Ταξίαρχοι (fr. 279)

421

fr. 279 K.-A. (261 K.)
όνος άκροά σάλπιγγας
άκροά Suda : άκροάται Phot. (cf. Apost. = Prov. Cois.)
you’re a donkey heeding a trumpet242
Phot, o 356 = Suda o 384
-Εΰπολις Ταξιάρχαις
-: Eupolis in Taxiarchai
Meter lambic trimeter.
e.g. —-l<- x— >
Discussion Meineke 1839 11.530; Kock 1880 1.329; Schiassi 1944. 48; Storey
2003.254
Citation context From the common source of Photius and the Suda generally
referred to as Σ” (which got the title of Eupolis’ play slightly wrong; cf. fr. 278
with n.). A similar phrase, but without the reference to Eupolis, is preserved at
Apost. 12.83 = Proverbia Coisliniana 364 Gaisford όνος άκροάται σάλπιγγας-
όμοια τη προτέρα (“a donkey heeds a trumpet: like the previous (proverb)”;
referring back to the beginning of Apost. 12.82 όνος λύρας- άκούων κινεί
τά ώτα- έπι των άπαιδεύτων- ή έπι των συγκαταθεμένων μηδέ έπαινούντων
[sic], “a donkey and a lyre: when (a donkey) hears it, it moves its ears. In
reference to those who are uneducated, or to those who agree with (someone/
something) but don’t praise (him/it)”, which is traced by Erbse to Paus.Gr. o
19, whence the material from Photius = Suda may ultimately come as well
(and see Interpretation).
Text άκροάται in Phot. (cf. Apost. = Prov. Cois.) represents assimilation to
the standard form of the proverb.
Interpretation A reproach addressed to single individual. For the figure, in
which the subject of the verb is assimilated to the person or thing with which
he is compared as he carries out the action, cf. Orth 2014 on Diocl. Com. fr.
6 άλλεται δ’ ύφ’ ηδονής / κεστρεύς (“he leaps in joy like/as a mullet”), citing
inter alia Pl. Com. fr. 207.2 Χείρων έξέθρεψας Περικλέα (“you brought up

“42 Rusten 2011. 267 and Storey 2011. 219 both translate “The ass hears the trumpet”,
but (1) the verb is deponent and (2) there are no definite articles in the Greek.