Zenobius 4.81

Babys plays worse on the flute

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English

Proverb

Explanation

they set this down for those who practise their art badly. They say that Babys was brother of Marsyas, whom Apollo, hanging him stretched from a pine, flayed for contesting with him in music. Wishing to slay Babys also, but Athena suggesting that Babys handled the flute so ill, he let him go. Whence the saying came: "Babys plays worse on the flute."

Greek

Proverb

Κάκιον Βάβυς αὐλεῖ

Explanation

τάττουσι ταύτην ἐπὶ τῶν κατὰ τὸ χεῖρον ἀσκούντων. Φασὶ δὲ ὅτι ὁ Βάβυς ἀδελφὸς ἦν Μαρσύου, ὃν Ἀπόλλων ὑπερτενῆ κρεμάσας ἐκ πίτυος ἐξέδειρεν, ἐρίσαντα αὐτῷ περὶ μουσικῆς. Βουλόμενος δὲ καὶ τὸν Βάβυν ἀνελεῖν, Ἀθηνᾶς ὑποθεμένης, ὡς ἀφνῶς τῷ αὐλῷ χρᾶται, ἀφῆκεν αὐτόν. Ὅθεν εἰς παροιμίαν προήχθη, ὅτι Κάκιον Βάβυς, αὐλεῖ.

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0098.tlg001.1st1K-grc1:4.81