Incertarum fabularum fragmenta (fr. 414)

179

fr. 413 K.-A. (381 K.)
Phot, ε 2149 = Suda ε 3449
εύ έχε ιν <τό> σ τ ό μ α · τό εύφημεϊν. ούτως Εϋπολις
<τό) add. Kaibel
to be good as regards one’s mouth: to keep quiet. Thus Eupolis
Meter Perhaps iambic trimeter, e. g. (accepting Kaibel’s supplement)
<x— x>| —
Discussion Kaibel ap. K.-A.
Citation context Traced by Cunningham to the common source of Photius
and the Suda commonly designated Σ", presumably drawing on some lost
Atticist work.
Text The normal expression is εύ έχειν τό σώμα vel sim. (cf. fr. 99.117 with n.).
As Kaibel saw, therefore, if this is a more or less direct and accurate quotation
of Eupolis—and regardless of whether the lexicographer’s infinitive stands
in for a finite form of the verb in the original—the definite article is wanted.
Interpretation To “speak well” (εύφημεϊν) is properly “to speak words of
good omen” (cf. A. Ch. 997), but often means “to keep quiet” in a ritual context;
cf. Ar. Eq. 1316 εύφημεϊν χρή και στόμα κλήειν (“It is necessary to ‘speak
well’ and close your mouth”); Th. 39-40 εύφημος πας έστω λαός / στόμα
συγκλήσας (“Let all the people shut their mouths and be ‘well-spoken’”) with
Austin-Olson 2004 ad loc.·, and see in general Godde 2011. For the less typical
expression εύ έχειν στόμα (or εύ έχειν <τό) στόμα), cf. S. Ph. 201 εύστομ’ έχε
(“Hush!”; cited by Kaibel as an alternative parallel for what Eupolis may have
written); Hdt. 2.171.2 εύστομα κείσθω (“Let no more be said!”; identified as an
lonicism at Suda ε 3753); Ar. Nu. 833 εύστόμει (“Keep still!”).

fr. 414 K.-A. (383 K.)
Zonaras p. 917 (Orus fr. A 49)
εύκτόν λέγεται, ούχΐ εύκταϊον. ούτως Δημοσθένης (61.22) καί Ξενοφών (Mem. 1.5.5)
καί Εϋπολις· ε ύ κ τ ό τ ατ ο ν γάμον
One says euktos (“prayed-for”), not euktaios. Thus Demosthenes (61.22) and Xenophon
(Mem. 1.5.5) and Eupolis: an euktotaton (“most prayed-for”) marriage