Incertarum fabularum fragmenta (fr. 411)

177

obscurity of the second element in the word, has produced variant readings
not only in the quotation from Eupolis but in the text of the Prometheus it-
self (where most manuscripts have προσήλους, with προσείλους written in
above, others the opposite; cf. Dawe 1964. 217). The word is not attested after
this until Theophrastus, who uses it repeatedly to describe areas that receive
considerable sunlight and thus foster the growth of plants (e. g. HP 4.1.1-3).
For αυλή, see fr. 167 with n.
The pseudo-Aeschylean Prometheus Bound probably dates to the mid-420s
BCE (see Olson 1998 on Ar. Pax 319-20; Olson 2002 on Ach. 10-11), around
the time Eupolis and Aristophanes burst together onto the dramatic scene
in Athens. Given that πρόσειλος is attested nowhere before that, and that
Eupolis also uses the adjective to describe a residence, paratragedy is possible.
In that case, Phrynichus’ unattributed τέγος πρόσειλον (which also scans as
the beginning of an iambic trimeter with penthemimeral caesura) might be
Eupolis’ as well, the poet having doubled down on the joke. Alternatively,
this might be another example of the ancient sources confusing Eupolis and
Euripides; cf. fr. 427 n.

fr. 411 K.-A. (379 K.)
Diogenian. 11.15 (vol. II p. 20 Leutsch-Schneidewin)
γάλα όρνίθων·ή παροιμία παρ’ Άριστοφάνει (V. 508; Αν. 1673) καί Εύπόλιδι.
επί των σπανίων καί βιαζομένων έκ κενών έχειν τι καί έξ ένδών αίρεϊν
βιαζομένων Leutsch : βιαζόντων Diogenian.
birds’ milk: The proverb (is found) in Aristophanes (V. 508; Av. 1673) and
Eupolis. Used for (things) that are scarce and for (people) who are compelled to get
something from empty (vessels) and to take it from impoverished (individuals)
Discussion Leutsch-Schneidewin 1839. 231; Leutsch-Schneidewin 1851. 20
Meter The words γάλα ορνίθων (o^—) are used in a trochaic tetrameter
line at V. 508; in anapests at Av. 734; and in inverted form in iambic trimeter
at Av. 1673 (ορνίθων ... γάλα /) and Mnesim. fr. 9.2 (ορνίθων γάλα /).
Citation context Preserved in an abridged version of a 2nd-century collection
of proverbs arranged alphabetically, as in many similar collections (references
in Leutsch-Schneidewin) but without reference to Eupolis.