Zenobius 5.59

The Scythian and the horse

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English

Proverb

The Scythian and the horse

Explanation

said of those secretly desirous of something but openly rejecting it and spitting upon it. Pindar witnesses, saying: "Certain affected Scythian men loathe in word a slain horse in the daylight, but in secret with twisted jaws they … gnaw at the feet and heads."

Greek

Proverb

Ὁ Σκύθης τὸν ἵππον

Explanation

ἐπὶ τῶν κρύφα τινὸς ἐφιεμένων, φανερῶς δὲ ἀπωθουμένων καὶ διαπτυόντων αὐτὸ εἴρηται ἡ παροιμία. Μαρτυρεῖ δὲ καὶ Πίνδαρος λέγων· Ἄνδρες τινὲς ἀκκιζόμενοι Σκύθαι νεκρὸν ἵππον στυγέοισιν λόγῳ κτάμενον ἐν φάει· κρυφᾶ δὲ σπολιοὺς γένυσιν ἀνδέροισιν πόδας ἠδὲ κεφαλάς.

urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0098.tlg001.1st1K-grc1:5.59