Πόλεις (fr. 238)

279

Phot, a 2441 = Suda a 3227 = Synag. B a 1797
άπλήγιος· δασέως, απλούς. Εύπολις Πόλεσιν·-(ού ... άπλήγιος om. Phot.)
haplegios: with a rough breathing, simple. Eupolis in Poleis: -(quote omitted by
Phot.)
Meter lambic trimeter.
Discussion Raspe 1832.100; Meineke 183911.518; Kock 1880 1.318-19; Storey
2003. 223-4
Citation context Although Photius omits Πόλεσιν ... άπλήγιος, all three
notes are presumably drawn from the common source generally referred to as
Σ'. An abbreviated version of the same material is preserved at Hsch. a 6230
άπλήγιος· άπλοΰς.
Text The Suda’s οϋτ άρ is a majuscule error (Γ mistaken for T).
Interpretation An explanation or justification of some preceding remark
(hence γάρ).
πολυπράγμων and its cognates occasionally have a positive sense (“in-
tellectually active, energetic”; cf. Ar. Av. 471 with Dunbar 1995 ad loc.; Th.
6.87.3). But far more often this is a negative term, referring to someone who
becomes involved in affairs where he is judged to have no proper business
(~ “meddling”): e.g. Pherecr. fr. 163.2 μή πολυπραγμονεί (“Don’t meddle!”;
advice to someone who “appears very clever”, and opposed to paying attention
and listening); Ar. Pax 1058 πολλά πράττεις (“You’re a busybody!”; said to
someone making a nuisance of himself); Lys. 1.16; Isoc. 8.26 (πολυπραγμοσύνη
opposed to ήσυχία), 58 (πολυπραγμονεΐν opposed to σωφρονεϊν); Pl. R. 433a
(πολυπραγμονεΐν opposed to τά αύτοΰ πράττειν, “to mind one’s own busi-
ness”). Cf. frr. 82 άντιπράττει with n.; 99.26 άπραγμόνων with n.; Ehrenberg
1947; Dover 1974. 188-9; Adkins 1976.
Although άπλήγιος is attested nowhere else, it is apparently formed from
άπληγίς (cognate with άπλοΰς, “single, simple”), a word for a simple, unfolded
himation (S. fr. 777; Ar. fr. 58 έκ δέ τής έμής χλανίδος τρεις άπληγίδας ποιων,
“making three haplegides from my cloak” (of Eupolis’ supposed reworking
of Knights to produce Marikas?)·, Hsch. a 6229; Phot, a 2441; Et.Gen. AB a
1027 = EMp. 123.14-17) called an Atticism at Moer. a 162; Poll. 7.47, although
Herodas uses the term as well (5.18). The contrast with πολυπράγμων suggests
that it is to be taken in a positive sense here. Or perhaps neither word is a
compliment, and άπλήγιος is reserved for the end of the line as a joke: the