348

Eupolis

26 από μ’ όλεΐς A colloquial expression of exasperation with the
behavior of another person, equivalent to a curse (~ “Damn you!”); cf. fr. 79
έξαπολεϊς με; Pherecr. fr. 113.20 ο’ίμ’ ώς άπολεΐς μ’; Ar. Ach. 470 άπολεΐς μ’;
V. 849, 1202 άπολεΐς με, 1449 ο’ίμ’ ώς άπολεΐς με; Th. 1073 άπολεΐς μ’, ώ γραΰ;
Pl. Com. fr. 208.1 ο’ίμοι τάλας, άπολεΐς μ’; Alex. fr. 177.15 άπολεΐ μ’ οΰτοσί;
Men. Dy sc. 412 άπολεΐς; Theognet. fr. 1.1 άνθρωπ’, άπολεΐς με; Agathon TrGF
39 F 13.1. For the tmesis, cf. Ar. Pl. 65 άπό σ’ όλώ κακόν κακώς; and see Bruhn
1963 § 63.
άνθρωπ[ε] is an essentially neutral form of address, particularly when
used for someone one does not know (~ “sir”). Here, however, it is patently
hostile in tone, as at e.g. Ar. Ach. 818; Nu. 1495; Theognet. fr. 1.1 (quoted
above). Cf. Dickey 1996. 150-4; Collard 2005. 369; Finglass 2011 on S. Ai. 791.
27 Addressed to a third party, presumably (C.), if (A.) is the speaker
and (C.) has not already exited (cf. 19), otherwise the world at large, i. e. the
audience.
Forms of άνθρωπος οΰτος routinely express frustration, surprise,
contempt, indignation or the like (e.g. Ar. Ach. 576; Nu. 492; V. 495; Ec. 811;
Pl. 68; Alex. fr. 177.3-4; And. 1.135; Pl. Smp. 221d).
νοϋν έχοντας For νουν έχω in the colloquial sense “be sensible”, e. g. Ar.
Nu. 835; Th. 291; S. Tr. 553; E. Andr. 944; Ba. 252; fr. 256.1; X. Mem. 3.12.7. What
followed might have been something like “fails to heed”, if (B.) is the speaker,
or “abuses”, if (A.)’s rant continues.
28 άλλ’ ούχί δυνατ(ά) “But these are impossible (arguments/
requests)”—note that δυνάτ’ is an adjective, not an elided form of δύναται-
sc. “to accept”; cf. fr. 76.1 άλλ’ ούχί δυνατόν έστιν; Thgn. 626 τοϋτο γάρ ού
δυνατόν.
30 Cf. Ar. Ach. 162 ύποστένοι μένταν ό θρανίτης λεώς; Ε. Cyc. 198 τάν
μεγάλα γ’ ή Τροία στένοι (both cited by Kassel-Austin).183 For the identity of
the speaker, see on μέντ(οι) below.
μέγα is adverbial; cf. e.g. Cratin. fr. 102.2 καυχάσθαι μέγα (“to boast
loudly”); Ar. Nu. 393 μέγα βροντάν (“to thunder loudly”); V. 618 μέγα ...
κατέπαρδεν (“it farts loudly”), 963 λέξον μέγα (“speak loudly!”); Sannyr. fr.
8.4 άνακράγοι... αν ... μέγα (“he would shout loudly”).

183 Schmid 1946. 115 calls the expression “hochtragisch”, but is able to cite only Cyclops
(satyr play, and thus not tragedy at all) as a parallel. Despite Storey 2003. 244, Rau
1967. 186 does not argue that both Eupolis and Aristophanes were echoing a now-
lost tragic examplar, but merely claims that the Aristophanic passage has Leicht
trag. Affektion” (“a light tragic coloring”).