Centuria 2
Entries 2.1-2.100
2.1
The treasure has turned out to be coals
of those disappointed in their hopes. Lucian mentions it: "And so, as the saying goes, our treasure has turned out coals." And again, "You have made my treasure show as coals."
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2.2
Worth the whole
of things exceedingly precious.
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2.3
You are worthy of the shield in Argos
of the modest and well-born; inasmuch as in Argos boys who are pure and free from outrage, by some ancient and lawful privilege, march in procession bearing the shields.
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2.4
Worth a hair
of cheap and worthless men, inasmuch as a hair is worth nothing.
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2.5
From slow-footed asses a horse leapt up
of those who jump from cheap things to greater.
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2.6
An insatiable jar
of those who eat much and are gluttonous. Transferred from the myth of the Danaids and the jar into which they pour the water they draw. For this jar is said to be in Hades, nev...
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2.7
From the starting-line
that one ought to be good from the very start, whether in craft or in any common matter.
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2.8
The thunderbolt's stroke met the highest pitch of ruin
of those who suffer fitting reward for their deeds.
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2.9
All things are easy for the wise
of those who through prudence overcome even difficulties.
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2.10
An Attic into harbour
the proverb is of those who display their courage [in harbour]. For Attic sailors, when sailing home, used to row more eagerly to show off to their kin.
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2.11
In return for kindness, the Achaeans bound Agamemnon
said against the ungrateful. They say it was composed by Maeson the Megarian.
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2.12
A salt-bought slave
equivalent to "barbarian and cheap." For merchants going up into the interior used to bring salt, in exchange for which they got slaves. Whence also the comic poet says, "A nobl...
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2.13
The promises of Chares
of those who readily promise much. For Chares was an Athenian general full of forward promises.
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2.14
A struck fisherman will learn his lesson
this is much like, "Even the fool learns once it is done." For a fisherman, as they say, was handling fish caught in his net, and being stung by a scorpion-fish, said, "Once stu...
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2.15
Sing the songs of Tellen
this Tellen was a flute-player and composer of irregular tunes. Dicaearchus of Messene mentions him.
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2.16
You have spoiled the wine by pouring water on it
in the play Cyclops Polyphemus says this to Odysseus, whence it became a proverb.
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2.17
Truer than the events at the Sagra
Menander, Sophron, and Alexis mention it. They say that the Epizephyrian Locrians were at war with the Crotonians, and sent to Sparta begging for an alliance; the Spartans answe...
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2.18
A Scyrian goat
Chrysippus says the proverb is set down for those who overturn benefits, since the goat often overturns vessels. Others say it is used of profit-bringers, because Scyrian goats...
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2.19
Of their own accord, good men come to good men's feasts
Heraclitus used the proverb thus, of Heracles' visit to the house of Ceyx of Trachis, where he so spoke. But Eupolis, in The Golden Race, gives the proverb otherwise: "Of their...
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2.20
The cargo of salt came whence it came, and went whither it went
since a certain merchant, they say, sailed his ship loaded with salt; the sailors having fallen asleep, the sea broke in, dissolved the salt, and sank the ship.
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2.21
They have "turned-Parian" [aneparíasan]
said of those who change their minds and turn back. Since the Parians, being warred upon by the Athenians and asking for a truce, obtained it on promise of surrendering their ci...
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2.22
In place of Hermione
the proverb is said of those who save suppliants; since at Hermione in the Peloponnese there was a sanctuary of Persephone and Demeter giving safety to those who fled there. Ari...
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2.23
You are un-caprified
the proverb is found in Hermippus' Soldiers. They say that in the fruit of the wild fig that bears the early figs, certain little creatures are produced called psēnes (gall-wasp...
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2.24
Avarice will take Sparta
and naught else — said of those who chose to make gain at any cost. Transferred from an oracle given to the Lacedaemonians, in which the god foretold that the Spartans would per...
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2.25
Comparing a cat to Athena
proverb of those who badly compare the better to the worse on account of some slight resemblance — as if one should compare the cat to Athena because of its grey-green eyes.
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2.26
The Attics keep the Eleusinia
with "to themselves" understood. Duris says that whenever some persons gather and do anything by themselves, they say of themselves, "The Attics keep the Eleusinia."
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2.27
Let him be taken care of, but at "the House"
Aristophanes mentions it in the Farmers, and Plato the comic poet. This was a large house that received paying visitors.
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2.28
An Attic neighbour
Duris says of it that, since the Athenians cast out those who dwelt round about and bordered them, the proverb gained currency. Craterus says the proverb was used of the colonis...
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2.29
Eat the turtles yourselves, you who caught them
fishermen once dragged up turtles in their nets and tried to share them with passers-by. Those who would not take them said to the fishermen, "Eat the turtles yourselves, you wh...
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2.30
An Aspendian harper
Zeno of Myndus says the proverb is set down for the avaricious, saying: "Just as Aspendian harpers send no note outward, but keep all within the instrument, so the lover of mone...
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2.31
Basket and all
set down against those who utterly destroy a thing. For Didymus says that dinners used to be brought in on baskets. As Plato says in Griffins: "They've snatched up everything, b...
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2.32
An anchovy-fire
proverb of things that come quickly to an end, inasmuch as anchovies are cooked through the moment they see the fire.
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2.33
From horses to asses
we use this proverb of those who descend from honour to dishonour; e.g., from grammarian to man-of-affairs, or to anything else of the basest sort.
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2.34
The eyes of Atreus
as it were, unturning and harsh. Said from the lawless deed of Atreus, who, suspecting on a slander that his brother Thyestes was committing adultery with his wife Aerope, chopp...
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2.35
Hipparchion the silent
in our forefathers' time there were two famous citharodes, Hipparchion and Rufinus. When the quinquennial contest at Heliopolis was held according to custom, Hipparchion stood m...
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2.36
With the bear at hand, do not seek tracks
the proverb is said of cowardly hunters. Bacchylides mentions it in his Paeans.
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2.37
You sing as if sailing to Delos
of one carefree and luxury-loving. For the voyage to Delos is easy, and those putting in there used to sing as they sailed without a care.
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2.38
An eagle's old age, a lark's youth
inasmuch as even an aging eagle is better than any young bird. The eagle is said to end his life when the curve of his upper beak grows down so as to lock with the lower.
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2.39
An Arabian flute-player
they say the Arabians, in their night-watches, used a long flute; and one flute-player relieves another, and they pipe, kindling fires, until day comes.
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2.40
Enough of acorns
the proverb is said of those passing from a meaner diet to a better. For in early times men, fed on the acorns of the oak, later took to the fruits of Demeter when they were dis...
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2.41
Knock acorns from another oak
the proverb is said of those who keep asking favours or borrowing from the same persons. For men once lived on acorns, and they used to call those who gathered this fruit for hi...
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2.42
There's always someone at Cydon's
of the hospitable, ever ready to receive guests; inasmuch as Cydon the Corinthian was most hospitable.
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2.43
Always next year the farmer's rich
of those forever fed on the hope of escaping their troubles, but always falling into the same.
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2.44
The dice of Zeus always fall well
of those fortunate in everything; or, as some say, of those worthily honoured.
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2.45
Agon admits no excuse
nor does friendship — Mylon the proverb-collector calls this proverb "Ibycean," as Ibycus was first to use it.
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2.46
Uninvited friends go revelling to friends
a proverb like, "Of their own accord, good men come to good men's feasts."
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2.47
Always jackdaw sits by jackdaw
of those who consort with their like. Since not only is the bird affectionate to its kind, pairing and flying in flocks, but it is even caught by means of its own reflection, go...
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2.48
The horn of Amaltheia
this proverb is like "the heavenly goat," and is said for the following reason. Rhea, having borne Zeus in Crete, gave him to be reared by the Nymphs Adrasteia and Ide, daughter...
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2.49
You teach an eagle to fly
of those who undertake to teach others things which the would-be pupils know better than the would-be teachers.
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2.50
An eagle in the clouds
this is also an oracle; said of those hard to catch, inasmuch as the eagle when in the clouds is not caught.
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2.51
Always Libya brings forth some new evil
of the most malicious, ever inventing some newer mischief.
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2.52
May such wars always pursue me
of the unmanly and worthless.
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2.53
An eagle eyeing wood-worms
of one who pays no heed and despises trifles.
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2.54
Azanian troubles
of those wrestling with troubles. For Azania is a region of Arcadia with thin soil, hard and barren, where the farmers labour and bring home nothing.
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2.55
To stir up Anagyrus
Anagyrus is an Attic deme, where a foul-smelling plant grows, called anagyros. The proverb is said from this, of those who stir something up to their own hurt. Some say Anagyrus...
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2.56
Upward flow the springs of sacred rivers
proverb of things said or done contrariwise — as if a fornicator should call a chaste man a fornicator. Since rivers flow downward from above, not upward from below.
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2.57
Fallen from an ass
the proverb is set down for great and impossible things; as Aristophanes has, "Fallen from a tomb." And Eupolis, "As if fallen from the earth."
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2.58
An Arabian messenger
proverb borrowed from the "Arabian flute-player," for those who talk on without ceasing. Said of the Arabian flute-player, who would begin piping for a drachma but stopped only...
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2.59
Imitating the Arcadians
proverb of those who labour and toil for others. The Arcadians, though they fought many wars, gained no victory of their own, but fought as mercenaries for others.
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2.60
Bocchoris
this man, an Egyptian, is remembered for his justice and resourcefulness in judgement. The proverb is said of those who judge most justly and ingeniously.
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2.61
Off to Macaria with you!
some take it as a euphemism, in place of, "Off to misery with you" — for they figure Macaria as a place in Hades. But others say Macaria was a daughter of Heracles, and that, in...
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2.62
You are a bakēlos
of the slack and unmanly. Bakēlos properly means a eunuch.
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2.63
Byzine outspokenness
of those exceedingly outspoken. From Byzes son of Poseidon, who always spoke with utter frankness.
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2.64
A piped-out life
of the useless; from the metaphor of old, worn-out flutes.
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2.65
The Boeotian strain
of those quiet at first but afterwards mounting in evils, as Sophocles says, "When one strikes up the Boeotian strain." The proverb is said because the Boeotians, at first havin...
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2.66
Bouthus is wandering about
Cratinus mentions it in the Cheirones. It is set down for the simple and dull-witted, transferred from a certain Pythian victor named Bouthus.
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2.67
Bunas is judging
said of those who keep putting off and postponing their decisions. For Bunas was an Athenian, as Mnaseas says, to whom the Eleans, being at variance with the Calydonians, entrus...
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2.68
Boeotian riddles
of the witless, from the metaphor of the Sphinx. Inasmuch as the Sphinx set the Thebans her riddle: "Four-footed, two-footed, and again three-footed." Oedipus solved it, took hi...
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2.69
An ox will throw dust on himself
of those who readily go along to their own hurt. For oxen, being gentle, easily submit to the bonds. But some take it of those who throw themselves into manifest danger.
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2.70
An ox upon the tongue
proverb of those unable to speak freely; either because of the animal's voicelessness, or because the Athenian coin had an ox stamped on it, which had to be paid by those who sp...
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2.71
Have you struck and think to flee?
against those who do mischief and think to escape.
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2.72
Throw it into the water
of those worthy of destruction; equivalent to "Drown it!"
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2.73
The papyrus' fruit bears no ear
of those who cannot use their own goods well; inasmuch as the papyrus is too weak to bear grain. For though it sends up ears, it does not bring them to maturity.
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2.74
A clod for a field
of those who vie in offering trifling things to the great. It is the same as if one led water from a gully into the sea and thought to oblige it.
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2.75
An ox at a heap
of those living in indulgence.
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2.76
Fouling clear water with mud, you will never find drink
of those who mix the noblest with the basest.
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2.77
Go to ruin
or, "Go to the crows" — of those worthy of destruction.
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2.78
You pour wine for frogs
to those who furnish things their recipients have no need of.
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2.79
Water for a frog
like "Lard for a weasel" — of those who give what their recipients delight in. There is also, "An ox for the harvest," of those greatly benefited.
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2.80
A bumblebee man
of the unproductive; inasmuch as the bumblebee bears no fruit. It is a kind of bee that fashions its honeycomb out of mud.
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2.81
Another's ox looks mostly outward
of those neglected by strangers, who therefore look toward their own masters as caring for them.
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2.82
Oxen watching for the harvest
of those who labour with care.
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2.83
The Molossian ox
said of things divided into many parts and chopped up. For the Molossians, in their oath-takings, made their compacts by chopping oxen into small pieces.
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2.84
May you prophesy to the Boeotians!
this is a curse. For Heraclides says that, when the Thebans consulted the oracle about a war, the prophetess at Dodona answered that they would have victory if they committed sa...
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2.85
Achilles has thrown two and four with his dice
this is from Euripides. And Euripides, in revising his Telephus, removed the dice-game. It is said of the witless.
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2.86
Bulias judges
of judges who keep postponing their decisions, from a certain Bulias the Athenian, who put off judgement so long as to die before delivering verdict.
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2.87
Bellerophon's letters
Bellerophon, having killed Belleros — or, as some say, Peirēn — came as a fugitive from Argos to Tiryns, to Proetus. Anteia, wife of Proetus, conceived a passion for him; he ref...
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2.88
You are noble
out of your purse — of those reckoned noble through wealth.
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2.89
The owl flies
the flight of the owl was reckoned by the Athenians a sign of victory.
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2.90
An old fox is not caught in a trap
of those who, by long experience, do not err.
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2.91
Glaucus' craft
either of things easily wrought, or of things wrought with utmost care and skill. For a certain Hippasus made four bronze discs so that their diameters were equal, but the thick...
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2.92
Sweet elbow
they say the proverb is from the so-called "Long Elbow" on the Nile; by antiphrasis for "harsh."
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2.93
A little tunic for a weasel
this proverb is like, "A saffron robe does not become a weasel." Since a weasel, by Aphrodite's contrivance turned into a woman, in her saffron gown sprang at a mouse. Strattis...
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2.94
A Seriphian crone
Apollodorus says there is a proverbial expression, "the Seriphian crone," for a woman grown old in maidenhood. Others derive it from the locust: for the field-locust, called by...
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2.95
Barer than a slough
Aristophanes has, "Blinder than a slough." A slough is the cast-off hide of a snake or cicada. Properly, the slough is that in which the calf's foetus is contained; this too is...
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2.96
An old woman plays the Bacchant
of those who do something out of season; for it is fitting for the young to dance in chorus.
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2.97
An old ox is unmourned in the house
of those who die in their due season.
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2.98
You set a naked man as guard
proverb of those unable to fulfil their orders, because the very orders are impossible.
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2.99
Tongue, whither do you go?
to set up a city or to overthrow a city — of those who through speech either help or harm.
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2.100
Clattering laughter
disorderly and unruly; inasmuch as some, when they laugh, clap together their hands or their feet.
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