216

Eupolis

Discussion Bergk 1838. 354; Meineke 1839 11.499, 503; Struve 1841. 40-1;
Kock 1880. 311; van Leeuwen 1900. 222 (on Eq. 1303); Whittaker 1935. 184;
Schiassi 1944. 84; Sarati 1996. 126-7
Citation context A comment on A. Pers. 65-6 πεπέρακεν μεν ό περσέπτολις
ήδη / βασίλειος στρατός εις άντίπορον γείτονα χώραν (“The city-sacking
royal army has now crossed, on the one hand, into the neighboring land on
the opposite side of the strait”), the beginning of the chorus’ first song after
the opening anapaests.
Text This might be printed as a single line (4ioA), as in Meineke, Kock and
Kassel-Austin. But it seems more sensible to match the line-division in
Aeschylus, particularly since the enjambment of Μαρικάς lends the word
emphasis.
In 1, the scholion has dropped the nu-moveable at the end of πεπέρακεν,
which is necessary for the sake of the meter.
Interpretation At this point in Aeschylus’ play, the chorus of Persian elders
have no idea what has happened to Xerxes in his great expedition against
Greece, but they are deeply anxious and well aware that the gods can crush
all human planning. In the absence of any other information, it is a reason-
able conclusion that Eupolis’ chorus is speaking here as well, and that they
support Marikas in whatever nominally great venture he has undertaken, but
are well aware that he may fail—as presumably he does." Kock (followed by
Whittaker) took this to be the first verse of the parodos, as in the Aeschylean
exemplar, and perhaps of the play as a whole.
ό περσέπτολις For the adjective—perhaps an Aeschylean innovation, al-
though used in the form περσέπολις in a fragment of lyric poetry (Lamprocles
PMG 735) quoted at Ar. Nu. 967, as well as in what is supposed to be a fragment
of Stesichorus (fr. 322a.3 Finglass)—see Garvie 2009. 72.

fr. 208 K.-A. (193 K.)
Quint. Inst. Orat. 1.10.18
Maricas, qui est Hyperbolus, nihil se ex musice scire nisi litteras confitetur
Marikas, who is Hyperbolos, admits that he knows nothing of music except his letters

99 Meineke took the chorus to be celebrating Hyperbolos’ return (“sunt chori verba
Hyperbolum a nescio qua expeditione reversum esse gaudentis”), which might be true
but does not match what is going on in the Aeschylean exemplar.