group 187. Click on the word to learn more at Logeion:

κάνθαρος ~ κανθάρου (noun m.): beetle 

τέττιξ ~ τέττιγος (noun m.): grasshopper, cicada

ὗς ~ ὑός (noun c.): pig 

κύων ~ κυνός (noun c.): dog 

μυρμηκιά ~ μυρμηκιᾶς (noun f.): anthill 

These are the proverbs (and there are always more proverbs at the blog):

Κανθάρου σκιά.

Τέττιξ μὲν τέττιγι φίλος.

Ὗς ὑπὸ ῥόπαλον δραμεῖται.

Κυνὶ δίδως ἄχυρα ὄνῳ ὀστέα.

Ὁ πτύσας εἰς μυρμηκιὰν οἰδεῖ τὰ χείλη.

And now, some commentary:

Κανθάρου σκιά.

A beetle's shadow.

The idea is that a beetle is nothing to be scared of, much less so a beetle's shadow... but this proverb is about somebody who is terrified by a mere beetle's shadow.

Τέττιξ μὲν τέττιγι φίλος.

One grasshopper is dear to another.

The words come from one of the idylls of Theocritus: τέττιξ μὲν τέττιγι φίλος, μύρμακι δὲ μύρμαξ, / ἴρηκες δ᾿ ἴρηξιν, with the τέττιξ, grasshopper or cicada, the μύρμαξ, ant, and the hawks, ἴρηκες.

Ὗς ὑπὸ ῥόπαλον δραμεῖται.

The pig will run to the cudgel.

The saying refers to someone who foolishly rushes headlong into their own doom instead of running away from it.

Κυνὶ δίδως ἄχυρα ὄνῳ ὀστέα.

Giving bran to the dog and bones to the donkey.

This refers to someone who does things backwards and ends up displeasing everyone: the bones do the donkey no good, and the dog cannot eat the donkey's bran.

Ὁ πτύσας εἰς μυρμηκιὰν οἰδεῖ τὰ χείλη.

Someone who spits at an anthill ends up with swollen lips.

So, in other words, don't spit at an anthill, literally or metaphorically! If you end up with swollen lips, it's your own fault — don't blame the ants.

ancient Greek pig sacrifice

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---

Greek Reading: 90

Today's stories come from Colson's Stories and Legends: A First Greek Reader which is available at the Internet Archive. You'll find the stories below, first in Greek, then segmented, and then interwoven with English; the title is linked to the Internet Archive page.

Παῖς λουόμενος ἐν ποταμῷ

(another version)

παῖς τις λουόμενος ἐν ποταμῷ ὅσον οὐκ ἀπώλετο. καὶ πολὺ δεδοικὼς ἠξίωσέ τινα πέλας παρεστηκότα σώζειν αὐτόν, ὀρέξαντα τὴν χεῖρα. καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ οὐκ ὦρεξε τὴν χεῖρα, τῷ δὲ παιδὶ ἐμέμφετο, ὡς ἄγαν τολμηρῷ ὄντι. ὁ δὲ παῖς ἔφη, “ ὦ ξένε, νῦν σῶσον ἐμέ, σωθέντι δὲ ὕστερον μέμφου, ὅσον θέλεις."

παῖς τις 

λουόμενος ἐν ποταμῷ 

ὅσον οὐκ ἀπώλετο. 

καὶ πολὺ δεδοικὼς 

ἠξίωσέ τινα 

πέλας παρεστηκότα 

σώζειν αὐτόν, 

ὀρέξαντα τὴν χεῖρα. 

καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ 

οὐκ ὦρεξε τὴν χεῖρα, 

τῷ δὲ παιδὶ ἐμέμφετο, 

ὡς ἄγαν τολμηρῷ ὄντι. 

ὁ δὲ παῖς ἔφη, 

ὦ ξένε, 

νῦν σῶσον ἐμέ, 

σωθέντι δὲ 

ὕστερον μέμφου, 

ὅσον θέλεις.

παῖς τις  ...  There was a boy 

λουόμενος ἐν ποταμῷ  ...  bathing in the river 

ὅσον οὐκ ἀπώλετο  ...  who was about to drown.

καὶ πολὺ δεδοικὼς  ...  Very afraid,  

ἠξίωσέ τινα  ...  he needed the man 

πέλας παρεστηκότα  ...  standing nearby 

σώζειν αὐτόν  ...  to save him, 

ὀρέξαντα τὴν χεῖρα  ...  and he reached out his hand. 

καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ  ...  But the man 

οὐκ ὦρεξε τὴν χεῖρα  ...  did not reach out his hand; 

τῷ δὲ παιδὶ ἐμέμφετο  ...  instead, he rebuked the boy 

ὡς ἄγαν τολμηρῷ ὄντι  ...  for being too reckless. 

ὁ δὲ παῖς ἔφη  ...  And the boy said, 

ὦ ξένε  ...  Stranger, 

νῦν σῶσον ἐμέ  ...  first save me, 

σωθέντι δὲ  ... and after I'm safe, 

ὕστερον μέμφου  ...  rebuke me then

ὅσον θέλεις  ...  however you want.

illustration by Tenniel

Δεσπότης καὶ πρόβατον

ΠΡΟ. Θαυμαστὸν ποιεῖς, ὦ δέσποτα, ὃς ἡμῖν οὐδὲν δίδως, πάντα δὲ τὸν σῖτον αὐτοὶ ἐκ τῆς γῆς λαμβάνομεν. καίτοι ἡμεῖς σοι ἔρια καὶ ἄρνας καὶ τυρὸν παρέχομεν. τῷ δὲ κυνί, ὃς οὐδὲν τοιοῦτόν σοι παρἔχει, μεταδίδως τοῦ σιτίου, ὅπερ αὐτὸς ἔχεις. 

ΔΕΣ. ὁ γὰρ κύων ὑμᾶς σώξει, ὥστε μήτε ὑπ᾽ ἀνθρώπων κλέπτεσθαι, μήτε ὑπὸ λύκων ἁρπάξεσθαι. εἰ δὲ μὴ φυλάττοι ὑμᾶς ἐκεῖνος, οὐκ ἂν νέμεσθαι δύναισθε.

ΠΡΟ. 

Θαυμαστὸν ποιεῖς, ὦ δέσποτα, 

ὃς ἡμῖν οὐδὲν δίδως, 

πάντα δὲ τὸν σῖτον 

αὐτοὶ ἐκ τῆς γῆς λαμβάνομεν. 

καίτοι ἡμεῖς σοι 

ἔρια καὶ ἄρνας καὶ τυρὸν παρέχομεν. 

τῷ δὲ κυνί, 

ὃς οὐδὲν τοιοῦτόν σοι παρἔχει, 

μεταδίδως τοῦ σιτίου, 

ὅπερ αὐτὸς ἔχεις. 

ΔΕΣ. ὁ γὰρ κύων ὑμᾶς σώξει, 

ὥστε μήτε ὑπ᾽ ἀνθρώπων κλέπτεσθαι, 

μήτε ὑπὸ λύκων ἁρπάξεσθαι. 

εἰ δὲ μὴ φυλάττοι ὑμᾶς ἐκεῖνος, 

οὐκ ἂν νέμεσθαι δύναισθε.

ΠΡΟ.  ...  Sheep.

Θαυμαστὸν ποιεῖς  ...  You act strangely,

ὦ δέσποτα  ...  O master,

ὃς ἡμῖν οὐδὲν δίδως  ...  giving us nothing, 

πάντα δὲ τὸν σῖτον  ...  all our food 

αὐτοὶ λαμβάνομεν  ...  we have to take

ἐκ τῆς γῆς  ...  from the earth. 

καίτοι ἡμεῖς σοι παρέχομεν  ...  Yet we give you

ἔρια καὶ ἄρνας καὶ τυρὸν  ...  wool and lambs and cheese. 

τῷ δὲ κυνί  ...  Meanwhile, with the dog

ὃς σοι παρἔχει  ...  who gives you

οὐδὲν τοιοῦτόν  ...  nothing of the sort, 

μεταδίδως τοῦ σιτίου  ...  you share the food, 

ὅπερ αὐτὸς ἔχεις  ...  which you yourself have. 

ΔΕΣ.  ...  Master. 

ὁ γὰρ κύων ὑμᾶς σώξει  ...  The dog keeps you safe

ὥστε μήτε κλέπτεσθαι  ...  so that you are not stolen

ὑπ᾽ ἀνθρώπων  ...  by people

μήτε ἁρπάξεσθαι  ...  and are not seized

ὑπὸ λύκων  ...  by wolves.

εἰ δὲ ἐκεῖνος  ...  If that dog

μὴ φυλάττοι ὑμᾶς  ...  did not guard you, 

οὐκ ἂν νέμεσθαι δύναισθε  ...  you wouldn't be able to get food.

illustration by Praeger

And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:

---

---

---

Click here to subscribe/unsubscribe to the email list.

---