326

Eupolis

Meter lambic?
—x
Context POxy. 2813 fr. Id col. 11.28-31 = Eup. fr. 259.68-71 K.-A.
τής γής h(M άχθ°[ς] [ά¬
χθος μ(έν) έπεί κα [
70 κουφότης 5(έ) έπεί . [
άλλα κουφοί κ(αί) φ[
68 suppl. Lobel 69 fort. καμ[ατηροί]
a burden, on the one hand, on the earth a bur-
den, on the one hand, since κα[
70 but lightness, since [
but light and φ[164
Interpretation The echo of 68 άχθο[ς] in 68-9 [ά]χθος makes it clear that the
former is part of a lemma, the latter commentary on it. 68-71 show that the in-
dividuals in question (note the plural in 71)—presumably including Syrakosios
and Exekestos (fr. 258f)—were characterized as “a burden on the earth” (i. e.
useless, empty weight), on the one hand, but also paradoxically as “light” (i. e.
insubstantial and insignificant), on the other. For the image “a burden on the
earth”, cf. II. 18.104 έτώσιον άχθος άρούρης; Od. 20.379 αύτως άχθος άρούρης;
Pl. Pht. 176d γης άλλως άχθη (all cited by Lobel); Men. fr. *113 K.-T. περιττόν
άχθος όντα γης, ώς είπε τις (“being an extraneous burden on the earth, as
someone put it”, leaving no doubt that the expression was semi-proverbial).
fr. 259f = POxy. 2813 fr. Id col. II.32-7 = Eup. fr. 259.72-7 K.-A.
Συρακόσιον ηλ[
είην τούτους [
τις Έξήκεστον [
75 ταλου κομίζω.[
π(αρα)γενόμ(εν)ον ταυ[
νειν δοκεΐ μοι[
74-5 fort. [βα]τάλου
Syrakosios (acc.) ηλ[
είην these men (acc.) [


164 For “but lightweights and Syrakosios” (as if 71-2 were continuous text) in Storey
2011. 201 read “but lightweights and ... Syrakosios”.