274

Incertarum fabularum fragmenta (fr. 54)

would remain. For the corruption of κοιμίζειν to κομίζειν in A, cf. Ar. Av.
1734; E. Tr. 594.
7 is metrically deficient (as transmitted, the second metron is composed of
four longs); the simplest solution is Gaisford’s τι in place of τις. But it remains
unclear how extensive the corruption is, since the sentence is incomplete and
the precise point being made is not clear, not least because of the difficulties
in 4, with which this line is a contrast (ευκόλως vs. δυσκόλως).
Interpretation For a son admonishing a father, Kassel-Austin ad loc. adduce
Men. Dysc. 797-812 (cf. Handley 1965 ad loc. [p. 271]); fr. 191; Apollod. Com. fr.
17; add Men. Sam. 137-42b. Webster 1960.166 (cf. 1970. 75) viewed this passage
as a characterization of ‘the stern father of the prodigal son’, adding that this
is the only recognizable example of such a character between Aristophanes
and Menander. The passage reads as a consolation of someone burdened by
old age (and is seemingly thus presented by Stobaeus), but it may have had a
sharper point in its original context.
1- 2 ούτοι τό γήράς έστιν ... / των φορτίων μέγιστον Both defences
of and attacks on old age, whether explicit or implied by the treatment of
certain characters, are common in ancient literature, both Greek and Roman;
the treatment of old age in comedy most often consists of ridicule of the old
on the basis of stereotypical characteristics such as steadfast adherence to
old-fashioned ways, lecherousness, etc. For examples of both positive and
negative portrayals, see Allen 1993 on Mimn. fr. 1; Powell 1988. 24-30; cf.
Falkner-de Euce 1989, esp. 230-51 (= Eyben 1989); Oeri 1948. For old age
described as a burden, cf. E. HF 637-54; Plaut. Men. 756-7 consitus sum /
senectute: onustum gero corpus·, Cic. Sen. 2; Sen. Ep. 30.1; for the metaphorical
use of φορτίον, cf. Antiph. fr. 270; [Men.] Mon. 459, 660. φορτίον is diminutive
in form but not meaning (pace Dunbar 1995 on Ar. Av. 1375); cf. Petersen 1910.
11. For the sense of the word, see Blumner 1891. 157.
πάτερ Cf. on fr. 1.4.
2- 3 άλλ’ δς άν φέρη / άγνωμόνως αύθ’, ούτός έστιν αίτιος For the
thought, cf. Pl. R. 329d άλλα και τούτων [i. e. the burdens of old age] πέρι και
των προς τούς οικείους μία τις αίτια έστίν, ού τό γήρας, ώ Σώκρατες, άλλ’ ό
τρόπος των άνθρώπων. αν μεν γάρ κόσμιοι καί εύκολοι ώσιν, καί τό γήρας
μετρίως έστίν έπίπονον· εί δε μή, καί γήρας, ώ Σώκρατες, καί νεότης χαλεπή
τω τοιούτω συμβαίνει.
άγνωμόνως The adverb occurs only here in comedy, although the adjec-
tive appears several times in Menander (e. g. Ep. 918; fr. 641.1). The adjective
does not seem to belong to any particular linguistic stratum, occurring in
both elevated poetry (e.g. Pi. O. 8.60) and prose (e. g. Pl. Phdr. 275b), but the
adverb occurs elsewhere only in prose (e.g. X. HG 6.3.11; Isoc. 15.227; D. 2.26).