278

Eupolis

Text The paradosis άνήρρησαν (“They made their way back”) is unmetrical
and likely reflects the influence of the plural in the second half of the line.
Person’s άνήρρησ’ restores the correct form of the verb from the initial lemma.
Interpretation A specific observation about either the speaker or a third
party (depending on whether άνήρρησ’ is taken to represent άνήρρησ(α)
or άνήρρησ(ε)), followed by a generalized expression of despair. Kock took
the line to be mockery of Euripides for repeatedly bringing old men onstage
complaining about their difficult lives. But the sentiment is perfectly at home
in comedy as well (e.g. Ar. V. 230-7); see below on ούδέν έσμεν κτλ.131
ώς is exclamatory (LSJ s. v. D.I) and emphasizes the word that follows it.
μόλις is a predominantly Attic form (e.g. A. Ag. 1082; Cratin. fr. 255;
S. Az. 306; E. Supp. 172; Ar. Ach. 890; Th. 1.12.4; X. HG 3.3.4) used in place of
predominantly non-Attic μόγις.
άνήρρησ(α?) is < άνέρρω, which is otherwise known only from the
note in Hesychius quoted in Citation context. But the simple/ ερρω and the
compound άπερρω (less common) are widely attested in the sense “wander
off’, sc. “to destruction” (e.g. II. 9.377 έρρέτω; Archil, fr. 5.4 έρρέτω; Thgn. 601
ερρε; Cratin. fr. 129 ούκ άπερρήσεις;; Pherecr. fr. 76.5 ερρ’ ές κόρακας; E. Med.
114; fr. 1125 ερρ’ ιών; Ar. Nu. 783 άπερρ’; Pax 500 ούκ ές κόρακας έρρήσετε;;
Amips. fr. 23 ερρ’ ές κόρακας; Pl. Com. fr. 182.6 άπερρ’; cf. Wilamowitz 1927
on Ar. Lys. 335 “Immer ein Weg, den man nicht gehen mag oder gehen sollte”),
which seems to be the sense here as well.
ούδέν έσμεν οί σαπροί Cf. fr. 478 n. (on σαπρός); Ar. Ach. 681 ούδέν
όντας (“being nothing”; a description of men too old to defend themselves in
court); Eq. 1243; V. 1504 with Biles-Olson 2015 ad loc.; Ec. 144; E. HF 314 νύν
δ’ ούδέν έσμεν (“now we are nothing”; the chorus of old men comment on
their inability to protect Megara and her children); Lyne. fr. 1.15; Moorhouse
1965. 31-4.
fr. 238 K.-A. (222 K.)
ού γάρ πολυπράγμων έστίν, άλλ’ άπλήγιος
ού γάρ Synag. : ουτ’ άρ Suda
for he’s not a meddler, but uncomplicated

131 Storey 2003. 229 proposes “a scene where the speaker is an old man from whom
someone has escaped, perhaps one of the chorus”, which is merely a wild guess.