Entries 6.1-6.52

6.1 A Syrbenian chorus set down against disorderly choruses, from those who cry out syrbas to swine. For syrbe meant "tumult." Image pending

6.2 He looks daggers [lit. "looks whips"] Eupolis mentions it in The Golden Race. He says: "Verily, as the saying is, he looks whips." It is said of those disposed in suspicion of coming evils. Image pending

6.3 What comes from the tripod proverb of things truly said, either from the Delphic tripod or from the Pythagorean. For when a certain wicked man consulted the oracle, the god answered him with many strange... Image pending

6.4 The talents of Tantalus Tantalus was renowned for wealth, so that he passed into proverb. The proverb is double: one form, "Tantalus' talents are tantalised"; the other, "the talents of Tantalus." Image pending

6.5 The Dodonaean cauldron it is in Menander's Arrhephoros. It is said of those who chatter much without ceasing. They say that at Dodona a cauldron is set on a column on high; and on another column nearb... Image pending

6.6 Termerian troubles the great. Whence the proverb. Image pending

6.7 You were born on the fourth proverb. They say Heracles was born on the fourth, and being illustrious and most renowned, he toiled for another. The proverb is then of those labouring for others. Plato the c... Image pending

6.8 More chattering than a turtledove Menander mentions it in The Necklace. The turtledove makes noise not only with its mouth but also with its hindparts. Set down for the very talkative. Image pending

6.9 A Tenedian fellow Tenes son of Cycnus, falsely accused by his stepmother of attempting her, and cast by his father into a chest, was preserved by sea to the island of Tenedos. He decreed that, at... Image pending

6.10 The matters of Nannacus said of things marvelled at for antiquity, or of those who lament much. For Nannacus, as Hermogenes says in his Phrygian Affairs, was king of the Phrygians before the times of D... Image pending

6.11 The three things to death Alexander mentions it in his Goatherds. Aristides says that one consulting the oracle at Delphi used to receive the response sealed; and it was foretold him that, if he opened i... Image pending

6.12 The darkness about Drys Aristotle says, in the Constitution of the Samians, that many Prienaeans were killed by the Milesians at the place called Drys ("Oak"); whence the women of Priene swear by "the... Image pending

6.13 The pebbles in the quiver Phylarchus says that the Scythians, going to bed, would carry their quiver, and if they had passed that day painlessly, would put a white pebble into it; if vexed, a black. So a... Image pending

6.14 What has Apollo "harp-played" to you? "harp-played" means "prophesied"; as Aeschylus says in Locrian Ajax. Image pending

6.15 These shall be your Pythia and your Delia proverb said of those who do something for the very last time. Menander mentions it. They say Polycrates the tyrant of the Samians, having taken Rheneia and dedicated it to Apol... Image pending

6.16 These the Mede shall not preserve Dicaearchus says that, when Xerxes' campaign was about to take place, the Greeks, despairing of safety, used to spend their substance, saying as they did so, "These the Mede sha... Image pending

6.17 Why did you not hang yourself, that you might be a hero in Thebes? Plato mentions it in his Menelaus. They say that at Thebes those who killed themselves had no share in any honour. Aristotle too says the same of the Thebans, that they did not... Image pending

6.18 The old age of Tithonus set down for the long-lived and over-aged. It is told that Tithonus, by his own prayer laying aside old age, became a cicada, as Clearchus says in his On Lives. Image pending

6.19 The hot end of the spit said of those choosing the worse instead of the better. Transferred from those who, inexperienced, take hold of the hot end of the spit. Sophocles mentions it. Image pending

6.20 Under every stone a scorpion proverb: "Under every stone a scorpion sleeps." Image pending

6.21 To shout for Hylas said of those calling out in vain. Since Heracles, when Hylas had vanished, getting off the Argo and seeking long with much shouting, did not find him. The story of Hylas is tha... Image pending

6.22 Drinking water, you would beget nothing of worth this is said to be from Demetrius of Halicarnassus, who says: "Wine, you know, is a swift horse for a graceful singer; but drinking water you would beget nothing of worth." Image pending

6.23 Beyond the dug ground Phaylus was a pentathlete from Pontus, who was reckoned to throw the discus and to leap furthest. When he leaped past the dugout fifty feet onto solid ground, the event passed i... Image pending

6.24 The water rushes by set down for those who undertake to accomplish the matter at hand by every means. Transferred from those who in haste step into leaking ships and risk the danger. Cratinus menti... Image pending

6.25 The pestle's whirling set down for those doing everything and accomplishing nothing. Philemon mentions it in his Heroes. Image pending

6.26 You cut a Hydra said of impossibilities; on account of the heads of the Hydra, which Heracles cutting, was no nearer to mastering the Hydra, since she sent up other heads instead of the cut. Th... Image pending

6.27 Healthier than a tick proverb of the very sound, from the creature called the tick. For it is smooth all over, without scratches, and has no blemish. Menander mentions it in his Locrians. Image pending

6.28 About an ass's shadow Menander mentions it in his Encheiridion. They say that Demosthenes the orator, when speaking in defence of one in danger, the judges not bearing with him, said: "Listen, gentle... Image pending

6.29 Beyond the things of Callicrates Clearchus says there was a certain Callicrates in Carystus, exceedingly rich. If ever the Carystians marvelled at someone for excessive wealth, they would say, "Beyond the thing... Image pending

6.30 Hyperberetaian said of things long-protracted. For among the Macedonians the last month of the year was registered as Hyperberetaios. [Pun: the month-name Hyperberetaios sounds like hyper-bere... Image pending

6.31 The wing of murder that of arrows, "winged" or swift. Better to take phonou periphrastically as "deadly." Image pending

6.32 To garrison or to be rich proverb of those who spend others' substance. The Athenians, having occupied the islanders with garrisons, set great pay to be furnished to the garrisons by those very islanders. Image pending

6.33 To garrison at Naupactus Philip having taken Naupactus, the Achaeans slaughtered the garrison and killed Pausanias the garrison-commander, as Theopompus says. Image pending

6.34 Philip's Cock set down for those who boast over small successes. There was a certain Cock (Alektryōn) who was Philip's general, slain, they say, by Chares the Athenian. Heraclides the comic p... Image pending

6.35 The Phocaean curse the Phocaeans, once driven from their land, swore never to return to it. Herodotus mentions it in book one. Image pending

6.36 A Phaselite sacrifice said of the cheap and bloodless. They say the Phaselites used to sacrifice salt-fish to the gods. Image pending

6.37 Phocus' bridal shower said against those who gather a feast to their own ruin. For a certain Phocus, having a daughter of marriageable age, was sought by many; he gathered them at contribution-feasts... Image pending

6.38 Hard are noble things proverb mentioned by Plato. It came from this: Periander the Corinthian was at first democratic, but later changed his mind and turned from democrat to tyrant. Pittacus of Mityl... Image pending

6.39 The Charadraean lion that by Charadra, unless he means the Thespian, the first one Heracles slew, at Thespiae. The place is called Charadra ("torrent"). Image pending

6.40 A vine-prop and the vine proverb when what is preserved suffers from its preserver. Aristophanes records it badly: "The prop deceived the vine." Image pending

6.41 The Charonian gate one of the gates of the legal hall through which the condemned are led out to death. Image pending

6.42 Farewell, dear light an old woman wishing to have sex naked, lest she expose the wrinkles of her body, put out the lamp and said, "Farewell, dear light." Image pending

6.43 Wealth, wealth makes the man this a saying, like the precepts of the Seven Sages. Pindar mentions it. Alcaeus the poet says it was uttered by Aristodemus the Lacedaemonian. Image pending

6.44 With a hand-eating bond that is, the boxing-thongs, since they cut the flesh and consume it. Better to take "bond" as "that which eats away the hands." For Stesichorus, in some rocky place, prayed to b... Image pending

6.45 Underworld baths those carried for the dead. For baths used to be brought to the tombs. Image pending

6.46 A Cheironian sore the wound formed in the feet from much standing, continually discharging matter. For Cheiron, shot by Heracles when he engaged in battle with the Centaurs, had an incurable woun... Image pending

6.47 The gold of Colophon Aristophanes mentions it in his Cocalus. Said because the Colophonians were thought to work the finest gold. Herodotus too calls the best gold "Colophonian." Image pending

6.48 You draw water on dry land; you wash a brick; you slice a lentil these are all said of those undertaking the impossible. Image pending

6.49 A Heraclean rash that needing the baths of Heracles for cure. For Athena let flow for Heracles in many places hot baths for repose from his labours, as Peisander the poet says in his On Heracles. Image pending

6.50 Like a Chalcidian, our wife has borne Polyzelus mentions it in his Births of the Muses, of one bearing many daughters; since Chalcis, the city of Euboea, they say, once flourished in spears and in the multitude of f... Image pending

6.51 As though not extant, but in retaliation Menander mentions it in his Olynthian Woman. Image pending

6.52 He is as proud as if he had taken down the shield in Argos some say there is a sacred shield in Argos, fastened up, strong and hard to take down. Others say there was a company in Argos of youths in their full prime, called "The Shield." Image pending