Χρυσοΰν γένος (fr. 316)

503

1980; Mastronarde 1994 on E. Ph. 391-5; Raaflaub 2004, esp. 46-9; Carter 2004,
esp. 199-202, 217-19; Wallace 2004; Balot 2004). The word is first attested here,
at Hdt. 5.78 (of what the Athenians acquired by freeing themselves from the
Peisistratid tyranny) and at [X.] Ath. 1.12 (cynically, in reference to Athenian
slaves and metics).
4-5 Kassel-Austin compare Ar. Ra. 1458 πώς ούν τις αν σώσειε τοιαύτην
πόλιν; (“How then could one save such a city?”). If these lines as well are from
Chrysoun genos and the tone is still sarcastic, the underlying notion might
be that like naturally associates with like (cf. fr. 315, Eupolis’ twist on the
normal form of the proverb notwithstanding), and thus that no one would in
fact choose to associate with a city where “an utterly thin and ugly man”—
probably not Cleon himself, since in all the other comic attacks on him, he is
never described in such terms—was allowed to engage in whatever allegedly
outrageous activity was described in the verses that followed (e. g. taking a
leading part in Athenian politics). But if the verses are from elsewhere or the
tone has changed, the reference might be instead to a city where an utterly
thin and ugly man can e. g. be described as what he is.
4 Resumptive ούν suggests that τοιαδε refers back to something said
in the preceding line or lines, and that what follows in 5 merely expands the
characterization of the city in question (doubtless Athens) further; cf. fr. 111 n.
5 For the use of πάνυ (Attic-Ionic vocabulary) in comedy, Dover 1985.
332-5 = 1987. 53-7; and see in general Thesleff 1954 § 71-2 (on the word as
an intensifier with adjectives and adverbs); Collard 2005. 366. Contrast the
use of πάνυ after the word it emphasizes rather than before it in frr. 166; 243.
λεπτώ is literally “thin” (e. g. Cratin. fr. 205, of a slice of sausage), and by
extension either “subtle” (e.g. Ar. Ach. 445; Nu. 359; E. Med. 529) or “scraw-
ny” (e.g. Hermipp. fr. 36.3; Ar. Ec. 539; fr. 209.1 (Reisig); cf. X. Smp. 2.17).
The generally sarcastic tone initially allows for the possibility that the first
extended meaning is in question, but κακώ τε τήν ιδέαν rapidly makes it
clear that none of this is praise. The opposite of λεπτός is παχύς, “thick, fat”
(e. g. X. Smp. 2.17; Eq. 1.3; Pl. Cra. 389b) and thus “prosperous” (e. g. Ar. V. 287
with Biles-Olson 2015 ad loc.). The social prejudice expressed is thus similar
to that on even more open display in fr. 384.4-8: the individual in question is
too insignificant to deserve to be involved in public affairs, despite the general
political principle articulated in 3. See in general Diggle 2004. 473.
For the use of τήν ιδέαν, e.g. Ar. Av. 1000; Pl. 559; And. 1.100; Th. 6.4.5.