DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52134#0301
Incertarum fabularum fragmenta (fr. 63)
297
Men. fr. 301 άρ’ έστίν αρετής καί βίου διδάσκαλος / ελευθέρου τοΐς πάσιν
άνθρώποις αγρός.
The main point seems to be a refutation (or at least disparagement) of the
sophists’ stereotypical claim that their teaching makes men better (e. g. Pl. Prt.
318a-19a; cf. Guthrie 1969. 250-60).
2 σκαιού Here ‘intellectually clumsy’, as often; cf. Ar. Nu. 629 with
Dover 1968 ad loc.; V. 1183 with Starkie 1897 ad loc.; Men. Epitr. 918 with
Gomme-Sandbach 1973 ad loc.·, Bond 1981 on E. HF283;143 Taillardat 1965 §11;
Blumner 1891. 6. This use doubtless derives from the application to thought
processes of the difference in agility between the right and left hands, al-
though it occurs first only in the fifth century (e. g. Hdt. 1.129.3; S. fr. 771); for
explicit contrast between δεξιός and σκαιός as applied to the intellect, cf. Ar.
V. 1265-6. Probably related is the older notion of ‘right’ and ‘left’ as ‘lucky’
and ‘unlucky’ respectively, particularly in connection with divination; cf. H.
II. 12.239-40 with Leaf 1900-1902 ad loc.·, Pease 1920-1923 on Cic. Div. 1.12.
Since σκαιός in the sense found here is frequently and naturally contrasted
with σοφός (e.g. S. fr. 771 with Pearson 1917 ad loc.; E. Med. 294-9; Heracl.
458-9 with Wilkins 1993 ad loc.; Dover 1974. 120144), the phrase σοφιστής
σκαιός constitutes something of an oxymoron.
fr. 63 K.-A. (62 K.)
ύπέρ σεαυτοϋ πράξον δ τι άν σοι δοκή,
εγώ δ’ ύπέρ έμοϋ
1 πράξον δ τι άν σοι Sansone: πράττε δτι άν σοι cod.: πράτθ’ ότιοΰν άν σοι Meineke
(ότιοΰν, άν Kock): πράτθ’ δ τι άν σαυτω Kaibel
On behalf of yourself do whatever seems best to you,
and I on behalf of me
Antiatt. p. 92.16-21
εμέ άντί τού έμαυτόν, σέ άντί τού σαυτόν. Φιλήμων Γαμοΰντι· [fr. 18]. Άναξανδρίδης-
‘Me’ instead of ‘myself’, ‘you’ instead of ‘yourself’. Philemo in Bridegroom·, [fr. 18].
Anaxandrides:-
143 For a correction of Bond’s interpretation of Men. Sam. 428, cf. Bain 1983 ad loc.; in
Bain’s note, for HF 683 read 283.
144 In Dover’s discussion, for Heracl. 958f. read 258f.
297
Men. fr. 301 άρ’ έστίν αρετής καί βίου διδάσκαλος / ελευθέρου τοΐς πάσιν
άνθρώποις αγρός.
The main point seems to be a refutation (or at least disparagement) of the
sophists’ stereotypical claim that their teaching makes men better (e. g. Pl. Prt.
318a-19a; cf. Guthrie 1969. 250-60).
2 σκαιού Here ‘intellectually clumsy’, as often; cf. Ar. Nu. 629 with
Dover 1968 ad loc.; V. 1183 with Starkie 1897 ad loc.; Men. Epitr. 918 with
Gomme-Sandbach 1973 ad loc.·, Bond 1981 on E. HF283;143 Taillardat 1965 §11;
Blumner 1891. 6. This use doubtless derives from the application to thought
processes of the difference in agility between the right and left hands, al-
though it occurs first only in the fifth century (e. g. Hdt. 1.129.3; S. fr. 771); for
explicit contrast between δεξιός and σκαιός as applied to the intellect, cf. Ar.
V. 1265-6. Probably related is the older notion of ‘right’ and ‘left’ as ‘lucky’
and ‘unlucky’ respectively, particularly in connection with divination; cf. H.
II. 12.239-40 with Leaf 1900-1902 ad loc.·, Pease 1920-1923 on Cic. Div. 1.12.
Since σκαιός in the sense found here is frequently and naturally contrasted
with σοφός (e.g. S. fr. 771 with Pearson 1917 ad loc.; E. Med. 294-9; Heracl.
458-9 with Wilkins 1993 ad loc.; Dover 1974. 120144), the phrase σοφιστής
σκαιός constitutes something of an oxymoron.
fr. 63 K.-A. (62 K.)
ύπέρ σεαυτοϋ πράξον δ τι άν σοι δοκή,
εγώ δ’ ύπέρ έμοϋ
1 πράξον δ τι άν σοι Sansone: πράττε δτι άν σοι cod.: πράτθ’ ότιοΰν άν σοι Meineke
(ότιοΰν, άν Kock): πράτθ’ δ τι άν σαυτω Kaibel
On behalf of yourself do whatever seems best to you,
and I on behalf of me
Antiatt. p. 92.16-21
εμέ άντί τού έμαυτόν, σέ άντί τού σαυτόν. Φιλήμων Γαμοΰντι· [fr. 18]. Άναξανδρίδης-
‘Me’ instead of ‘myself’, ‘you’ instead of ‘yourself’. Philemo in Bridegroom·, [fr. 18].
Anaxandrides:-
143 For a correction of Bond’s interpretation of Men. Sam. 428, cf. Bain 1983 ad loc.; in
Bain’s note, for HF 683 read 283.
144 In Dover’s discussion, for Heracl. 958f. read 258f.