Χρυσοϋν γένος (fr. 304)

481

Discussion Meineke 1839 1.146,11.541; Miiller-Striibing 1873. 165; Kock 1880
1.335.
Citation context Suda ζ 73 claims that Zenobius’ collection of proverbs was
an epitome of earlier collections by Didymus and Tarrhaios, i. e. Lucillus of
Tarrha; Didymus, at least, was certainly drawing on older scholarship on
comedy. Related material, but without reference to Eupolis, is preserved at
Macar. 6.70 σκύτη βλέπει· επί των ύφορωμένων πείσεσθαί τι κακόν καί διά
τούτο σκυθρωπών (“he looks whips: in reference to those who suspect they
are going to suffer something bad and who scowl on that account”); Σ1' Ar. V.
643 σκύτη βλέπειν· ... καί τούτο, φασίν, παροιμία, επί των έγγιζόντων κακώ
τινι (“to look whips: this too, they say, is a proverb, in reference to those who
are close to trouble of some kind”); Σνι Ar. V. 643 σκύτη βλέπειν· ... παροιμία
δε έλέγετο, έπί των δειλιώντων (“to look whips: ... said to be a proverb, in
reference to those who act like cowards”); Σ Ar. Pax 669 (lacunose).
Interpretation Meineke (followed by Muller-Striibing), comparing Ar. Pax
669 ό νους yap ήμών ήν τότ’ έν τοΐς σκύτεσιν (“for our attention was at that
point in the leather market”; explaining the Assembly’s rejection of peace
initiatives in the aftermath of the victory at Pylos) took the mention of leather
to suggest a reference to Cleon (cf. fr. 418 n.). But this is unnecessary, and the
image could be applied to anyone who saw trouble coming.
άτεχνώς is almost entirely restricted to comedy (also e. g. Chionid. fr.
1.2; Pherecr. fr. 107; Ar. Nu. 408; Philem. fr. 147.2) and Plato (e. g. Ap. 17d; Cra.
395e; Tht. 151c), and is thus presumably colloquial; cf. fr. 268.38 n.; Dover
1987. 232-3. The word is used to add emphasis to τό λεγόμενον also at Pl. La.
187b; Euthd. 292e.
μέν ούν is likely transitional, moving on to the next point at hand
(Denniston 1950. 471-3), as at e.g. Ar. Nu. 66.
σκύτη βλέπει I.e. “sees a whipping coming”; cf. fr. 332.2 βλέπων απιστίαν
with n.; Ar. V. 643 ή μην έγώ σε τήμερον σκύτη βλέπειν ποιήσω (“I’ll certainly
make you look whips today”; addressed to a free character by his opponent in
an argument); Ath. 13.568e (of a boy punished by his father); Taillardat 1965
§ 626. For whips and whipping, cf. frr. 418 n.; 467 n.
τό λεγόμενον An Attic colloquialism (e. g. Mnesim. fr. 9.1; Men. frr. 296.8;
405.1; adesp. com. fr. 78.2; Th. 7.87.6; Pl. Phd. 101c; Tht. 153d, 165b; Sph. 241d;
Smp. 217e; Euthd. 298c; Grg. 447a; and see in general Headlam 1922 on Herod.
2.45).