Αγροίκοι (fr. 2)

43

3.5. Dobree’s Χρηστέ, κούκ (Χρηστέ, κούκ Meineke) is implausible, since in
Attica, at any rate, the name is unknown before the first century BC (Agora
XXI, F 243 [cf. F 244]; it remains rare until the second century AD), although
it is known somewhat earlier elsewhere (e. g. P.Hib. II 208.5 [c. 270-50 BC]).32
χρηστέ, κούκ is possible (cf. Anaxandr. fr. 34.5; D. 18.30 with Wankel ad loc.)
but unlikely without ώ (cf. Eibel 1893. 21; Loewe 1925. 128).
Interpretation The speaker is generally identified with Speaker B of fr. 1,
and the feast/symposium in the two fragments is assumed to represent the
same occasion. The identification of speakers is plausible; that of the occasion
is not (see above on the content of the comedy). The feast described here was
magnificent by the standards of the speaker, but this may be a reflection of his
ignorance and is thus not necessarily to be taken at face-value. In any case,
the extravagence (real or presumed) of the event caused him to recognize
the poverty of his life to date (4) and so may have led to a resolve to experi-
ence more such feasts, presumably in the supposedly more luxurious city. In
contrast to fr. 1, where Speaker B is part of a group, here he speaks only for
himself. Since the chorus of fellow countrymen is not obviously involved,
this fragment may belong early in the play before their arrival on stage. This
placement supports the notion that the fragment is part of an expository
monologue that provides the background and motivation for the character’s
later actions. The focus is squarely on the food, particularly what is taken to be
its enormous quantity, and its impact on the speaker; the host and the servers
are invisible in the narrative.
1 έστεφανώθην The donning of garlands often coincides with the
arrival of the δεύτεραι τράπεζαι; e. g. Alex. fr. 252; Nicostr. Com. fr. 27;
Dicaearch. fr. 19; contrast Eub. fr. Ill (112K) with Hunter 1983 ad loc. (on
garlands worn earlier, during the δεϊπνον). For garlands in general, see Blech
1982; Arnott 1996 on Alex. fr. 4.2; Olson-Sens 2000 on Archestr. fr. 60.1 (SH
192); Austin-Olson 2004 on Ar. Th. 447-8.
2 βρώματ(α) Prosaic vocabulary for ‘food’ in general from the fifth
century onward (e.g. Th. 4.26.5), although the word most often refers to
something cooked (e. g. Anaxandr. fr. 31; Aristopho fr. 7; Sosip. fr. 1.30), rarely
to fresh fruit or vegetables (Eub. fr. 13); the only occurrence in Ar. (fr. 347.1)
is metaphorical. The prosaic tenor of the word contrasts with the awe the
food elicits.

32 Meineke’s correction of χρηστήν to Χρήστην at Philem. dub. fr. 198 is implausible
for the same reason.