Entries 4.1-4.100

4.1 You are pulling down the moon to your own hurt the Thessalian women who pull down the moon are said to lose their eyes and their children. The proverb is therefore said of those who draw evils upon themselves. Image pending

4.2 If anything bad off to Pyrrha with it! — they say the Pyrrhaeans were on bad terms with all their neighbours. So those neighbours, in averting the troubles that befell them by casting them out... Image pending

4.3 Nobler than Codrus Codrus was son of Melanthus; Melanthus was sixth in descent from Neleus, of whom Nestor too was descended. He, having been driven out of Messene, came to Athens and, in single c... Image pending

4.4 Foes' gifts are no gifts and bring no gain Sophocles mentions this proverb in Ajax the Whip-bearer. Euripides too says in the Medea: "An evil man's gift brings no profit." Image pending

4.5 In wine is truth proverb; inasmuch as wine reveals what sort those who fill themselves with it really are. Image pending

4.6 In every tale, the abomination of Daedalus too Minos, sacrificing to Poseidon, prayed that something might be sent up to him from the sea that very day, and promised in turn to sacrifice whatever it might be. When Poseidon s... Image pending

4.7 Out of any wood a yoke-collar can be made set down for those whose appearance might be despised, but who fall in for needful uses. Epicharmus mentions it in the Trojan Women. Image pending

4.8 The fish-trap of sleeping fishermen the proverb is said of those who, without toil, achieve whatever they set out for; since while the fishermen sleep the fish enters the trap. Image pending

4.9 The talents of Zopyrus Zopyrus the Persian, doing the king a favour, scourged himself, cut off his nose and ears, entered Babylon, and being trusted because of his bodily disfigurement, betrayed the c... Image pending

4.10 A law of Zaleucus of the severe. For Zaleucus laid down rather brutal laws for the Epizephyrian Locrians. Image pending

4.11 Zeus, slow but sure, has looked into his ledgers that justice, even if late, comes upon the wicked not without forethought. For they say Zeus writes down the deeds of men in certain leather rolls. Image pending

4.12 The pot boils, friendship boils of those who come into friendship through dining together. Image pending

4.13 Searching for a relish, I lost my cloak of the most unlucky. Image pending

4.14 The life of a jar of those living modestly and frugally; from Diogenes the philosopher, whose sweetest dwelling and resort was a jar. Image pending

4.15 Take but an onion, and you shall live again to those who reap great glory from a small cause. Image pending

4.16 We live not as we wish, but as we can of those who do not live by their own choice. Plato uses it in the Hippias. Image pending

4.17 Either he has died, or he is teaching letters of those who campaigned with Nicias to Sicily, some perished, others were taken captive and used to teach the Sicilian children their letters. Those who escaped to Athens, when... Image pending

4.18 Either a lily or a gourd the gourd's flower is called a lily; but it is uncertain whether it will bear fruit. The ancients used "lily" of the dead, "gourd" of the living. Diphilus mentions it, saying: "... Image pending

4.19 One must either eat tortoise-meat or not eat it a small amount of tortoise-meat eaten produces gripes, but a great quantity purges. Whence the proverb. Others use it of those starting to set hand to a thing but then dawdling.... Image pending

4.20 Amaia has gone after Azesia Didymus relates that Amaia is what Demeter is called among the Troezenians, and Azesia what Persephone is called. The proverb came from this story. It is said of those engaged i... Image pending

4.21 More foolish than Praxilla's Adonis Praxilla of Sicyon was a lyric poetess, as Polemon says. This Praxilla, in her songs, brings on Adonis being asked by those below what was the most beautiful thing he left behin... Image pending

4.22 The Heraclean stone some call this the magnet, that draws iron. Others, a different stone resembling silver. It is so called from Heraclea, the city in Lydia. Image pending

4.23 Either thrice six or three dice the proverb is in Pherecrates' Ant-men. It is set down for those taking risks. "Thrice six" signifies complete victory; "three dice," defeat. For of old they used three dice in... Image pending

4.24 The door of Phanius Phanius, they say, was a money-lender, but he was blind. While his slave was secretly opening up his strongboxes and the door, which Phanius reckoned strong, the proverb came to... Image pending

4.25 An anchovy and the fire the proverb is said of those things that come to a sharp and quick end. Inasmuch as the anchovy (which is a fish), so soft is it, is cooked through the moment it sees the fire. Image pending

4.26 The Heraclean disease Dicaearchus says that the sacred sickness (epilepsy) is named the Heraclean. For Heracles, they say, fell into it from his long labours. Image pending

4.27 Thamyris is mad the proverb is said of those who, with full understanding, seem to act unaccountably. Thamyris, surpassing many in beauty, was the first to fall in love with males. Practising k... Image pending

4.28 Quicker than Boutes 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... Image pending

4.29 A Thessalian sophistry proverb said of those who play the sophist. For there had come to a Thessalian an oracle bidding him beware lest his enemies overcome him by using a greater and more brilliant p... Image pending

4.30 The gods' assembly proverb of those who dare to say something against persons as far above them as the gods are above men. Also, the name of a place at Athens, so called from the gathering held th... Image pending

4.31 You go forward muddily having no settled and secure progress, but advancing unsteadily and in confusion. Image pending

4.32 Thracians know no oaths Menander mentions this in his first play. He says that in this land the eldest, struck through the breast with a javelin, perished. Hence among the Ionians and Aeolians arose th... Image pending

4.33 Out of doors, you Carians, the Anthesteria are over! some say it is said because of the multitude of Carian slaves, who at the Anthesteria feasted and did no work. When the festival was completed, sending them off to their tasks t... Image pending

4.34 A Thasos of good things proverb of those who promise to make someone prosperous and splendid. For Callistratus the orator, having been driven out of Athens, persuaded the Athenians to settle the land o... Image pending

4.35 Faster than Heracleitus of Perinthos runs the interest Heracleitus was a runner admired for his speed. The proverb is said of those who borrow money: that interest runs faster than Heracleitus the runner. It is given in Doric form,... Image pending

4.36 Shamelessness is a goddess set down for those who profit by some piece of shameless conduct. Theophrastus, in his On Laws, says that there are altars of Outrage and Shamelessness among the Athenians. Image pending

4.37 A Thracian loophole they say the Thracians, defeated by the Boeotians at Coronea, agreed on a truce of five days; but coming upon the Boeotians by night, they killed some and took others alive. The... Image pending

4.38 The woes of Ino Ino, daughter of Cadmus, married Athamas and bore two sons, Learchus and Melicertes, and a daughter Eurycleia. These Athamas in his madness shot down with arrows. Then Ino, with... Image pending

4.39 Colder than Ialemus proverb, as if one should say, "Barer than the wretched man." Or because mourners use the dirge (ialemos), uttering it as their refrain — whence "to mourn" is also said ialemize... Image pending

4.40 Counsel is a sacred thing proverb, that one ought to give counsel cleanly. Epicharmus mentions it. Image pending

4.41 On the aging horse cast the smaller wheels Crates the comic poet mentions it in his Samians. It is set down for those who through old age need rest and respite. It is said from war-horses, on which when they aged they us... Image pending

4.42 The cavalry-commanders' tablet since at Syracuse the cavalry-commanders, writing their names on tablets, used to mark down those who broke ranks. Image pending

4.43 An Iliad of woes said proverbially of great woes; inasmuch as countless evils befell at Ilion. Image pending

4.44 He sacrifices to Hestia the proverb is set down for those who readily share with no one. For it was customary among the ancients, when they sacrificed to Hestia, to share the sacrifice with no one. The... Image pending

4.45 A Cadmean victory different writers explain this proverb in different ways. They apply it to a victory bringing no profit: some, because Eteocles and Polynices both perished in their single comba... Image pending

4.46 You loose the knot proverb of those undertaking to loose what is hard to loose. For an oracle had been delivered to the Phrygians concerning the wagon that brought Midas, that whoever loosed its k... Image pending

4.47 A winding course there were certain "winding" race-courses, not straight and simple but with bends. Image pending

4.48 The Carpathian (and) the hare proverb. Because there were no hares in their land, they imported them themselves; and they multiplied so much that the corn and the vines were ruined by them. Archilochus uses... Image pending

4.49 A Corcyrean whip the Corcyrean whips had some elaborate construction; whence they passed into proverb. Some say they were even double, and had ivory handles, and were extraordinary in size. For... Image pending

4.50 To play the Cercops the proverb is transferred from animals fawning with their tails. But better, from the Cercopes, whom they relate to have lived in Lydia, exceedingly deceitful and unpleasant; o... Image pending

4.51 You live in Cescus a city of Pamphylia, of fools. Whence too the proverb, "She has no Cescus," of those without sense. Image pending

4.52 The mullet keeps fast proverb of the very gluttonous. For the mullet is so insatiable that on this account they used to call gapers and drinkers "mullets," as gluttons. Others say the proverb is of t... Image pending

4.53 A Cilician ruin a scoundrel; for the Cilicians are scoundrels, or because, being given to piracy, they were notorious for cruelty. The Atticists too call bitter punishments "Cilician." Image pending

4.54 More numerous than the Callicyrians so were called at Syracuse those who attacked the landholders — Callicyrians. Hence proverbially they used to say, whenever they wished to indicate a multitude, that they were "... Image pending

4.55 The bench at the prow is danger proverbial. For enemies, leaping at once upon the prow, take it. Selis is "bench." Image pending

4.56 The crow draws water proverb of those obtaining something with difficulty. Image pending

4.57 Even the korkoros among vegetables the Peloponnesians say the korkoros is a cheap wild vegetable. Whence the proverb. Image pending

4.58 Sillier than Coroebus simpleton and fool. They used "Coroebus" of the foolish, from a certain Coroebus the simpleton, whom they think to be the son of Mygdon the Phrygian, born about the time of the... Image pending

4.59 Uglier than Corydeus this Corydeus was lampooned in comedy for his ill looks, and so were his children, of whom they name one Archestratus. Image pending

4.60 The crow (and) the scorpion proverb of those who attempt difficult and harmful things; it is elliptical — supply "snatched up." For the scorpion, being snatched up, did no less harm by injecting his sting'... Image pending

4.61 A mouth of the Curetes they were thought to be soothsayers; equivalent to "an oracular mouth." Image pending

4.62 To play the Cretan they used the word for "to lie and deceive," and they say the proverb spread from Idomeneus the Cretan. For when, they say, a quarrel arose among the Greeks at Troy about who wa... Image pending

4.63 A ram repaid his rearing proverb of the ungrateful, since rams butt their mangers. It is said, as has been said, of those ungrateful to those who have been kind to them: "the ram and his rearing." For r... Image pending

4.64 Cissamis the Coan this man had many flocks. They say that an eel appearing every year used to snatch the finest of his sheep, and Cissamis killed her; and she, appearing to him in a dream, ordere... Image pending

4.65 Wiser than Cantharus the proverb is said of the wicked and malicious, since at Athens a certain shopkeeper called Cantharus was punished with death for wickedness and treason. Some say he was a shop... Image pending

4.66 Deafer than a thrush Eubulus mentions it in his Dionysius. They say the bird is deaf. Image pending

4.67 Profit is better than shame: drag the adulterer to your inner room Callias mentions it in his Atalanta. Image pending

4.68 Deafer [Κωφότερος] than the harbour of Torone there is a harbour [Kophos] by Torone in Thrace; it has long, narrow approaches from the open sea, so that the sound of the waves is not heard by those within it. Image pending

4.69 A Crobylus pair proverb set down for those who use surpassing wickedness. Transferred from a certain pimp Crobylus, who acquired two courtesans, not only to ruin many of the youth by means of t... Image pending

4.70 Kydos abuse, slander. And kydazein, "to revile and slander." The first syllable is short. And whenever someone has paid abuse on charges of nothing worthy, the proverb says he has "pa... Image pending

4.71 Cyzicene staters these had a reputation for being well engraved. The figure was a woman's face — that of the Mother of the Gods; on the reverse, the forepart of a lion. Image pending

4.72 The shame of "Cythonymus" of one having a shameful renown; or whose name one would conceal because of his calamities and deeds; or one of evil name, or notorious for his deeds, or worthy to be hidden. Image pending

4.73 A dog to the chains proverb of those handing themselves over to punishment; also, "an ox to the chains." Image pending

4.74 A Coan against a Chian the Coan die scored a six. There is a proverb, "A Chian against a Coan." For the Chian die scored one, the Coan six. Image pending

4.75 A Corycaean was eavesdropping Menander mentions it in his Encheiridion. There were pirates around Corycus in Pamphylia, and certain men of Corycus, working with them, busied themselves with the cargoes of th... Image pending

4.76 Even pangs grant exemption Peisistratus the tyrant, they say, used to demand a tithe of crops from the Athenians. Once, passing by, he saw an old man working among rocks and stony places, and asked the ol... Image pending

4.77 Tablets of woes among the Athenians the kyrbeis are triangular boards on which they wrote their laws and the punishments for wrongdoers. The proverb is said of the exceedingly wicked. Image pending

4.78 The victor weeps, the vanquished is destroyed this came from an oracle of the Sibyl of Erythrae. For prophesying about Philip after the battle at Chaeronea, she uttered the verse. Inasmuch as the Athenians and Thebans were... Image pending

4.79 Friends' goods are common Timaeus says that to those coming to Pythagoras as students in Italy, the philosopher used to urge that they make their property common. Whence Pythagoras' counsel passed into a... Image pending

4.80 Celmis in iron the proverb is set down for those exceedingly confident of themselves, that they are by nature strong and hard to overcome. For Celmis, one of the Idaean Dactyls, having outrage... Image pending

4.81 Babys plays worse on the flute 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... Image pending

4.82 Of a bad crow, a bad egg some say this proverb is from the bird, that neither itself is fit to eat, nor is the egg it lays. Others, from Corax the Syracusan rhetor, the first to teach the rhetorical art... Image pending

4.83 Cythnian calamities this came into proverb because of what befell the Cythnians. For Aristotle says they were so badly handled by Amphitryon that great calamities came to be called "Cythnian-deaths." Image pending

4.84 A sleeping hare proverb of those pretending to sleep. Image pending

4.85 The hare runs for his very flesh the creature is exceedingly cowardly; whence too "Rhegine hare" became a saying, for the comic poets lampooned the Rhegines for cowardice. There is a proverb, "The hare runs for... Image pending

4.86 A Lerna of evils there is an Argolic proverb, which they used in averting evil. For they used to throw the refuse and offscourings into this place, since it was a mixed and motley crowd. But mor... Image pending

4.87 White-livered Clearchus, in his On Lives, says that in some men something happens about the liver which makes them cowardly; the proverb is therefore said of such. Image pending

4.88 Worth Lesbians proverb of the unprofitable. Image pending

4.89 A white line of those understanding nothing the proverb was used: "A white line on a white stone." For on white stones, white lines can show nothing, as can a line drawn with red ochre. The... Image pending

4.90 A drowsy dog the dog that fawns but bites secretly. And horses that are sluggish are called laithargoi. And there is a disease so called, with fever. Image pending

4.91 A Lemnian crime proverb said to have spread from the lawless deeds done against the men in Lemnos by the women. Or because the women carried off from Attica by the Pelasgians were taken to Lemn... Image pending

4.92 May you bathe like Pelias this proverb came from what befell Pelias, whom his daughters set down into a boiling cauldron, deceived by Medea, supposing they would make him young, and so destroyed him by b... Image pending

4.93 A field of famine said of cities oppressed by famine; for there is a place so named. They say that famine once gripping them, the god told them to set up suppliant rites and propitiate Famine. Th... Image pending

4.94 With a Melian famine proverb; since the Athenians ruined the Melians by besieging them with famine, as Thucydides relates in book five. Image pending

4.95 The Lindians at the sacrifice proverb of those performing rites with foul speech. From Heracles, who at Lindus snatched off a farmer's ox and feasted on it, while the farmer reviled him. Whence the Lindians,... Image pending

4.96 You join thread to thread proverb of those doing the same things over. Image pending

4.97 A Locrian compact proverb set down for those who play false. The Locrians, having betrayed their treaty with the Peloponnesians, joined the Heraclidae. He pushes back the dates. Others say it is... Image pending

4.98 The Lydian shut the door proverb of foolish thieves. Image pending

4.99 A Lyceian draught either from the spring [Lyceia] of ..., called from Apollo (and the place); with the circumflex on the penult. There were two springs that gushed forth, one of wine and one of h... Image pending

4.100 The wolf dances around the well proverb of those busying themselves about something in vain. For the wolf, when thirsty, goes round and round, unable to drink, and circles the well to no purpose. And when he i... Image pending