Page:Comedies of Aristophanes (Hickie 1853) vol2.djvu/272

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648 THE ECCLESIAZUS.E. 609-623-

Pkax. Yes ; formerly, my good sir, when we used the for- mer laws. But now, — for substance shall be in common, — what ' is the advantage of not paying in ?

Blep. If on seeing a girl any one should desire her and wish to lie with her, he will be able ^ to make presents by taking from these ; but he will enjoy a share of the common property by sleeping with her.

Prax. But he will be permitted to sleep with her for nothing ; for I will make^ them in common for the men to lie with, and for any one that pleases to beget children.

Blep. How then, if all shall go to the most beautiful of them and seek to lie with her ?

Prax, The uglier and more flat-nosed Avomen shall sit by the side of the beautiful;'* and then if any desire her,^ he shall first lie with the ugly one.

Blep. Why, how shall our powers not*^ fail us old men, before we get there where you say, if we have to do with the ugly ones Jirst?

Prax. They will not fight.

Blep. AVhat about ?

Prax. Be of good courage ! don't fear ! — they will not fight.

Blep. What about P^

Prax. About your not sleeping with them.** And such a law is provided for you.

Blep. Your plan^ has some sense ; for it has been provided

' See Bernhardy, W. S. p. 444.

- " f^fi (i. e. 5vvt](jeTai) covvai (sc. ry fisipuKi) d(ptXojv, deniens, dctra- Jiens, decerpens, Tovrwv, ex iis quee ille sibi reservarit, ncc in commune depostierit." Brutick.

^ The construction is somewhat ambiguous. In Brunck's version it is rendered, ^^ Namq%ce faciam, ut ilia communes cum viris cubent, it cuiUbet volenti liberos pciriant." Similarly Droysen. But this con- struction will hardly suit vs. 61.5.

  • " Formosas, 2^ulchras." Kuster.
  • i. e. T))c uipaiordTijr. " Uiid jemand nacli der Schbnen verlangt."

Droysen. See note on Ran. 1075. For the omission of rir, see note on Aves, 167, and comp. vss. 611, 633, 642, 643, 662, 670, 672.

  • Cf. vs. 640, infra. ' See Porson, Opusc. p. 23.

' "Those words toi> fiij ^vyKaTaCapOtlv ought to have been trans- lated more closely: si cum illis tion concubueritis ; or, quia ctim illis nnn concumbetis." Brunck. " Sie wehrt dir den Beischlaf nicht." Droysen.

" TO vfi'iTipov, strictly speaking, = vtitig. So to abv = av, to ifibv = iyuj. See note on Thesm. 10.5. The corresponding clause to to

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