Zenobius 4.28
Quicker than Boutes
English
Proverb
Quicker than Boutes
Explanation
among the warriors painted on the Stoa was one inscribed "Boutes," of whom only the helmet and one eye showed; the rest of him seemed concealed by the mountain on which he stood, since the mountain was in front of him. The proverb is set down for things easily completed; for indeed Boutes was easily painted, the body not having been drawn complete.
Greek
Proverb
Θᾶττον ἢ Βούτης
Explanation
τῶν ἐπὶ τῇ στοᾷ μαχομένων τὶς ἦν ᾧ ἐπεγέγραπτο Βούτης, οὗ ἐφαίνετο τὸ κράνος καὶ ὁ ὀφθαλμὸς· τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ μέρη ἐδόκει ὑπὸ τοῦ ὄρους, ἐφ’ οὗ ἐβεβήκει, κρύπτεσθαι, διὰ τὸ προκεῖσθαι αὐτοῦ. Τάσσεται οὖν ἡ παροιμία ἐπὶ τῶν ῥᾳδίως συντελουμένων. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ ὁ Βούτης ῥᾳδίως κατεσκευάσθη, ἅτε οὐχ ὁλοκλήρου τοῦ σώματος γεγραμμένου.
urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0098.tlg001.1st1K-grc1:4.28