308

Incertarum fabularum fragmenta (fr. 69)

μοσχή The word occurs only here, although the adjective μόσχειος ap-
pears occasionally with the sense ‘leather’; e. g. X. Cyn. 2.9 κυνοϋχος μόσχειος
(a calf-skin bag); Eq. 12.7 (used to protect the place under one’s arm near the
breastplate; cf. Plb. 6.23.3 [covering for a Roman shield]). The point here, as
with κυνή, is presumably that the calf is a common as well as a timid and
easily killed animal.
κυνή The word is common throughout Greek literature (first at Η. II. 3.16;
in comedy at e. g. Ar. Nu. with Blaydes 1890b ad loc.; V. 445; Av. 1203 with
Dunbar 1995 ad loc.·, fr. 559) with the meaning ‘hat’ or ‘helmet’, and would be
interpreted thus here, did the preceding words not clearly refer to pelts. The
word continues the mocking tone begun by μοσχή and adds a final absurd
element. For dogs, see on fr. 40.8.

fr. 69 K.-A. (66 K.)

ούχι παρά πολλοϊς ή χάρις τίκτει χάριν
habet L
Among most a favor does not produce a favor
Stob. 2.46.5
(περί αχαριστίας) Άναξανδρίδου·-
Άναξανδρίδου Gaisford (?)154: Σοφοκλέους L (vid. infra)
(On ungraciousness) Anaxandrides:-

Metre lambic trimeter.
Discussion Meineke 1840 III.200; 1847. 592; Bothe 1855. 434; Meineke 1857
V.clxxx, 81; Herwerden 1868. 27-8; Kock 188411.162; 1888 ΠΙ.737; Nauck 1894. 93;
Edmonds 195911.78—9; Kassel-Austin 1991 11.276; Sanchis Llopis et al. 2007. 273

154 Gaisford was the first to print the readings of this ms. (without critical notes),
but he may have been anticipated in making this correction, since the ms. and at
least some of its readings were known and were the subject of discussion prior
to Gaisford’s edition (cf. Wachsmuth 1882. 1-2). The lack of a note in Gaisford’s
edition apparently led Meineke to the erroneous conclusion that Άναξανδρίδου is
in fact the ms. reading.