The elegists: Callinus, Tyrtaeus, Mimnermus, Solon, Theognis, Xenophanes

Archaic elegiac poetry: war, politics, love and advice in hexameter–pentameter couplets.

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About · 1 of 3

Elegy: the form, its occasions, its early poets

What makes a poem an elegy. The distinctive feature is the metre. A dactylic hexameter is followed by two hemiepes, and this second line is traditionally, but misleadingly, called a “pentameter”.^[1] Elegies vary widely in length, subject and occasion. So the couplet is the only possible definition of the genre.^[2] Elegy is poetry in elegiac couplets, and its associations of content are “disputed”.^[3]

Archilochus, Tyrtaeus and many other poets used the couplet in the archaic period and the fifth century. From the middle of the sixth century it was chosen more and more often for verse inscriptions.^[4] It was not the original metre of epigram, but it came to prevail in the sixth century.^[5] Its archaic users include Tyrtaeus, Mimnermus and Solon.^[6]

Elegy and lament (disputed). Ancient writers explained the names ἔλεγος (elegos), ἐλεγεῖον (elegeion) and ἐλεγεία (elegeia) as words of lamentation. Modern scholars doubt this for the archaic period; the earliest clear instance is Euripides’ Trojan Women of 415 BC. Bartol agrees with those, Bowie first, who posit an earlier sense with no link to mourning, and a later one tied to it.^[7] Bowie defines elegy as a song usually accompanied by the aulos and sung chiefly at symposia. Aloni accepts that this definition prevails, but argues that some forms of elegy must have been dominated by lament.^[8]

The earliest occurrence of ἔλεγος (elegos) is in the dedication of Echembrotus, quoted by Pausanias. Aloni dates it to 586 BC, Bartol to 585 BC.^[9]

Where elegy was sung. Most elegies were sung to the aulos, at symposia and at public festivals.^[10] The symposium was the main venue for shorter pieces. These include the martial exhortations of Callinus and Tyrtaeus, and Solon’s political poems. Long narrative elegies were performed at festivals and cult gatherings.^[11] Accompaniment by the lyre has also been argued for.^[12]

Language. The transmitted dialect is mainly Ionic, with many epic forms and some local ones. Aloni treats elegy and epic as related genres, developing side by side from a shared poetic heritage. He rejects both Dover’s derivation of elegiac diction directly from spoken Ionic, and a simple derivation from Homer.^[13] Even Tyrtaeus at Sparta largely kept the Ionian dialect.^[14] Simonides’ elegy is “basically Ionic”, beside his largely Doric melic poetry.^[15]

Not one genre per poet. Archilochus and Semonides wrote both elegy and iambus. Simonides and Anacreon wrote both elegy and song, and Xenophanes both elegy and hexameters. The division into genre canons came later.^[16]

Dates. Most of the dates are uncertain.^[17] The sources give:

Poet	Place	Dates given	Sources
Callinus	Ephesus	mid-7th c. (Bartol); first half of 7th c. (Aloni); “7th cent.” (chronology)	Bartol p. 224; Aloni p. 171; Budelmann p. 386
Tyrtaeus	Sparta	latter part of 7th c. (Bartol); time of the Second Messenian War, which Aloni puts in the first half of the 7th c.; “7th cent.” (chronology)	Bartol p. 225; Aloni p. 173; Budelmann p. 386
Mimnermus	Smyrna or Colophon (disputed)	second half of 7th c.	Bartol p. 227; Aloni p. 171; Budelmann p. 386
Solon	Athens	about 630–560, archon probably 594/3 (Aloni); archon “traditionally” 594/3 (Bowie); third quarter of 7th to second quarter of 6th c. (chronology)	Aloni p. 172; Bowie p. 304; Budelmann p. 386
Theognis	Megara	552–541 BC in the ancient chronographers; c. 600 (Aloni); late 7th / early 6th c. (chronology)^[18]	Bowie p. 309; Aloni p. 175; Budelmann p. 386

The lives of the five poets follow on the next two tabs.

Notes

^ Bartol 2022, p. 221 with n. 1; see the scheme on the Metres tab.
^ Aloni 2009, pp. 168, 188.
^ Budelmann 2009, p. 397.
^ West 1987, p. 24.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 170.
^ D’Angour 2022, p. 132.
^ Bartol 2022, pp. 221–222.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 169.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 168; Bartol 2022, p. 222.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 221.
^ Bartol 2022, pp. 222–223; Aloni 2009, p. 170.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 170 n. 11.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 185.
^ Bowie 2022, p. 303.
^ de Kreij 2022, p. 143.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 224.
^ Budelmann 2009, p. 386.
^ See the next tabs.

Sources

Bartol, K. 2022. 'Elegy', in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric. Wiley. ch. 15, pp. 221–225, 227 (with nn. 1, 32).
Aloni, A. 2009. 'Elegy: forms, functions and communication', in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. ch. 9, pp. 168–173, 175, 185, 188 (with n. 11).
Bowie, E. 2022. 'Solon and Theognis', in Swift (ed.), Companion to Greek Lyric, ch. 21, pp. 303–304, 309.
Budelmann, F. (ed.) 2009. The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. 'Chronology of select melic, elegiac and iambic poets', p. 386; Glossary, p. 397.
West, M. L. 1987. Introduction to Greek Metre. Oxford. p. 24 (checked against page images).
D'Angour, A. 2022. 'Meter and Music', in Swift (ed.), Companion to Greek Lyric, ch. 9, p. 132.
de Kreij, M. 2022. 'The Lyric Dialects', in Swift (ed.), Companion to Greek Lyric, ch. 10, p. 143 (Introduction: genre and dialect).

Text © metrehelp.org, CC BY-SA 4.0. Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this licence.

About · 2 of 3

The Theognidea and the rest

A book with a manuscript tradition. Greek lyric “consists primarily of fragments”. Apart from four books of Pindar’s epinicians and “the elegies attributed to Theognis”, it was until recently transmitted only through quotation.^[1] Almost fifty medieval manuscripts preserve 1,220 lines ascribed to Theognis. One Paris manuscript of the early tenth century (A) calls them “Theognis, Elegies, Book One”. It adds 158 lines, first headed “Book Two”; the words “of Theognis” were later deleted (Aloni gives the first section as 1,230 lines).^[2] The line numbers cited for Theognis are those of this book.

How the collection grew (disputed). Since Welcker (1826) the collection has been known to be composite.^[3] Five passages are Solon’s, and others are Mimnermus’ and Tyrtaeus’.^[4] Tyrtaeus 12.13–16 reappears as 1003–1006, with “wise man” for “young man”. The lines changed their function as they passed into another symposium.^[5]

Bowie reconstructs the collection in layers. Lines 19–254 open with the “seal” poem and close with the poem that promises Cyrnus immortality. They look like a collection chiefly of Theognis’ own poems. Some (Reitzenstein, Rösler) think Theognis himself compiled it.^[6]

Lines 255 to about 1000 form a wider anthology for the symposium, from Tyrtaeus to a poem of 480 BC. It includes two poems addressed to a Simonides, which Bowie assigns to the sophist Euenus of Paros. Bowie suggests Euenus as the compiler, around 400 BC. Bartol accepts this, while Murray has suggested the circle of Critias.^[7]

About two hundred lines, with many duplicates, were added later. West held that both sections drew on a single Hellenistic florilegium magnum, a large anthology. This “has not convinced”, and most assume two similar collections.^[8] Aloni sees a manual for symposiasts, reused at Megara and in Athenian oligarchic circles.^[9]

Papyri. The papyri refute the theory that Book One took its present shape only in late antiquity or Byzantium. P.Oxy. 2380 (1956) shows lines 255–278 following 254 in the second century AD. A Berlin papyrus identified in 1993 covers 917–933. And P.Oxy. 5265 (2016) has 1117–1140 in the manuscript order.^[10] “Book Two”, a collection of erotic poems, survives only in A. It contains a couplet of Solon (1253–1254), a piece probably by Euenus, and one addressed to Cyrnus. Bowie dates its compilation to the late fifth century.^[11]

The other elegists. Callinus, Tyrtaeus, Mimnermus and Solon reach us by quotation. Callinus’ work was still extensively available to Strabo.^[12] Stobaeus quotes Mimnermus. Tyrtaeus fr. 12 is assembled from two separate quotations in Stobaeus, joined by the Theognidea.^[13] Solon fr. 36 is preserved by the Aristotelian Constitution of the Athenians, fr. 33 by Plutarch, and fr. 4 by Demosthenes.^[14] A collection of Solon’s poems probably existed, but there is no evidence for it.^[15] Papyri have restored narrative elegy: Simonides’ Plataea elegy (1992), and Archilochus’ Telephus poem (2005).^[16]

Elegy in the ancient handbook. Hephaestion quotes no line of Callinus, Tyrtaeus, Mimnermus, Solon or Theognis. His elegiac examples are scanned under Metres: Sophocles on the name Archelaus, Critias’ iambic line for Alcibiades, and a couplet of Simonides with a word running over the verse-end.^[17] Critias put a trimeter in place of the pentameter, and this is read as a touch of mockery aimed at Alcibiades.^[18]

Editions. For elegy, West’s edition and Gentili and Prato’s are the rival choices.^[19] They are the best editions, and Gerber’s Loeb adds a translation.^[20] West’s Iambi et elegi Graeci (2nd edn, 1989–92) edits the elegiac and iambic poets. Gentili and Prato’s Teubner edition of the elegists excludes Theognis, but it gives full testimonia.^[21] Theognis is cited here by West’s line numbers.

An engraved plan of a coastal plain with the town of Megara, its port Nisaea and the island of Minoa. — Plan of Megara, 1854

Notes

^ Sampson 2022, p. 91.
^ Bowie 2022, p. 306; Aloni 2009, p. 174.
^ Aloni 2009, pp. 174–175.
^ Bowie 2022, p. 310 with nn. 16–18.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 184.
^ Bowie 2022, p. 311 with n. 24.
^ Bowie 2022, pp. 310–311 with n. 22; Bartol 2022, p. 232 with n. 56.
^ Bowie 2022, p. 312 with n. 28.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 175.
^ Bowie 2022, pp. 312–313.
^ Bowie 2022, pp. 315–316.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 171.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 228; Bowie 2022, p. 310 n. 18.
^ Bowie 2022, pp. 303–304, 306.
^ Bowie 2022, p. 306.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 230.
^ Hephaestion, Ench. 1.5, 2.3, 4.6.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 177; Bartol 2022, p. 232.
^ Sampson 2022, p. 94.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 233.
^ Budelmann 2009, p. 388.

Sources

Bowie, E. 2022. 'Solon and Theognis', in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric. Wiley. ch. 21, pp. 303–306, 310–316 (with nn. 16–18, 22, 24, 28).
Aloni, A. 2009. 'Elegy: forms, functions and communication', in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. ch. 9, pp. 171, 174–175, 177, 184.
Bartol, K. 2022. 'Elegy', in Swift (ed.), Companion to Greek Lyric, ch. 15, pp. 228, 230, 232–233 (with n. 56).
Sampson, C. M. 2022. 'Papyrology', in Swift (ed.), Companion to Greek Lyric, ch. 7, pp. 91, 94.
Budelmann, F. (ed.) 2009. The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. 'Editions, commentaries, English translations …', p. 388.
Hephaestion, Enchiridion 1.5, 2.3, 4.6 (ed. Consbruch 1906; First1KGreek text, CC BY-SA 4.0).

Text © metrehelp.org, CC BY-SA 4.0. Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this licence.

About · 3 of 3

The elegiac couplet, early and late

The form. Strictly, the couplet is a strophe, not a stichic metre: a hexameter alternates with a “pentameter”.^[1] It is a short strophe, and the most important of the epodic strophes:^[2]


hexameter	— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ ⏑ ¦ ⏑ — ¦ ⏔ — ⏔ — × ‖ (the epic hexameter, with fewer prosodic licences)^[3]
pentameter	— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ — ‖

In the scheme ⏔ is a biceps, a position filled by two shorts or one long, and ¦ marks a caesura.^[4] The pentameter is two hemiepes (D ¦ D ‖), always divided by caesura; a hemiepes, “half-epic”, is the first half of a hexameter up to its masculine caesura, — ⏔ — ⏔ —. Only the first of the pair admits contraction of the biceps.^[5] Battezzato writes the couplet hexameter ‖ D | D.^[6]

Hephaestion says the same in his own terms. The elegeion is the dactylic penthemimer taken twice. “The second part always remains seven syllables, two dactyls and a syllable, while the first has its two feet variable.” And “the elegeion must always be cut at one or other of the penthemimers; otherwise it is faulty”, as in a line of Callimachus.^[7]

The princeps of the pentameter enjoys the hexameter’s freedoms. But both lines of the couplet use them less often than stichic hexameters do, and hiatus at the pentameter caesura is especially rare.^[5]

Theognis 19–24, a standard specimen, with notes:^[5]

Κύρνε, σοφιζομένωι μὲν ἐμοὶ σφρηγὶς ἐπικείσθω

Κύρ—νε,⏑σο⏑φι—ζο⏑μέ⏑νωι—μὲ⏑ν ἐ⏑μοὶ—σφρη—γὶ—σ ἐ⏑πι⏑κείσ—θω×

τοῖσδ’ ἔπεσιν· λήσει δ’ οὔποτε κλεπτόμενα,

τοῖσ—δ’ἔ⏑πε⏑σιν·—λή—σει—δ’οὔ—πο⏑τε⏑κλεπ—τό⏑με⏑να,—

οὐδέ τις ἀλλάξει κάκιον τοὐσθλοῦ παρεόντος,

οὐ—δέ⏑τι⏑σ ἀλ—λά—ξει—κά⏑κι⏑ον—τοὐσ—θλοῦ—πα⏑ρε⏑όν—τος,×

ὧδε δὲ πᾶς τις ἐρεῖ· “Θεόγνιδός ἐστιν ἔπη

ὧ—δε⏑δὲ⏑πᾶς—τι⏑σ ἐ⏑ρεῖ·—“Θεόγ—νι⏑δό⏑σ ἐσ—τι⏑ν ἔ⏑πη—

τοῦ Μεγαρέως”· πάντας δὲ κατ’ ἀνθρώπους ὀνομαστός·

τοῦ—Με⏑γα⏑ρέως”·—πάν—τας—δὲ⏑κα⏑τ’ἀν—θρώ—πους—ὀ⏑νο⏑μασ—τός·×

ἀστοῖσιν δ’ οὔπω πᾶσιν ἁδεῖν δύναμαι.

ἀσ—τοῖ—σιν—δ’οὔ—πω—πᾶ—σι⏑ν ἁ⏑δεῖν—δύ⏑να⏑μαι.—

Kyrne, sophizomenōi men emoi sphrēgis epikeisthō / toisd’ epesin; lēsei d’ oupote kleptomena, / oude tis allaxei kakion tousthlou pareontos, / hōde de pās tis erei; “Theognidos estin epē / tou Megareōs”; pantas de kat’ anthrōpous onomastos; / astoisin d’ oupō pāsin hadein dynamai.

“Cyrnus, as I ply my craft let a seal be set on these words of mine; so their theft will never go unnoticed, and no one will take something worse in exchange for the good that is there, but everyone will say, ‘These are the words of Theognis of Megara.’ Among all men my name is known, but I cannot yet please all my fellow-citizens.”

Three couplets: hexameter, then pentameter, — ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ —. The pentameter’s caesura falls after the third long, between its two halves. Red: δ’ elided at that caesura and the short -να in the final long position, brevis in longo (line 20); Θεογ- and -ρέως, each sung as one syllable by synecphonesis (22, 23).

Theognis 19–24: Greek from Bergk 1882 II pp. 119–120; metrical analysis^[5]

synthetic ∿

In line 20 there is elision at the pentameter caesura, allowed here as in the hexameter. The final -να is short in a long position. This is brevis in longo, allowed because the line ends a period. In line 22 Θεογ- is one syllable by synecphonesis, and so is (Μεγα)ρέως in 23. The couplet need not end with a pause in the sense, though it usually does.^[5]

The pentameter’s licences. Thgn. 2:^[5]

λήσομαι ἀρχόμενος οὐδ’ ἀποπαυόμενος

λή—σο⏑μαι⏑ἀρ—χό⏑με⏑νος—οὐ—δ’ἀ⏑πο⏑παυ—ό⏑με⏑νος—

lēsomai archomenos oud’ apopauomenos

“[I shall never] forget [you], whether I am beginning or ending.”

Red: -μαι, shortened before ἀ- (correption); -νος, long at the caesura although a vowel follows.

Theognis 2: Greek from Bergk 1882 II p. 117; metrical analysis^[5]

synthetic ∿

The final -ος of ἀρχόμενος stands in the princeps before the caesura. A final continuant (here ς) is now and then treated as closing the syllable, even though a vowel follows. This is a licence of epic, elegy, Pindar and Bacchylides.^[8] The shortening of -μαι before ἀ- is correption, the normal treatment in double-short rhythm.^[9]

The couplet in each poet. The metrical sources distinguish the poets only in details of prosody. Tyrtaeus shows correption inside the word (γεραιούς, geraious, “old men”, with -αι- short; ἥρωος, hērōos, “of a hero”, with -ω- short).^[9] Theognis and Solon allow a short vowel to stay short before stop + liquid more freely than the Ionian iambographers.^[10] Theognis admits the interrogative τί (ti), “what?”, which cannot be elided, before a vowel at 649.^[11] He scans βρόχος (brochos), “noose”, as if it were βρόκχος (brokchos) at 1099, so that its first syllable is long.^[12] The metrical sources say nothing specific about the couplets of Callinus or Mimnermus.

What a name could not do. Two of Hephaestion’s quotations show the couplet’s limits from inside. Critias:^[13]

καὶ νῦν Κλεινίου υἱὸν Ἀθηναῖον στεφανώσω

καὶ—νῦν—Κλει—νί⏑ου⏑υἱ—ὸ⏑ν Ἀ⏑θη—ναῖ—ον—στε⏑φα⏑νώ—σω—

Ἀλκιβιάδην νέοισιν ὑμνήσας τρόποις·

Ἀλ—κι⏑βι⏑ά⏑δην—νέ⏑οι—σι⏑ν ὑμ—νή—σας—τρό⏑ποις·—

οὐ γάρ πως ἦν τοὔνομ’ ἐφαρμόζειν ἐλεγείῳ·

οὐ—γάρ—πως—ἦν—τοὔ—νο⏑μ’ἐ⏑φαρ—μό—ζειν—ἐ⏑λε⏑γεί—ῳ·—

νῦν δ’ ἐν ἰαμβείῳ κείσεται οὐκ ἀμέτρως.

νῦν—δ’ἐ⏑ν ἰ⏑αμ—βεί—ῳ—κεί—σε⏑ται⏑οὐ—κ ἀ⏑μέ⏑τρως.—

kai nȳn Kleiniou hyion Athēnaion stephanōsō / Alkibiadēn neoisin hymnēsas tropois; / ou gar pōs ēn tounom’ epharmozein elegeiōi; / nȳn d’ en iambeiōi keisetai ouk ametrōs.

“And now I will garland the Athenian, Cleinias’ son Alcibiades, singing his praise in a novel fashion; for there was no way to fit his name into elegiacs, so now it will rest in an iambic line, and scan.”

The name Ἀλκιβιάδην is — ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ —, and three shorts in a row cannot stand in dactyls. So line 2 is an iambic trimeter, and -κιβι- (red) fills one resolved position.

Critias, quoted by Hephaestion, Ench. 2.3

synthetic ∿

The name has the shape — ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ —, which cannot enter dactyls. In the trimeter the second position is resolved (-κιβι-). A couplet of Simonides is censured for a different fault. The name Ἀριστογείτων runs over the verse-end, against the rule that “every metre ends in a complete word”:^[14]

ἦ μέγ’ Ἀθηναίοισι φόως γένετ’, ἡνίκ’ Ἀριστο-

ἦ—μέ⏑γ’Ἀ⏑θη—ναί—οι—σι⏑φό⏑ως—γέ⏑νε⏑τ’ἡ—νί⏑κ’Ἀ⏑ρισ—το-×

γείτων Ἵππαρχον κτεῖνε καὶ Ἁρμόδιος.

γεί—των—Ἵπ—παρ—χον—κτεῖ—νε⏑καὶ⏑Ἁρ—μό⏑δι⏑ος.—

ē meg’ Athēnaioisi phoōs genet’, hēnik’ Aristo- / geitōn Hipparchon kteine kai Harmodios.

“Truly a great light dawned for the Athenians when Aristogeiton and Harmodius slew Hipparchus.”

Red: the name Ἀριστογείτων, split across the end of the hexameter. The digitised text prints ἡ for ἦ and ἠνίκ’ for ἡνίκ’ (ἡνίκα, “when”).^[15]

Simonides, quoted by Hephaestion, Ench. 4.6

synthetic ∿

Early versus later practice. In the Hellenistic period, elegiac versification is on the whole somewhat stricter than that of the hexameter poets. Hiatus is restricted. Correption is used less for words that would fit without it. The word before the feminine caesura of the hexameter is normally one that naturally ends — ⏑. After the late third century BC, the syllable at the pentameter caesura tends to contain a long vowel or diphthong, rather than depend on the following word. An accented final syllable in the pentameter is more and more avoided.

After about AD 50 standards grow laxer. In the third and fourth centuries there is “a surprising freedom” over hiatus and brevis in longo at the pentameter caesura. Then the sixth-century poets of Agathias’ Cycle return to strictness.^[16]

Notes

^ West 1987, pp. 23–24.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 168; Battezzato 2009, p. 138.
^ West 1987, pp. 19, 24.
^ West 1987, p. ix.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g West 1987, p. 24.
^ Battezzato 2009, p. 138.
^ Hephaestion, Ench. 15.14–15.
^ West 1987, p. 18.
^ ^a ^b West 1987, p. 14.
^ West 1987, p. 16.
^ West 1987, p. 13.
^ West 2018, p. 371 n. 8.
^ Hephaestion, Ench. 2.3.
^ Hephaestion, Ench. 4.6.
^ LSJ s.v. ἡνίκα.
^ West 1987, pp. 80–81.

Sources

Bergk, T. 1882. Poetae lyrici Graeci, fourth edition, vol. II, pp. 117, 119–120, including apparatus variants Θεόγνιδος and ἀστοῖσιν δ’. Public domain; page images inspected; iota adscript, word division and punctuation normalized. https://archive.org/details/poetaelyricigrae02berguoft
West, M. L. 1987. Introduction to Greek Metre. Oxford. pp. ix, 13–14, 16, 18, 19, 23–24, 80–81 (checked against page images).
Aloni, A. 2009. 'Elegy: forms, functions and communication', in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. ch. 9, p. 168.
Battezzato, L. 2009. 'Metre and music', in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. p. 138.
Hephaestion, Enchiridion 2.3, 4.6, 15.14–15 (ed. Consbruch 1906; First1KGreek text, CC BY-SA 4.0).
West, M. L. 2018. 'Unmetrical Verses in Homer', in D. Gunkel and O. Hackstein (eds), Language and Meter. Leiden: Brill. ch. 14, p. 371 n. 8.

Text © metrehelp.org, CC BY-SA 4.0. Theognis 2 and 19–24: Bergk 1882 II pp. 117, 119–120, public domain, including the apparatus readings Θεόγνιδος and ἀστοῖσιν δ’. Iota adscript, word division and punctuation normalized; West supplies the metrical analysis. Critias and Simonides: Hephaestion, ed. Consbruch 1906 (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this licence.

Theognis 19–24 and 2: couplets quoted in the sources

Synopsis

The Theognidea is the collection of elegiac poems that the medieval manuscripts ascribe to Theognis of Megara. It has 1,220 lines, and a single Paris manuscript adds 158 more as a “Book Two”.^[1] Elegy of this kind was sung to the aulos, above all at the symposium. The book was evidently meant as a song-book for drinking-parties.^[2] It gathers Theognis’ own poems, many of them addressed to a young man, Cyrnus. It adds pieces by Solon, Mimnermus, Tyrtaeus and later poets.^[3] Theognis’ date is disputed. The Suda puts him in 544–541 BC, and the ancient chronographers in 552–541 BC. Some modern scholars argue for the 590s, or even before the 630s.^[4] Aloni places him about 600 BC.^[5]

Lines 19–24 are the “seal” poem. In it the singer marks his verses with his name, so that no one can steal or alter them.^[1] Line 2 comes from the short hymn to Apollo (lines 1–4) that opens the collection. It is the kind of song that was sung at the start of a symposium.^[6]

Text and translation

Κύρνε, σοφιζομένωι μὲν ἐμοὶ σφρηγὶς ἐπικείσθω

Theognis 19–20

Κύρνε, σοφιζομένωι μὲν ἐμοὶ σφρηγὶς ἐπικείσθω

Cyrnus, while I exercise my skill, let a seal be pressed

τοῖσδ’ ἔπεσιν· λήσει δ’ οὔποτε κλεπτόμενα,

upon these lines; then no one will steal them unobserved,

Theognis 21–22

οὐδέ τις ἀλλάξει κάκιον τοὐσθλοῦ παρεόντος,

nor swap the good that is there for something worse,

ὧδε δὲ πᾶς τις ἐρεῖ· “Θεόγνιδός ἐστιν ἔπη

and every man will say: “These lines are by Theognis

Theognis 23–24

τοῦ Μεγαρέως”· πάντας δὲ κατ’ ἀνθρώπους ὀνομαστός·

the Megarian”; my name is known among all people,

ἀστοῖσιν δ’ οὔπω πᾶσιν ἁδεῖν δύναμαι.

but I cannot yet win the favour of every citizen.

Theognis 2 (the pentameter alone)

λήσομαι ἀρχόμενος οὐδ’ ἀποπαυόμενος.

[Never] shall I forget [you], whether I am beginning or ending.

Theognis · 19–24 (the “seal”) and 2 · elegiac couplets · text as quoted by West, Introduction to Greek Metre (1987), p. 24

How to read each line

A guide to the Greek, syllables, pitch marks and quantities.

Show the reading key

long syllable short syllable an anceps position, coloured to show the length the poet actually used there last position before a pause: anceps, any syllable will do one of two shorts standing for a long (resolution), or filling a biceps; a dotted line joins the pair a long contracted from the two shorts of a biceps (a spondee for a dactyl) the main caesura or diaeresis of the line (dotted rule after the syllable) long by position before a stop + liquid or nasal (θρ, πλ, φρ, κλ, τρ, χρ; κν, θμ): epic usually lets the cluster make position; where it does not, the syllable is marked as a correption pitch row: high, the acute accent (a rise of up to a fifth) rise within a long syllable: acute on a long vowel or diphthong high, then falling within the long syllable: the circumflex (the fall after it lies within the syllable) the fall onto the syllable after an acute, in the same word or onto an enclitic low: unaccented, or a grave accent

Above each line: the line as the edition prints it, each word placed over its own syllables. The main row: the same Greek divided into metrical syllables, each written as it is pronounced. A consonant that closes a syllable is written with it (λόθ | ρο); an elided word is closed up with the next vowel (ν’ἀ); a final consonant carried into the next word is set with a thin space (ς ἰ). Wider gaps mark word-ends.
Above the syllables: the pitch of each syllable, from the accents. Under them: the quantity of each syllable as it falls in the line, then the transliteration, syllable by syllable, with accented syllables in capitals.
Under each line: a line-for-line translation. In the right margin of the scansion: the line type, its scheme, and its analysis into cola.

Key to the labels

The names, patterns and symbols used beside this poem.

Show the labels and symbols

The labels in the right margin of the scansion below name the line, its scheme, the feet as the line realises them, and the caesurae and diaereses (the named word-ends) that fall in it. In the scheme ⏔ is a biceps, two shorts that may be contracted to one long; ⏕ is a long that may be resolved into two shorts; × is an anceps, long or short. A click on any syllable highlights its metron or colon, or, with the switch, its foot.

Label	Name and shape	What it is
hem1	First hemiepes— ⏔ — ⏔ —	The first two and a half feet of the hexameter, up to the penthemimeral caesura; in the pentameter, its whole first half.
hem2	Second half of the hexameter⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×	From the penthemimeral caesura to the line-end: the fifth foot is nearly always a dactyl, the sixth is — ×.
hemp	Second hemiepes— ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×	The second half of the pentameter: two dactyls and a single syllable, with no contraction allowed.

The traditional feet

Foot and shape	Where
First foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 1–2. The biceps (⏑ ⏑) may be contracted to a single long, making a spondee.
Second foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 3–4.
Third foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 5–6. The penthemimeral caesura falls after its first syllable, the “trochaic” caesura after its second.
Fourth foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 7–8. Word-end at the end of this foot, when it is a dactyl, is the bucolic diaeresis (West’s “bucolic caesura”: word-end at the end of the fourth foot after an uncontracted biceps)^[7].
Fifth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 9–10. A spondee here (a “spondaic line”) is rare.
Sixth foot— ×	Scheme positions 11–12: a long and the indifferent final syllable.
First foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 1–2 of the pentameter.
Second foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 3–4.
Half-foot before the diaeresis—	Scheme position 5: the long that closes the first hemiepes; word-end must follow.
Fourth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 6–8: no contraction after the diaeresis.
Fifth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 9–11.
Final syllable×	Scheme position 12.

Scansion

The elegiac lines West uses to teach the couplet, scanned foot by foot: the hexameter with its caesurae, the pentameter with its fixed diaeresis, elision at the caesura, synecphonesis, brevis in longo, and the freedom of the princeps.

Click a syllable to see its

Group 1Theognis 19–20

Κύρνε,σοφιζομένωιμὲνἐμοὶσφρηγὶςἐπικείσθω

ΚύρKYRνε,neσοsoφιphiζοzoμέMEνωιnōiμὲmeν ἐneμοὶmoiσφρηsphrēγὶςgīsἐeπιpiκείσKEISθωthō

Cyrnus, while I exercise my skill, let a seal be pressed

Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura

τοῖσδ’ἔπεσιν·λήσειδ’οὔποτεκλεπτόμενα,

τοῖσTOISδ’ἔD’Eπεpeσιν·sinλήLĒσειseiδ’οὔD’OUποpoτεteκλεπklepτόTOμεmeνα,na

upon these lines; then no one will steal them unobserved,

Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Group 2Theognis 21–22

οὐδέτιςἀλλάξεικάκιοντοὐσθλοῦπαρεόντος,

οὐouδέDEτιtiς ἀλsalλάLAξειxeiκάKAκιkiονonτοὐσtousθλοῦTHLOUπαpaρεreόνONτος,tos

nor swap the good that is there for something worse,

Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura

ὧδεδὲπᾶςτιςἐρεῖ·“Θε‿όγνιδόςἐστινἔπη

ὧHŌδεdeδὲdeπᾶςPĀSτιtiς ἐseρεῖ·REIΘε‿όγTHEOGνιniδόDOς ἐσsesτιtiν ἔNEπηpē

and every man will say: “These lines are by Theognis

Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Group 3Theognis 23–24

τοῦΜεγαρέ‿ως”·πάνταςδὲκατ’ἀνθρώπουςὀνομαστός·

τοῦTOUΜεmeγαgaρέ‿ως·REŌSπάνPANταςtasδὲdeκαkaτ’ἀνt’anθρώTHRŌπουςpousὀoνοnoμασmasτός·TOS

the Megarian”; my name is known among all people,

Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; caesura after the third trochee

ἀστοῖσινδ’οὔπωπᾶσινἁδεῖνδύναμαι.

ἀσasτοῖTOIσινsinδ’οὔD’OUπωpōπᾶPĀσιsiν ἁnhaδεῖνDEINδύDYναnaμαι.mai

but I cannot yet win the favour of every citizen.

Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Group 4Theognis 2 (the pentameter alone)

λήσομαιἀρχόμενοςοὐδ’ἀποπαυόμενος.

λήLĒσοsoμαιmaiἀρarχόCHOμεmeνοςnosοὐouδ’ἀd’aποpoπαυpauόOμεmeνος.nos

[Never] shall I forget [you], whether I am beginning or ending.

Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Metre

The couplet. A hexameter, with less prosodic licence than in epic, alternating with a “pentameter” of the form — ⏔ — ⏔ — | — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ — ‖, two hemiepes cola (D | D ‖) always divided by a word-end; contraction of the bicipitia is limited to the first colon.^[8] West points out that, strictly, it is a strophic rather than a stichic metre, and that Archilochus, Tyrtaeus and many others used it in the archaic period and the fifth century.^[9] The name “pentameter” is traditional but misleading, since each half has two and a half dactyls; elegies were mostly sung to the aulos, at symposia and at public festivals.^[10]
What West notes in these lines. Elision at the caesura is admitted (l. 20, λήσει δ’ |); the last position, at period-end, may hold a short syllable, brevis in longo (l. 20, κλεπτόμενα); Θεογ- in l. 22 and -έως in l. 23 are single syllables by synecphonesis; the sense usually, though not necessarily, pauses at the end of the couplet.^[11] Theognis 2 shows the freedom of the princeps: the short final syllable of ἀρχόμενος stands before the diaeresis in a long position. The couplet allows such freedoms less often than the hexameter used on its own, and hiatus at the division of the pentameter least of all.^[11]
Prosody. As in epic. A stop + liquid at the beginning of a word may leave the syllable before it short, as before κλεπτόμενα in l. 20; early poets generally keep this to the start of a word (or to a word that would not otherwise fit the verse), whereas Theognis, Solon and Pindar allow it more widely.^[12]
Couplets in Hephaestion. Hephaestion’s handbook quotes no couplet of Theognis, Tyrtaeus, Solon or Mimnermus; his elegiac examples are by Anacreon,^[13] Critias (2.3), Simonides and Nicomachus (4.6) and Callimachus (15.14–15). This tab therefore has only the lines West prints.
The “seal”. Lines 19–26 are a poem near the beginning of the collection in which the singer puts a seal (σφρηγίς) on his verses so that they will not be changed and all will know them as the work of Theognis of Megara; whether the vocative Κύρνε is itself the seal is debated.^[14] The seal did not in fact protect the poems from additions and changes in later performance.^[15]
Word-ends after a carried consonant. When a word ending in a consonant is followed by a vowel, the consonant is carried into the next syllable;^[16] the word still ends after its last vowel, and the margin counts the caesura or diaeresis there.

Prosody, line by line

Every syllable, with the reason for its length. Quantities are read from the vowel where the spelling shows it, from the consonants that follow (“position”), from the accent where it tells, and from the metre where nothing else does. Editors’ notes on the text follow in the boxed paragraphs.

19

Line 19 · Κύρνε, σοφιζομένωι μὲν ἐμοὶ σφρηγὶς ἐπικείσθω

Κύρνε, σοφιζομένωι μὲν ἐμοὶ σφρηγὶς ἐπικείσθω

Κύρνε,σοφιζομένωιμὲν ἐμοὶσφρηγὶςἐπικείσθω

dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —Κύρύ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
2 ⏑νε,ε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑σοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —φιζ is a double consonant (two sounds) and closes the syllable: long by position.
5 ⏑ζοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑μέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —νωιωι is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑μὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 ⏑ν ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
10 —μοὶοὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; the next word begins with σφ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
11 —σφρηη is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —γὶςῑ̀ is long (its length is not shown by the ordinary spelling).
13 ⏑ἐἐ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑πιι is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —κείσεί is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
16 ×θωω is long by nature; the position is anceps.

Theognis 19. The margin names three word-ends. After σοφιζομένωι (the penthemimeral position) the postpositive μὲν follows, and postpositives count with the word before them,^[7] so the word-group ends after μὲν, in the third foot after its first short (the caesura after the third trochee); the third word-end, after ἐμοὶ, is hephthemimeral. West marks no caesura in this line.^[11] φι is long before ζ, which counts as two consonants.^[17] ἐμοὶ is long and closed before the σφ of σφρηγὶς; the fourth foot is a spondee (μοὶ σφρη). West prints the ι of σφρηγὶς with a long mark,^[11] and the input marks it the same way. The dative σοφιζομένωι is written with iota adscript, as West prints it.

20

Line 20 · τοῖσδ’ ἔπεσιν· λήσει δ’ οὔποτε κλεπτόμενα,

τοῖσδ’ ἔπεσιν· λήσει δ’ οὔποτε κλεπτόμενα,

τοῖσδ’ἔπεσιν·λήσειδ’οὔποτεκλεπτόμενα,

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —τοῖσοῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
2 ⏑δ’ἔἔ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑πεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —σιν·ι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
5 —λήή is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —σειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 —δ’οὔοὔ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
8 ⏑ποο is short by nature.
9 ⏑τεε is short by nature; the next word begins with κλ, a stop + liquid that does not make position here, so the syllable stays short.
10 —κλεπε is short by nature; closed by π: long by position.
11 ⏑τόό is short by nature.
12 ⏑μεε is short by nature.
13 ×να,α is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; the position is anceps.

Theognis 20. The diaeresis falls after λήσει, with δ’ elided across it: West allows elision across this division, just as at a caesura of the hexameter.^[11] τε stays short before the initial κλ of κλεπτόμενα.^[12] The short final α of κλεπτόμενα at period-end is brevis in longo.^[11] The second foot is a spondee (σιν λή).

21

Line 21 · οὐδέ τις ἀλλάξει κάκιον τοὐσθλοῦ παρεόντος,

οὐδέ τις ἀλλάξει κάκιον τοὐσθλοῦ παρεόντος,

οὐδέτις ἀλλάξεικάκιοντοὐσθλοῦπαρεόντος,

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑δέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ς ἀλἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
5 —λάξ is a double consonant (two sounds) and closes the syllable: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ξειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 ⏑κάά is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑κιι is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —ονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
10 —τοὐσοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by σ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —θλοῦοῦ is a diphthong, long by nature.
12 ⏑παα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑ρεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —όνό is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
15 ×τος,ο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

Theognis 21. Penthemimeral caesura after ἀλλάξει, hephthemimeral after κάκιον. The second and fourth feet are spondees (ἀλ λά, ον τοὐσ). τοὐσθλοῦ is τοῦ ἐσθλοῦ run together into one word (crasis)^[18].

22

Line 22 · ὧδε δὲ πᾶς τις ἐρεῖ· “Θε‿όγνιδός ἐστιν ἔπη

ὧδε δὲ πᾶς τις ἐρεῖ· “Θε‿όγνιδός ἐστιν ἔπη

ὧδεδὲπᾶςτις ἐρεῖ·Θε‿όγνιδός ἐστιν ἔπη

dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ὧὧ is long by nature.
2 ⏑δεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —πᾶςᾶ carries a circumflex, so it is long; closed by ς: long by position.
5 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑ς ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —ρεῖ·εῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 —Θε‿όγεό is two vowels of one word pronounced together as one long syllable (synizesis); closed by γ: long by position; γν is one of the four clusters (γμ, γν, δμ, δν) that never leave the syllable before them short.^[12]
9 ⏑νιι is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
10 ⏑δόό is short by nature.
11 —ς ἐσἐ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
12 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
13 ⏑ν ἔἔ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
14 ×πηη is long by nature; the position is anceps.

Theognis 22. The diaeresis follows ἐρεῖ. Θεογ- is one syllable by synecphonesis,^[11] joined by a tie in West’s notation; Bowie’s text spells the name Θεύγνιδος, with the two vowels written as one diphthong.^[19] The quoted words run on into the next line.

23

Line 23 · τοῦ Μεγαρέ‿ως”· πάντας δὲ κατ’ ἀνθρώπους ὀνομαστός·

τοῦ Μεγαρέ‿ως”· πάντας δὲ κατ’ ἀνθρώπους ὀνομαστός·

τοῦΜεγαρέ‿ως·πάνταςδὲκατ’ἀνθρώπουςὀνομαστός·

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; caesura after the third trochee.

1 —τοῦοῦ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑Μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑γαα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ρέ‿ως·έω is two vowels of one word pronounced together as one long syllable (synizesis); closed by ς: long by position.
5 —πάνά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ταςα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position.
7 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —τ’ἀνἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
10 —θρώώ is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —πουςου is a diphthong, long by nature.
12 ⏑ὀὀ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑νοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —μασα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
15 ×τός·ό is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

Theognis 23. -έως of Μεγαρέως is one syllable by synecphonesis,^[11] marked with a tie. Penthemimeral caesura after πάντας, and with the postpositive δὲ the word-group ends at the feminine position.^[7] The second and fourth feet are spondees (ρέως πάν, τ’ἀν θρώ). κατ’ is elided before ἀνθρώπους.^[20]

Gerber prints πάντας δὲ κατ’ ἀνθρώπους ὀνομαστός as part of what everyone will say, so that it is Theognis who is famous.^[21]

24

Line 24 · ἀστοῖσιν δ’ οὔπω πᾶσιν ἁδεῖν δύναμαι.

ἀστοῖσιν δ’ οὔπω πᾶσιν ἁδεῖν δύναμαι.

ἀστοῖσινδ’οὔπωπᾶσιν ἁδεῖνδύναμαι.

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ἀσἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
2 —τοῖοῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —σινι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
4 —δ’οὔοὔ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —πωω is long by nature.
6 —πᾶᾶ carries a circumflex, so it is long.
7 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable.
8 ⏑ν ἁἁ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
9 —δεῖνεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
10 ⏑δύύ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
11 ⏑ναα is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
12 ×μαι.αι is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

Theognis 24. Two spondees before the diaeresis (ἀσ τοῖ, σιν δ’οὔ); δ’ is elided before οὔπω.^[20] The diaeresis follows οὔπω.

2

Line 2 · λήσομαι ἀρχόμενος οὐδ’ ἀποπαυόμενος.

λήσομαι ἀρχόμενος οὐδ’ ἀποπαυόμενος.

λήσομαιἀρχόμενοςοὐδ’ἀποπαυόμενος.

dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —λήή is long by nature.
2 ⏑σοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑μαιαι is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ἀρἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
5 ⏑χόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —νοςο is short by nature, but the final ς is treated as closing the syllable although a vowel follows: lengthening by a final continuant.^[22]
8 —οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
9 ⏑δ’ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 7 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
10 ⏑ποο is short by nature.
11 —παυαυ is a diphthong, long by nature.
12 ⏑όό is short by nature.
13 ⏑μεε is short by nature.
14 ×νος.ο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

Theognis 2, which West quotes for the freedom of the princeps.^[11] The diaeresis falls after ἀρχόμενος, and the long position 5 before it is held by its final syllable -νος, whose ο is short: the final ς, although a vowel follows, is treated as closing the syllable, a lengthening by a final continuant that West finds in epic, elegy, Pindar and Bacchylides, nearly always in the princeps.^[22] West prints the ἀρ- of ἀρχόμενος and the final ς with long marks (p. 24, read at 1200 dpi). The input marks the syllable as lengthened, so the workbench scans it long. μαι of λήσομαι is shortened before ἀρχόμενος (epic correption)^[23]. οὐδ’ is elided.

Notes

^ ^a ^b Bowie 2022, p. 306.
^ Bartol 2022, pp. 221–223; Bowie 2022, p. 312.
^ Bowie 2022, pp. 306–307, 310–311.
^ Bowie 2022, p. 309 nn. 12–13.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 175.
^ Bowie 2022, p. 312.
^ ^a ^b ^c West 1987, p. 21.
^ West 1987, p. 24; Battezzato 2009, p. 138.
^ West 1987, pp. 23–24.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 221; Aloni 2009, p. 168.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ West 1987, p. 24.
^ ^a ^b ^c West 1987, p. 16.
^ Hephaestion, Ench. 1.6.
^ Bowie 2022, pp. 306–308.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 184.
^ West 1987, p. 12.
^ West 1987, p. 12 n. 1.
^ West 1987, pp. 14–15.
^ Bowie 2022, p. 306.
^ ^a ^b West 1987, p. 13.
^ Gerber 1999a, p. 178.
^ ^a ^b West 1987, pp. 18, 22.
^ West 1987, p. 14.

Text and sources

Greek wording: T. Bergk, Poetae lyrici Graeci, fourth edition, vol. II (Leipzig 1882), pp. 117, 119–120, public domain; original scan. All seven lines checked against the page images. At 22 and 24 the display uses Θεόγνιδος and ἀστοῖσιν δ’, readings recorded in Bergk’s apparatus on p. 120, rather than his main text. Iota adscript, word division and the teaching quantity and synecphonesis marks are normalized for the existing display. West (1987, p. 24) remains the source of its metrical analysis.
Rules: West 1987, pp. 4, 12–16, 18, 21–24 (checked against the page images; p. 24 at 600 and 1200 dpi).
L. Battezzato, ‘Metre and music’, in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric (Cambridge 2009), p. 138 (the elegiac distich as an epodic strophe, hexameter ‖ D | D |||; contraction avoided in the second half of the pentameter).
K. Bartol, ‘Elegy’, in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric (Wiley 2022), ch. 15, p. 221; E. Bowie, ‘Solon and Theognis’, ibid., ch. 21, pp. 306–308.
A. Aloni, ‘Elegy: forms, functions and communication’, in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric (Cambridge 2009), pp. 168, 184.
Hephaestion, Enchiridion de metris, ed. M. Consbruch (Leipzig 1906), via First1KGreek (CC BY-SA 4.0), searched for quotations of the elegists.
D. E. Gerber, Greek Elegiac Poetry from the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC (Loeb Classical Library 258, Cambridge, MA 1999), Theognis 1–4 (pp. 174–175) and 19–38 (pp. 176–179), compared: the same words in lines 2 and 19–24.

Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this page’s licence.

Sources

Bergk, T. 1882. Poetae lyrici Graeci, fourth edition, vol. II. Leipzig: Teubner, pp. 117, 119–120 (Theognis 2 and 19–24, including the variants Θεόγνιδος and ἀστοῖσιν δ’ in the apparatus on p. 120); public-domain Greek, checked against original page images.
West, M. L. 1987. Introduction to Greek Metre. Oxford. p. 24 (text of Theognis 19–24 and 2, read from the page image at 600 and 1200 dpi); pp. 4, 12–16, 18, 21–24 (rules; checked against page images).
Hephaestion, Enchiridion de metris 1.6, 2.3, 4.6, 15.14–15, ed. M. Consbruch (Leipzig 1906), First1KGreek, CC BY-SA 4.0 (searched for quotations of the elegists).
Bartol, K. 2022. 'Elegy', in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric. Wiley. ch. 15, p. 221. (synopsis: pp. 221–223)
Bowie, E. 2022. 'Solon and Theognis', in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric. Wiley. ch. 21, pp. 306–308. (synopsis: pp. 306–307, 309–312)
Aloni, A. 2009. 'Elegy: forms, functions and communication', in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. pp. 168, 184. (synopsis: p. 175)
Gerber, D. E. 1999a. Greek Elegiac Poetry from the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC (Loeb Classical Library 258). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. pp. 174–179 (Theognis 1–4, 19–38) (read on the Loeb Classical Library site).

Greek wording verified against Bergk 1882 II, pp. 117, 119–120 (public domain), using the manuscript readings Θεόγνιδος and ἀστοῖσιν δ’ recorded in the apparatus on p. 120. Iota adscript, word division and teaching quantity/synecphonesis marks normalized for the existing display. West remains the source of the metrical analysis. Scansion, commentary and translation © metrehelp.org, CC BY-SA 4.0. Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this licence.

Tyrtaeus fr. 10: “it is a fine thing to die” (Lycurgus, Against Leocrates 107)

Synopsis

Tyrtaeus composed elegies at Sparta in the seventh century BC. The Suda puts his floruit in 640–637 BC, and ancient writers connect him with the Second Messenian War. Bartol dates his activity to the latter part of the century. Aloni puts that war, and Tyrtaeus with it, in the first half.^[1] The story that he came from Athens is a legend.^[2] Most of what survives urges men to stand and fight. Frr. 10 and 11 run to over thirty lines each.^[3] Such poems were sung at the symposium, the usual setting even for elegy about war.^[4] The Athenian orator Lycurgus quotes fr. 10 whole in his speech Against Leocrates. He tells the jury that the Spartans made it a law that, on campaign, the army should gather at the king’s tent to hear Tyrtaeus’ poems (Against Leocrates 106–107).^[5]

The whole fragment is scanned here. It tells of the shame of the exile who abandons his city, and calls on the young to stand together. It speaks of the disgrace of an old man fallen in front of them, and of the young man who is beautiful even in death.

Marble figure of a naked warrior lying fallen on his side, from a temple pediment. — Fallen warrior, Aphaia temple, c. 500 BC

Text and translation

τεθνάμεναι γὰρ καλὸν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι πεσόντα

ll. 1–2: the fine death

10.1

τεθνάμεναι γὰρ καλὸν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι πεσόντα

For it is a fine thing to die when a brave man has fallen

10.2

ἄνδρʼ ἀγαθόν, περὶ ᾗ πατρίδι μαρνάμενον.

among the foremost ranks, fighting for his homeland.

ll. 3–12: the beggar in exile

10.3

τὴν δʼ αὐτοῦ προλιπόντα πόλιν καὶ πίονας ἀγροὺς

But to abandon one’s own city and fertile fields

10.4

πτωχεύειν πάντων ἔστʼ ἀνιηρότατον,

and live as a beggar is the most wretched lot of all,

10.5

πλαζόμενον σὺν μητρὶ φίλῃ καὶ πατρὶ γέροντι

roaming about with a dear mother and an old father,

10.6

παισί τε σὺν μικροῖς κουριδίῃ τʼ ἀλόχῳ.

with little children and the wife he wedded.

10.7

ἐχθρὸς μὲν γὰρ τοῖσι μετέσσεται, οὕς κεν ἵκηται

He will be met with hostility by those he comes to,

10.8

χρημοσύνῃ τʼ εἴκων καὶ στυγερῇ πενίῃ,

yielding as he does to want and loathsome poverty;

10.9

αἰσχύνει δὲ γένος, κατὰ δʼ ἀγλαὸν εἶδος ἐλέγχει,

he brings shame on his line, belies his fine appearance,

10.10

πᾶσα δʼ ἀτιμίη καὶ κακότης ἕπεται.

and every kind of dishonour and misery goes with him.

10.11

εἰ δʼ οὕτως ἀνδρός τοι ἀλωμένου οὐδεμίʼ ὤρη

If so, then, a vagrant man is given no thought

10.12

γίγνεται οὐδʼ αἰδώς, οὔτʼ ὀπίσω γένεος,

and no respect, nor are his descendants after him,

ll. 13–20: “let us fight”: young men, stand together and do not leave the old

10.13

θυμῷ γῆς περὶ τῆσδε μαχώμεθα, καὶ περὶ παίδων

let us fight with all our heart for this land, and for our children

10.14

θνῄσκωμεν ψυχέων μηκέτι φειδόμενοι.

let us die, sparing our lives no longer.

10.15

ὦ νέοι, ἀλλὰ μάχεσθε παρʼ ἀλλήλοισι μένοντες,

You young men, fight, holding your ground side by side,

10.16

μηδὲ φυγῆς αἰσχρῆς ἄρχετε μηδὲ φόβου,

and do not be the first to turn in disgraceful flight or panic;

10.17

ἀλλὰ μέγαν ποιεῖσθε καὶ ἄλκιμον ἐν φρεσὶ θυμόν,

make the spirit in your breasts large and strong,

10.18

μηδὲ φιλοψυχεῖτʼ ἀνδράσι μαρνάμενοι·

and do not cling to life when you fight against men;

10.19

τοὺς δὲ παλαιοτέρους, ὧν οὐκέτι γούνατʼ ἐλαφρά,

the elders, whose knees have lost their quickness,

10.20

μὴ καταλείποντες φεύγετε, τοὺς γεραιούς.

do not run off and leave them behind, the old men.

ll. 21–30: the old man fallen in front of the young

10.21

αἰσχρὸν γὰρ δὴ τοῦτο, μετὰ προμάχοισι πεσόντα

For it is a disgrace when, fallen among the foremost,

10.22

κεῖσθαι πρόσθε νέων ἄνδρα παλαιότερον,

an older man lies out in front of the young,

10.23

ἤδη λευκὸν ἔχοντα κάρη πολιόν τε γένειον,

with his head already white and his beard grey,

10.24

θυμὸν ἀποπνείοντʼ ἄλκιμον ἐν κονίῃ,

gasping out his brave spirit in the dust,

10.25

αἱματόεντʼ αἰδοῖα φίλαις ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντα

clutching his bloody private parts in his own hands

10.26

(αἰσχρὰ τά γʼ ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ νεμεσητὸν ἰδεῖν)

(a shameful thing for eyes to see, and an outrage),

10.27

καὶ χρόα γυμνωθέντα. νέοισι δὲ πάντʼ ἐπέοικεν,

his flesh laid bare. For the young, though, everything is becoming,

10.28

ὄφρʼ ἐρατῆς ἥβης ἀγλαὸν ἄνθος ἔχῃ·

as long as he keeps the bright flower of lovely youth:

10.29

ἀνδράσι μὲν θηητὸς ἰδεῖν, ἐρατὸς δὲ γυναιξὶν

while he lives, men gaze at him in wonder and women desire him,

10.30

ζωὸς ἐών, καλὸς δʼ ἐν προμάχοισι πεσών.

and he is beautiful when he falls among the foremost.

ll. 31–32: stand firm

10.31

ἀλλά τις εὖ διαβὰς μενέτω ποσὶν ἀμφοτέροισιν

So let each man, well astride, hold his ground with both feet

10.32

στηριχθεὶς ἐπὶ γῆς, χεῖλος ὀδοῦσι δακών.

fixed to the earth, biting his lip with his teeth.

Tyrtaeus · fr. 10 W · text of Lycurgus, Against Leocrates 107, ed. Burtt

How to read each line

A guide to the Greek, syllables, pitch marks and quantities.

Show the reading key

Above each line: the line as the edition prints it, each word placed over its own syllables. The main row: the same Greek divided into metrical syllables, each written as it is pronounced. A consonant that closes a syllable is written with it (λόθ | ρο); an elided word is closed up with the next vowel (ν’ἀ); a final consonant carried into the next word is set with a thin space (ς ἰ). Wider gaps mark word-ends.
Above the syllables: the pitch of each syllable, from the accents. Under them: the quantity of each syllable as it falls in the line, then the transliteration, syllable by syllable, with accented syllables in capitals.
Under each line: a line-for-line translation. In the right margin of the scansion: the line type, its scheme, and its analysis into cola.

Key to the labels

The names, patterns and symbols used beside this poem.

Show the labels and symbols

Label	Name and shape	What it is
hem1	First hemiepes— ⏔ — ⏔ —	The first two and a half feet of the hexameter, up to the penthemimeral caesura; in the pentameter, its whole first half.
hem2	Second half of the hexameter⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×	From the penthemimeral caesura to the line-end: the fifth foot is nearly always a dactyl, the sixth is — ×.
hemp	Second hemiepes— ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×	The second half of the pentameter: two dactyls and a single syllable, with no contraction allowed.

The traditional feet

Foot and shape	Where
First foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 1–2. The biceps (⏑ ⏑) may be contracted to a single long, making a spondee.
Second foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 3–4.
Third foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 5–6. The penthemimeral caesura falls after its first syllable, the “trochaic” caesura after its second.
Fourth foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 7–8. Word-end at the end of this foot, when it is a dactyl, is the bucolic diaeresis (West’s “bucolic caesura”: word-end at the end of the fourth foot after an uncontracted biceps)^[6].
Fifth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 9–10. A spondee here (a “spondaic line”) is rare.
Sixth foot— ×	Scheme positions 11–12: a long and the indifferent final syllable.
First foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 1–2 of the pentameter.
Second foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 3–4.
Half-foot before the diaeresis—	Scheme position 5: the long that closes the first hemiepes; word-end must follow.
Fourth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 6–8: no contraction after the diaeresis.
Fifth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 9–11.
Final syllable×	Scheme position 12.

Scansion

Sixteen couplets of Spartan war elegy, quoted whole by the Athenian orator Lycurgus: the exile’s shame, the old man fallen in front of the young, the young man who stands his ground. Every line scanned, with two correptions in one hexameter, a word whose ϝ no longer counts, and the internal correption of γεραιούς that West quotes from this poem.

Click a syllable to see its

Section 1ll. 1–2: the fine death

10.1

τεθνάμεναιγὰρκαλὸνἐνὶπρομάχοισιπεσόντα

τεθtethνάNAμεmeναιnaiγὰρgarκαkāλὸloν ἐneνὶniπροproμάMAχοιchoiσιsiπεpeσόνSONταta

For it is a fine thing to die when a brave man has fallen

Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura

10.2

ἄνδρʼἀγαθόν,περὶᾗπατρίδιμαρνάμενον.

ἄνANδρ’ἀdr’aγαgaθόν,THONπεpeρὶriᾗHĒIπατpatρίRIδιdiμαρmarνάNAμεmeνον.non

among the foremost ranks, fighting for his homeland.

Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Section 2ll. 3–12: the beggar in exile
10.3
τὴνδʼαὐτοῦπρολιπόνταπόλινκαὶπίοναςἀγροὺς
τὴνtēnδ’αὐd’auτοῦTOUπροproλιliπόνPONταtaπόPOλινlinκαὶkaiπίPĪοoναnaς ἀγsagροὺςrous
But to abandon one’s own city and fertile fields
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura; word-end after a spondaic fourth foot
10.4
πτωχεύεινπάντωνἔστʼἀνιηρότατον,
πτωptōχεύCHEUεινeinπάνPANτωνtōnἔσESτ’ἀt’aνιniηēρόROταtaτον,ton
and live as a beggar is the most wretched lot of all,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
10.5
πλαζόμενονσὺνμητρὶφίλῃκαὶπατρὶγέροντι
πλαplaζόZOμεmeνονnonσὺνsynμηmēτρὶtriφίPHIλῃlēiκαὶkaiπατpatρὶriγέGEρονronτιti
roaming about with a dear mother and an old father,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura; word-end after a spondaic fourth foot
10.6
παισίτεσὺνμικροῖςκουριδίῃτʼἀλόχῳ.
παιpaiσίSIτεteσὺνsynμικmikροῖςROISκουkouριriδίDIῃēiτ’ἀt’aλόLOχῳ.chōi
with little children and the wife he wedded.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
10.7
ἐχθρὸςμὲνγὰρτοῖσιμετέσσεται,οὕςκενἵκηται
ἐχechθρὸςthrosμὲνmenγὰρgarτοῖTOIσιsiμεmeτέσTESσεseται,taiοὕςHOUSκεkeν ἵNHIκηkēταιtai
He will be met with hostility by those he comes to,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis
10.8
χρημοσύνῃτʼεἴκωνκαὶστυγερῇπενίῃ,
χρηchrēμοmoσύSYνῃnēiτ’εἴT’EIκωνkōnκαὶkaiστυstyγεgeρῇRĒIπεpeνίNIῃ,ēi
yielding as he does to want and loathsome poverty;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
10.9
αἰσχύνειδὲγένος,κατὰδʼἀγλαὸνεἶδοςἐλέγχει,
αἰσaisχύCHȲνειneiδὲdeγέGEνος,nosκαkaτὰtaδ’ἀγd’agλαlaὸoν εἶNEIδοdoς ἐseλέγLENχει,chei
he brings shame on his line, belies his fine appearance,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
10.10
πᾶσαδʼἀτιμίηκαὶκακότηςἕπεται.
πᾶPĀσαsaδ’ἀd’aτιtīμίMĪηēκαὶkaiκαkaκόKOτηςtēsἕHEπεpeται.tai
and every kind of dishonour and misery goes with him.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
10.11
εἰδʼοὕτωςἀνδρόςτοιἀλωμένουοὐδεμίʼὤρη
εἰeiδ’οὕD’HOUτωςtōsἀνanδρόςDROSτοιtoiἀaλωlōμέMEνουnouοὐouδεdeμί’MIὤŌρηrē
If so, then, a vagrant man is given no thought
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis
10.12
γίγνεταιοὐδʼαἰδώς,οὔτʼὀπίσωγένεος,
γίγGIGνεneταιtaiοὐouδ’αἰd’aiδώς,DŌSοὔOUτ’ὀt’oπίPIσωsōγέGEνεneος,os
and no respect, nor are his descendants after him,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Section 3ll. 13–20: “let us fight”: young men, stand together and do not leave the old
10.13
θυμῷγῆςπερὶτῆσδεμαχώμεθα,καὶπερὶπαίδων
θυthȳμῷMŌIγῆςGĒSπεpeρὶriτῆσTĒSδεdeμαmaχώCHŌμεmeθα,thaκαὶkaiπεpeρὶriπαίPAIδωνdōn
let us fight with all our heart for this land, and for our children
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis
10.14
θνῄσκωμενψυχέ‿ωνμηκέτιφειδόμενοι.
θνῄσTHNĒISκωkōμενmenψυpsȳχέ‿ωνCHEŌNμηmēκέKEτιtiφειpheiδόDOμεmeνοι.noi
let us die, sparing our lives no longer.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
10.15
ὦνέοι,ἀλλὰμάχεσθεπαρʼἀλλήλοισιμένοντες,
ὦŌνέNEοι,oiἀλalλὰlaμάMAχεσchesθεtheπαpaρ’ἀλr’alλήLĒλοιloiσιsiμέMEνονnonτες,tes
You young men, fight, holding your ground side by side,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee
10.16
μηδὲφυγῆςαἰσχρῆςἄρχετεμηδὲφόβου,
μηmēδὲdeφυphyγῆςGĒSαἰσaisχρῆςCHRĒSἄρARχεcheτεteμηmēδὲdeφόPHOβου,bou
and do not be the first to turn in disgraceful flight or panic;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
10.17
ἀλλὰμέγανποιεῖσθεκαὶἄλκιμονἐνφρεσὶθυμόν,
ἀλalλὰlaμέMEγανganποιpoiεῖσEISθεtheκαὶkaiἄλALκιkiμοmoν ἐνnenφρεphreσὶsiθυthȳμόν,MON
make the spirit in your breasts large and strong,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis
10.18
μηδὲφιλοψυχεῖτʼἀνδράσιμαρνάμενοι·
μηmēδὲdeφιphiλοloψυpsȳχεῖCHEIτ’ἀνt’anδράDRAσιsiμαρmarνάNAμεmeνοι·noi
and do not cling to life when you fight against men;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes (with elision)
10.19
τοὺςδὲπαλαιοτέρους,ὧνοὐκέτιγούνατʼἐλαφρά,
τοὺςtousδὲdeπαpaλαιlaiοoτέTEρους,rousὧνHŌNοὐouκέKEτιtiγούGOUναnaτ’ἐt’eλαφlaphρά,RA
the elders, whose knees have lost their quickness,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
10.20
μὴκαταλείποντεςφεύγετε,τοὺςγεραιούς.
μὴmēκαkaταtaλείLEIπονponτεςtesφεύPHEUγεgeτε,teτοὺςtousγεgeραιraiούς.OUS
do not run off and leave them behind, the old men.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Section 4ll. 21–30: the old man fallen in front of the young
10.21
αἰσχρὸνγὰρδὴτοῦτο,μετὰπρομάχοισιπεσόντα
αἰσaisχρὸνchronγὰρgarδὴdēτοῦTOUτο,toμεmeτὰtaπροproμάMAχοιchoiσιsiπεpeσόνSONταta
For it is a disgrace when, fallen among the foremost,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura
10.22
κεῖσθαιπρόσθενέωνἄνδραπαλαιότερον,
κεῖσKEISθαιthaiπρόσPROSθεtheνέNEωνōnἄνANδραdraπαpaλαιlaiόOτεteρον,ron
an older man lies out in front of the young,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
10.23
ἤδηλευκὸνἔχοντακάρηπολιόντεγένειον,
ἤĒδηdēλευleuκὸkoν ἔNEχονchonταtaκάKAρηrēποpoλιliόνONτεteγέGEνειneiον,on
with his head already white and his beard grey,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura
10.24
θυμὸνἀποπνείοντʼἄλκιμονἐνκονίῃ,
θυthȳμὸmoν ἀnaποπpopνείNEIονonτ’ἄλT’ALκιkiμοmoν ἐνnenκοkoνίNIῃ,ēi
gasping out his brave spirit in the dust,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes (with elision)
10.25
αἱματόεντʼαἰδοῖαφίλαιςἐνχερσὶνἔχοντα
αἱhaiμαmaτόTOενenτ’αἰt’aiδοῖDOIαaφίPHIλαιςlaisἐνenχερcherσὶsiν ἔNEχονchonταta
clutching his bloody private parts in his own hands
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura; word-end after a spondaic fourth foot
10.26
(αἰσχρὰτάγʼὀφθαλμοῖςκαὶνεμεσητὸνἰδεῖν)
αἰσaisχρὰchraτάTAγ’ὀφg’ophθαλthalμοῖςMOISκαὶkaiνεneμεmeσηsēτὸtoν ἰniδεῖνDEIN
(a shameful thing for eyes to see, and an outrage),
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
10.27
καὶχρόαγυμνωθέντα.νέοισιδὲπάντʼἐπέοικεν,
καὶkaiχρόCHROαaγυμgymνωnōθένTHENτα.taνέNEοιoiσιsiδὲdeπάνPANτ’ἐt’eπέPEοιoiκεν,ken
his flesh laid bare. For the young, though, everything is becoming,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis
10.28
ὄφρʼἐρατῆςἥβηςἀγλαὸνἄνθοςἔχῃ·
ὄφOPHρ’ἐr’eραraτῆςTĒSἥHĒβηςbēsἀγagλαlaὸoν ἄνNANθοthoς ἔSEχῃ·chēi
as long as he keeps the bright flower of lovely youth:
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
10.29
ἀνδράσιμὲνθηητὸςἰδεῖν,ἐρατὸςδὲγυναιξὶν
ἀνanδράDRAσιsiμὲνmenθηthēηēτὸtoς ἰsiδεῖν,DEINἐeραraτὸςtosδὲdeγυgyναιnaiξὶνxin
while he lives, men gaze at him in wonder and women desire him,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura
10.30
ζωὸςἐών,καλὸςδʼἐνπρομάχοισιπεσών.
ζωzōὸoς ἐseών,ŌNκαkāλὸςlosδ’ἐνd’enπροproμάMAχοιchoiσιsiπεpeσών.SŌN
and he is beautiful when he falls among the foremost.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Section 5ll. 31–32: stand firm

10.31

ἀλλάτιςεὖδιαβὰςμενέτωποσὶνἀμφοτέροισιν

ἀλalλάLAτιtiς εὖSEUδιdiαaβὰςbasμεmeνέNEτωtōποpoσὶsiν ἀμnamφοphoτέTEροιroiσινsin

So let each man, well astride, hold his ground with both feet

Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis

10.32

στηριχθεὶςἐπὶγῆς,χεῖλοςὀδοῦσιδακών.

στηstēριχrichθεὶςtheisἐeπὶpiγῆς,GĒSχεῖCHEIλοloς ὀsoδοῦDOUσιsiδαdaκών.KŌN

fixed to the earth, biting his lip with his teeth.

Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Metre

The couplet. A hexameter, with less prosodic licence than in epic, alternating with the “pentameter” — ⏔ — ⏔ — | — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ — ‖, two hemiepes (D | D ‖) always divided by a word-end; contraction of the bicipitia is limited to the first colon.^[7] West names Tyrtaeus among the poets who used it.^[8] The hexameter has its caesura in the third foot, “feminine” after the first short or “masculine” after the princeps, or occasionally after the fourth princeps (hephthemimeral).^[9] a prepositive is reckoned with the word after it, a postpositive with the word before it,^[10] which the workbench cannot know: where its margin names a word-end after a preposition or before an enclitic, the notes say so.
Tyrtaeus and Lycurgus. Tyrtaeus composed exhortatory elegies in Sparta, intended to be sung at symposia, in the later seventh century.^[11] The orator Lycurgus quotes the whole poem in his speech against Leocrates, telling the jury that the Spartans took Tyrtaeus from Athens as their general and made a law that on campaign everyone should be called to the king’s tent to hear his poems (Against Leocrates 106–107). The Athenian origin is a legend: Tyrtaeus is generally accepted as a Spartan poet.^[12] Kelly compares lines 21–30 with Priam’s words in Iliad 22.71–76: Tyrtaeus makes an old man’s death in the front line a disgrace, right after urging the young not to leave their elders behind (15–20).^[13]
Dialect. Tyrtaeus wrote in the same general Ionic as the other mainland elegists; original ᾱ is almost always transmitted as η, there are monosyllabic Ionic forms in -εω, and the digamma, which survived in Laconian long after Tyrtaeus, is often not operative in his verse.^[14] All three can be seen here: μητρί, φίλῃ (l. 5), γῆς, τῆσδε (l. 13), ψυχέων (l. 14), ἀγλαὸν εἶδος (l. 9).
Prosody. As in epic: a long vowel or diphthong ending a word normally becomes short when the next word begins with a vowel (epic correption)^[15]; correption can also occur inside a word, “most prominent in Ionic”, and West quotes Tyrtaeus’ γεραιούς (l. 20) for it.^[15] Inside a word a stop + liquid makes position in early poetry, while at the beginning of a word it may leave a short syllable short;^[16] γλ always makes position in early poetry, and γμ, γν, δμ, δν always.^[16] The last position of each line is indifferent at period-end.^[17]
Text and marks. Burtt’s text departs from the manuscripts of Lycurgus in seven places, all recorded in his notes: χρημοσύνῃ (Bergk; manuscripts χρησμοσύνῃ, l. 8), δὲ (Hartung; τε, l. 9), εἰ δʼ (Francke; εἴθʼ, l. 11), γένεος (Ahrens; τέλος, l. 12), ψυχέων (the Aldine edition; ψυχάων, l. 14), αἰσχρῆς (Sauppe; αἰσχρᾶς, l. 16), θηητὸς (Reiske; θνητοῖσιν, l. 29). In l. 14 the input marks the υ of ψυχέων long^[18] and ties -έων into one syllable; the page does not show the marks.

Prosody, line by line

10.1

Line 10.1 · τεθνάμεναι γὰρ καλὸν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι πεσόντα

τεθνάμεναι γὰρ καλὸν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι πεσόντα

τεθνάμεναιγὰρκαλὸν ἐνὶπρομάχοισιπεσόντα

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —τεθε is short by nature; closed by θ before a nasal: stop + nasal makes position, as it usually does in epic.
2 ⏑νάά is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ναιαι is a diphthong, long by nature.
5 —γὰρὰ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —καα is long by the metre (position 5 must be long).
7 ⏑λὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑ν ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —νὶὶ is a vowel of unknown length; the next word begins with πρ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
10 ⏑προο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑μάά is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —χοιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
13 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑πεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —σόνό is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
16 ×ταα is of unknown length; the position is anceps, so either scans.

fr. 10.1. τεθνάμεναι is the epic perfect infinitive, “to be dead”; its θν inside the word closes τεθ-.^[16] The first α of καλόν fills the long princeps of the third foot, as the metre requires. The syllable νὶ of ἐνί is closed by the πρ of προμάχοισι and fills the long fourth princeps: at the beginning of a word a stop + liquid may make position or not, and here it does.^[16] The margin names a caesura after the third trochee (after καλὸν) and a hephthemimeral one (after ἐνί); ἐνί is a prepositive and goes with προμάχοισι,^[10] so the real break is the feminine caesura.^[9]

10.2

Line 10.2 · ἄνδρʼ ἀγαθόν, περὶ ᾗ πατρίδι μαρνάμενον.

ἄνδρʼ ἀγαθόν, περὶ ᾗ πατρίδι μαρνάμενον.

ἄνδρ’ἀγαθόν,περὶᾗπατρίδιμαρνάμενον.

dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ἄνἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
2 ⏑δρ’ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑γαα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —θόν,ό is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
5 ⏑πεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑ρὶὶ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); the next word begins with a vowel and nothing is elided: hiatus; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —ᾗᾗ is long by nature.
8 —πατα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by τ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
9 ⏑ρίί is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
10 ⏑διι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
11 —μαρα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
12 ⏑νάά is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
13 ⏑μεε is short by nature.
14 ×νον.ο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.2. ἄνδρʼ is elided.^[19] περί is one of the vowels that cannot be elided,^[19] and it stands before ᾗ in hiatus, with its ι short in the biceps. ᾗ is the possessive ὅς, “his own”, a word that originally began with ϝ;^[20] many hiatuses in epic and elegiac verse involve such words.^[21] In πατρίδι the τρ inside the word makes position.^[16]

10.3

Line 10.3 · τὴν δʼ αὐτοῦ προλιπόντα πόλιν καὶ πίονας ἀγροὺς

τὴν δʼ αὐτοῦ προλιπόντα πόλιν καὶ πίονας ἀγροὺς

τὴνδ’αὐτοῦπρολιπόνταπόλινκαὶπίονας ἀγροὺς

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura; word-end after a spondaic fourth foot.

1 —τὴνὴ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
2 —δ’αὐαὐ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —τοῦοῦ is a diphthong, long by nature; the next word begins with πρ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
4 ⏑προο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑λιι is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —πόνό is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 ⏑ταα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑πόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —λινι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
10 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —πίί is long by the metre (position 9 must be long).
12 ⏑οο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑ναα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —ς ἀγἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by γ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
15 ×ροὺςοὺ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.3. The fourth foot is contracted (λιν καὶ), and the margin names both the hephthemimeral caesura after πόλιν and a word-end after the contracted foot, after καί; West notes that word-division after a contracted biceps is frequent only in the first foot, and that where it occurs in the fourth the word usually has a long vowel in its final syllable.^[22] In ἀγρούς the γρ inside the word makes position.^[16] The ι of πίονας is long.^[23]

10.4

Line 10.4 · πτωχεύειν πάντων ἔστʼ ἀνιηρότατον,

πτωχεύειν πάντων ἔστʼ ἀνιηρότατον,

πτωχεύεινπάντωνἔστ’ἀνιηρότατον,

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —πτωω is long by nature.
2 —χεύεύ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —εινει is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
4 —πάνά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —τωνω is long by nature.
6 —ἔσἔ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
7 ⏑τ’ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 7 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
8 ⏑νιι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
9 —ηη is long by nature.
10 ⏑ρόό is short by nature.
11 ⏑ταα is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
12 ×τον,ο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.4. Two contracted bicipitia in the first hemiepes (πτωχεύειν πάντων); contraction is allowed only in the first half of the pentameter.^[8] ἔστʼ is elided before ἀνιηρότατον, the Ionic form of ἀνιαρός, “painful”.^[24]

10.5

Line 10.5 · πλαζόμενον σὺν μητρὶ φίλῃ καὶ πατρὶ γέροντι

πλαζόμενον σὺν μητρὶ φίλῃ καὶ πατρὶ γέροντι

πλαζόμενονσὺνμητρὶφίλῃκαὶπατρὶγέροντι

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura; word-end after a spondaic fourth foot.

1 —πλαζ is a double consonant (two sounds) and closes the syllable: long by position.
2 ⏑ζόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —νονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
5 —σὺνὺ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —μηη is long by nature.
7 ⏑τρὶὶ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑φίί is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —λῃῃ is long by nature.
10 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —πατα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by τ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
12 ⏑ρὶὶ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑γέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —ρονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
15 ×τιι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.5. Again a contracted fourth foot (λῃ καί) with word-end after it, as in l. 3.^[22] The τρ of πατρί makes position,^[16] so πατ- fills the princeps of the fifth foot. φίλῃ shows the Ionic η for original ᾱ.^[14]

10.6

Line 10.6 · παισί τε σὺν μικροῖς κουριδίῃ τʼ ἀλόχῳ.

παισί τε σὺν μικροῖς κουριδίῃ τʼ ἀλόχῳ.

παισίτεσὺνμικροῖςκουριδίῃτ’ἀλόχῳ.

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —παιαι is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑σίί is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑τεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —σὺνὺ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
5 —μικι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by κ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ροῖςοῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
7 —κουου is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑ριι is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑δίί is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
10 —ῃῃ is long by nature.
11 ⏑τ’ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
12 ⏑λόό is short by nature.
13 ×χῳ.ῳ is long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.6. τʼ is elided before ἀλόχῳ.^[19] μικροῖς: the κρ inside the word makes position.^[16]

10.7

Line 10.7 · ἐχθρὸς μὲν γὰρ τοῖσι μετέσσεται, οὕς κεν ἵκηται

ἐχθρὸς μὲν γὰρ τοῖσι μετέσσεται, οὕς κεν ἵκηται

ἐχθρὸςμὲνγὰρτοῖσιμετέσσεται,οὕςκεν ἵκηται

spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —ἐχἐ is short by nature; closed by χ: long by position.
2 —θρὸςὸ is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —μὲνὲ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
4 —γὰρὰ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —τοῖοῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
6 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —τέσέ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
9 ⏑σεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑ται,αι is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —οὕςοὕ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
12 ⏑κεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑ν ἵἵ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —κηη is long by nature.
15 ×ταιαι is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.7. The ν of κεν goes with ἵκηται,^[25] so κε is short. Caesura after the third trochee, after τοῖσι,^[9] and bucolic diaeresis after μετέσσεται.^[6]

10.8

Line 10.8 · χρημοσύνῃ τʼ εἴκων καὶ στυγερῇ πενίῃ,

χρημοσύνῃ τʼ εἴκων καὶ στυγερῇ πενίῃ,

χρημοσύνῃτ’εἴκωνκαὶστυγερῇπενίῃ,

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —χρηη is long by nature.
2 ⏑μοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑σύύ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —νῃῃ is long by nature.
5 —τ’εἴεἴ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —κωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; the next word begins with στ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
8 ⏑στυυ is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑γεε is short by nature.
10 —ρῇῇ is long by nature.
11 ⏑πεε is short by nature.
12 ⏑νίί is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×ῃ,ῃ is long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.8. χρημοσύνῃ, “need”, is Bergk’s correction of the manuscripts’ χρησμοσύνῃ (Burtt’s note). τʼ is elided before εἴκων.

Gerber prints χρησμοσύνῃ and in line 9 αἰσχύνει τε;^[26] the scansion is the same.

10.9

Line 10.9 · αἰσχύνει δὲ γένος, κατὰ δʼ ἀγλαὸν εἶδος ἐλέγχει,

αἰσχύνει δὲ γένος, κατὰ δʼ ἀγλαὸν εἶδος ἐλέγχει,

αἰσχύνειδὲγένος,κατὰδ’ἀγλαὸν εἶδος ἐλέγχει,

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —αἰσαἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
2 —χύύ is long by the metre (position 2 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —νειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑γέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —νος,ο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
7 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑τὰὰ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —δ’ἀγἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by γ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
10 ⏑λαα is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑ὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ν εἶεἶ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
13 ⏑δοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑ς ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —λέγέ is short by nature; closed by γ: long by position.
16 ×χει,ει is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.9. δὲ is Hartung’s correction of the manuscripts’ τε (Burtt’s note). In ἀγλαόν the γλ makes position, as it always does in early poetry,^[16] so δʼἀγ- is long. εἶδος originally began with ϝ,^[20] but here the ϝ is not operative: the ν of ἀγλαὸν goes with εἶδος,^[25] and ὸ stays short in the biceps. D’Alessio notes this treatment of the digamma in Tyrtaeus, whose Laconian kept the sound long after him.^[14] Penthemimeral caesura after γένος.^[9]

10.10

Line 10.10 · πᾶσα δʼ ἀτιμίη καὶ κακότης ἕπεται.

πᾶσα δʼ ἀτιμίη καὶ κακότης ἕπεται.

πᾶσαδ’ἀτιμίηκαὶκακότηςἕπεται.

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —πᾶᾶ carries a circumflex, so it is long.
2 ⏑σαα is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑δ’ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —τιι is long by the metre (position 3 must be long).
5 —μίί is long by the metre (position 4 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ηη is long by nature.
7 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑κόό is short by nature.
10 —τηςη is long by nature.
11 ⏑ἕἕ is short by nature.
12 ⏑πεε is short by nature.
13 ×ται.αι is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.10. δʼ is elided before ἀτιμίη, which has the Ionic η for ᾱ.^[14]

10.11

Line 10.11 · εἰ δʼ οὕτως ἀνδρός τοι ἀλωμένου οὐδεμίʼ ὤρη

εἰ δʼ οὕτως ἀνδρός τοι ἀλωμένου οὐδεμίʼ ὤρη

εἰδ’οὕτωςἀνδρόςτοιἀλωμένουοὐδεμί’ὤρη

spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —εἰεἰ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —δ’οὕοὕ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —τωςω is long by nature.
4 —ἀνἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —δρόςό is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
6 ⏑τοιοι is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 ⏑ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —λωω is long by nature.
9 ⏑μέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑νουου is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
12 ⏑δεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑μί’ί is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —ὤὤ is long by nature.
15 ×ρηη is long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.11. εἰ δʼ is Francke’s correction of the manuscripts’ εἴθʼ (Burtt’s note). Two epic correptions: τοι before ἀλωμένου, and -ου before οὐδεμί’, each a long diphthong shortened before the following vowel to fill a short of the biceps.^[15] οὐδεμίʼ is elided before ὤρη, “care, regard”.

10.12

Line 10.12 · γίγνεται οὐδʼ αἰδώς, οὔτʼ ὀπίσω γένεος,

γίγνεται οὐδʼ αἰδώς, οὔτʼ ὀπίσω γένεος,

γίγνεταιοὐδ’αἰδώς,οὔτ’ὀπίσωγένεος,

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —γίγί is a vowel of unknown length; closed by γ: long by position; γν is one of the four clusters (γμ, γν, δμ, δν) that never leave the syllable before them short.^[16]
2 ⏑νεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑ταιαι is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
5 —δ’αἰαἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —δώς,ώ is long by nature.
7 —οὔοὔ is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑τ’ὀὀ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
9 ⏑πίί is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
10 —σωω is long by nature.
11 ⏑γέέ is short by nature.
12 ⏑νεε is short by nature.
13 ×ος,ο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.12. γένεος is Ahrens’ correction of the manuscripts’ τέλος (Burtt’s note). In γίγνεται the γν makes position, one of the four clusters that never leave the syllable before them short;^[16] its final -αι is shortened before οὐδ’ (epic correption, p. 14). οὐδʼ and οὔτʼ are elided.^[19]

Gerber prints γίνεται οὔτ’ αἰδώς, οὐδ’ ὀπίσω γένεος, with Ahrens’s γένεος for the manuscripts’ τέλος;^[27] the scansion is the same.

10.13

Line 10.13 · θυμῷ γῆς περὶ τῆσδε μαχώμεθα, καὶ περὶ παίδων

θυμῷ γῆς περὶ τῆσδε μαχώμεθα, καὶ περὶ παίδων

θυμῷγῆςπερὶτῆσδεμαχώμεθα,καὶπερὶπαίδων

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —θυυ is long by the metre (position 1 must be long).
2 —μῷῷ is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —γῆςῆ is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
4 ⏑πεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑ρὶὶ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —τῆσῆ is long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
7 ⏑δεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑μαα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —χώώ is long by nature.
10 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑θα,α is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
13 ⏑πεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑ρὶὶ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —παίαί is a diphthong, long by nature.
16 ×δωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.13. The first person plural begins: “let us fight”. Caesura after the third trochee, after τῆσδε,^[9] and bucolic diaeresis after μαχώμεθα.^[6]

10.14

Line 10.14 · θνῄσκωμεν ψυχέ‿ων μηκέτι φειδόμενοι.

θνῄσκωμεν ψυχέ‿ων μηκέτι φειδόμενοι.

θνῄσκωμενψυχέ‿ωνμηκέτιφειδόμενοι.

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —θνῄσῄ is long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
2 —κωω is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —μενε is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
4 —ψυῡ is long (its length is not shown by the ordinary spelling); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —χέ‿ωνέω is two vowels of one word pronounced together as one long syllable (synizesis); closed by ν: long by position.
6 —μηη is long by nature.
7 ⏑κέέ is short by nature.
8 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
9 —φειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
10 ⏑δόό is short by nature.
11 ⏑μεε is short by nature.
12 ×νοι.οι is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.14. ψυχέων is the reading of the Aldine edition; the manuscripts have ψυχάων (Burtt’s note). Its -έων is one syllable by synecphonesis (synizesis), which is frequent within a word when the first vowel is ε;^[21] D’Alessio counts the monosyllabic Ionic forms in -εω among the Ionic features of the mainland elegists.^[14] The υ of ψυχή is long,^[18] so the first hemiepes has both bicipitia contracted, — — — — —, allowed in the first half of the pentameter.^[8]

10.15

Line 10.15 · ὦ νέοι, ἀλλὰ μάχεσθε παρʼ ἀλλήλοισι μένοντες,

ὦ νέοι, ἀλλὰ μάχεσθε παρʼ ἀλλήλοισι μένοντες,

ὦνέοι,ἀλλὰμάχεσθεπαρ’ἀλλήλοισιμένοντες,

dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee.

1 —ὦὦ is long by nature.
2 ⏑νέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑οι,οι is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ἀλἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position.
5 ⏑λὰὰ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑μάά is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —χεσε is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
8 ⏑θεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 ⏑παα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
10 —ρ’ἀλἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
11 —λήή is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —λοιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
13 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑μέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —νονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
16 ×τες,ε is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.15. The -οι of νέοι is shortened before ἀλλά (epic correption)^[15]. παρʼ is elided.^[19] Caesura after the third trochee (after μάχεσθε, p. 19).

10.16

Line 10.16 · μηδὲ φυγῆς αἰσχρῆς ἄρχετε μηδὲ φόβου,

μηδὲ φυγῆς αἰσχρῆς ἄρχετε μηδὲ φόβου,

μηδὲφυγῆςαἰσχρῆςἄρχετεμηδὲφόβου,

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —μηη is long by nature.
2 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑φυυ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —γῆςῆ is long by nature.
5 —αἰσαἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by σ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —χρῆςῆ is long by nature.
7 —ἄρἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
8 ⏑χεε is short by nature.
9 ⏑τεε is short by nature.
10 —μηη is long by nature.
11 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature.
12 ⏑φόό is short by nature.
13 ×βου,ου is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.16. αἰσχρῆς is Sauppe’s correction of the manuscripts’ αἰσχρᾶς, giving the Ionic η (Burtt’s note). In αἰσχρῆς the σ closes the first syllable.

10.17

Line 10.17 · ἀλλὰ μέγαν ποιεῖσθε καὶ ἄλκιμον ἐν φρεσὶ θυμόν,

ἀλλὰ μέγαν ποιεῖσθε καὶ ἄλκιμον ἐν φρεσὶ θυμόν,

ἀλλὰμέγανποιεῖσθεκαὶἄλκιμον ἐνφρεσὶθυμόν,

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —ἀλἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position.
2 ⏑λὰὰ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑μέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —γανα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
5 —ποιοι is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —εῖσεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
7 ⏑θεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —ἄλἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position.
10 ⏑κιι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑μοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ν ἐνἐ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
13 ⏑φρεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑σὶὶ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —θυυ is long by the metre (position 11 must be long).
16 ×μόν,ό is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.17. καί is shortened before ἄλκιμον (epic correption)^[15]. In ποιεῖσθε the οι stands before a vowel inside the word but is not shortened here: ποι- fills a contracted second biceps. Caesura after the third trochee (after ποιεῖσθε, p. 19), bucolic diaeresis after ἄλκιμον.

10.18

Line 10.18 · μηδὲ φιλοψυχεῖτʼ ἀνδράσι μαρνάμενοι·

μηδὲ φιλοψυχεῖτʼ ἀνδράσι μαρνάμενοι·

μηδὲφιλοψυχεῖτ’ἀνδράσιμαρνάμενοι·

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes (with elision).

1 —μηη is long by nature.
2 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑φιι is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —λοο is short by nature; ψ is a double consonant (two sounds) and closes the syllable: long by position.
5 —ψυυ is long by the metre (position 4 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —χεῖεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 —τ’ἀνἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
8 ⏑δράά is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑σιι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
10 —μαρα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
11 ⏑νάά is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
12 ⏑μεε is short by nature.
13 ×νοι·οι is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.18. φιλοψυχεῖτʼ, “love your lives”,^[28] is elided at the diaeresis; West notes that elision at the pentameter caesura is admitted.^[8] λο- is closed by ψ, a double consonant,^[29] and ψῡ- is long by nature.^[18]

10.19

Line 10.19 · τοὺς δὲ παλαιοτέρους, ὧν οὐκέτι γούνατʼ ἐλαφρά,

τοὺς δὲ παλαιοτέρους, ὧν οὐκέτι γούνατʼ ἐλαφρά,

τοὺςδὲπαλαιοτέρους,ὧνοὐκέτιγούνατ’ἐλαφρά,

dactyl, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —τοὺςοὺ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
2 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑παα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —λαιαι is a diphthong, long by nature.
5 ⏑οο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑τέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —ρους,ου is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 —ὧνὧ is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
10 ⏑κέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —γούού is a diphthong, long by nature.
13 ⏑ναα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑τ’ἐἐ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —λαφα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by φ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
16 ×ρά,ᾰ́ is short (its length is not shown by the ordinary spelling); the position is anceps.

fr. 10.19. The αι of παλαιοτέρους is not shortened here, although it stands before a vowel inside the word: λαι fills the princeps of the second foot. γούνατʼ is elided.^[19] In ἐλαφρά the φρ inside the word makes position.^[16] Penthemimeral caesura after παλαιοτέρους,^[9] bucolic diaeresis after οὐκέτι.

The ᾰ of ἐλαφρά is short;^[30] the metre does not show it here, at the end of the period, and the input marks it.

10.20

Line 10.20 · μὴ καταλείποντες φεύγετε, τοὺς γεραιούς.

μὴ καταλείποντες φεύγετε, τοὺς γεραιούς.

μὴκαταλείποντεςφεύγετε,τοὺςγεραιούς.

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —μὴὴ is long by nature.
2 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑ταα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —λείεί is a diphthong, long by nature.
5 —πονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —τεςε is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
7 —φεύεύ is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑γεε is short by nature.
9 ⏑τε,ε is short by nature.
10 —τοὺςοὺ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
11 ⏑γεε is short by nature.
12 ⏑ραιαι is a diphthong, long by nature; the diphthong is shortened before the vowel that follows it inside the word, as the metre requires (internal correption, frequent in Attic verse with words containing αι and οι)^[15].
13 ×ούς.ού is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.20. τοὺς γεραιούς: West quotes Tyrtaeus’ γεραιούς as an example of correption within a word, a tendency most prominent in Ionic: the diphthong αι before the vowel ου counts as short, γε-ραι-ούς ⏑ ⏑ —.^[15] The same word-type is long in παλαιοτέρους in the line before.

10.21

Line 10.21 · αἰσχρὸν γὰρ δὴ τοῦτο, μετὰ προμάχοισι πεσόντα

αἰσχρὸν γὰρ δὴ τοῦτο, μετὰ προμάχοισι πεσόντα

αἰσχρὸνγὰρδὴτοῦτο,μετὰπρομάχοισιπεσόντα

spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —αἰσαἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
2 —χρὸνὸ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —γὰρὰ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
4 —δὴὴ is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —τοῦοῦ is a diphthong, long by nature.
6 ⏑το,ο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —τὰὰ is a vowel of unknown length; the next word begins with πρ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
9 ⏑προο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑μάά is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —χοιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
12 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑πεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —σόνό is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
15 ×ταα is of unknown length; the position is anceps, so either scans.

fr. 10.21. The theme of lines 21–30, the old man fallen in front of the young, is the one Kelly compares with Priam’s words in Iliad 22.71–76.^[13] Two contracted feet open the line (αἰσχρὸν γὰρ δὴ). Caesura after the third trochee (after τοῦτο, p. 19); the margin’s hephthemimeral caesura after μετά is not a real break, since μετά is a prepositive and goes with προμάχοισι.^[10]

10.22

Line 10.22 · κεῖσθαι πρόσθε νέων ἄνδρα παλαιότερον,

κεῖσθαι πρόσθε νέων ἄνδρα παλαιότερον,

κεῖσθαιπρόσθενέωνἄνδραπαλαιότερον,

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —κεῖσεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
2 —θαιαι is a diphthong, long by nature; the next word begins with πρ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —πρόσό is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
4 ⏑θεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑νέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ωνω is long by nature.
7 —ἄνἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
8 ⏑δραα is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑παα is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
10 —λαιαι is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑όό is short by nature.
12 ⏑τεε is short by nature.
13 ×ρον,ο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.22. νέων keeps its two syllables here (νέ-ων ⏑ —). The αι of παλαιότερον, before a vowel inside the word, stays long.

10.23

Line 10.23 · ἤδη λευκὸν ἔχοντα κάρη πολιόν τε γένειον,

ἤδη λευκὸν ἔχοντα κάρη πολιόν τε γένειον,

ἤδηλευκὸν ἔχοντακάρηπολιόντεγένειον,

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —ἤἤ is long by nature.
2 —δηη is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —λευευ is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 ⏑κὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑ν ἔἔ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —χονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 ⏑ταα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑κάά is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —ρηη is long by nature.
10 ⏑ποο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑λιι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —όνό is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
13 ⏑τεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑γέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —νειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
16 ×ον,ο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.23. The ν of λευκὸν goes with ἔχοντα.^[25] Caesura after the third trochee (after ἔχοντα, p. 19); the margin’s hephthemimeral word-end after κάρη is also real.

10.24

Line 10.24 · θυμὸν ἀποπνείοντʼ ἄλκιμον ἐν κονίῃ,

θυμὸν ἀποπνείοντʼ ἄλκιμον ἐν κονίῃ,

θυμὸν ἀποπνείοντ’ἄλκιμον ἐνκονίῃ,

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes (with elision).

1 —θυυ is long by the metre (position 1 must be long).
2 ⏑μὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑ν ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ποπο is short by nature; closed by π before a nasal: stop + nasal makes position, as it usually does in epic.
5 —νείεί is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 —τ’ἄλἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
8 ⏑κιι is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑μοο is short by nature.
10 —ν ἐνἐ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
11 ⏑κοο is short by nature.
12 ⏑νίί is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×ῃ,ῃ is long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.24. In ἀποπνείοντʼ the πν inside the word makes position;^[16] the word is elided at the diaeresis.^[8] The ν of θυμὸν goes with ἀπο-, so μὸ is short.

10.25

Line 10.25 · αἱματόεντʼ αἰδοῖα φίλαις ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντα

αἱματόεντʼ αἰδοῖα φίλαις ἐν χερσὶν ἔχοντα

αἱματόεντ’αἰδοῖαφίλαιςἐνχερσὶν ἔχοντα

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura; word-end after a spondaic fourth foot.

1 —αἱαἱ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑μαα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑τόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ενε is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
5 —τ’αἰαἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —δοῖοῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 ⏑αα is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑φίί is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —λαιςαι is a diphthong, long by nature.
10 —ἐνἐ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —χερε is short by nature; closed by ρ: long by position.
12 ⏑σὶὶ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑ν ἔἔ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —χονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
15 ×ταα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.25. αἱματόεντʼ is elided before αἰδοῖα.^[19] The final α of αἰδοῖα is short, the first short of the third biceps. Caesura after the third trochee, after αἰδοῖα,^[9] and hephthemimeral after φίλαις. The margin’s word-end after the contracted fourth foot (λαις ἐν) falls after ἐν, a preposition, which counts with the following word.^[10]

10.26

Line 10.26 · (αἰσχρὰ τά γʼ ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ νεμεσητὸν ἰδεῖν)

(αἰσχρὰ τά γʼ ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ νεμεσητὸν ἰδεῖν)

αἰσχρὰτάγ’ὀφθαλμοῖςκαὶνεμεσητὸν ἰδεῖν

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —αἰσαἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
2 ⏑χρὰὰ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑τάά is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —γ’ὀφὀ is short by nature; closed by φ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
5 —θαλα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —μοῖςοῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
7 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑νεε is short by nature.
9 ⏑μεε is short by nature.
10 —σηη is long by nature.
11 ⏑τὸὸ is short by nature.
12 ⏑ν ἰἰ is short by the metre (position 11 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
13 ×δεῖνεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.26. Burtt prints the line in parentheses and reads τά γʼ; his note records τάδʼ (Baiter and Sauppe) and τά τʼ (G. Hermann). ἰδεῖν, another word that originally began with ϝ,^[20] takes the ν of νεμεσητὸν into its first syllable, and τὸ is short: the ϝ is not operative.

10.27

Line 10.27 · καὶ χρόα γυμνωθέντα. νέοισι δὲ πάντʼ ἐπέοικεν,

καὶ χρόα γυμνωθέντα. νέοισι δὲ πάντʼ ἐπέοικεν,

καὶχρόαγυμνωθέντα.νέοισιδὲπάντ’ἐπέοικεν,

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; the next word begins with χρ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
2 ⏑χρόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑αα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —γυμυ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by μ: long by position.
5 —νωω is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —θένέ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 ⏑τα.α is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑νέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —οιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
10 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —πάνά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
13 ⏑τ’ἐἐ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑πέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —οιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
16 ×κεν,ε is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.27. πάντʼ is elided before ἐπέοικεν, although ἔοικα once began with ϝ.^[20] Caesura after the third trochee, after γυμνωθέντα;^[9] bucolic diaeresis after νέοισι δέ, the postpositive δέ counting with the word before it.^[10]

10.28

Line 10.28 · ὄφρʼ ἐρατῆς ἥβης ἀγλαὸν ἄνθος ἔχῃ·

ὄφρʼ ἐρατῆς ἥβης ἀγλαὸν ἄνθος ἔχῃ·

ὄφρ’ἐρατῆςἥβηςἀγλαὸν ἄνθος ἔχῃ·

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ὄφὄ is short by nature; closed by φ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
2 ⏑ρ’ἐἐ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑ραα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —τῆςῆ is long by nature.
5 —ἥἥ is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —βηςη is long by nature.
7 —ἀγἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by γ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
8 ⏑λαα is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑ὸὸ is short by nature.
10 —ν ἄνἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
11 ⏑θοο is short by nature.
12 ⏑ς ἔἔ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
13 ×χῃ·ῃ is long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.28. In ὄφρʼ (elided)^[19] the φρ inside the word makes position; in ἀγλαόν the γλ makes position, as always in early poetry,^[16] so the σ of ἥβης goes with ἀγ- and the syllable is long. The second biceps of the first hemiepes is contracted (ἥ).

10.29

Line 10.29 · ἀνδράσι μὲν θηητὸς ἰδεῖν, ἐρατὸς δὲ γυναιξὶν

ἀνδράσι μὲν θηητὸς ἰδεῖν, ἐρατὸς δὲ γυναιξὶν

ἀνδράσιμὲνθηητὸς ἰδεῖν,ἐρατὸςδὲγυναιξὶν

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —ἀνἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
2 ⏑δράά is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑σιι is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —μὲνὲ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
5 —θηη is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ηη is long by nature.
7 ⏑τὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑ς ἰἰ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —δεῖν,εῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
10 ⏑ἐἐ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑ραα is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —τὸςὸ is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
13 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑γυυ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —ναιαι is a diphthong, long by nature; ξ is a double consonant (two sounds) and closes the syllable: long by position.
16 ×ξὶνὶ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.29. θηητός, “a wonder to look at”, Ionic for θεατός, is Reiske’s correction of the manuscripts’ θνητοῖσιν (Burtt’s note); LSJ cites this line for the word (s.v. θηητός). ἰδεῖν again takes the σ of θηητὸς (the ϝ not operative)^[20]. Caesura after the third trochee, after θηητός,^[9] and hephthemimeral after ἰδεῖν.

10.30

Line 10.30 · ζωὸς ἐών, καλὸς δʼ ἐν προμάχοισι πεσών.

ζωὸς ἐών, καλὸς δʼ ἐν προμάχοισι πεσών.

ζωὸς ἐών,καλὸςδ’ἐνπρομάχοισιπεσών.

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ζωω is long by nature.
2 ⏑ὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑ς ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ών,ώ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
5 —καα is long by the metre (position 4 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —λὸςὸ is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
7 —δ’ἐνἐ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
8 ⏑προο is short by nature.
9 ⏑μάά is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
10 —χοιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable.
12 ⏑πεε is short by nature.
13 ×σών.ώ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.30. The σ of ζωὸς goes with ἐών.^[25] δʼ is elided. The line ends as the first line began, with the front-fighters (προμάχοισι πεσών).

10.31

Line 10.31 · ἀλλά τις εὖ διαβὰς μενέτω ποσὶν ἀμφοτέροισιν

ἀλλά τις εὖ διαβὰς μενέτω ποσὶν ἀμφοτέροισιν

ἀλλάτις εὖδιαβὰςμενέτωποσὶν ἀμφοτέροισιν

dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —ἀλἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position.
2 ⏑λάά is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ς εὖεὖ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
5 ⏑διι is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑αα is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —βὰςὰ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position.
8 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 ⏑νέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
10 —τωω is long by nature.
11 ⏑ποο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 ⏑σὶὶ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
13 —ν ἀμἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by μ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
14 ⏑φοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 ⏑τέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
16 —ροιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
17 ×σινι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.31. A line of five dactyls. εὖ διαβάς, “standing with legs well apart”. The ς of τις goes with εὖ.^[25] The margin names penthemimeral and hephthemimeral word-ends and the bucolic diaeresis.

Gerber notes that these two lines recur as fr. 11.21–22.^[31]

10.32

Line 10.32 · στηριχθεὶς ἐπὶ γῆς, χεῖλος ὀδοῦσι δακών.

στηριχθεὶς ἐπὶ γῆς, χεῖλος ὀδοῦσι δακών.

στηριχθεὶςἐπὶγῆς,χεῖλος ὀδοῦσιδακών.

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —στηη is long by nature.
2 —ριχι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by χ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —θεὶςεὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 ⏑ἐἐ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑πὶὶ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —γῆς,ῆ is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
7 —χεῖεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑λοο is short by nature.
9 ⏑ς ὀὀ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
10 —δοῦοῦ is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable.
12 ⏑δαα is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×κών.ώ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 10.32. In στηριχθείς the χθ closes ριχ-. The σ of χεῖλος goes with ὀδοῦσι.^[25]

Notes

^ Bartol 2022, p. 225; Aloni 2009, p. 173.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 225.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 226.
^ Bartol 2022, pp. 223, 225; Aloni 2009, p. 173.
^ Gerber 1999a, pp. 50–51.
^ ^a ^b ^c West 1987, p. 21.
^ West 1987, p. 24; Battezzato 2009, p. 138.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e West 1987, p. 24.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ West 1987, p. 19.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e West 1987, pp. 20–21.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 225.
^ Hall 2022, p. 77 n. 3; Bartol 2022, p. 225.
^ ^a ^b Kelly 2022, p. 36.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e D’Alessio 2009, p. 122.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g West 1987, p. 14.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ West 1987, p. 16.
^ West 1987, p. 4.
^ ^a ^b ^c LSJ s.v. ψυχή.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h West 1987, p. 13.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e West 1987, p. 23.
^ ^a ^b West 1987, p. 15.
^ ^a ^b West 1987, p. 20.
^ LSJ s.v. πίων [ῑ].
^ LSJ s.v. ἀνιηρός.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f West 1987, p. 12.
^ Gerber 1999a, p. 50.
^ Gerber 1999a, p. 52.
^ Kelly 2022, p. 36, translates “love their lives”.
^ West 1987, p. 12 n. 1.
^ West 1987, p. 11: -ᾰ of the neuter plural.
^ Gerber 1999a, pp. 52–54.

Text and sources

Text: Lycurgus, Against Leocrates 107, ed. J. O. Burtt, Minor Attic Orators II (Loeb), Perseus Digital Library (tlg0034.tlg001.perseus-grc2), CC BY-SA 4.0; checked letter by letter, with Burtt’s notes on the readings. Lycurgus’ context: sections 106–107 of the same text.
Metre and prosody: M. L. West, Introduction to Greek Metre (Oxford 1987), pp. 4, 12–16, 19–21, 23–24, checked against the page images (pp. 20–21 from a photograph).
L. Battezzato, ‘Metre and music’, in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric (Cambridge 2009), p. 138 (the elegiac distich as an epodic strophe, hexameter ‖ D | D |||; contraction avoided in the second half of the pentameter).
K. Bartol, ‘Elegy’, ch. 15, p. 225; J. M. Hall, ‘Politics’, ch. 6, p. 77 n. 3; A. Kelly, ‘Epic and Lyric’, ch. 3, p. 36; all in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric (Wiley 2022).
G. B. D’Alessio, ‘Language and pragmatics’, in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric (Cambridge 2009), p. 122.
Meanings and quantities: Liddell–Scott–Jones, Greek–English Lexicon, Perseus Digital Library (CC BY-SA), s.vv. ἀνιηρός, θηητός, πίων, ψυχή.
D. E. Gerber, Greek Elegiac Poetry from the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC (Loeb Classical Library 258, Cambridge, MA 1999), Tyrtaeus fr. 10 (pp. 50–53), compared line by line: same number as West. Lycurgus, who quotes it, says that the Spartans made a law to summon all the army to the king’s tent to hear Tyrtaeus’ poems when they were on campaign (p. 50).

Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this page’s licence.

Sources

Lycurgus, Against Leocrates 106–107, ed. J. O. Burtt, Minor Attic Orators II (Loeb), Perseus Digital Library, tlg0034.tlg001.perseus-grc2 (Greek text of Tyrtaeus fr. 10 and Burtt's notes on the readings, checked letter by letter).
West, M. L. 1987. Introduction to Greek Metre. Oxford. pp. 4, 12–16, 19–21, 23–24 (checked against page images; pp. 20–21 from a photograph).
Bartol, K. 2022. 'Elegy', in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric. Wiley. ch. 15, p. 225. (synopsis: pp. 223, 225–226)
Hall, J. M. 2022. 'Politics', ibid. ch. 6, p. 77 n. 3.
Kelly, A. 2022. 'Epic and Lyric', ibid. ch. 3, p. 36.
D'Alessio, G. B. 2009. 'Language and pragmatics', in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. p. 122.
LSJ (Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA), s.vv. ἀνιηρός, θηητός, πίων, ψυχή.
Gerber, D. E. 1999a. Greek Elegiac Poetry from the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC (Loeb Classical Library 258). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. pp. 50–53 (Tyrtaeus fr. 10) (read on the Loeb Classical Library site).
Aloni, A. 2009. 'Elegy: forms, functions and communication', in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. p. 173.

Greek text: Lycurgus, ed. Burtt, Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Scansion, commentary and translation © metrehelp.org, CC BY-SA 4.0. Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this licence.

Tyrtaeus fr. 11.1–20: “you are the stock of Heracles” (Stobaeus 4.9.16)

Synopsis

Tyrtaeus composed elegies at Sparta in the seventh century BC. The Suda puts his floruit in 640–637 BC, and ancient writers connect him with the Second Messenian War. Bartol dates his activity to the latter part of the century. Aloni puts that war, and Tyrtaeus with it, in the first half.^[1] The story that he came from Athens is a legend.^[2] Most of what survives urges men to stand and fight. Frr. 10 and 11 run to over thirty lines each.^[3] Such poems were sung at the symposium, the usual setting even for elegy about war.^[4] Fr. 11 is preserved by the anthologist Stobaeus (4.9.16).

Scanned here are its first twenty lines. They remind the Spartans that they are the stock of unconquered Heracles. They tell them that those who stand fast together in the front rank die in fewer numbers. And they end on the shame of a man struck in the back as he runs.

A painted frieze of armoured soldiers with round shields advancing, a piper among them. — Hoplites marching to the auloi, Chigi vase

Text and translation

Ἀλλ’ Ἡρακλῆος γὰρ ἀνικήτου γένος ἐστέ

1–10: take heart and stand in the front line

11.1

Ἀλλ’ Ἡρακλῆος γὰρ ἀνικήτου γένος ἐστέ,

You are the stock of Heracles the unconquered,

11.2

θαρσεῖτ’, οὔπω Ζεὺς αὐχένα λοξὸν ἔχει·

so take heart: Zeus does not yet hold his head turned aside.

11.3

μηδ’ ἀνδρῶν πληθὺν δειμαίνετε, μηδὲ φοβεῖσθε,

Do not shrink from the host of men, and do not be afraid;

11.4

ἰθὺς δ’ εἰς προμάχους ἀσπίδ’ ἀνὴρ ἐχέτω,

let each man hold his shield straight towards the front line,

11.5

ἐχθρὰν μὲν ψυχὴν θέμενος, θανάτου δὲ μελαίνας

counting his own life hateful, and the black

11.6

κῆρας ὁμῶς αὐγαῖς ἠελίοιο φίλας.

spirits of death as dear as the beams of the sun.

11.7

ἴστε γὰρ Ἄρηος πολυδακρύου ἔργ’ ἀΐδηλα·

For you know what ruin the works of tearful Ares bring,

11.8

εὖ δ’ ὀργὴν ἐδάητ’ ἀργαλέου πολέμου,

and you have learned well the temper of cruel war;

11.9

καὶ θαμὰ φευγόντων τε διωκόντων τε γέγευσθε,

often you have tasted both running away and giving chase,

11.10

ὦ νέοι, ἀμφοτέρων δ’ εἰς κόρον ἠλάσατε.

young men, and of both you have had your fill.

11–20: those who stand survive; flight is shameful

11.11

οἳ μὲν γὰρ τολμῶσι παρ’ ἀλλήλοισι μένοντες

Those who dare to stand fast beside one another

11.12

ἔς τ’ αὐτοσχεδίην καὶ προμάχους ἰέναι,

and advance to close quarters in the foremost rank

11.13

παυρότεροι θνήσκουσι, σαοῦσι δὲ λαὸν ὀπίσσω·

die in fewer numbers, and they keep the people behind them safe;

11.14

τρεσσάντων δ’ ἀνδρῶν πᾶσ’ ἀπόλωλ’ ἀρετή.

but when men take fright, all their worth is gone.

11.15

οὐδεὶς ἄν ποτε ταῦτα λέγων ἀνύσειεν ἕκαστα,

No one could ever finish telling, one by one,

11.16

ὅσσ’, ἢν αἰσχρὰ πάθῃ, γίγνεται ἀνδρὶ κακά.

all the evils that come upon a man once he suffers disgrace.

11.17

ἀργαλέον γὰρ ὄπισθε μετάφρενόν ἐστι δαΐζειν

For it is a grievous thing to slash at the back

11.18

ἀνδρὸς φεύγοντος δηΐῳ ἐν πολέμῳ·

of a man in flight in the war against the foe;

11.19

αἰσχρὸς δ’ ἐστὶ νέκυς κακκείμενος ἐν κονίῃσιν

and shameful is the corpse that lies stretched in the dust

11.20

νῶτον ὄπισθ’ αἰχμῇ δουρὸς ἐληλαμένος.

with the spear’s point driven through its back from behind.

Tyrtaeus · fr. 11.1–20 W · elegiac couplets · quoted by Stobaeus · text of Bergk (1882), fr. 11

How to read each line

A guide to the Greek, syllables, pitch marks and quantities.

Show the reading key

Above each line: the line as the edition prints it, each word placed over its own syllables. The main row: the same Greek divided into metrical syllables, each written as it is pronounced. A consonant that closes a syllable is written with it (λόθ | ρο); an elided word is closed up with the next vowel (ν’ἀ); a final consonant carried into the next word is set with a thin space (ς ἰ). Wider gaps mark word-ends.
Above the syllables: the pitch of each syllable, from the accents. Under them: the quantity of each syllable as it falls in the line, then the transliteration, syllable by syllable, with accented syllables in capitals.
Under each line: a line-for-line translation. In the right margin of the scansion: the line type, its scheme, and its analysis into cola.

Key to the labels

The names, patterns and symbols used beside this poem.

Show the labels and symbols

Label	Name and shape	What it is
hem1	First hemiepes— ⏔ — ⏔ —	The first two and a half feet of the hexameter, up to the penthemimeral caesura; in the pentameter, its whole first half.
hem2	Second half of the hexameter⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×	From the penthemimeral caesura to the line-end: the fifth foot is nearly always a dactyl, the sixth is — ×.
hemp	Second hemiepes— ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×	The second half of the pentameter: two dactyls and a single syllable, with no contraction allowed.

The traditional feet

Foot and shape	Where
First foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 1–2. The biceps (⏑ ⏑) may be contracted to a single long, making a spondee.
Second foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 3–4.
Third foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 5–6. The penthemimeral caesura falls after its first syllable, the “trochaic” caesura after its second.
Fourth foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 7–8. Word-end at the end of this foot, when it is a dactyl, is the bucolic diaeresis (West’s “bucolic caesura”: word-end at the end of the fourth foot after an uncontracted biceps)^[5].
Fifth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 9–10. A spondee here (a “spondaic line”) is rare.
Sixth foot— ×	Scheme positions 11–12: a long and the indifferent final syllable.
First foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 1–2 of the pentameter.
Second foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 3–4.
Half-foot before the diaeresis—	Scheme position 5: the long that closes the first hemiepes; word-end must follow.
Fourth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 6–8: no contraction after the diaeresis.
Fifth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 9–11.
Final syllable×	Scheme position 12.

Scansion

The opening of Tyrtaeus’ second long exhortation to the Spartans: take heart, stand fast in the front rank, and do not run. The first ten couplets are scanned, with a note on every line.

Click a syllable to see its

Section 11–10: take heart and stand in the front line
11.1
Ἀλλ’Ἡρακλῆοςγὰρἀνικήτουγένοςἐστέ,
Ἀλalλ’Ἡl’hēρακrakλῆLĒοςosγὰgaρ ἀraνιnīκήKĒτουtouγέGEνοnoς ἐσsesτέ,TE
You are the stock of Heracles the unconquered,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; caesura after the third trochee
11.2
θαρσεῖτ’,οὔπωΖεὺςαὐχέναλοξὸνἔχει·
θαρtharσεῖSEIτ’,οὔT’OUπωpōΖεὺςzeusαὐauχέCHEναnaλοloξὸxoν ἔNEχει·chei
so take heart: Zeus does not yet hold his head turned aside.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
11.3
μηδ’ἀνδρῶνπληθὺνδειμαίνετε,μηδὲφοβεῖσθε,
μηmēδ’ἀνd’anδρῶνDRŌNπληplēθὺνthynδειdeiμαίMAIνεneτε,teμηmēδὲdeφοphoβεῖσBEISθε,the
Do not shrink from the host of men, and do not be afraid;
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
11.4
ἰθὺςδ’εἰςπρομάχουςἀσπίδ’ἀνὴρἐχέτω,
ἰīθὺςthysδ’εἰςd’eisπροproμάMAχουςchousἀσasπίPIδ’ἀd’aνὴρnērἐeχέCHEτω,tō
let each man hold his shield straight towards the front line,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
11.5
ἐχθρὰνμὲνψυχὴνθέμενος,θανάτουδὲμελαίνας
ἐχechθρὰνthranμὲνmenψυpsȳχὴνchēnθέTHEμεmeνος,nosθαthaνάNAτουtouδὲdeμεmeλαίLAIναςnas
counting his own life hateful, and the black
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura
11.6
κῆραςὁμῶςαὐγαῖςἠελίοιοφίλας.
κῆKĒραraς ὁshoμῶςMŌSαὐauγαῖςGAISἠēεeλίLIοιoiοoφίPHIλας.las
spirits of death as dear as the beams of the sun.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
11.7
ἴστεγὰρἌρηοςπολυδακρύουἔργ’ἀΐδηλα·
ἴσISτεteγὰgaρ ἌRĀρηrēοςosποpoλυlyδακdakρύRYουouἔρERγ’ἀg’aΐIδηdēλα·la
For you know what ruin the works of tearful Ares bring,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
11.8
εὖδ’ὀργὴνἐδάητ’ἀργαλέουπολέμου,
εὖEUδ’ὀρd’orγὴνgēnἐeδάDAηēτ’ἀρt’arγαgaλέLEουouποpoλέLEμου,mou
and you have learned well the temper of cruel war;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes (with elision)
11.9
καὶθαμὰφευγόντωντεδιωκόντωντεγέγευσθε,
καὶkaiθαthaμὰmaφευpheuγόνGONτωνtōnτεteδιdiωōκόνKONτωνtōnτεteγέGEγευσgeusθε,the
often you have tasted both running away and giving chase,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; caesura after the third trochee
11.10
ὦνέοι,ἀμφοτέρωνδ’εἰςκόρονἠλάσατε.
ὦŌνέNEοι,oiἀμamφοphoτέTEρωνrōnδ’εἰςd’eisκόKOροroν ἠnēλάLAσαsaτε.te
young men, and of both you have had your fill.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Section 211–20: those who stand survive; flight is shameful
11.11
οἳμὲνγὰρτολμῶσιπαρ’ἀλλήλοισιμένοντες
οἳhoiμὲνmenγὰρgarτολtolμῶMŌσιsiπαpaρ’ἀλr’alλήLĒλοιloiσιsiμέMEνονnonτεςtes
Those who dare to stand fast beside one another
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee
11.12
ἔςτ’αὐτοσχεδίηνκαὶπρομάχουςἰέναι,
ἔςESτ’αὐt’auτοσtosχεcheδίDIηνēnκαὶkaiπροproμάMAχουςchousἰiέEναι,nai
and advance to close quarters in the foremost rank
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
11.13
παυρότεροιθνήσκουσι,σαοῦσιδὲλαὸνὀπίσσω·
παυpauρόROτεteροιroiθνήσTHNĒSκουkouσι,siσαsaοῦOUσιsiδὲdeλαlāὸoν ὀnoπίσPISσω·sō
die in fewer numbers, and they keep the people behind them safe;
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis
11.14
τρεσσάντωνδ’ἀνδρῶνπᾶσ’ἀπόλωλ’ἀρετή.
τρεσtresσάνSANτωνtōnδ’ἀνd’anδρῶνDRŌNπᾶPĀσ’ἀs’aπόPOλωlōλ’ἀl’aρεreτή.TĒ
but when men take fright, all their worth is gone.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
11.15
οὐδεὶςἄνποτεταῦταλέγωνἀνύσειενἕκαστα,
οὐouδεὶςdeisἄνANποpoτεteταῦTAUταtaλέLEγωνgōnἀaνύNYσειseiεeν ἕNHEκασkasτα,ta
No one could ever finish telling, one by one,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura
11.16
ὅσσ’,ἢναἰσχρὰπάθῃ,γίγνεταιἀνδρὶκακά.
ὅσHOSσ’,ἢνs’ēnαἰσaisχρὰchraπάPAθῃ,thēiγίγGIGνεneταιtaiἀνanδρὶdriκαkaκά.KA
all the evils that come upon a man once he suffers disgrace.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
11.17
ἀργαλέονγὰρὄπισθεμετάφρενόνἐστιδαΐζειν
ἀρarγαgaλέLEονonγὰgaρ ὄROπισpisθεtheμεmeτάφTAPHρεreνόNOν ἐσnesτιtiδαdaΐIζεινzein
For it is a grievous thing to slash at the back
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis
11.18
ἀνδρὸςφεύγοντοςδηΐῳἐνπολέμῳ·
ἀνanδρὸςdrosφεύPHEUγονgonτοςtosδηdēΐIῳōiἐνenποpoλέLEμῳ·mōi
of a man in flight in the war against the foe;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
11.19
αἰσχρὸςδ’ἐστὶνέκυςκακκείμενοςἐνκονίῃσιν
αἰσaisχρὸςchrosδ’ἐσd’esτὶtiνέNEκυςkysκακkakκείKEIμεmeνοnoς ἐνsenκοkoνίNIῃēiσινsin
and shameful is the corpse that lies stretched in the dust
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
11.20
νῶτονὄπισθ’αἰχμῇδουρὸςἐληλαμένος.
νῶNŌτοtoν ὄNOπισpisθ’αἰth’aiχμῇCHMĒIδουdouρὸroς ἐseληlēλαlaμέMEνος.nos
with the spear’s point driven through its back from behind.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Metre

The couplet. A hexameter alternating with the “pentameter”, — ⏔ — ⏔ — | — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ —: two hemiepes, always divided by a word-end, with contraction allowed only in the first half. The elegiac hexameter takes less prosodic licence than the epic one, and each line is a period, so its last position may hold a short syllable.^[6]
Caesurae. Every hexameter has a third-foot caesura.^[7] Counting a postpositive with the word before it,^[5] it is feminine in 1, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17, and masculine in 3, 5, 7 and 19. In 1 and 9 the written word-end at the masculine place is followed by γάρ or τε, so the real break is the feminine one after it.
The pentameters. Every one keeps the word-end after the first hemiepes.^[6] Both bicipitia of the first half are contracted in 2, 14 and 18; one in 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 and 20; none in 10.
Prosody. Elision,^[8] including ἔργ’ before ἀΐδηλα (7), where the old ϝ of ἔργον is ignored.^[9] Epic correption^[10] in 7, 10, 16 and 18. Stop + liquid inside a word makes position in Ἡρακλῆος (1), πολυδακρύου (7) and μετάφρενον (17).^[11] There is no hiatus.
Vowel quantities. Checked in LSJ: ἀνῑ́κητος (1; LSJ cites this line), ῑ̓θύς (4), ψῡχή (5), λᾱός (13), ἀνύω with ῠ (15). The α of Ἄρηος (7) must be long here; LSJ notes that Homer usually has ᾰ but gives the genitive Ἄ̄ρηος in Il. 2.767 (s.v. Ἄρης).
The text. Bergk’s fourth edition,^[12] pp. 15–16, with one change: in 17 Bergk prints his own conjecture ῥιγαλέον; his apparatus gives ἀργαλέον as the transmitted reading, and we print that (Ahrens conjectured ἁρπαλέον). The scansion is the same with all three.
Gerber’s text. Compared with D. E. Gerber’s Loeb edition,^[13] which also prints ἀργαλέον in 17. Differences that change the scansion:
- 7: Gerber prints ἴστε γὰρ ὡς Ἄρεος, so the α of the name is short and the second foot is ὡς Ἄρε-, — ⏑ ⏑.
- 19: Gerber prints κατακείμενος and κονίῃσι, so the third foot is a dactyl (-κυς κατα-) instead of a spondee.
Differences without metrical effect: 4 ἐς; 5 ἐχθρήν (Ionic η); 6 ὁμῶς marked as a supplement; 9 καὶ μετὰ … διωκόντων τ’ ἐγένεσθε (the same shape, — ⏑ ⏑ … — ⏑ ⏑ — ×); 16 γίνεται.

Prosody, line by line

11.1

Line 11.1 · Ἀλλ’ Ἡρακλῆος γὰρ ἀνικήτου γένος ἐστέ,

Ἀλλ’ Ἡρακλῆος γὰρ ἀνικήτου γένος ἐστέ,

Ἀλλ’Ἡρακλῆοςγὰρ ἀνικήτουγένος ἐστέ,

spondee, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; caesura after the third trochee.

1 —ἈλἈ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position.
2 —λ’ἩἩ is long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —ρακα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by κ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
4 —λῆῆ is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —οςο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
6 ⏑γὰὰ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 ⏑ρ ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —νιι is long by the metre (position 7 must be long).
9 —κήή is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 —τουου is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑γέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
12 ⏑νοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 —ς ἐσἐ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
14 ×τέ,έ is short by nature; the position is anceps.

A spondee, a spondee, a dactyl, a spondee and a dactyl. ἀλλ’ is elided.^[8] The κλ of Ἡρακλῆος makes position inside the word.^[11] Ἡρακλῆος ends at the third princeps, but γάρ, a postpositive, goes with it, so the real caesura is the feminine one after γάρ.^[14] The ι of ἀνικήτου is long.^[15]

11.2

Line 11.2 · θαρσεῖτ’, οὔπω Ζεὺς αὐχένα λοξὸν ἔχει·

θαρσεῖτ’, οὔπω Ζεὺς αὐχένα λοξὸν ἔχει·

θαρσεῖτ’,οὔπωΖεὺςαὐχέναλοξὸν ἔχει·

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —θαρα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
2 —σεῖεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —τ’,οὔοὔ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 —πωω is long by nature; the next word begins with the double consonant Ζ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —Ζεὺςεὺ is a diphthong, long by nature.
6 —αὐαὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 ⏑χέέ is short by nature.
8 ⏑ναα is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
9 —λοο is short by nature; ξ is a double consonant (two sounds) and closes the syllable: long by position.
10 ⏑ξὸὸ is short by nature.
11 ⏑ν ἔἔ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
12 ×χει·ει is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with both bicipitia of the first half contracted (θαρ-σεῖτ’ οὔ-πω Ζεύς). θαρσεῖτ’ is elided.^[8] The word-end after Ζεύς is the caesura of the pentameter.^[6]

11.3

Line 11.3 · μηδ’ ἀνδρῶν πληθὺν δειμαίνετε, μηδὲ φοβεῖσθε,

μηδ’ ἀνδρῶν πληθὺν δειμαίνετε, μηδὲ φοβεῖσθε,

μηδ’ἀνδρῶνπληθὺνδειμαίνετε,μηδὲφοβεῖσθε,

spondee, spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —μηη is long by nature.
2 —δ’ἀνἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δρῶνῶ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
4 —πληη is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —θὺνὺ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
6 —δειει is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 —μαίαί is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑νεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
9 ⏑τε,ε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 —μηη is long by nature.
11 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
12 ⏑φοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 —βεῖσεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
14 ×θε,ε is short by nature; the position is anceps.

Three spondees and two dactyls. μηδ’ is elided.^[8] The caesura is penthemimeral, after πληθύν,^[7] and word-end after δειμαίνετε is the bucolic caesura.^[5]

11.4

Line 11.4 · ἰθὺς δ’ εἰς προμάχους ἀσπίδ’ ἀνὴρ ἐχέτω,

ἰθὺς δ’ εἰς προμάχους ἀσπίδ’ ἀνὴρ ἐχέτω,

ἰθὺςδ’εἰςπρομάχουςἀσπίδ’ἀνὴρἐχέτω,

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ἰἰ is long by the metre (position 1 must be long).
2 —θὺςὺ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δ’εἰςεἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 ⏑προο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑μάά is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —χουςου is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 —ἀσἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
8 ⏑πίί is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑δ’ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
10 —νὴρὴ is long by nature.
11 ⏑ἐἐ is short by nature.
12 ⏑χέέ is short by nature.
13 ×τω,ω is long by nature; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with the first biceps contracted (ἰ-θύς). The ι of ἰθύς is long.^[16] δ’ and ἀσπίδ’ are elided.^[8] The word-end after προμάχους is the caesura.^[6]

11.5

Line 11.5 · ἐχθρὰν μὲν ψυχὴν θέμενος, θανάτου δὲ μελαίνας

ἐχθρὰν μὲν ψυχὴν θέμενος, θανάτου δὲ μελαίνας

ἐχθρὰνμὲνψυχὴνθέμενος,θανάτουδὲμελαίνας

spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —ἐχἐ is short by nature; closed by χ: long by position.
2 —θρὰνὰ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —μὲνὲ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
4 —ψυυ is long by the metre (position 4 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —χὴνὴ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
6 ⏑θέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —νος,ο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
9 ⏑θαα is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑νάά is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —τουου is a diphthong, long by nature.
12 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —λαίαί is a diphthong, long by nature.
15 ×ναςα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

Two spondees and three dactyls. The υ of ψυχήν is long^[17] and fills the contracted second biceps. The caesura is penthemimeral, after ψυχήν, with a hephthemimeral word-end after θέμενος.^[7] Gerber prints the Ionic ἐχθρήν;^[18] the scansion is the same.

11.6

Line 11.6 · κῆρας ὁμῶς αὐγαῖς ἠελίοιο φίλας.

κῆρας ὁμῶς αὐγαῖς ἠελίοιο φίλας.

κῆρας ὁμῶςαὐγαῖςἠελίοιοφίλας.

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —κῆῆ is long by nature.
2 ⏑ραα is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑ς ὁὁ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —μῶςῶ is long by nature.
5 —αὐαὐ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —γαῖςαῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 —ἠἠ is long by nature.
8 ⏑εε is short by nature.
9 ⏑λίί is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
10 —οιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑οο is short by nature.
12 ⏑φίί is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×λας.α is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with the second biceps contracted (αὐ-). The ς of κῆρας passes to ὁμῶς, so κῆ-ρα-σο- makes the first dactyl. The word-end after αὐγαῖς is the caesura.^[6] ἠελίοιο is the epic genitive.

11.7

Line 11.7 · ἴστε γὰρ Ἄρηος πολυδακρύου ἔργ’ ἀΐδηλα·

ἴστε γὰρ Ἄρηος πολυδακρύου ἔργ’ ἀΐδηλα·

ἴστεγὰρ Ἄρηοςπολυδακρύουἔργ’ἀΐδηλα·

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —ἴσἴ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
2 ⏑τεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑γὰὰ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ρ ἌἌ is long by the metre (position 3 must be long); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
5 —ρηη is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —οςο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
7 ⏑ποο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑λυυ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —δακα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by κ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
10 ⏑ρύύ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑ουου is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ἔρἔ is short by nature; closed by ρ: long by position.
13 ⏑γ’ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑ΐΐ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —δηη is long by nature.
16 ×λα·α is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; the position is anceps.

A dactyl, a spondee and three dactyls. The ρ of γάρ passes to Ἄρηος, whose α must be long,^[19] and ρη fills the contracted second biceps. The last syllable of Ἄρηος is long by position before the π of πολυδακρύου, and the penthemimeral caesura falls there.^[20] The κρ of πολυδακρύου makes position inside the word;^[11] its final -ου is shortened before ἔργ’ by correption,^[10] and the word-end after it is the bucolic caesura.^[5] ἔργ’ is elided, so the old ϝ of ἔργον has no effect.^[21]

11.8

Line 11.8 · εὖ δ’ ὀργὴν ἐδάητ’ ἀργαλέου πολέμου,

εὖ δ’ ὀργὴν ἐδάητ’ ἀργαλέου πολέμου,

εὖδ’ὀργὴνἐδάητ’ἀργαλέουπολέμου,

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes (with elision).

1 —εὖεὖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —δ’ὀρὀ is short by nature; closed by ρ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —γὴνὴ is long by nature.
4 ⏑ἐἐ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑δάά is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ηη is long by nature.
7 —τ’ἀρἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
8 ⏑γαα is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑λέέ is short by nature.
10 —ουου is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑ποο is short by nature.
12 ⏑λέέ is short by nature.
13 ×μου,ου is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with the first biceps contracted (εὖ δ’ ὀρ-γήν). δ’ and ἐδάητ’ are elided.^[8] The caesura of the pentameter falls after ἐδάητ’, with elision, which West admits at the caesura.^[6]

11.9

Line 11.9 · καὶ θαμὰ φευγόντων τε διωκόντων τε γέγευσθε,

καὶ θαμὰ φευγόντων τε διωκόντων τε γέγευσθε,

καὶθαμὰφευγόντωντεδιωκόντωντεγέγευσθε,

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; caesura after the third trochee.

1 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑θαα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑μὰὰ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —φευευ is a diphthong, long by nature.
5 —γόνό is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —τωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 ⏑τεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑διι is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —ωω is long by nature.
10 —κόνό is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —τωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
12 ⏑τεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑γέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —γευσευ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
15 ×θε,ε is short by nature; the position is anceps.

A dactyl, a spondee, a dactyl, a spondee and a dactyl. φευγόντων ends at the third princeps, but τε is a postpositive, so the real caesura is the feminine one after τε.^[14] The two τε are postpositives.^[22] Gerber prints καὶ μετὰ … τ’ ἐγένεσθε;^[18] the scansion is the same.

11.10

Line 11.10 · ὦ νέοι, ἀμφοτέρων δ’ εἰς κόρον ἠλάσατε.

ὦ νέοι, ἀμφοτέρων δ’ εἰς κόρον ἠλάσατε.

ὦνέοι,ἀμφοτέρωνδ’εἰςκόρον ἠλάσατε.

dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ὦὦ is long by nature.
2 ⏑νέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑οι,οι is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ἀμἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by μ: long by position.
5 ⏑φοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑τέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —ρωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
8 —δ’εἰςεἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
9 ⏑κόό is short by nature.
10 ⏑ροο is short by nature.
11 —ν ἠἠ is long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
12 ⏑λάά is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
13 ⏑σαα is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
14 ×τε.ε is short by nature; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with no contraction. -οι of νέοι is shortened before ἀμφοτέρων by epic correption.^[10] The word-end after ἀμφοτέρων is the caesura.^[6] δ’ is elided.^[8]

11.11

Line 11.11 · οἳ μὲν γὰρ τολμῶσι παρ’ ἀλλήλοισι μένοντες

οἳ μὲν γὰρ τολμῶσι παρ’ ἀλλήλοισι μένοντες

οἳμὲνγὰρτολμῶσιπαρ’ἀλλήλοισιμένοντες

spondee, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee.

1 —οἳοἳ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —μὲνὲ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —γὰρὰ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
4 —τολο is short by nature; closed by λ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —μῶῶ is long by nature.
6 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 ⏑παα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —ρ’ἀλἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
9 —λήή is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 —λοιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
12 ⏑μέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 —νονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
14 ×τεςε is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

Two spondees, a dactyl, a spondee and a dactyl. The caesura is feminine, after τολμῶσι.^[7] παρ’ is elided and goes with ἀλλήλοισι.^[23]

11.12

Line 11.12 · ἔς τ’ αὐτοσχεδίην καὶ προμάχους ἰέναι,

ἔς τ’ αὐτοσχεδίην καὶ προμάχους ἰέναι,

ἔςτ’αὐτοσχεδίηνκαὶπρομάχουςἰέναι,

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ἔςἔ is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
2 —τ’αὐαὐ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —τοσο is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
4 ⏑χεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑δίί is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ηνη is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; the next word begins with πρ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
8 ⏑προο is short by nature.
9 ⏑μάά is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
10 —χουςου is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑ἰἰ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
12 ⏑έέ is short by nature.
13 ×ναι,αι is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with the first biceps contracted (ἔς τ’ αὐ-). τ’ is elided.^[8] The word-end after αὐτοσχεδίην is the caesura.^[6]

11.13

Line 11.13 · παυρότεροι θνήσκουσι, σαοῦσι δὲ λαὸν ὀπίσσω·

παυρότεροι θνήσκουσι, σαοῦσι δὲ λαὸν ὀπίσσω·

παυρότεροιθνήσκουσι,σαοῦσιδὲλαὸν ὀπίσσω·

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —παυαυ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑ρόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑τεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ροιοι is a diphthong, long by nature; the next word begins with θν: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
5 —θνήσή is long by nature; closed by σ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —κουου is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 ⏑σι,ι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑σαα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —οῦοῦ is a diphthong, long by nature.
10 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —λαα is long by the metre (position 9 must be long).
13 ⏑ὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑ν ὀὀ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —πίσί is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
16 ×σω·ω is long by nature; the position is anceps.

A dactyl, a spondee and three dactyls. The caesura is feminine, at the comma after θνήσκουσι.^[7] The written word-end after σαοῦσι falls between the shorts of the fourth biceps, but δέ is a postpositive and goes with it, so Hermann’s Bridge is kept and the word-group ends at the bucolic place.^[5] The α of λαόν is long.^[24] Bergk prints Buttmann’s σαοῦσι for the transmitted σάουσι.^[25]

11.14

Line 11.14 · τρεσσάντων δ’ ἀνδρῶν πᾶσ’ ἀπόλωλ’ ἀρετή.

τρεσσάντων δ’ ἀνδρῶν πᾶσ’ ἀπόλωλ’ ἀρετή.

τρεσσάντωνδ’ἀνδρῶνπᾶσ’ἀπόλωλ’ἀρετή.

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —τρεσε is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
2 —σάνά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —τωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
4 —δ’ἀνἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —δρῶνῶ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
6 —πᾶᾶ carries a circumflex, so it is long.
7 ⏑σ’ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 7 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
8 ⏑πόό is short by nature.
9 —λωω is long by nature.
10 ⏑λ’ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
11 ⏑ρεε is short by nature.
12 ×τή.ή is long by nature; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with both bicipitia of the first half contracted (τρεσ-σάν-των δ’ ἀν-δρῶν). δ’, πᾶσ’ and ἀπόλωλ’ are elided.^[8] The word-end after ἀνδρῶν is the caesura.^[6]

11.15

Line 11.15 · οὐδεὶς ἄν ποτε ταῦτα λέγων ἀνύσειεν ἕκαστα,

οὐδεὶς ἄν ποτε ταῦτα λέγων ἀνύσειεν ἕκαστα,

οὐδεὶςἄνποτεταῦταλέγωνἀνύσειεν ἕκαστα,

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —δεὶςεὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —ἄνἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
4 ⏑ποο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑τεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ταῦαῦ is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 ⏑ταα is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑λέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —γωνω is long by nature.
10 ⏑ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑νύύ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —σειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
13 ⏑εε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑ν ἕἕ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —κασα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
16 ×τα,α is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; the position is anceps.

A spondee and four dactyls. The caesura is feminine, after ταῦτα, with a hephthemimeral word-end after λέγων.^[7] The υ of ἀνύσειεν is short,^[26] and its ν passes to ἕκαστα.

11.16

Line 11.16 · ὅσσ’, ἢν αἰσχρὰ πάθῃ, γίγνεται ἀνδρὶ κακά.

ὅσσ’, ἢν αἰσχρὰ πάθῃ, γίγνεται ἀνδρὶ κακά.

ὅσσ’,ἢναἰσχρὰπάθῃ,γίγνεταιἀνδρὶκακά.

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ὅσὅ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
2 —σ’,ἢνἢ is long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —αἰσαἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
4 ⏑χρὰὰ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑πάά is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —θῃ,ῃ is long by nature.
7 —γίγί is a vowel of unknown length; closed by γ: long by position; γν is one of the four clusters (γμ, γν, δμ, δν) that never leave the syllable before them short.^[27]
8 ⏑νεε is short by nature.
9 ⏑ταιαι is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires.
10 —ἀνἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
11 ⏑δρὶὶ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
12 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×κά.ᾰ́ is short (its length is not shown by the ordinary spelling); the position is anceps.

A pentameter with the first biceps contracted (ὅσσ’ ἤν). ὅσσ’ is elided.^[8] The word-end after πάθῃ is the caesura.^[6] -ται of γίγνεται is shortened before ἀνδρί by correption.^[10] Bergk prints Valckenaer’s ἤν and γίγνεται for the transmitted ἄν and γίνεται;^[25] Gerber prints γίνεται, with the same scansion.

The final ᾰ of κακά is short;^[28] the metre does not show it here, at the end of the period, and the input marks it.

11.17

Line 11.17 · ἀργαλέον γὰρ ὄπισθε μετάφρενόν ἐστι δαΐζειν

ἀργαλέον γὰρ ὄπισθε μετάφρενόν ἐστι δαΐζειν

ἀργαλέονγὰρ ὄπισθεμετάφρενόν ἐστιδαΐζειν

dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —ἀρἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
2 ⏑γαα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑λέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
5 ⏑γὰὰ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑ρ ὄὄ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —πισι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
8 ⏑θεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
10 —τάφά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by φ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
11 ⏑ρεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 ⏑νόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
13 —ν ἐσἐ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
14 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 ⏑δαα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
16 —ΐζ is a double consonant (two sounds) and closes the syllable: long by position.
17 ×ζεινει is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

All five feet are dactyls. γάρ goes with ἀργαλέον as a postpositive.^[22] The caesura is feminine, after ὄπισθε.^[7] The φρ of μετάφρενον makes position inside the word,^[11] and word-end after μετάφρενον is the bucolic caesura.^[29]

11.18

Line 11.18 · ἀνδρὸς φεύγοντος δηΐῳ ἐν πολέμῳ·

ἀνδρὸς φεύγοντος δηΐῳ ἐν πολέμῳ·

ἀνδρὸςφεύγοντοςδηΐῳἐνπολέμῳ·

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ἀνἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
2 —δρὸςὸ is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —φεύεύ is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 —γονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —τοςο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
6 —δηη is long by nature.
7 ⏑ΐΐ is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
8 ⏑ῳῳ is long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires.
9 —ἐνἐ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
10 ⏑ποο is short by nature.
11 ⏑λέέ is short by nature.
12 ×μῳ·ῳ is long by nature; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with both bicipitia of the first half contracted (ἀν-δρὸς φεύ-γον-τος). δηΐῳ has three syllables, and its -ῳ is shortened before ἐν by correption.^[10] The word-end after φεύγοντος is the caesura.^[6]

11.19

Line 11.19 · αἰσχρὸς δ’ ἐστὶ νέκυς κακκείμενος ἐν κονίῃσιν

αἰσχρὸς δ’ ἐστὶ νέκυς κακκείμενος ἐν κονίῃσιν

αἰσχρὸςδ’ἐστὶνέκυςκακκείμενος ἐνκονίῃσιν

spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —αἰσαἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
2 —χρὸςὸ is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δ’ἐσἐ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 ⏑τὶὶ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑νέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —κυςυ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position.
7 —κακα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by κ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —κείεί is a diphthong, long by nature.
9 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑νοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —ς ἐνἐ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
12 ⏑κοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑νίί is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —ῃῃ is long by nature.
15 ×σινι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

A spondee, a dactyl, a spondee and two dactyls. δ’ is elided.^[8] The caesura is penthemimeral, after νέκυς,^[7] and word-end after κακκείμενος is the bucolic caesura.^[5] Gerber’s κατακείμενος turns the third foot into a dactyl;^[18] Bergk records it as a variant.^[25]

11.20

Line 11.20 · νῶτον ὄπισθ’ αἰχμῇ δουρὸς ἐληλαμένος.

νῶτον ὄπισθ’ αἰχμῇ δουρὸς ἐληλαμένος.

νῶτον ὄπισθ’αἰχμῇδουρὸς ἐληλαμένος.

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —νῶῶ is long by nature.
2 ⏑τοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑ν ὄὄ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —πισι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
5 —θ’αἰαἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —χμῇῇ is long by nature.
7 —δουου is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑ρὸὸ is short by nature.
9 ⏑ς ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
10 —ληη is long by nature.
11 ⏑λαα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
12 ⏑μέέ is short by nature.
13 ×νος.ο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with the second biceps contracted (-πισθ’ αἰ-). ὄπισθ’ is elided.^[8] The word-end after αἰχμῇ is the caesura.^[6] The line ends the period with the closed syllable -νος.^[6]

What the input marks

The text is Bergk’s, read on the page images of his Poetae Lyrici Graeci II,^[12] pp. 15–16, with the transmitted ἀργαλέον in 17. No quantity marks are needed: the workbench takes the α of Ἄρηος (7) as long by the metre, which LSJ supports.^[19]

Notes

^ Bartol 2022, p. 225; Aloni 2009, p. 173.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 225.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 226.
^ Bartol 2022, pp. 223, 225; Aloni 2009, p. 173.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f West 1987, p. 21.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m West 1987, p. 24.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h West 1987, p. 19.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l West 1987, p. 13.
^ West 1987, p. 23.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e West 1987, p. 14.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d West 1987, pp. 16–17.
^ ^a ^b Bergk 1882.
^ Gerber 1999a, pp. 54–55.
^ ^a ^b West 1987, pp. 9, 19, 21.
^ LSJ s.v. ἀνίκητος, citing this line.
^ LSJ s.v. ἰθύς.
^ LSJ s.v. ψυχή.
^ ^a ^b ^c Gerber 1999a, p. 54.
^ ^a ^b See the Metre notes.
^ West 1987, pp. 12, 19.
^ West 1987, pp. 13, 23.
^ ^a ^b West 1987, p. 9.
^ West 1987, pp. 9, 13.
^ LSJ s.v. λαός.
^ ^a ^b ^c Bergk 1882, p. 16.
^ LSJ s.v. ἀνύω.
^ West 1987, p. 16.
^ West 1987, p. 11: -ᾰ of the neuter plural.
^ West 1987, p. 21; on the reading ἀργαλέον see the Metre notes.

Text and sources

Text: T. Bergk, Poetae Lyrici Graeci, 4th ed., vol. II: Poetas elegiacos et iambographos continens (Leipzig 1882), Tyrtaeus fr. 11, pp. 15–16 (public domain; read on the page images of the archive.org scan poetaelyricigrae02berguoft). Source of the fragment: Stobaeus, Anthology 4.9.16 (Gerber 1999a, p. 54; Bergk’s “Stob. Flor. L 7”).
M. L. West, Introduction to Greek Metre (Oxford 1987): pp. 9, 12–24 (appositives, syllables, elision, correption, stop + liquid, the hexameter, its caesurae and Hermann’s Bridge, digamma, the elegiac couplet). Cited as “West 1987”.
D. E. Gerber (ed. and trans.), Greek Elegiac Poetry from the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC (Loeb Classical Library 258, Cambridge, MA 1999), pp. 54–55 (text of fr. 11 compared). Cited as “Gerber 1999a”.
H. G. Liddell and R. Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, revised by H. S. Jones (Oxford 1940), Perseus Digital Library edition (CC BY-SA 4.0): s.vv. ἀνίκητος, ἰθύς, ψυχή, λαός, ἀνύω, Ἄρης. Cited as “LSJ”.
Translation: metrehelp.org, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this page’s licence.

Sources

Bergk, T. 1882. Poetae Lyrici Graeci, 4th ed., vol. II. Leipzig: Teubner. Tyrtaeus fr. 11, pp. 15–16 (Greek text, public domain; read on the page images of the archive.org scan poetaelyricigrae02berguoft; in line 17 the transmitted ἀργαλέον from Bergk's apparatus is printed for his conjecture ῥιγαλέον).
West, M. L. 1987. Introduction to Greek Metre. Oxford. pp. 9, 12–24.
LSJ (Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA), s.vv. ἀνίκητος, ἰθύς, ψυχή, λαός, ἀνύω, Ἄρης.
Gerber, D. E. 1999a. Greek Elegiac Poetry from the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC (Loeb Classical Library 258). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. pp. 54–55 (Tyrtaeus fr. 11, text compared) (read on the Loeb Classical Library site).
Bartol, K. 2022. 'Elegy', in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric. Wiley. ch. 15, pp. 223, 225–226.
Aloni, A. 2009. 'Elegy: forms, functions and communication', in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. p. 173.

Greek text: Bergk, Poetae Lyrici Graeci II (1882), public domain. Scansion, commentary and translation © metrehelp.org, CC BY-SA 4.0. Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this licence.

Mimnermus: the Sun's golden bed and the taking of Smyrna (frr. 12, 9)

Synopsis

Mimnermus was an Ionian elegist of the second half of the seventh century BC. The Suda puts his floruit in 632–629 BC. He apparently refers to the Smyrnaeans’ fight against the Lydian king Gyges in the 660s, which points the same way.^[1] Ancient sources make him a citizen of Colophon or of Smyrna. Bartol favours Smyrna; Aloni writes that he flourished at Colophon.^[2] His poems filled two books. The short pieces were later called Nanno, perhaps after an aulos-player he loved. The Smyrneis was a long narrative elegy on the history of Smyrna.^[3] Short elegies were sung to the aulos, mostly at symposia.^[4] Strabo calls him both an aulos-player and an elegiac poet (Strabo 14.1.28).

Scanned here are two fragments that Athenaeus and Strabo both assign to the Nanno. In fr. 12 the Sun is carried each night across the ocean, asleep in a golden bed made by Hephaestus (Athenaeus 11.470a–b). Fr. 9 tells how the speaker’s people sailed from Pylos to Asia, settled at Colophon and took Smyrna (Strabo 14.1.4).

A round cup painting: a hero with club and bow sits in a huge bowl floating on the sea. — Heracles sailing in the cup (of the Sun)

Text and translation

Ἠέλιος μὲν γὰρ ἔλαχεν πόνον ἤματα πάντα,

fr. 12 (Athenaeus 11.39, 470a–b): the Sun’s bed

12.1

Ἠέλιος μὲν γὰρ ἔλαχεν πόνον ἤματα πάντα,

For Helios is allotted labour day after day,

12.2

οὐδέ ποτ’ ἄμπαυσις γίνεται οὐδεμία

and never is there a moment’s respite

12.3

ἵπποισίν τε καὶ αὐτῷ, ἐπὴν ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠὼς

for his horses or for himself, from the time rosy-fingered Dawn

12.4

ὠκεανὸν προλιποῦσ’ οὐρανὸν εἰσαναβῇ·

leaves Ocean behind and mounts into the heavens;

12.5

τὸν μὲν γὰρ διὰ κῦμα φέρει πολυήρατος εὐνή,

for across the swell he is borne by a much-loved bed,

12.6

ποικίλη Ἡφαίστου χερσὶν ἐληλαμένη

intricately made, hammered by Hephaestus’ hands

12.7

χρυσοῦ τιμήεντος, ὑπόπτερος, ἄκρον ἐφ’ ὕδωρ

out of precious gold, with wings, skimming the water’s top,

12.8

εὕδονθ’ ἁρπαλέως χώρου ἀφ’ Ἑσπερίδων

as he sleeps, at speed, from the country of the Hesperides

12.9

γαῖαν ἐς Αἰθιόπων, ἵνα δὴ θοὸν ἅρμα καὶ ἵπποι

to the Ethiopians’ land, where the quick chariot and the horses

12.10

ἑστᾶσ᾽, ὄφρ’ Ἠὼς ἠριγένεια μόλῃ.

stand until Dawn, born early, arrives.

12.11

ἔνθ’ ἐπέβη ἑτέρων ὀχέων Ὑπερίονος υἱός.

There Hyperion’s son climbs into his other car.

fr. 9 (Strabo 14.1.4): from Pylos to Colophon and Smyrna

9.1

ἡμεῖς δηὖτε Πύλον Νηλήϊον ἄστυ λιπόντες

We, in our turn, left Pylos, the city of Neleus,

9.2

ἱμερτὴν Ἀσίην νηυσὶν ἀφικόμεθα·

and reached desirable Asia in our ships;

9.3

ἐς δʼ ἐρατὴν Κολοφῶνα βίην ὑπέροπλον ἔχοντες

and in lovely Colophon, with violence beyond measure,

9.4

ἑζόμεθʼ ἀργαλέης ὕβριος ἡγεμόνες.

we made our home, leaders in grievous outrage;

9.5

κεῖθεν δʼ ἀστήεντος ἀπορνύμενοι ποταμοῖο

and starting out from there, from the river [ἀστήεντος, as Meineke prints it],

9.6

θεῶν βουλῇ Σμύρνην εἵλομεν Αἰολίδα.

we seized Aeolian Smyrna by the gods’ will.

Mimnermus · fr. 12 (Athenaeus 11.470a–b, ed. Kaibel) · fr. 9 (Strabo 14.1.4, ed. Meineke) · both said to come from the Nanno

How to read each line

A guide to the Greek, syllables, pitch marks and quantities.

Show the reading key

Above each line: the line as the edition prints it, each word placed over its own syllables. The main row: the same Greek divided into metrical syllables, each written as it is pronounced. A consonant that closes a syllable is written with it (λόθ | ρο); an elided word is closed up with the next vowel (ν’ἀ); a final consonant carried into the next word is set with a thin space (ς ἰ). Wider gaps mark word-ends.
Above the syllables: the pitch of each syllable, from the accents. Under them: the quantity of each syllable as it falls in the line, then the transliteration, syllable by syllable, with accented syllables in capitals.
Under each line: a line-for-line translation. In the right margin of the scansion: the line type, its scheme, and its analysis into cola.

Key to the labels

The names, patterns and symbols used beside this poem.

Show the labels and symbols

Label	Name and shape	What it is
hem1	First hemiepes— ⏔ — ⏔ —	The first two and a half feet of the hexameter, up to the penthemimeral caesura; in the pentameter, its whole first half.
hem2	Second half of the hexameter⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×	From the penthemimeral caesura to the line-end: the fifth foot is nearly always a dactyl, the sixth is — ×.
hemp	Second hemiepes— ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×	The second half of the pentameter: two dactyls and a single syllable, with no contraction allowed.

The traditional feet

Foot and shape	Where
First foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 1–2. The biceps (⏑ ⏑) may be contracted to a single long, making a spondee.
Second foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 3–4.
Third foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 5–6. The penthemimeral caesura falls after its first syllable, the “trochaic” caesura after its second.
Fourth foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 7–8. Word-end at the end of this foot, when it is a dactyl, is the bucolic diaeresis (West’s “bucolic caesura”: word-end at the end of the fourth foot after an uncontracted biceps)^[5].
Fifth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 9–10. A spondee here (a “spondaic line”) is rare.
Sixth foot— ×	Scheme positions 11–12: a long and the indifferent final syllable.
First foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 1–2 of the pentameter.
Second foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 3–4.
Half-foot before the diaeresis—	Scheme position 5: the long that closes the first hemiepes; word-end must follow.
Fourth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 6–8: no contraction after the diaeresis.
Fifth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 9–11.
Final syllable×	Scheme position 12.

Scansion

Two fragments of the Colophonian piper-poet: the Sun crossing the ocean asleep in a golden bed, which Athenaeus quotes for its cup-shaped vessel, and the migration from Pylos to Colophon and Smyrna, which Strabo quotes as history. Correption, hiatus in the princeps, synizesis and the two contractions of a pentameter’s first half, line by line.

Click a syllable to see its

Fragment 1fr. 12 (Athenaeus 11.39, 470a–b): the Sun’s bed
12.1
Ἠέλιοςμὲνγὰρἔλαχενπόνονἤματαπάντα,
ἨēέEλιliοςosμὲνmenγὰρgārἔEλαlaχενchenπόPOνοnoν ἤNĒμαmaταtaπάνPANτα,ta
For Helios is allotted labour day after day,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
12.2
οὐδέποτ’ἄμπαυσιςγίνεταιοὐδεμία
οὐouδέDEποpoτ’ἄμT’AMπαυpauσιςsisγίGĪνεneταιtaiοὐouδεdeμίMIαa
and never is there a moment’s respite
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
12.3
ἵπποισίντεκαὶαὐτῷ,ἐπὴνῥοδοδάκτυλοςἨὼς
ἵπHIPποιpoiσίνSINτεteκαὶkaiαὐauτῷ,TŌIἐeπὴνpēnῥοroδοdoδάκDAKτυtyλοloς Ἠsēὼςōs
for his horses or for himself, from the time rosy-fingered Dawn
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura
12.4
ὠκεανὸνπρολιποῦσ’οὐρανὸνεἰσαναβῇ·
ὠōκεkeαaνὸνnonπροproλιliποῦPOUσ’οὐs’ouραraνὸnoν εἰneiσαsaναnaβῇ·BĒI
leaves Ocean behind and mounts into the heavens;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes (with elision)
12.5
τὸνμὲνγὰρδιὰκῦμαφέρειπολυήρατοςεὐνή,
τὸνtonμὲνmenγὰρgarδιdiὰaκῦKȲμαmaφέPHEρειreiποpoλυlyήĒραraτοtoς εὐseuνή,NĒ
for across the swell he is borne by a much-loved bed,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura
12.6
ποικίληἩφαίστουχερσὶνἐληλαμένη
ποιpoiκίKIληlēἩhēφαίσPHAISτουtouχερcherσὶsiν ἐneληlēλαlaμέMEνηnē
intricately made, hammered by Hephaestus’ hands
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
12.7
χρυσοῦτιμήεντος,ὑπόπτερος,ἄκρονἐφ’ὕδωρ
χρυchrȳσοῦSOUτιtīμήMĒενenτο,toς ὑshyπόπPOPτεteρο,roς ἄκSAKροroν ἐneφ’ὕPH’HȲδωρdōr
out of precious gold, with wings, skimming the water’s top,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis
12.8
εὕδονθ’ἁρπαλέωςχώρουἀφ’Ἑσπερίδων
εὕHEUδονdonθ’ἁρth’harπαpaλέLEωςōsχώCHŌρουrouἀaφ’Ἑσph’hesπεpeρίRIδωνdōn
as he sleeps, at speed, from the country of the Hesperides
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
12.9
γαῖανἐςΑἰθιόπων,ἵναδὴθοὸνἅρμακαὶἵπποι
γαῖGAIαaν ἐneς ΑἰsaiθιthiόOπων,pōnἵHIναnaδὴdēθοthoὸoν ἅρNHARμαmaκαὶkaiἵπHIPποιpoi
to the Ethiopians’ land, where the quick chariot and the horses
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
12.10
ἑστᾶσ᾽,ὄφρ’Ἠὼςἠριγένειαμόλῃ.
ἑσhesτᾶTĀσ’,ὄφS’OPHρ’Ἠr’ēὼςōsἠēριriγέGEνειneiαaμόMOλῃ.lēi
stand until Dawn, born early, arrives.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
12.11
ἔνθ’ἐπέβηἑτέρωνὀχέωνὙπερίονοςυἱός.
ἔνENθ’ἐth’eπέPEβηbēἑheτέTEρωνrōnὀoχέCHEωνōnὙhyπεpeρίRĪοoνοnoς υἱshyiός.OS
There Hyperion’s son climbs into his other car.
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura

Fragment 2fr. 9 (Strabo 14.1.4): from Pylos to Colophon and Smyrna
9.1
ἡμεῖςδηὖτεΠύλονΝηλήϊονἄστυλιπόντες
ἡhēμεῖςMEISδηὖDĒUτεteΠύPYλονlonΝηnēλήLĒϊiοoν ἄσNASτυtyλιliπόνPONτεςtes
We, in our turn, left Pylos, the city of Neleus,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
9.2
ἱμερτὴνἈσίηννηυσὶνἀφικόμεθα·
ἱhīμερmerτὴνtēnἈaσίSIηνēnνηυnēuσὶsiν ἀnaφιphīκόKOμεmeθα·tha
and reached desirable Asia in our ships;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
9.3
ἐςδʼἐρατὴνΚολοφῶναβίηνὑπέροπλονἔχοντες
ἐςesδ’ἐd’eραraτὴνtēnΚοkoλοloφῶPHŌναnaβίBIηνēnὑhyπέPEροπropλοloν ἔNEχονchonτεςtes
and in lovely Colophon, with violence beyond measure,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura
9.4
ἑζόμεθʼἀργαλέηςὕβριοςἡγεμόνες.
ἑheζόZOμεmeθ’ἀρth’arγαgaλέLEηςēsὕβHYBριriοoς ἡshēγεgeμόMOνες.nes
we made our home, leaders in grievous outrage;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
9.5
κεῖθενδʼἀστήεντοςἀπορνύμενοιποταμοῖο
κεῖKEIθενthenδ’ἀσd’asτήTĒενenτοtoς ἀsaπορporνύNYμεmeνοιnoiποpoταtaμοῖMOIοo
and starting out from there, from the river [ἀστήεντος, as Meineke prints it],
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee
9.6
θε‿ῶνβουλῇΣμύρνηνεἵλομενΑἰολίδα.
θε‿ῶνTHEŌNβουbouλῇLĒIΣμύρSMYRνηνnēnεἵHEIλοloμεmeν ΑἰnaiοoλίLIδα.da
we seized Aeolian Smyrna by the gods’ will.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Metre

The couplet. A hexameter, with less prosodic licence than in epic, alternating with the “pentameter” — ⏔ — ⏔ — | — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ — ‖, two hemiepes (D | D ‖) always divided by a word-end; contraction of the bicipitia is limited to the first colon, and elision at the pentameter caesura is admitted.^[6] The hexameter’s caesura falls in the third foot, after the princeps (penthemimeral) or after the first short (the “feminine” caesura after the third trochee), or occasionally after the fourth princeps (hephthemimeral).^[7] a prepositive is reckoned with the word after it, a postpositive with the word before it.^[8] Athenaeus’ quotation of fr. 12 ends with a hexameter; the next pentameter is not quoted.
Mimnermus. An Ionian elegist of the second half of the seventh century, connected by the ancient sources with Colophon and Smyrna; Callimachus seems to distinguish two kinds of his poetry, the small-scale poems later called Nanno after the poet’s beloved aulos-player, and the longer narrative Smyrneis.^[9] Bartol cites fr. 9 W for the Smyrnaeans’ voyage to Asia and their settlement at Colophon.^[10] Athenaeus says that fr. 12 is from the Nanno (“Μίμνερμος δὲ Ναννοῖ”), and Strabo that fr. 9 is (“ἐν τῇ Ναννοῖ”, 14.1.4); Strabo also describes Mimnermus as both an aulos-player and an elegiac poet (14.1.28).
Prosody. As in epic: a long vowel or diphthong ending a word normally becomes short when the next word begins with a vowel (epic correption)^[11], five times here; hiatus with a long vowel is found mostly in the princeps,^[5] as after ἐπέβη (l. 11); inside a word, two vowels are often run together into one syllable when the first is ε (synecphonesis, p. 15), as θεῶν (l. 17). Inside a word stop + liquid makes position in early poetry:^[12] ἄκρον (l. 7), ὄφρ’ (l. 10), ὑπέροπλον (l. 14), ὕβριος (l. 15). The last position of each line is indifferent at period-end.^[13]
Marks in the input. Meineke prints Νηλήιον (l. 12) without a diaeresis; the input types Νηλήϊον so that the scanner reads ηι as two syllables, as the metre requires. In l. 17 the input ties θε‿ῶν into one syllable. The page shows Meineke’s spelling; the reason text speaks of the tie.

Prosody, line by line

12.1

Line 12.1 · Ἠέλιος μὲν γὰρ ἔλαχεν πόνον ἤματα πάντα,

Ἠέλιος μὲν γὰρ ἔλαχεν πόνον ἤματα πάντα,

Ἠέλιοςμὲνγὰρἔλαχενπόνον ἤματαπάντα,

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —ἨἨ is long by nature.
2 ⏑έέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑λιι is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —οςο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
5 —μὲνὲ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —γὰρὰ is long by the metre (position 5 must be long).
7 ⏑ἔἔ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑λαα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —χενε is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
10 ⏑πόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑νοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ν ἤἤ is long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
13 ⏑μαα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑ταα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —πάνά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
16 ×τα,α is of unknown length; the position is anceps, so either scans.

fr. 12.1. Athenaeus quotes the lines because the Sun’s bed is “hollow”, like a cup (11.470a). Ἠέλιος is the epic and Ionic form of the Sun’s name. The movable ν of ἔλαχεν closes its syllable before πόνον.^[14] μέν and γάρ are postpositives,^[8] so the word-group ends after γάρ, the penthemimeral position; the margin also names the hephthemimeral (after ἔλαχεν) and the bucolic diaeresis (after πόνον).

12.2

Line 12.2 · οὐδέ ποτ’ ἄμπαυσις γίνεται οὐδεμία

οὐδέ ποτ’ ἄμπαυσις γίνεται οὐδεμία

οὐδέποτ’ἄμπαυσιςγίνεταιοὐδεμία

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑δέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑ποο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —τ’ἄμἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by μ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
5 —παυαυ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —σιςι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position.
7 —γίί is long by the metre (position 6 must be long).
8 ⏑νεε is short by nature.
9 ⏑ταιαι is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires.
10 —οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑δεε is short by nature.
12 ⏑μίί is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×αα is of unknown length; the position is anceps, so either scans.

fr. 12.2. οὐδέ ποτ’ is elided before ἄμπαυσις.^[15] Two contracted feet in the first hemiepes would be allowed;^[16] here only the second biceps is contracted (-παυ- of ἄμπαυσις). γίνεται is the Ionic spelling of γίγνεται.

12.3

Line 12.3 · ἵπποισίν τε καὶ αὐτῷ, ἐπὴν ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠὼς

ἵπποισίν τε καὶ αὐτῷ, ἐπὴν ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠὼς

ἵπποισίντεκαὶαὐτῷ,ἐπὴνῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠὼς

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —ἵπἵ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by π: long by position.
2 —ποιοι is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —σίνί is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
4 ⏑τεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —αὐαὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 ⏑τῷ,ῷ is long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑ἐἐ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —πὴνὴ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
10 ⏑ῥοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑δοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —δάκά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by κ: long by position.
13 ⏑τυυ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑λοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —ς ἨἨ is long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
16 ×ὼςὼ is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 12.3. Two epic correptions in a row: καί before αὐτῷ and αὐτῷ before ἐπήν, each a long shortened before the next word’s vowel to fill a short of the biceps.^[11] The σ of ῥοδοδάκτυλος goes with Ἠώς.^[14] Caesura after the third trochee, after αὐτῷ;^[7] hephthemimeral after ἐπήν.

12.4

Line 12.4 · ὠκεανὸν προλιποῦσ’ οὐρανὸν εἰσαναβῇ·

ὠκεανὸν προλιποῦσ’ οὐρανὸν εἰσαναβῇ·

ὠκεανὸνπρολιποῦσ’οὐρανὸν εἰσαναβῇ·

dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes (with elision).

1 —ὠὠ is long by nature.
2 ⏑κεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑αα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —νὸνὸ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
5 ⏑προο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑λιι is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —ποῦοῦ is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 —σ’οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
9 ⏑ραα is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
10 ⏑νὸὸ is short by nature.
11 —ν εἰεἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
12 ⏑σαα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
13 ⏑ναα is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
14 ×βῇ·ῇ is long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 12.4. προλιποῦσ’ is elided at the diaeresis, which West says is admitted.^[16] The ν of οὐρανὸν goes with εἰσαναβῇ;^[14] the α of οὐρανός is short.^[17]

12.5

Line 12.5 · τὸν μὲν γὰρ διὰ κῦμα φέρει πολυήρατος εὐνή,

τὸν μὲν γὰρ διὰ κῦμα φέρει πολυήρατος εὐνή,

τὸνμὲνγὰρδιὰκῦμαφέρειπολυήρατος εὐνή,

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —τὸνὸ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
2 —μὲνὲ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —γὰρὰ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
4 ⏑διι is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑ὰὰ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —κῦῦ carries a circumflex, so it is long.
7 ⏑μαα is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑φέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —ρειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
10 ⏑ποο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑λυυ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ήή is long by nature.
13 ⏑ραα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑τοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —ς εὐεὐ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
16 ×νή,ή is long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 12.5. διὰ has two short syllables. The σ of πολυήρατος goes with εὐνή.^[14] Caesura after the third trochee, after κῦμα;^[7] hephthemimeral after φέρει.

12.6

Line 12.6 · ποικίλη Ἡφαίστου χερσὶν ἐληλαμένη

ποικίλη Ἡφαίστου χερσὶν ἐληλαμένη

ποικίληἩφαίστουχερσὶν ἐληλαμένη

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ποιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑κίί is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑ληη is long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ἩἩ is long by nature.
5 —φαίσαί is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by σ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —τουου is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 —χερε is short by nature; closed by ρ: long by position.
8 ⏑σὶὶ is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑ν ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
10 —ληη is long by nature.
11 ⏑λαα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
12 ⏑μέέ is short by nature.
13 ×νηη is long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 12.6. The final η of ποικίλη is shortened before Ἡφαίστου (epic correption)^[11]. ἐληλαμένη, “beaten out” (of the metal). The ν of χερσὶν goes with ἐληλαμένη.^[14] Diaeresis after Ἡφαίστου.

Gerber prints κοιίλη, “hollow”, Meineke’s correction of the manuscripts’ κοίλη, and gives Kaibel’s ποικίλη, the reading here, in his apparatus.^[18] Both scan — ⏑ —.

12.7

Line 12.7 · χρυσοῦ τιμήεντος, ὑπόπτερος, ἄκρον ἐφ’ ὕδωρ

χρυσοῦ τιμήεντος, ὑπόπτερος, ἄκρον ἐφ’ ὕδωρ

χρυσοῦτιμήεντο,ς ὑπόπτερο,ς ἄκρον ἐφ’ὕδωρ

spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —χρυυ is long by the metre (position 1 must be long).
2 —σοῦοῦ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —τιι is long by the metre (position 3 must be long).
4 —μήή is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —ενε is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
6 ⏑το,ο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 ⏑ς ὑὑ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —πόπό is short by nature; closed by π: long by position.
9 ⏑τεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑ρο,ο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —ς ἄκἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by κ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
12 ⏑ροο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑ν ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —φ’ὕὕ is long by the metre (position 11 must be long); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
15 ×δωρω is long by nature; closed by ρ: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 12.7. The ι of τιμήεντος is long.^[19] ὑπόπτερος, “winged”: LSJ cites this line for the word (s.v. ὑπόπτερος). In ἄκρον the κρ inside the word makes position.^[12] ἐφ’ is elided before ὕδωρ, with the aspirate.^[20] Caesura after the third trochee, after τιμήεντος;^[7] bucolic diaeresis after ὑπόπτερος.^[5]

12.8

Line 12.8 · εὕδονθ’ ἁρπαλέως χώρου ἀφ’ Ἑσπερίδων

εὕδονθ’ ἁρπαλέως χώρου ἀφ’ Ἑσπερίδων

εὕδονθ’ἁρπαλέωςχώρουἀφ’Ἑσπερίδων

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —εὕεὕ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —δονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —θ’ἁρἁ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 ⏑παα is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑λέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ωςω is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
7 —χώώ is long by nature.
8 ⏑ρουου is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires.
9 ⏑ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
10 —φ’ἙσἙ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
11 ⏑πεε is short by nature.
12 ⏑ρίί is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×δωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 12.8. εὕδονθ’ (εὕδοντα) is elided before ἁρπαλέως.^[15] The ου of χώρου is shortened before ἀφ’ (epic correption, p. 14). Diaeresis after ἁρπαλέως.

12.9

Line 12.9 · γαῖαν ἐς Αἰθιόπων, ἵνα δὴ θοὸν ἅρμα καὶ ἵπποι

γαῖαν ἐς Αἰθιόπων, ἵνα δὴ θοὸν ἅρμα καὶ ἵπποι

γαῖαν ἐς Αἰθιόπων,ἵναδὴθοὸν ἅρμακαὶἵπποι

dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —γαῖαῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑αα is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑ν ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ς ΑἰΑἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
5 ⏑θιι is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑όό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —πων,ω is long by nature.
8 ⏑ἵἵ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 ⏑ναα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
10 —δὴὴ is long by nature.
11 ⏑θοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 ⏑ὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
13 —ν ἅρἅ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
14 ⏑μαα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 ⏑καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
16 —ἵπἵ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by π: long by position.
17 ×ποιοι is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 12.9. Five dactyls. καί is shortened before ἵπποι (epic correption)^[11]. The ν of γαῖαν goes with ἐς, and the ν of θοὸν with ἅρμα.^[14] The margin names penthemimeral (after Αἰθιόπων), hephthemimeral (after δή) and bucolic (after θοόν) word-ends; all three are real word-ends, since δή is a postpositive and goes with ἵνα.^[8]

12.10

Line 12.10 · ἑστᾶσ᾽, ὄφρ’ Ἠὼς ἠριγένεια μόλῃ.

ἑστᾶσ᾽, ὄφρ’ Ἠὼς ἠριγένεια μόλῃ.

ἑστᾶσ’,ὄφρ’Ἠὼςἠριγένειαμόλῃ.

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ἑσἑ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
2 —τᾶᾶ carries a circumflex, so it is long; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —σ’,ὄφὄ is short by nature; closed by φ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 —ρ’ἨἨ is long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —ὼςὼ is long by nature.
6 —ἠἠ is long by nature.
7 ⏑ριι is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
8 ⏑γέέ is short by nature.
9 —νειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
10 ⏑αα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable.
11 ⏑μόό is short by nature.
12 ×λῃ.ῃ is long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 12.10. ἑστᾶσ’ and ὄφρ’ are elided;^[15] in ὄφρ’ the φρ inside the word makes position.^[12] Both bicipitia of the first hemiepes are contracted (-τᾶ- and ρ’ Ἠ-), as the first colon allows.^[16] Diaeresis after Ἠώς.

12.11

Line 12.11 · ἔνθ’ ἐπέβη ἑτέρων ὀχέων Ὑπερίονος υἱός.

ἔνθ’ ἐπέβη ἑτέρων ὀχέων Ὑπερίονος υἱός.

ἔνθ’ἐπέβηἑτέρωνὀχέωνὙπερίονος υἱός.

dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —ἔνἔ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
2 ⏑θ’ἐἐ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑πέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —βηη is long by nature; the next word begins with a vowel and nothing is elided: hiatus.
5 ⏑ἑἑ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑τέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —ρωνω is long by nature.
8 ⏑ὀὀ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 ⏑χέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
10 —ωνω is long by nature.
11 ⏑ὙὙ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 ⏑πεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
13 —ρίί is long by the metre (position 9 must be long).
14 ⏑οο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 ⏑νοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
16 —ς υἱυἱ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
17 ×ός.ό is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 12.11. ἔνθ’ is elided.^[15] After ἐπέβη the next word begins with a vowel and nothing is elided: hiatus, with the long η kept in the princeps of the second foot, where West says hiatus with long vowels mostly occurs.^[5] Ὑπερίονος: as written the word is five short syllables, and the metre needs its ι long (ρί fills the princeps of the fifth foot); the scanner reports it as long by the metre. The margin names penthemimeral (after ἑτέρων) and hephthemimeral (after ὀχέων) caesurae.

9.1

Line 9.1 · ἡμεῖς δηὖτε Πύλον Νηλήϊον ἄστυ λιπόντες

ἡμεῖς δηὖτε Πύλον Νηλήϊον ἄστυ λιπόντες

ἡμεῖςδηὖτεΠύλονΝηλήϊον ἄστυλιπόντες

spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —ἡἡ is long by nature.
2 —μεῖςεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δηὖηὖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 ⏑τεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑Πύύ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —λονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 —Νηη is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —λήή is long by nature.
9 ⏑ϊϊ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑οο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —ν ἄσἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
12 ⏑τυυ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑λιι is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —πόνό is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
15 ×τεςε is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 9.1. Strabo quotes the lines from the Nanno to show that Smyrna was always fought over (14.1.4). δηὖτε is δὴ αὖτε run together, frequent in lyric.^[21] Νηλήιον, “of Neleus”: four syllables, typed with a diaeresis in the input. Penthemimeral caesura after Πύλον,^[7] bucolic diaeresis after Νηλήιον.^[5]

Gerber obelizes the first word as corrupt; the manuscripts of Strabo have αἰπύτε or ἐπεί τε.^[22]

9.2

Line 9.2 · ἱμερτὴν Ἀσίην νηυσὶν ἀφικόμεθα·

ἱμερτὴν Ἀσίην νηυσὶν ἀφικόμεθα·

ἱμερτὴνἈσίηννηυσὶν ἀφικόμεθα·

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ἱἱ is long by the metre (position 1 must be long).
2 —μερε is short by nature; closed by ρ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —τὴνὴ is long by nature.
4 ⏑ἈἈ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑σίί is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ηνη is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 —νηυηυ is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑σὶὶ is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑ν ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
10 —φιι is long by the metre (position 9 must be long).
11 ⏑κόό is short by nature.
12 ⏑μεε is short by nature.
13 ×θα·α is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; the position is anceps.

fr. 9.2. The ν of νηυσὶν goes with ἀφικόμεθα.^[14] Diaeresis after Ἀσίην.

9.3

Line 9.3 · ἐς δʼ ἐρατὴν Κολοφῶνα βίην ὑπέροπλον ἔχοντες

ἐς δʼ ἐρατὴν Κολοφῶνα βίην ὑπέροπλον ἔχοντες

ἐςδ’ἐρατὴνΚολοφῶναβίηνὑπέροπλον ἔχοντες

dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —ἐςἐ is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
2 ⏑δ’ἐἐ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑ραα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —τὴνὴ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
5 ⏑Κοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑λοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —φῶῶ is long by nature.
8 ⏑ναα is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 ⏑βίί is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
10 —ηνη is long by nature.
11 ⏑ὑὑ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 ⏑πέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
13 —ροπο is short by nature; closed by π before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
14 ⏑λοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 ⏑ν ἔἔ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
16 —χονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
17 ×τεςε is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 9.3. Five dactyls. δ’ is elided.^[15] In ὑπέροπλον the πλ inside the word makes position;^[12] its ν goes with ἔχοντες. Caesura after the third trochee, after Κολοφῶνα;^[7] hephthemimeral after βίην.

9.4

Line 9.4 · ἑζόμεθʼ ἀργαλέης ὕβριος ἡγεμόνες.

ἑζόμεθʼ ἀργαλέης ὕβριος ἡγεμόνες.

ἑζόμεθ’ἀργαλέηςὕβριος ἡγεμόνες.

dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ἑἑ is short by nature; ζ is a double consonant (two sounds) and closes the syllable: long by position.
2 ⏑ζόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —θ’ἀρἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
5 ⏑γαα is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑λέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —ηςη is long by nature.
8 —ὕβὕ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by β before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
9 ⏑ριι is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
10 ⏑οο is short by nature.
11 —ς ἡἡ is long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
12 ⏑γεε is short by nature.
13 ⏑μόό is short by nature.
14 ×νες.ε is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 9.4. ἑζόμεθ’ is elided before ἀργαλέης;^[15] in ὕβριος the βρ inside the word makes position,^[12] and its σ goes with ἡγεμόνες. Diaeresis after ἀργαλέης.

9.5

Line 9.5 · κεῖθεν δʼ ἀστήεντος ἀπορνύμενοι ποταμοῖο

κεῖθεν δʼ ἀστήεντος ἀπορνύμενοι ποταμοῖο

κεῖθενδ’ἀστήεντος ἀπορνύμενοιποταμοῖο

spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee.

1 —κεῖεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —θενε is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δ’ἀσἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 —τήή is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —ενε is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
6 ⏑τοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 ⏑ς ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —πορο is short by nature; closed by ρ: long by position.
9 ⏑νύύ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —νοιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
12 ⏑ποο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑ταα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —μοῖοῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
15 ×οο is short by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 9.5. Meineke prints ἀστήεντος, without a capital; the translation leaves the word untranslated in brackets. δ’ is elided before it,^[15] and its σ goes with ἀπορνύμενοι.^[14] Caesura after the third trochee, after ἀστήεντος.^[7]

Gerber obelizes the word read here as δ’ ἀστήεντος.^[23]

9.6

Line 9.6 · θε‿ῶν βουλῇ Σμύρνην εἵλομεν Αἰολίδα.

θε‿ῶν βουλῇ Σμύρνην εἵλομεν Αἰολίδα.

θε‿ῶνβουλῇΣμύρνηνεἵλομεν Αἰολίδα.

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —θε‿ῶνεῶ is two vowels of one word pronounced together as one long syllable (synizesis); closed by ν: long by position.
2 —βουου is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —λῇῇ is long by nature; the next word begins with Σμ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
4 —Σμύρύ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —νηνη is long by nature.
6 —εἵεἵ is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 ⏑λοο is short by nature.
8 ⏑μεε is short by nature.
9 —ν ΑἰΑἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
10 ⏑οο is short by nature.
11 ⏑λίί is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
12 ×δα.α is of unknown length; the position is anceps, so either scans.

fr. 9.6. θεῶν is one syllable by synecphonesis (synizesis), frequent within the word when the first vowel is ε.^[24] With it, both bicipitia of the first hemiepes are contracted (θεῶν βου|λῇ Σμύρ|νην), as the first colon allows.^[16] The ν of εἵλομεν goes with Αἰολίδα.^[14] Diaeresis after Σμύρνην.

Notes

^ Bartol 2022, p. 227.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 227; Aloni 2009, p. 171.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 227; Aloni 2009, pp. 171–172.
^ Bartol 2022, pp. 221–222.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e West 1987, p. 21.
^ West 1987, p. 24; Battezzato 2009, p. 138.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g West 1987, p. 19.
^ ^a ^b ^c West 1987, pp. 20–21.
^ Bartol 2022, pp. 227–228.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 227.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d West 1987, p. 14.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e West 1987, p. 16.
^ West 1987, p. 4.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ West 1987, p. 12.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g West 1987, p. 13.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d West 1987, p. 24.
^ LSJ s.v. οὐρανός.
^ Gerber 1999a, p. 92.
^ LSJ s.v. τιμήεις.
^ West 1987, pp. 12–13.
^ LSJ s.v. δηὖτε.
^ Gerber 1999a, p. 86.
^ Gerber 1999a, p. 88.
^ West 1987, p. 15.

Text and sources

Text: Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 11.39 (470a–b), ed. G. Kaibel (Leipzig 1887–1890), Perseus Digital Library (tlg0008.tlg001.perseus-grc3), CC BY-SA 4.0, with Kaibel’s reference “fr. 12 B4”; Strabo, Geography 14.1.4 and 14.1.28, ed. A. Meineke, Perseus Digital Library (tlg0099.tlg001.perseus-grc2), CC BY-SA 4.0 (the licence of the Perseus repository; the file’s TEI header states none), which labels the lines “Mimnermus fr. 9 (Bergk)”. Checked letter by letter.
Metre and prosody: M. L. West, Introduction to Greek Metre (Oxford 1987), pp. 4, 12–16, 19–21, 24, checked against the page images.
L. Battezzato, ‘Metre and music’, in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric (Cambridge 2009), p. 138 (the elegiac distich as an epodic strophe, hexameter ‖ D | D |||; contraction avoided in the second half of the pentameter).
K. Bartol, ‘Elegy’, ch. 15 in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric (Wiley 2022), pp. 227–228.
Meanings and quantities: Liddell–Scott–Jones, Greek–English Lexicon, Perseus Digital Library (CC BY-SA), s.vv. δηὖτε, οὐρανός, τιμήεις, ὑπόπτερος.
D. E. Gerber, Greek Elegiac Poetry from the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC (Loeb Classical Library 258, Cambridge, MA 1999), Mimnermus frr. 12 (pp. 90–93) and 9 (pp. 86–89), compared line by line: same numbers as West; both said by their sources to come from the Nanno.

Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this page’s licence.

Sources

Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 11.39 (470a–b), ed. G. Kaibel (Leipzig 1887–1890), Perseus Digital Library, tlg0008.tlg001.perseus-grc3 (Greek text of Mimnermus fr. 12, checked letter by letter).
Strabo, Geography 14.1.4, 14.1.28, ed. A. Meineke, Perseus Digital Library, tlg0099.tlg001.perseus-grc2 (Greek text of Mimnermus fr. 9, checked letter by letter).
West, M. L. 1987. Introduction to Greek Metre. Oxford. pp. 4, 12–16, 19–21, 24 (checked against page images).
Bartol, K. 2022. 'Elegy', in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric. Wiley. ch. 15, pp. 227–228. (synopsis: pp. 221–222, 227)
LSJ (Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA), s.vv. δηὖτε, οὐρανός, τιμήεις, ὑπόπτερος.
Gerber, D. E. 1999a. Greek Elegiac Poetry from the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC (Loeb Classical Library 258). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. pp. 86–93 (Mimnermus frr. 9, 12) (read on the Loeb Classical Library site).
Aloni, A. 2009. 'Elegy: forms, functions and communication', in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. pp. 171–172.

Greek text: Athenaeus, ed. Kaibel, Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0; Strabo, ed. Meineke, Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Scansion, commentary and translation © metrehelp.org, CC BY-SA 4.0. Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this licence.

Solon: couplets (frr. 4.1–10, 5, 6)

Synopsis

Solon was the Athenian poet who gave the city new laws. His archonship is traditionally dated to 594/3 BC, and Aloni dates his life to about 630–560 BC.^[1] About 230 lines of his elegy survive, in thirty fragments.^[2] It was sung mainly or entirely at the symposium. Yet Athens’ social and political troubles dominate what survives.^[3] Aloni imagines his audience as a group of like-minded citizens, his hetaireia.^[4] Fr. 4 is a long poem that has lost its opening. It blames the greed of the powerful for the city’s strife. It warns that the harm reaches everyone, down to the poor who are sold abroad in chains. And it praises Good Order, Eunomiē.^[5] It survives because Demosthenes had it read out to the jury in On the False Embassy (19.254–255).

Scanned here are the first ten lines of fr. 4, on the citizens and leaders who are ruining a great city. Then come frr. 5 and 6, in which Solon defends the balance he kept between the people and the powerful. The Aristotelian Constitution of the Athenians quotes them as his own witness to his reforms (12.1–2).

Text and translation

ἡμετέρη δὲ πόλις κατὰ μὲν Διὸς οὔποτʼ ὀλεῖται

fr. 4.1–10 (Demosthenes, On the False Embassy 255)

4.1

ἡμετέρη δὲ πόλις κατὰ μὲν Διὸς οὔποτʼ ὀλεῖται

Our city will never be destroyed by the decree of Zeus

4.2

αἶσαν καὶ μακάρων θεῶν φρένας ἀθανάτων·

or the intent of the blessed gods who do not die;

4.3

τοίη γὰρ μεγάθυμος ἐπίσκοπος ὀβριμοπάτρη

so mighty-spirited is the guardian, child of a powerful father,

4.4

Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη χεῖρας ὕπερθεν ἔχει.

Pallas Athena, who holds her hands above it.

4.5

αὐτοὶ δὲ φθείρειν μεγάλην πόλιν ἀφραδίῃσιν

It is the townsmen themselves who, through their own foolishness,

4.6

ἀστοὶ βούλονται, χρήμασι πειθόμενοι,

are bent on ruining a great city, swayed by wealth,

4.7

δήμου θʼ ἡγεμόνων ἄδικος νόος, οἷσιν ἑτοῖμον

and the people’s leaders, whose minds are unjust; for them

4.8

ὕβριος ἐκ μεγάλης ἄλγεα πολλὰ παθεῖν.

much suffering lies in store as the price of great arrogance.

4.9

οὐ γὰρ ἐπίστανται κατέχειν κόρον, οὐδὲ παρούσας

They have no idea how to keep their surfeit in check, or to enjoy

4.10

εὐφροσύνας κοσμεῖν δαιτὸς ἐν ἡσυχίῃ.

the good cheer before them in an orderly, quiet feast.

fr. 5 (Athenaion Politeia 12.1)

5.1

δήμῳ μὲν γὰρ ἔδωκα τόσον γέρας, ὅσσον ἀπαρκεῖ,

To the common people I granted as much privilege as was sufficient,

5.2

τιμῆς οὔτʼ ἀφελὼν οὔτʼ ἐπορεξάμενος·

neither cutting down their honour nor grasping at more;

5.3

οἳ δʼ εἶχον δύναμιν καὶ χρήμασιν ἦσαν ἀγητοί,

and as for those who held power and were envied for their riches,

5.4

καὶ τοῖς ἐφρασάμην μηδὲν ἀεικὲς ἔχειν.

I took care that they too should have nothing disgraceful done to them.

5.5

ἔστην δʼ ἀμφιβαλὼν κρατερὸν σάκος ἀμφοτέροισι,

I took my stand, throwing a strong shield round both parties,

5.6

νικᾶν δʼ οὐκ εἴασʼ οὐδετέρους ἀδίκως.

and allowed neither to prevail against justice.

fr. 6 (Athenaion Politeia 12.2)

6.1

δῆμος δʼ ὧδʼ ἂν ἄριστα σὺν ἡγεμόνεσσιν ἕποιτο,

This is how the people will best go along with their leaders:

6.2

μήτε λίαν ἀνεθεὶς μήτε βιαζόμενος.

if they are neither given too much rein nor held down by force.

6.3

τίκτει γὰρ κόρος ὕβριν, ὅταν πολὺς ὄλβος ἕπηται

For surfeit gives birth to outrage, whenever great wealth comes

6.4

ἀνθρώποισιν, ὅσοις μὴ νόος ἄρτιος ᾖ.

to people who do not have a well-ordered mind.

Solon · fr. 4.1–10 (Demosthenes 19.255, ed. Butcher) · frr. 5–6 (Athenaion Politeia 12.1–2, ed. Kenyon)

How to read each line

A guide to the Greek, syllables, pitch marks and quantities.

Show the reading key

Above each line: the line as the edition prints it, each word placed over its own syllables. The main row: the same Greek divided into metrical syllables, each written as it is pronounced. A consonant that closes a syllable is written with it (λόθ | ρο); an elided word is closed up with the next vowel (ν’ἀ); a final consonant carried into the next word is set with a thin space (ς ἰ). Wider gaps mark word-ends.
Above the syllables: the pitch of each syllable, from the accents. Under them: the quantity of each syllable as it falls in the line, then the transliteration, syllable by syllable, with accented syllables in capitals.
Under each line: a line-for-line translation. In the right margin of the scansion: the line type, its scheme, and its analysis into cola.

Key to the labels

The names, patterns and symbols used beside this poem.

Show the labels and symbols

Label	Name and shape	What it is
hem1	First hemiepes— ⏔ — ⏔ —	The first two and a half feet of the hexameter, up to the penthemimeral caesura; in the pentameter, its whole first half.
hem2	Second half of the hexameter⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×	From the penthemimeral caesura to the line-end: the fifth foot is nearly always a dactyl, the sixth is — ×.
hemp	Second hemiepes— ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×	The second half of the pentameter: two dactyls and a single syllable, with no contraction allowed.

The traditional feet

Foot and shape	Where
First foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 1–2. The biceps (⏑ ⏑) may be contracted to a single long, making a spondee.
Second foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 3–4.
Third foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 5–6. The penthemimeral caesura falls after its first syllable, the “trochaic” caesura after its second.
Fourth foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 7–8. Word-end at the end of this foot, when it is a dactyl, is the bucolic diaeresis (West’s “bucolic caesura”: word-end at the end of the fourth foot after an uncontracted biceps)^[6].
Fifth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 9–10. A spondee here (a “spondaic line”) is rare.
Sixth foot— ×	Scheme positions 11–12: a long and the indifferent final syllable.
First foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 1–2 of the pentameter.
Second foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 3–4.
Half-foot before the diaeresis—	Scheme position 5: the long that closes the first hemiepes; word-end must follow.
Fourth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 6–8: no contraction after the diaeresis.
Fifth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 9–11.
Final syllable×	Scheme position 12.

Scansion

Solon’s political elegy in three fragments: the opening of the poem on the city’s good order, quoted by Demosthenes, and the two short pieces the Athenaion Politeia quotes to show how he held the balance between people and powerful. Twenty lines, with a synizesis, a metrical lengthening, three correptions and every stop + liquid inside a word making position.

Click a syllable to see its

Fragment 1fr. 4.1–10 (Demosthenes, On the False Embassy 255)
4.1
ἡμετέρηδὲπόλιςκατὰμὲνΔιὸςοὔποτʼὀλεῖται
ἡhēμεmeτέTEρηrēδὲdeπόPOλιςlisκαkaτὰtaμὲνmenΔιdiὸoς οὔSOUποpoτ’ὀt’oλεῖLEIταιtai
Our city will never be destroyed by the decree of Zeus
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
4.2
αἶσανκαὶμακάρωνθε‿ῶνφρέναςἀθανάτων·
αἶAIσανsanκαὶkaiμαmaκάKAρωνrōnθε‿ῶνTHEŌNφρέPHREναnaς ἀsāθαthaνάNAτων·tōn
or the intent of the blessed gods who do not die;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.3
τοίηγὰρμεγάθυμοςἐπίσκοποςὀβριμοπάτρη
τοίTOIηēγὰρgarμεmeγάGAθυthȳμοmoς ἐseπίσPISκοkoποpoς ὀβsobριriμοmoπάτPATρηrē
so mighty-spirited is the guardian, child of a powerful father,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis
4.4
ΠαλλὰςἈθηναίηχεῖραςὕπερθενἔχει.
Παλpalλὰlaς ἈsaθηthēναίNAIηēχεῖCHEIραraς ὕSHYπερperθεtheν ἔNEχει.chei
Pallas Athena, who holds her hands above it.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.5
αὐτοὶδὲφθείρεινμεγάληνπόλινἀφραδίῃσιν
αὐauτοὶtoiδὲdeφθείPHTHEIρεινreinμεmeγάGAληνlēnπόPOλιliν ἀφnaphραraδίDIῃēiσινsin
It is the townsmen themselves who, through their own foolishness,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
4.6
ἀστοὶβούλονται,χρήμασιπειθόμενοι,
ἀσasτοὶtoiβούBOUλονlonται,taiχρήCHRĒμαmaσιsiπειpeiθόTHOμεmeνοι,noi
are bent on ruining a great city, swayed by wealth,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.7
δήμουθʼἡγεμόνωνἄδικοςνόος,οἷσινἑτοῖμον
δήDĒμουmouθ’ἡth’hēγεgeμόMOνωνnōnἄAδιdiκοςkosνόNOο,oς οἷSHOIσιsiν ἑnheτοῖTOIμονmon
and the people’s leaders, whose minds are unjust; for them
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
4.8
ὕβριοςἐκμεγάληςἄλγεαπολλὰπαθεῖν.
ὕβHYBριriοoς ἐκsekμεmeγάGAληςlēsἄλALγεgeαaπολpolλὰlaπαpaθεῖν.THEIN
much suffering lies in store as the price of great arrogance.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.9
οὐγὰρἐπίστανταικατέχεινκόρον,οὐδὲπαρούσας
οὐouγὰgaρ ἐreπίσPISτανtanταιtaiκαkaτέTEχεινcheinκόKOρο,roν οὐnouδὲdeπαpaρούROUσαςsas
They have no idea how to keep their surfeit in check, or to enjoy
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
4.10
εὐφροσύναςκοσμεῖνδαιτὸςἐνἡσυχίῃ.
εὐeuφροphroσύSYναςnasκοσkosμεῖνMEINδαιdaiτὸtoς ἐseν ἡnhēσυsyχίCHIῃ.ēi
the good cheer before them in an orderly, quiet feast.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Fragment 2fr. 5 (Athenaion Politeia 12.1)
5.1
δήμῳμὲνγὰρἔδωκατόσονγέρας,ὅσσονἀπαρκεῖ,
δήDĒμῳmōiμὲνmenγὰgaρ ἔREδωdōκαkaτόTOσονsonγέGEρα,raς ὅσSHOSσοsoν ἀnaπαρparκεῖ,KEI
To the common people I granted as much privilege as was sufficient,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
5.2
τιμῆςοὔτʼἀφελὼνοὔτʼἐπορεξάμενος·
τιtīμῆςMĒSοὔOUτ’ἀt’aφεpheλὼνlōnοὔOUτ’ἐt’eποpoρεreξάXAμεmeνος·nos
neither cutting down their honour nor grasping at more;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
5.3
οἳδʼεἶχονδύναμινκαὶχρήμασινἦσανἀγητοί,
οἳhoiδ’εἶD’EIχονchonδύDYναnaμινminκαὶkaiχρήCHRĒμαmaσιsiν ἦNĒσαsaν ἀnaγηgēτοί,TOI
and as for those who held power and were envied for their riches,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
5.4
καὶτοῖςἐφρασάμηνμηδὲνἀεικὲςἔχειν.
καὶkaiτοῖςTOISἐφephραraσάSAμηνmēnμηmēδὲdeν ἀnaειeiκὲkeς ἔSEχειν.chein
I took care that they too should have nothing disgraceful done to them.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
5.5
ἔστηνδʼἀμφιβαλὼνκρατερὸνσάκοςἀμφοτέροισι,
ἔσESτηνtēnδ’ἀμd’amφιphiβαbaλὼνlōnκραkraτεteρὸνronσάSAκοkoς ἀμsamφοphoτέTEροιroiσι,si
I took my stand, throwing a strong shield round both parties,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
5.6
νικᾶνδʼοὐκεἴασʼοὐδετέρουςἀδίκως.
νιnīκᾶνKĀNδ’οὐκd’oukεἴEIαāσ’οὐs’ouδεdeτέTEρουςrousἀaδίDIκως.kōs
and allowed neither to prevail against justice.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes (with elision)

Fragment 3fr. 6 (Athenaion Politeia 12.2)

6.1

δῆμοςδʼὧδʼἂνἄριστασὺνἡγεμόνεσσινἕποιτο,

δῆDĒμοςmosδ’ὧD’HŌδ’ἂd’aν ἄNAρισrisταtaσὺsyν ἡnhēγεgeμόMOνεσnesσιsiν ἕNHEποιpoiτο,to

This is how the people will best go along with their leaders:

Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee

6.2

μήτελίανἀνεθεὶςμήτεβιαζόμενος.

μήMĒτεteλίLIανānἀaνεneθεὶςtheisμήMĒτεteβιbiαaζόZOμεmeνος.nos

if they are neither given too much rein nor held down by force.

Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

6.3

τίκτειγὰρκόροςὕβριν,ὅτανπολὺςὄλβοςἕπηται

τίκTIKτειteiγὰρgarκόKOροroς ὕβSHYBρι,riν ὅNHOτανtanποpoλὺlyς ὄλSOLβοboς ἕSHEπηpēταιtai

For surfeit gives birth to outrage, whenever great wealth comes

Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis

6.4

ἀνθρώποισιν,ὅσοιςμὴνόοςἄρτιοςᾖ.

ἀνanθρώTHRŌποιpoiσι,siν ὅNHOσοιςsoisμὴmēνόNOοoς ἄρSARτιtiοoς ᾖ.SĒI

to people who do not have a well-ordered mind.

Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Metre

The couplet. A hexameter, with less prosodic licence than in epic, alternating with the “pentameter” — ⏔ — ⏔ — | — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ — ‖, two hemiepes (D | D ‖) always divided by a word-end; contraction of the bicipitia is limited to the first colon; elision at the pentameter caesura is admitted.^[7] The hexameter’s caesura falls in the third foot, after the princeps (penthemimeral) or after the first short (the “feminine” caesura after the third trochee), or occasionally after the fourth princeps (hephthemimeral).^[8] a prepositive is reckoned with the word after it, a postpositive with the word before it.^[9]
Solon’s elegy. Bowie places Solon’s elegiac performances predominantly or exclusively in the symposium, though political themes dominate the surviving pieces; he calls frr. 4c, 5 and 6 “relatively unadorned political argument” similar to that of the iambics, and quotes fr. 4.5–10 as an example.^[10] Demosthenes has the whole of fr. 4 read out to the jury in his speech On the False Embassy (19.254–255), and the Athenaion Politeia quotes frr. 5 and 6 as Solon’s own testimony to his settlement (12.1–2).
Stop + liquid. West observes that Theognis, Solon and Pindar leave a short vowel short before stop + liquid more readily than earlier poets do.^[11] These twenty lines do not show it: inside a word the group always makes position here (ὀβ-ριμοπάτρη, πάτ-ρη, l. 3; ἀφ-ραδίῃσιν, l. 5; ὕβ-ριος, ll. 8, 19; ἐφ-ρασάμην, l. 14).
Prosody. As in epic: a long vowel or diphthong ending a word normally becomes short when the next word begins with a vowel (epic correption)^[12]; inside a word, two vowels are often run together into one syllable when the first is ε (synecphonesis, p. 15), as in θεῶν (l. 2); words of the shape ⏑ ⏑ ⏑ may lengthen one vowel to enter the verse (metrical lengthening, p. 21), as ἀθανάτων (l. 2). The last position of each line is indifferent at period-end.^[13]
Text and marks. Butcher’s Demosthenes and Kenyon’s Athenaion Politeia are printed as Perseus gives them, with iota subscript; Bowie, quoting fr. 4.5–10, writes the Ionic datives with adscript (ἀφραδίηισιν, ἡσυχίηι) and has no comma after βούλονται and κόρον.^[14] In l. 2 the input ties θε‿ῶν into one syllable and marks the first α of ἀθανάτων as metrically lengthened; the page does not show the marks.

Prosody, line by line

4.1

Line 4.1 · ἡμετέρη δὲ πόλις κατὰ μὲν Διὸς οὔποτʼ ὀλεῖται

ἡμετέρη δὲ πόλις κατὰ μὲν Διὸς οὔποτʼ ὀλεῖται

ἡμετέρηδὲπόλιςκατὰμὲνΔιὸς οὔποτ’ὀλεῖται

dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —ἡἡ is long by nature.
2 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑τέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ρηη is long by nature.
5 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑πόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —λιςι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position.
8 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 ⏑τὰὰ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
10 —μὲνὲ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
11 ⏑Διι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 ⏑ὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
13 —ς οὔοὔ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
14 ⏑ποο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 ⏑τ’ὀὀ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
16 —λεῖεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
17 ×ταιαι is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.1. Five dactyls. The σ of Διὸς goes with οὔποτ’;^[15] οὔποτʼ is elided before ὀλεῖται.^[16] The margin names penthemimeral (after πόλις), hephthemimeral (after μέν) and bucolic (after Διός) word-ends; μέν is a postpositive and goes with κατά,^[9] so the hephthemimeral is not a real break, and the main caesura is the penthemimeral after πόλις.^[8]

4.2

Line 4.2 · αἶσαν καὶ μακάρων θε‿ῶν φρένας ἀθανάτων·

αἶσαν καὶ μακάρων θε‿ῶν φρένας ἀθανάτων·

αἶσανκαὶμακάρωνθε‿ῶνφρένας ἀθανάτων·

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —αἶαἶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —σανα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 ⏑μαα is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑κάά is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ρωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 —θε‿ῶνεῶ is two vowels of one word pronounced together as one long syllable (synizesis); closed by ν: long by position.
8 ⏑φρέέ is short by nature.
9 ⏑ναα is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
10 —ς ἀἀ is short by nature; the syllable is lengthened metrically;^[6] the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
11 ⏑θαα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
12 ⏑νάά is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×των·ω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.2. θεῶν is one syllable by synecphonesis (synizesis), frequent within the word when the first vowel is ε; West’s first example is θεός.^[17] The first α of ἀθανάτων, a word of four short syllables before its last, is lengthened metrically so that it can enter the verse.^[6] The first biceps of the hemiepes is contracted (αἶ σαν), as the first colon allows.^[18] Diaeresis after μακάρων.

4.3

Line 4.3 · τοίη γὰρ μεγάθυμος ἐπίσκοπος ὀβριμοπάτρη

τοίη γὰρ μεγάθυμος ἐπίσκοπος ὀβριμοπάτρη

τοίηγὰρμεγάθυμος ἐπίσκοπος ὀβριμοπάτρη

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —τοίοί is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —ηη is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —γὰρὰ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
4 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑γάά is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —θυυ is long by the metre (position 5 must be long).
7 ⏑μοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑ς ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —πίσί is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
10 ⏑κοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑ποο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ς ὀβὀ is short by nature; closed by β before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
13 ⏑ριι is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑μοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —πάτά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by τ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
16 ×ρηη is long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.3. ὀβριμοπάτρη, “daughter of a mighty father”: the βρ and the τρ inside the word both make position;^[11] the σ of ἐπίσκοπος goes with it.^[15] The υ of μεγάθυμος is long, as in θυμός. Caesura after the third trochee, after μεγάθυμος,^[8] and bucolic diaeresis after ἐπίσκοπος.^[6]

4.4

Line 4.4 · Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη χεῖρας ὕπερθεν ἔχει.

Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη χεῖρας ὕπερθεν ἔχει.

Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίηχεῖρας ὕπερθεν ἔχει.

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —Παλα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position.
2 ⏑λὰὰ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑ς ἈἈ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —θηη is long by nature.
5 —ναίαί is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ηη is long by nature.
7 —χεῖεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑ραα is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable.
9 ⏑ς ὕὕ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
10 —περε is short by nature; closed by ρ: long by position.
11 ⏑θεε is short by nature.
12 ⏑ν ἔἔ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
13 ×χει.ει is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.4. Παλλὰς Ἀθηναίη, with the Ionic η for ᾱ.^[19] The σ of Παλλάς and of χεῖρας goes with the following vowel,^[15] so λὰ and ρα are short. Diaeresis after Ἀθηναίη.

4.5

Line 4.5 · αὐτοὶ δὲ φθείρειν μεγάλην πόλιν ἀφραδίῃσιν

αὐτοὶ δὲ φθείρειν μεγάλην πόλιν ἀφραδίῃσιν

αὐτοὶδὲφθείρεινμεγάληνπόλιν ἀφραδίῃσιν

spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —αὐαὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —τοὶοὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δὲὲ is short by nature; the next word begins with φθ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
4 —φθείεί is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —ρεινει is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
6 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 ⏑γάά is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —ληνη is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
9 ⏑πόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑λιι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —ν ἀφἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by φ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
12 ⏑ραα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑δίί is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —ῃῃ is long by nature.
15 ×σινι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.5, quoted by Bowie 2022, p. 305 (ἀφραδίηισιν). δὲ stays long before φθ- (two consonants; not stop + liquid).^[15] In ἀφραδίῃσιν the φρ inside the word makes position,^[11] and the ν of πόλιν goes with it. The margin names penthemimeral (after φθείρειν), hephthemimeral (after μεγάλην) and bucolic (after πόλιν) word-ends.

4.6

Line 4.6 · ἀστοὶ βούλονται, χρήμασι πειθόμενοι,

ἀστοὶ βούλονται, χρήμασι πειθόμενοι,

ἀστοὶβούλονται,χρήμασιπειθόμενοι,

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ἀσἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
2 —τοὶοὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —βούού is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 —λονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —ται,αι is a diphthong, long by nature; the next word begins with χρ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
6 —χρήή is long by nature.
7 ⏑μαα is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
8 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable.
9 —πειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
10 ⏑θόό is short by nature.
11 ⏑μεε is short by nature.
12 ×νοι,οι is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.6. Two contracted bicipitia in the first hemiepes (ἀστοὶ βούλονται), as the first colon of the pentameter allows.^[18] Diaeresis after βούλονται.

4.7

Line 4.7 · δήμου θʼ ἡγεμόνων ἄδικος νόος, οἷσιν ἑτοῖμον

δήμου θʼ ἡγεμόνων ἄδικος νόος, οἷσιν ἑτοῖμον

δήμουθ’ἡγεμόνωνἄδικοςνόο,ς οἷσιν ἑτοῖμον

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —δήή is long by nature.
2 —μουου is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —θ’ἡἡ is long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 ⏑γεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑μόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —νωνω is long by nature.
7 ⏑ἄἄ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑διι is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —κοςο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
10 ⏑νόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑ο,ο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ς οἷοἷ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
13 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑ν ἑἑ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —τοῖοῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
16 ×μονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.7. θʼ is elided before ἡγεμόνων;^[16] the rough breathing is not a consonant for this purpose.^[20] The σ of νόος and the ν of οἷσιν go with the following vowels.^[15] Penthemimeral caesura after ἡγεμόνων, bucolic diaeresis after νόος.

4.8

Line 4.8 · ὕβριος ἐκ μεγάλης ἄλγεα πολλὰ παθεῖν.

ὕβριος ἐκ μεγάλης ἄλγεα πολλὰ παθεῖν.

ὕβριος ἐκμεγάληςἄλγεαπολλὰπαθεῖν.

dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ὕβὕ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by β before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
2 ⏑ριι is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑οο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ς ἐκἐ is short by nature; closed by κ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
5 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑γάά is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —ληςη is long by nature.
8 —ἄλἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position.
9 ⏑γεε is short by nature.
10 ⏑αα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable.
11 —πολο is short by nature; closed by λ: long by position.
12 ⏑λὰὰ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
13 ⏑παα is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
14 ×θεῖν.εῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.8. In ὕβριος the βρ inside the word makes position;^[11] the σ goes with ἐκ. ἄλγεα has three syllables. Diaeresis after μεγάλης.

4.9

Line 4.9 · οὐ γὰρ ἐπίστανται κατέχειν κόρον, οὐδὲ παρούσας

οὐ γὰρ ἐπίστανται κατέχειν κόρον, οὐδὲ παρούσας

οὐγὰρ ἐπίστανταικατέχεινκόρο,ν οὐδὲπαρούσας

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑γὰὰ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑ρ ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —πίσί is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
5 —τανα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ταιαι is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑τέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —χεινει is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
10 ⏑κόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑ρο,ο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ν οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
13 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑παα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —ρούού is a diphthong, long by nature.
16 ×σαςα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.9. The ρ of γάρ and the ν of κόρον go with the following vowels.^[15] Penthemimeral caesura after ἐπίστανται, bucolic diaeresis after κόρον.^[6] Bowie prints no comma after κόρον.^[14]

4.10

Line 4.10 · εὐφροσύνας κοσμεῖν δαιτὸς ἐν ἡσυχίῃ.

εὐφροσύνας κοσμεῖν δαιτὸς ἐν ἡσυχίῃ.

εὐφροσύναςκοσμεῖνδαιτὸς ἐν ἡσυχίῃ.

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —εὐεὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑φροο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑σύύ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ναςα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position.
5 —κοσο is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —μεῖνεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 —δαιαι is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑τὸὸ is short by nature.
9 ⏑ς ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
10 —ν ἡἡ is long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
11 ⏑συυ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
12 ⏑χίί is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×ῃ.ῃ is long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.10. εὐφροσύνας, “good cheer”: the φρ inside the word does not affect the scansion here, since εὐ- is long by its diphthong. The σ of δαιτὸς and the ν of ἐν go with the following vowels,^[15] and ἡσυχίῃ has the Ionic η.^[19] Diaeresis after κοσμεῖν.

5.1

Line 5.1 · δήμῳ μὲν γὰρ ἔδωκα τόσον γέρας, ὅσσον ἀπαρκεῖ,

δήμῳ μὲν γὰρ ἔδωκα τόσον γέρας, ὅσσον ἀπαρκεῖ,

δήμῳμὲνγὰρ ἔδωκατόσονγέρα,ς ὅσσον ἀπαρκεῖ,

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —δήή is long by nature.
2 —μῳῳ is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —μὲνὲ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
4 ⏑γὰὰ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑ρ ἔἔ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —δωω is long by nature.
7 ⏑καα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑τόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —σονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
10 ⏑γέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑ρα,α is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ς ὅσὅ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
13 ⏑σοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑ν ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —παρα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
16 ×κεῖ,εῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 5.1. The Athenaion Politeia introduces the lines by saying that everyone else agrees this is what happened and that Solon himself refers to it in his poems (12.1). γέρας, “privilege, honour”. The ρ of γάρ and the σ of γέρας go with the following vowels.^[15] Caesura after the third trochee, after ἔδωκα;^[8] the margin’s hephthemimeral word-end after τόσον is also real.

Gerber prints Ziegler’s ἀπαρκεῖν;^[21] the line-end is the same.

5.2

Line 5.2 · τιμῆς οὔτʼ ἀφελὼν οὔτʼ ἐπορεξάμενος·

τιμῆς οὔτʼ ἀφελὼν οὔτʼ ἐπορεξάμενος·

τιμῆςοὔτ’ἀφελὼνοὔτ’ἐπορεξάμενος·

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —τιι is long by the metre (position 1 must be long).
2 —μῆςῆ is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —οὔοὔ is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 ⏑τ’ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑φεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —λὼνὼ is long by nature.
7 —οὔοὔ is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑τ’ἐἐ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
9 ⏑ποο is short by nature.
10 —ρεε is short by nature; ξ is a double consonant (two sounds) and closes the syllable: long by position.
11 ⏑ξάά is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
12 ⏑μεε is short by nature.
13 ×νος·ο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 5.2. οὔτʼ is elided twice.^[16] The ι of τιμῆς is long (τιμή). Diaeresis after ἀφελών.

5.3

Line 5.3 · οἳ δʼ εἶχον δύναμιν καὶ χρήμασιν ἦσαν ἀγητοί,

οἳ δʼ εἶχον δύναμιν καὶ χρήμασιν ἦσαν ἀγητοί,

οἳδ’εἶχονδύναμινκαὶχρήμασιν ἦσαν ἀγητοί,

spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —οἳοἳ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —δ’εἶεἶ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —χονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
4 ⏑δύύ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑ναα is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —μινι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
7 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; the next word begins with χρ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —χρήή is long by nature.
9 ⏑μαα is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —ν ἦἦ is long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
12 ⏑σαα is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑ν ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —γηη is long by nature.
15 ×τοί,οί is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 5.3. οἳ δʼ: the article as a pronoun, “and those who”. The ν of χρήμασιν and of ἦσαν goes with the following vowel.^[15] Penthemimeral caesura after δύναμιν, bucolic diaeresis after χρήμασιν.^[6]

5.4

Line 5.4 · καὶ τοῖς ἐφρασάμην μηδὲν ἀεικὲς ἔχειν.

καὶ τοῖς ἐφρασάμην μηδὲν ἀεικὲς ἔχειν.

καὶτοῖςἐφρασάμηνμηδὲν ἀεικὲς ἔχειν.

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —τοῖςοῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —ἐφἐ is short by nature; closed by φ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
4 ⏑ραα is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑σάά is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —μηνη is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 —μηη is long by nature.
8 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature.
9 ⏑ν ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
10 —ειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑κὲὲ is short by nature.
12 ⏑ς ἔἔ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
13 ×χειν.ει is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 5.4. In ἐφρασάμην the φρ inside the word makes position,^[11] and the σ of τοῖς goes with it.^[15] The ν of μηδὲν and the σ of ἀεικὲς go with the following vowels. Diaeresis after ἐφρασάμην.

5.5

Line 5.5 · ἔστην δʼ ἀμφιβαλὼν κρατερὸν σάκος ἀμφοτέροισι,

ἔστην δʼ ἀμφιβαλὼν κρατερὸν σάκος ἀμφοτέροισι,

ἔστηνδ’ἀμφιβαλὼνκρατερὸνσάκος ἀμφοτέροισι,

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —ἔσἔ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
2 —τηνη is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δ’ἀμἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by μ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 ⏑φιι is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑βαα is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —λὼνὼ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 ⏑κραα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑τεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —ρὸνὸ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
10 ⏑σάά is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑κοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ς ἀμἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by μ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
13 ⏑φοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑τέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —ροιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
16 ×σι,ι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; the position is anceps.

fr. 5.5, the image of the shield held over both sides. δʼ is elided.^[16] The margin names penthemimeral (after ἀμφιβαλών), hephthemimeral (after κρατερόν) and bucolic (after σάκος) word-ends.

5.6

Line 5.6 · νικᾶν δʼ οὐκ εἴασʼ οὐδετέρους ἀδίκως.

νικᾶν δʼ οὐκ εἴασʼ οὐδετέρους ἀδίκως.

νικᾶνδ’οὐκεἴασ’οὐδετέρουςἀδίκως.

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes (with elision).

1 —νιι is long by the metre (position 1 must be long).
2 —κᾶνᾶ carries a circumflex, so it is long; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δ’οὐκοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 —εἴεἴ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —αα is long by the metre (position 5 must be long).
6 —σ’οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
7 ⏑δεε is short by nature.
8 ⏑τέέ is short by nature.
9 —ρουςου is a diphthong, long by nature.
10 ⏑ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
11 ⏑δίί is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
12 ×κως.ω is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 5.6. δʼ is elided before οὐκ, and εἴασʼ (εἴασε) before οὐδετέρους at the diaeresis, which West says is admitted.^[18] Two contracted bicipitia in the first hemiepes (νικᾶν δ’ οὐκ εἴα-), allowed in the first colon.^[18] The ι of νικᾶν and the α of εἴασ’ (augment and stem) are long.

6.1

Line 6.1 · δῆμος δʼ ὧδʼ ἂν ἄριστα σὺν ἡγεμόνεσσιν ἕποιτο,

δῆμος δʼ ὧδʼ ἂν ἄριστα σὺν ἡγεμόνεσσιν ἕποιτο,

δῆμοςδ’ὧδ’ἂν ἄριστασὺν ἡγεμόνεσσιν ἕποιτο,

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee.

1 —δῆῆ is long by nature.
2 —μοςο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δ’ὧὧ is long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 ⏑δ’ἂἂ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑ν ἄἄ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ρισι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
7 ⏑ταα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑σὺὺ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —ν ἡἡ is long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
10 ⏑γεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑μόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —νεσε is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
13 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑ν ἕἕ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —ποιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
16 ×το,ο is short by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 6.1. δῆμος δʼ ὧδʼ ἂν: δ’ and ὧδ’ are elided;^[16] ἂν is postpositive and its ν goes with ἄριστα.^[15] The ν of σὺν goes with ἡγεμόνεσσιν, and its ν with ἕποιτο. Caesura after the third trochee, after ἄριστα.^[8]

6.2

Line 6.2 · μήτε λίαν ἀνεθεὶς μήτε βιαζόμενος.

μήτε λίαν ἀνεθεὶς μήτε βιαζόμενος.

μήτελίανἀνεθεὶςμήτεβιαζόμενος.

dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —μήή is long by nature.
2 ⏑τεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑λίί is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ανα is long by the metre (position 3 must be long).
5 ⏑ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑νεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —θεὶςεὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
8 —μήή is long by nature.
9 ⏑τεε is short by nature.
10 ⏑βιι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
11 —αζ is a double consonant (two sounds) and closes the syllable: long by position.
12 ⏑ζόό is short by nature.
13 ⏑μεε is short by nature.
14 ×νος.ο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 6.2. The α of λίαν is long. The ν of λίαν goes with ἀνεθείς.^[15] Diaeresis after ἀνεθείς.

Gerber prints λίην.^[22]

6.3

Line 6.3 · τίκτει γὰρ κόρος ὕβριν, ὅταν πολὺς ὄλβος ἕπηται

τίκτει γὰρ κόρος ὕβριν, ὅταν πολὺς ὄλβος ἕπηται

τίκτειγὰρκόρος ὕβρι,ν ὅτανπολὺς ὄλβος ἕπηται

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —τίκί is a vowel of unknown length; closed by κ: long by position.
2 —τειει is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —γὰρὰ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
4 ⏑κόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑ροο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ς ὕβὕ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by β before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
7 ⏑ρι,ι is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑ν ὅὅ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —τανα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
10 ⏑ποο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑λὺὺ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ς ὄλὄ is short by nature; closed by λ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
13 ⏑βοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑ς ἕἕ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —πηη is long by nature.
16 ×ταιαι is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 6.3, the proverb “excess breeds insolence”. The σ of κόρος and of πολὺς and the ν of ὕβριν go with the following vowels;^[15] in ὕβριν the βρ inside the word makes position.^[11] Caesura after the third trochee, after ὕβριν;^[8] the margin’s hephthemimeral (after ὅταν) and bucolic (after πολύς) word-ends are also real.

6.4

Line 6.4 · ἀνθρώποισιν, ὅσοις μὴ νόος ἄρτιος ᾖ.

ἀνθρώποισιν, ὅσοις μὴ νόος ἄρτιος ᾖ.

ἀνθρώποισι,ν ὅσοιςμὴνόος ἄρτιος ᾖ.

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ἀνἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
2 —θρώώ is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —ποιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 ⏑σι,ι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑ν ὅὅ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —σοιςοι is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
7 —μὴὴ is long by nature.
8 ⏑νόό is short by nature.
9 ⏑οο is short by nature.
10 —ς ἄρἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
11 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
12 ⏑οο is short by nature.
13 ×ς ᾖ.ᾖ is long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; the position is anceps.

fr. 6.4. The ν of ἀνθρώποισιν goes with ὅσοις, and the σ of νόος and of ἄρτιος with the next vowel.^[15] Diaeresis after ὅσοις.

Gerber prints ἀνθρώποις ὁπόσοις;^[22] it scans as ἀνθρώποισιν, ὅσοις does, — — — ⏑ ⏑ —.

Notes

^ Bowie 2022, p. 304; Aloni 2009, p. 172.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 172.
^ Bowie 2022, p. 304.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 173.
^ Bowie 2022, p. 306.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f West 1987, p. 21.
^ West 1987, p. 24; Battezzato 2009, p. 138.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f West 1987, p. 19.
^ ^a ^b West 1987, pp. 20–21.
^ Bowie 2022, pp. 304–305.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f West 1987, p. 16.
^ West 1987, p. 14.
^ West 1987, p. 4.
^ ^a ^b Bowie 2022, p. 305.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ West 1987, p. 12.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e West 1987, p. 13.
^ West 1987, p. 15.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d West 1987, p. 24.
^ ^a ^b D’Alessio 2009, p. 122.
^ West 1987, p. 12 n. 1.
^ Gerber 1999a, p. 120.
^ ^a ^b Gerber 1999a, p. 122.

Text and sources

Text: Demosthenes 19 (On the False Embassy) 255, ed. S. H. Butcher (Oxford Classical Texts, 1903), Perseus Digital Library (tlg0014.tlg019.perseus-grc2), CC BY-SA 4.0 (the licence of the Perseus repository; the file’s TEI header states none); [Aristotle], Athenaion Politeia 12.1–2, ed. F. G. Kenyon (Oxford Classical Texts, 1920), Perseus Digital Library (tlg0086.tlg003.perseus-grc2), CC BY-SA 4.0, which numbers the fragments “Sol. Fr. 5” and “Sol. Fr. 6”. Checked letter by letter.
Metre and prosody: M. L. West, Introduction to Greek Metre (Oxford 1987), pp. 4, 12–16, 19–21, 24, checked against the page images.
L. Battezzato, ‘Metre and music’, in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric (Cambridge 2009), p. 138 (the elegiac distich as an epodic strophe, hexameter ‖ D | D |||; contraction avoided in the second half of the pentameter).
E. Bowie, ‘Solon and Theognis’, ch. 21 in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric (Wiley 2022), pp. 304–305.
G. B. D’Alessio, ‘Language and pragmatics’, in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric (Cambridge 2009), p. 122.
D. E. Gerber, Greek Elegiac Poetry from the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC (Loeb Classical Library 258, Cambridge, MA 1999), Solon frr. 4.1–10 (pp. 112–113), 5 and 6 (pp. 120–123), compared line by line: same numbers as West. Aristotle, who quotes 5 and 6, says that Solon could have become tyrant with the backing of either side (p. 120).

Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this page’s licence.

Sources

Demosthenes 19.255, ed. S. H. Butcher (OCT 1903), Perseus Digital Library, tlg0014.tlg019.perseus-grc2 (Greek text of Solon fr. 4.1–10, checked letter by letter).
[Aristotle], Athenaion Politeia 12.1–2, ed. F. G. Kenyon (OCT 1920), Perseus Digital Library, tlg0086.tlg003.perseus-grc2 (Greek text of Solon frr. 5–6, checked letter by letter).
West, M. L. 1987. Introduction to Greek Metre. Oxford. pp. 4, 12–16, 19–21, 24 (checked against page images).
Bowie, E. 2022. 'Solon and Theognis', in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric. Wiley. ch. 21, pp. 304–305. (synopsis: pp. 304, 306)
D'Alessio, G. B. 2009. 'Language and pragmatics', in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. p. 122.
Gerber, D. E. 1999a. Greek Elegiac Poetry from the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC (Loeb Classical Library 258). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. pp. 112–113, 120–123 (Solon frr. 4.1–10, 5, 6) (read on the Loeb Classical Library site).
Aloni, A. 2009. 'Elegy: forms, functions and communication', in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. pp. 172–173.

Greek text: Demosthenes, ed. Butcher, Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0; Athenaion Politeia, ed. Kenyon, Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Scansion, commentary and translation © metrehelp.org, CC BY-SA 4.0. Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this licence.

Solon fr. 4.11–39: Eunomia (Demosthenes 19.255)

Synopsis

Scanned here are lines 11–39, the rest of the poem as Demosthenes gives it. They tell of the plunder of sacred and public property, and of Justice, who waits in silence. The public evil leaps the courtyard wall into every house. The poem closes with the praise of Good Order.

Text and translation

πλουτοῦσιν δʼ ἀδίκοις ἔργμασι πειθόμενοι

fr. 4.11 (between two gaps)

4.11

πλουτοῦσιν δʼ ἀδίκοις ἔργμασι πειθόμενοι.

… and they grow rich, yielding to unjust deeds …

fr. 4.12–25: greed, Justice and slavery

4.12

οὔθʼ ἱερῶν κτεάνων οὔτε τι δημοσίων

sparing neither sacred possessions nor anything public,

4.13

φειδόμενοι κλέπτουσιν ἐφʼ ἁρπαγῇ ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος,

they steal by plunder, one from here, another from there,

4.14

οὐδὲ φυλάσσονται σεμνὰ θέμεθλα Δίκης,

and they do not guard the holy foundations of Justice,

4.15

ἣ σιγῶσα σύνοιδε τὰ γιγνόμενα πρό τʼ ἐόντα,

who knows in silence what is happening and what went before,

4.16

τῷ δὲ χρόνῳ πάντως ἦλθʼ ἀποτεισομένη.

and in time comes without fail to exact the penalty.

4.17

τοῦτʼ ἤδη πάσῃ πόλει ἔρχεται ἕλκος ἄφυκτον,

This is coming now upon the whole city, a wound past escaping,

4.18

εἰς δὲ κακὴν ταχέως ἤλυθε δουλοσύνην,

and it has quickly fallen into wretched slavery,

4.19

ἢ στάσιν ἔμφυλον πόλεμόν θʼ εὕδοντʼ ἐπεγείρει,

or it rouses strife among kinsmen and war that lay asleep,

4.20

ὃς πολλῶν ἐρατὴν ὤλεσεν ἡλικίην.

the war that has destroyed the lovely youth of many.

4.21

ἐκ γὰρ δυσμενέων ταχέως πολυήρατον ἄστυ

For at the hands of its enemies the much-loved city

4.22

τρύχεται ἐν συνόδοις τοῖς ἀδικοῦσι φίλαις.

is quickly worn down in the gatherings that the unjust love.

4.23

ταῦτα μὲν ἐν δήμῳ στρέφεται κακά· τῶν δὲ πενιχρῶν

These are the evils that roam among the people; and of the poor

4.24

ἱκνοῦνται πολλοὶ γαῖαν ἐς ἀλλοδαπήν,

many make their way to a foreign land,

4.25

πραθέντες δεσμοῖσί τʼ ἀεικελίοισι δεθέντες.

sold, and bound in shameful fetters …

fr. 4.26–39: the public evil, and Good Order

4.26

οὕτω δημόσιον κακὸν ἔρχεται οἴκαδʼ ἑκάστῳ,

So the public evil comes home to every man,

4.27

αὔλειοι δʼ ἔτʼ ἔχειν οὐκ ἐθέλουσι θύραι,

and the courtyard gates will no longer hold it back;

4.28

ὑψηλὸν δʼ ὑπὲρ ἕρκος ὑπέρθορεν, εὗρε δὲ πάντως,

it leaps over the high wall and finds him without fail,

4.29

εἰ καί τις φεύγων ἐν μυχῷ ᾖ θαλάμου.

even if he runs to hide in the inmost corner of his room.

4.30

ταῦτα διδάξαι θυμὸς Ἀθηναίους με κελεύει,

This is what my heart bids me teach the Athenians:

4.31

ὡς κακὰ πλεῖστα πόλει δυσνομίη παρέχει,

that Bad Order brings the city very many evils,

4.32

εὐνομίη δʼ εὔκοσμα καὶ ἄρτια πάντʼ ἀποφαίνει,

but Good Order makes all things orderly and sound,

4.33

καὶ θαμὰ τοῖς ἀδίκοις ἀμφιτίθησι πέδας,

and often puts fetters round the unjust;

4.34

τραχέα λειαίνει, παύει κόρον, ὕβριν ἀμαυροῖ,

she makes rough places even, checks surfeit, darkens outrage,

4.35

αὐαίνει δʼ ἄτης ἄνθεα φυόμενα,

and dries up the budding blossoms of ruin;

4.36

εὐθύνει δὲ δίκας σκολιάς, ὑπερήφανά τʼ ἔργα

she sets crooked verdicts straight, and overbearing deeds

4.37

πραΰνει, παύει δʼ ἔργα διχοστασίης,

she softens; she ends the doings of discord,

4.38

παύει δʼ ἀργαλέης ἔριδος χόλον· ἔστι δʼ ὑπʼ αὐτῆς

she ends the bitterness of painful strife; and by her

4.39

πάντα κατʼ ἀνθρώπους ἄρτια καὶ πινυτά.

all human affairs are made fitting and sensible.

Solon · fr. 4.11–39 W · elegiac couplets · quoted by Demosthenes, On the False Embassy 255 · text of Butcher

How to read each line

A guide to the Greek, syllables, pitch marks and quantities.

Show the reading key

Above each line: the line as the edition prints it, each word placed over its own syllables. The main row: the same Greek divided into metrical syllables, each written as it is pronounced. A consonant that closes a syllable is written with it (λόθ | ρο); an elided word is closed up with the next vowel (ν’ἀ); a final consonant carried into the next word is set with a thin space (ς ἰ). Wider gaps mark word-ends.
Above the syllables: the pitch of each syllable, from the accents. Under them: the quantity of each syllable as it falls in the line, then the transliteration, syllable by syllable, with accented syllables in capitals.
Under each line: a line-for-line translation. In the right margin of the scansion: the line type, its scheme, and its analysis into cola.

Key to the labels

The names, patterns and symbols used beside this poem.

Show the labels and symbols

Label	Name and shape	What it is
hem1	First hemiepes— ⏔ — ⏔ —	The first two and a half feet of the hexameter, up to the penthemimeral caesura; in the pentameter, its whole first half.
hemp	Second hemiepes— ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×	The second half of the pentameter: two dactyls and a single syllable, with no contraction allowed.
hem2	Second half of the hexameter⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×	From the penthemimeral caesura to the line-end: the fifth foot is nearly always a dactyl, the sixth is — ×.

The traditional feet

Foot and shape	Where
First foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 1–2 of the pentameter.
Second foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 3–4.
Half-foot before the diaeresis—	Scheme position 5: the long that closes the first hemiepes; word-end must follow.
Fourth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 6–8: no contraction after the diaeresis.
Fifth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 9–11.
Final syllable×	Scheme position 12.
First foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 1–2. The biceps (⏑ ⏑) may be contracted to a single long, making a spondee.
Second foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 3–4.
Third foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 5–6. The penthemimeral caesura falls after its first syllable, the “trochaic” caesura after its second.
Fourth foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 7–8. Word-end at the end of this foot, when it is a dactyl, is the bucolic diaeresis (West’s “bucolic caesura”: word-end at the end of the fourth foot after an uncontracted biceps)^[6].
Fifth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 9–10. A spondee here (a “spondaic line”) is rare.
Sixth foot— ×	Scheme positions 11–12: a long and the indifferent final syllable.

Scansion

The second half of Solon’s poem on the city’s ruin and on Good Order (Eunomia), which Demosthenes had read out to the jury. The first ten lines are on the “frr. 4.1–10, 5, 6” tab under Solon. Every line is scanned, with notes.

Click a syllable to see its

Section 1fr. 4.11 (between two gaps)

4.11

πλουτοῦσινδʼἀδίκοιςἔργμασιπειθόμενοι.

πλουplouτοῦTOUσινsinδ’ἀd’aδίDIκοιςkoisἔρERγμαgmaσιsiπειpeiθόTHOμεmeνοι.noi

… and they grow rich, yielding to unjust deeds …

Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Section 2fr. 4.12–25: greed, Justice and slavery
4.12
οὔθʼἱερῶνκτεάνωνοὔτετιδημοσίων
οὔOUθ’ἱth’hiεeρῶνRŌNκτεkteάAνωνnōnοὔOUτεteτιtiδηdēμοmoσίSIωνōn
sparing neither sacred possessions nor anything public,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.13
φειδόμενοικλέπτουσινἐφʼἁρπαγῇἄλλοθενἄλλος,
φειpheiδόDOμεmeνοιnoiκλέπKLEPτουtouσιsiν ἐneφ’ἁρph’harπαpaγῇGĒIἄλALλοloθεtheν ἄλNALλος,los
they steal by plunder, one from here, another from there,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis
4.14
οὐδὲφυλάσσονταισεμνὰθέμεθλαΔίκης,
οὐouδὲdeφυphyλάσLASσονsonταιtaiσεμsemνὰnaθέTHEμεθmethλαlaΔίDIκης,kēs
and they do not guard the holy foundations of Justice,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.15
ἣσιγῶσασύνοιδετὰγιγνόμεναπρότʼἐόντα,
ἣhēσιsīγῶGŌσαsaσύSYνοιnoiδεdeτὰtaγιγgigνόNOμεmeναnaπρόPROτ’ἐt’eόνONτα,ta
who knows in silence what is happening and what went before,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee
4.16
τῷδὲχρόνῳπάντωςἦλθʼἀποτεισομένη.
τῷTŌIδὲdeχρόCHROνῳnōiπάνPANτωςtōsἦλĒLθ’ἀth’aποpoτειteiσοsoμέMEνη.nē
and in time comes without fail to exact the penalty.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.17
τοῦτʼἤδηπάσῃπόλειἔρχεταιἕλκοςἄφυκτον,
τοῦTOUτ’ἤT’ĒδηdēπάPĀσῃsēiπόPOλειleiἔρERχεcheταιtaiἕλHELκοkoς ἄSAφυκphykτον,ton
This is coming now upon the whole city, a wound past escaping,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
4.18
εἰςδὲκακὴνταχέωςἤλυθεδουλοσύνην,
εἰςeisδὲdeκαkaκὴνkēnταtaχέCHEωςōsἤĒλυlyθεtheδουdouλοloσύSYνην,nēn
and it has quickly fallen into wretched slavery,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.19
ἢστάσινἔμφυλονπόλεμόνθʼεὕδοντʼἐπεγείρει,
ἢēστάSTAσιsiν ἔμNEMφυphȳλονlonπόPOλεleμόνMONθ’εὕTH’HEUδονdonτ’ἐt’eπεpeγείGEIρει,rei
or it rouses strife among kinsmen and war that lay asleep,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura
4.20
ὃςπολλῶνἐρατὴνὤλεσενἡλικίην.
ὃςhosπολpolλῶνLŌNἐeραraτὴνtēnὤŌλεleσεseν ἡnhēλιliκίKIην.ēn
the war that has destroyed the lovely youth of many.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.21
ἐκγὰρδυσμενέωνταχέωςπολυήρατονἄστυ
ἐκekγὰρgarδυσdysμεmeνέNEωνōnταtaχέCHEωςōsποpoλυlyήĒραraτοtoν ἄσNASτυty
For at the hands of its enemies the much-loved city
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura
4.22
τρύχεταιἐνσυνόδοιςτοῖςἀδικοῦσιφίλαις.
τρύTRȲχεcheταιtaiἐνenσυsyνόNOδοιςdoisτοῖςTOISἀaδιdiκοῦKOUσιsiφίPHIλαις.lais
is quickly worn down in the gatherings that the unjust love.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.23
ταῦταμὲνἐνδήμῳστρέφεταικακά·τῶνδὲπενιχρῶν
ταῦTAUταtaμὲmeν ἐνnenδήDĒμῳmōiστρέSTREφεpheταιtaiκαkaκά·KAτῶνTŌNδὲdeπεpeνιχnichρῶνRŌN
These are the evils that roam among the people; and of the poor
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
4.24
ἱκνοῦνταιπολλοὶγαῖανἐςἀλλοδαπήν,
ἱκhikνοῦνNOUNταιtaiπολpolλοὶloiγαῖGAIαaν ἐneς ἀλsalλοloδαdaπήν,PĒN
many make their way to a foreign land,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.25
πραθέντεςδεσμοῖσίτʼἀεικελίοισιδεθέντες.
πραprāθένTHENτεςtesδεσdesμοῖMOIσίSIτ’ἀt’aειeiκεkeλίLIοιoiσιsiδεdeθένTHENτες.tes
sold, and bound in shameful fetters …
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee

Section 3fr. 4.26–39: the public evil, and Good Order
4.26
οὕτωδημόσιονκακὸνἔρχεταιοἴκαδʼἑκάστῳ,
οὕHOUτωtōδηdēμόMOσιsiονonκαkaκὸkoν ἔρNERχεcheταιtaiοἴOIκαkaδ’ἑd’heκάσKASτῳ,tōi
So the public evil comes home to every man,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
4.27
αὔλειοιδʼἔτʼἔχεινοὐκἐθέλουσιθύραι,
αὔAUλειleiοιoiδ’ἔD’Eτ’ἔT’EχεινcheinοὐκoukἐeθέTHEλουlouσιsiθύTHYραι,rai
and the courtyard gates will no longer hold it back;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.28
ὑψηλὸνδʼὑπὲρἕρκοςὑπέρθορεν,εὗρεδὲπάντως,
ὑhyψηpsēλὸνlonδ’ὑd’hyπὲpeρ ἕρRHERκοkoς ὑshyπέρPERθοthoρε,reν εὗNHEUρεreδὲdeπάνPANτως,tōs
it leaps over the high wall and finds him without fail,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis
4.29
εἰκαίτιςφεύγωνἐνμυχῷᾖθαλάμου.
εἰeiκαίKAIτιςtisφεύPHEUγωνgōnἐνenμυmyχῷCHŌIᾖĒIθαthaλάLAμου.mou
even if he runs to hide in the inmost corner of his room.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.30
ταῦταδιδάξαιθυμὸςἈθηναίουςμεκελεύει,
ταῦTAUταtaδιdiδάDAξαιxaiθυthȳμὸmoς ἈsaθηthēναίNAIουςousμεmeκεkeλεύLEUει,ei
This is what my heart bids me teach the Athenians:
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee
4.31
ὡςκακὰπλεῖσταπόλειδυσνομίηπαρέχει,
ὡςhōsκαkaκὰkaπλεῖσPLEISταtaπόPOλειleiδυσdysνοnoμίMIηēπαpaρέREχει,chei
that Bad Order brings the city very many evils,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.32
εὐνομίηδʼεὔκοσμακαὶἄρτιαπάντʼἀποφαίνει,
εὐeuνοnoμίMIηēδ’εὔD’EUκοσkosμαmaκαὶkaiἄρARτιtiαaπάνPANτ’ἀt’aποpoφαίPHAIνει,nei
but Good Order makes all things orderly and sound,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis
4.33
καὶθαμὰτοῖςἀδίκοιςἀμφιτίθησιπέδας,
καὶkaiθαthaμὰmaτοῖςTOISἀaδίDIκοιςkoisἀμamφιphiτίTIθηthēσιsiπέPEδας,das
and often puts fetters round the unjust;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.34
τραχέαλειαίνει,παύεικόρον,ὕβρινἀμαυροῖ,
τραtrāχέCHEαaλειleiαίAIνει,neiπαύPAUειeiκόKOρο,roν ὕβNHYBριriν ἀnaμαυmauροῖ,ROI
she makes rough places even, checks surfeit, darkens outrage,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
4.35
αὐαίνειδʼἄτηςἄνθεαφυόμενα,
αὐauαίAIνειneiδ’ἄD’ĀτηςtēsἄνANθεtheαaφυphȳόOμεmeνα,na
and dries up the budding blossoms of ruin;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.36
εὐθύνειδὲδίκαςσκολιάς,ὑπερήφανάτʼἔργα
εὐeuθύTHȲνειneiδὲdeδίDIκαςkasσκοskoλιliάς,ĀSὑhyπεpeρήRĒφαphaνάNAτ’ἔρT’ERγαga
she sets crooked verdicts straight, and overbearing deeds
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura
4.37
πραΰνει,παύειδʼἔργαδιχοστασίης,
πραprāΰȲνει,neiπαύPAUειeiδ’ἔρD’ERγαgaδιdiχοσchosταtaσίSIης,ēs
she softens; she ends the doings of discord,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
4.38
παύειδʼἀργαλέηςἔριδοςχόλον·ἔστιδʼὑπʼαὐτῆς
παύPAUειeiδ’ἀρd’arγαgaλέLEηςēsἔEριriδοςdosχόCHOλο·loν ἔσNESτιtiδ’ὑd’hyπ’αὐp’auτῆςTĒS
she ends the bitterness of painful strife; and by her
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
4.39
πάντακατʼἀνθρώπουςἄρτιακαὶπινυτά.
πάνPANταtaκαkaτ’ἀνt’anθρώTHRŌπουςpousἄρARτιtiαaκαὶkaiπιpiνυnyτά.TA
all human affairs are made fitting and sensible.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Metre

The couplet. A hexameter alternating with the “pentameter”, — ⏔ — ⏔ — | — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ —. The pentameter is two hemiepes, always divided by a word-end, and contraction is allowed only in its first half. The elegiac hexameter takes less prosodic licence than the epic one.^[7] Each line is a period: the last position may hold a short syllable (as in 15, 21, 35, 36, 39), and the next line starts afresh.^[7]
Gaps in the text. Butcher’s text, like Gerber’s, marks a gap after line 10 and another after 11, so that 11 and 12 are two pentameters with something lost between them. A third gap after 25 leaves two hexameters, 25 and 26, side by side.^[8] The page groups the lines in the three runs that survive.
Caesurae. All fourteen hexameters have a third-foot caesura. In 13, 15, 25, 28, 30 and 32 it is feminine; in the other eight it is masculine.^[9] Every pentameter has its word-end after the first hemiepes.^[7]
Stop + liquid. West says that Theognis, Solon and Pindar leave a short vowel short before stop + liquid more freely than earlier poets.^[10] In Butcher’s text, every stop + liquid inside a word makes position (θέμεθλα 14, πενιχρῶν 23, ἀνθρώπους 39). The short syllables before stop + liquid all come at the start of a word: δὲ χρόνῳ (16) and κακὰ πλεῖστα (31). In Gerber’s order for line 14, σεμνὰ Δίκης θέμεθλα, the ε of θέμεθλα must stay short before θλ inside the word, the freer treatment West describes.^[11]
Prosody. Elision,^[12] including before ἔργα (36), whose old ϝ is ignored here; epic correption^[13] in 13, 17, 26, 29 and 32; πρό unelided before a vowel (p. 13, where πρό is listed among the vowels that are not elided). There is no hiatus.
Vowel quantities. Checked in LSJ: σῑγῶσα (15; s.v. σιγάω), τρῡ́χεται (22; s.v. τρύχω), τρᾱχέα (34; s.v. τραχύς), ἄτης with ᾱ (35; s.v. ἄτη), εὐθῡ́νει (36; s.v. εὐθύνω), πρᾱΰνει (37; s.v. πραΰνω), θῡμός (30). The ᾱ of πραθέντες (25) belongs to the stem πρᾱ- of πέρνημι, as in the perfect πέπρᾱκα.^[14] The υ of φυόμενα (35) is long in the princeps; LSJ marks ῡ for the future of φύω and does not mark the present.
Gerber’s text. Compared with D. E. Gerber’s Loeb edition.^[15] The line numbers are the same. Differences that touch the metre:
- 11: Gerber prints πλουτέουσιν (Fick) for the manuscripts’ πλουτοῦσιν. It scans with synizesis.
- 14: Gerber prints σεμνὰ Δίκης θέμεθλα for σεμνὰ θέμεθλα Δίκης.^[16]
- 22: Gerber prints West’s ἀδικέουσι, which scans with synizesis, for the manuscripts’ ἀδικοῦσι.
- 24: Gerber prints Fick’s ἱκνέονται, also with synizesis, for ἱκνοῦνται.
Other differences do not affect the metre: 13 ἀφαρπαγῇ as one word; 18 ἐς for εἰς; 19 the relative ἥ for ἤ; 31–32 Δυσνομίη and Εὐνομίη with capitals (Bergk). The translation follows Butcher’s ἤ in 19.

Prosody, line by line

4.11

Line 4.11 · πλουτοῦσιν δʼ ἀδίκοις ἔργμασι πειθόμενοι.

πλουτοῦσιν δʼ ἀδίκοις ἔργμασι πειθόμενοι.

πλουτοῦσινδ’ἀδίκοιςἔργμασιπειθόμενοι.

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —πλουου is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —τοῦοῦ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —σινι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
4 ⏑δ’ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑δίί is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —κοιςοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 —ἔρἔ is short by nature; closed by ρ: long by position.
8 ⏑γμαα is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable.
10 —πειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑θόό is short by nature.
12 ⏑μεε is short by nature.
13 ×νοι.οι is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.11, a pentameter standing between two gaps. The first hemiepes has its first biceps contracted (πλου-τοῦ-σιν), which the pentameter allows only in the first colon.^[7] δ’ is elided.^[12] The γμ of ἔργμασι goes with the next syllable, leaving ἔρ- long by its ρ.^[17] The word-end after ἀδίκοις is the pentameter’s caesura.^[7]

4.12

Line 4.12 · οὔθʼ ἱερῶν κτεάνων οὔτε τι δημοσίων

οὔθʼ ἱερῶν κτεάνων οὔτε τι δημοσίων

οὔθ’ἱερῶνκτεάνωνοὔτετιδημοσίων

dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —οὔοὔ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑θ’ἱἱ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑εε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ρῶνῶ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
5 ⏑κτεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑άά is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —νωνω is long by nature.
8 —οὔοὔ is a diphthong, long by nature.
9 ⏑τεε is short by nature.
10 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
11 —δηη is long by nature.
12 ⏑μοο is short by nature.
13 ⏑σίί is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
14 ×ωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.12, a pentameter. οὔθ’ is elided before ἱερῶν,^[12] and ἱερῶν has three syllables. The word-end after κτεάνων is the caesura.^[7] τι, a postpositive, goes with οὔτε.^[18]

4.13

Line 4.13 · φειδόμενοι κλέπτουσιν ἐφʼ ἁρπαγῇ ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος,

φειδόμενοι κλέπτουσιν ἐφʼ ἁρπαγῇ ἄλλοθεν ἄλλος,

φειδόμενοικλέπτουσιν ἐφ’ἁρπαγῇἄλλοθεν ἄλλος,

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —φειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑δόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —νοιοι is a diphthong, long by nature; the next word begins with κλ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
5 —κλέπέ is short by nature; closed by π: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —τουου is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑ν ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —φ’ἁρἁ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
10 ⏑παα is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑γῇῇ is long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ἄλἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position.
13 ⏑λοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑θεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —ν ἄλἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
16 ×λος,ο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.13. A dactyl, a spondee and three dactyls. The ν of κλέπτουσιν passes to ἐφ’, but the word ends between the shorts of the third foot: a feminine caesura.^[9] ἐφ’ is elided and goes with ἁρπαγῇ.^[19] -γῇ is shortened before ἄλλοθεν by epic correption,^[13] and the word-end after ἁρπαγῇ is the bucolic caesura.^[6]

4.14

Line 4.14 · οὐδὲ φυλάσσονται σεμνὰ θέμεθλα Δίκης,

οὐδὲ φυλάσσονται σεμνὰ θέμεθλα Δίκης,

οὐδὲφυλάσσονταισεμνὰθέμεθλαΔίκης,

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑φυυ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —λάσά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
5 —σονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ταιαι is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 —σεμε is short by nature; closed by μ: long by position.
8 ⏑νὰὰ is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑θέέ is short by nature.
10 —μεθε is short by nature; closed by θ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
11 ⏑λαα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable.
12 ⏑Δίί is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×κης,η is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.14, a pentameter with the second biceps contracted (-λάσ-σον-ται). The word-end after φυλάσσονται is the caesura.^[7] The θλ of θέμεθλα makes position inside the word.^[20] Gerber prints σεμνὰ Δίκης θέμεθλα.^[21] In that order the ε before θλ must stay short (θέ-με-θλα, ⏑ ⏑ ×), the freedom with stop + liquid that West notes in Solon.^[10]

4.15

Line 4.15 · ἣ σιγῶσα σύνοιδε τὰ γιγνόμενα πρό τʼ ἐόντα,

ἣ σιγῶσα σύνοιδε τὰ γιγνόμενα πρό τʼ ἐόντα,

ἣσιγῶσασύνοιδετὰγιγνόμεναπρότ’ἐόντα,

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee.

1 —ἣἣ is long by nature.
2 —σιι is long by the metre (position 2 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —γῶῶ is long by nature.
4 ⏑σαα is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑σύύ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —νοιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 ⏑δεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑τὰὰ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —γιγι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by γ: long by position; γν is one of the four clusters (γμ, γν, δμ, δν) that never leave the syllable before them short.^[10]
10 ⏑νόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ναα is short by the accent rule (the accent falls too far back for a long final syllable); the next word begins with πρ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
13 ⏑πρόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑τ’ἐἐ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —όνό is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
16 ×τα,α is of unknown length; the position is anceps, so either scans.

fr. 4.15. A spondee and four dactyls. The ι of σιγῶσα is long.^[22] The caesura is feminine, after σύνοιδε.^[9] The article τά goes with γιγνόμενα, whose γν always makes position.^[23] πρό stays unelided before τ’ ἐόντα, since πρό is never elided.^[12] The last syllable of ἐόντα is short at period-end.^[7]

4.16

Line 4.16 · τῷ δὲ χρόνῳ πάντως ἦλθʼ ἀποτεισομένη.

τῷ δὲ χρόνῳ πάντως ἦλθʼ ἀποτεισομένη.

τῷδὲχρόνῳπάντωςἦλθ’ἀποτεισομένη.

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —τῷῷ is long by nature.
2 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; the next word begins with χρ, a stop + liquid that does not make position here, so the syllable stays short; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑χρόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —νῳῳ is long by nature.
5 —πάνά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —τωςω is long by nature.
7 —ἦλἦ is long by nature; closed by λ: long by position.
8 ⏑θ’ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 7 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
9 ⏑ποο is short by nature.
10 —τειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑σοο is short by nature.
12 ⏑μέέ is short by nature.
13 ×νη.η is long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.16, a pentameter with the second biceps contracted (πάν-). δέ stays short before the initial χρ of χρόνῳ.^[10] The word-end after πάντως is the caesura.^[7] ἦλθ’ is elided.^[12]

4.17

Line 4.17 · τοῦτʼ ἤδη πάσῃ πόλει ἔρχεται ἕλκος ἄφυκτον,

τοῦτʼ ἤδη πάσῃ πόλει ἔρχεται ἕλκος ἄφυκτον,

τοῦτ’ἤδηπάσῃπόλειἔρχεταιἕλκος ἄφυκτον,

spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —τοῦοῦ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —τ’ἤἤ is long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δηη is long by nature.
4 —πάά is long by the metre (position 4 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —σῃῃ is long by nature.
6 ⏑πόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 ⏑λειει is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —ἔρἔ is short by nature; closed by ρ: long by position.
9 ⏑χεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑ταιαι is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —ἕλἕ is short by nature; closed by λ: long by position.
12 ⏑κοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑ς ἄἄ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —φυκυ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by κ: long by position.
15 ×τον,ο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.17. Two spondees and three dactyls. τοῦτ’ is elided.^[12] The caesura is penthemimeral, after πάσῃ.^[9] The α of πάσῃ is long, as the circumflex of πᾶσα shows. -λει of πόλει is shortened before ἔρχεται by epic correption.^[13] Word-end after ἔρχεται is the bucolic caesura.^[6]

4.18

Line 4.18 · εἰς δὲ κακὴν ταχέως ἤλυθε δουλοσύνην,

εἰς δὲ κακὴν ταχέως ἤλυθε δουλοσύνην,

εἰςδὲκακὴνταχέωςἤλυθεδουλοσύνην,

dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —εἰςεἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
2 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —κὴνὴ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
5 ⏑ταα is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑χέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —ωςω is long by nature.
8 —ἤἤ is long by nature.
9 ⏑λυυ is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
10 ⏑θεε is short by nature.
11 —δουου is a diphthong, long by nature.
12 ⏑λοο is short by nature.
13 ⏑σύύ is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
14 ×νην,η is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.18, a pentameter. The word-end after ταχέως, which has three syllables here, is the caesura.^[7]

4.19

Line 4.19 · ἢ στάσιν ἔμφυλον πόλεμόν θʼ εὕδοντʼ ἐπεγείρει,

ἢ στάσιν ἔμφυλον πόλεμόν θʼ εὕδοντʼ ἐπεγείρει,

ἢστάσιν ἔμφυλονπόλεμόνθ’εὕδοντ’ἐπεγείρει,

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —ἢἢ is long by nature; the next word begins with στ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
2 ⏑στάά is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑σιι is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ν ἔμἔ is short by nature; closed by μ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
5 —φυυ is long by the metre (position 4 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —λονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 ⏑πόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑λεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —μόνό is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
10 —θ’εὕεὕ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —δονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
12 ⏑τ’ἐἐ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑πεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —γείεί is a diphthong, long by nature.
15 ×ρει,ει is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.19. A dactyl, a spondee, a dactyl, a spondee and a dactyl. The caesura is penthemimeral, after ἔμφυλον, with a hephthemimeral word-end after πόλεμόν θ’.^[9] θ’ is elided and goes with πόλεμον.^[19] εὕδοντ’ is elided before ἐπεγείρει.^[12] Butcher prints ἤ (“or”), which the translation follows; Gerber prints the relative ἥ, “(slavery) which wakes …”.^[21]

4.20

Line 4.20 · ὃς πολλῶν ἐρατὴν ὤλεσεν ἡλικίην.

ὃς πολλῶν ἐρατὴν ὤλεσεν ἡλικίην.

ὃςπολλῶνἐρατὴνὤλεσεν ἡλικίην.

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ὃςὃ is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
2 —πολο is short by nature; closed by λ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —λῶνῶ is long by nature.
4 ⏑ἐἐ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑ραα is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —τὴνὴ is long by nature.
7 —ὤὤ is long by nature.
8 ⏑λεε is short by nature.
9 ⏑σεε is short by nature.
10 —ν ἡἡ is long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
11 ⏑λιι is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
12 ⏑κίί is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×ην.η is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.20, a pentameter with the first biceps contracted (πολ-). The word-end after ἐρατήν is the caesura.^[7] The ν of ὤλεσεν passes to ἡλικίην.

4.21

Line 4.21 · ἐκ γὰρ δυσμενέων ταχέως πολυήρατον ἄστυ

ἐκ γὰρ δυσμενέων ταχέως πολυήρατον ἄστυ

ἐκγὰρδυσμενέωνταχέωςπολυήρατον ἄστυ

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —ἐκἐ is short by nature; closed by κ: long by position.
2 —γὰρὰ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δυσυ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
4 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑νέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 ⏑ταα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑χέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —ωςω is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
10 ⏑ποο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑λυυ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ήή is long by nature.
13 ⏑ραα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑τοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —ν ἄσἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
16 ×τυυ is of unknown length; the position is anceps, so either scans.

fr. 4.21. A spondee and four dactyls. The κ of ἐκ never belongs to the following syllable,^[24] and γάρ fills the contracted first biceps. The caesura is penthemimeral, after δυσμενέων, with a hephthemimeral word-end after ταχέως.^[9] The last syllable of ἄστυ is short at period-end.^[7]

4.22

Line 4.22 · τρύχεται ἐν συνόδοις τοῖς ἀδικοῦσι φίλαις.

τρύχεται ἐν συνόδοις τοῖς ἀδικοῦσι φίλαις.

τρύχεταιἐνσυνόδοιςτοῖςἀδικοῦσιφίλαις.

dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —τρύύ is long by the metre (position 1 must be long).
2 ⏑χεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑ταιαι is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ἐνἐ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
5 ⏑συυ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑νόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —δοιςοι is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
8 —τοῖςοῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
9 ⏑ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
10 ⏑διι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
11 —κοῦοῦ is a diphthong, long by nature.
12 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable.
13 ⏑φίί is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
14 ×λαις.αι is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.22, a pentameter. The υ of τρύχεται is long.^[25] The word-end after συνόδοις is the caesura.^[7] Gerber prints West’s ἀδικέουσι.^[21] It needs synizesis of -έου-^[26] to give the same scansion.

4.23

Line 4.23 · ταῦτα μὲν ἐν δήμῳ στρέφεται κακά· τῶν δὲ πενιχρῶν

ταῦτα μὲν ἐν δήμῳ στρέφεται κακά· τῶν δὲ πενιχρῶν

ταῦταμὲν ἐνδήμῳστρέφεταικακά·τῶνδὲπενιχρῶν

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —ταῦαῦ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑ταα is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑μὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ν ἐνἐ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
5 —δήή is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —μῳῳ is long by nature; the next word begins with στ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
7 ⏑στρέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑φεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —ταιαι is a diphthong, long by nature.
10 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑κά·ά is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —τῶνῶ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
13 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑πεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —νιχι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by χ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
16 ×ρῶνῶ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.23. A dactyl, a spondee and three dactyls. The ν of μέν passes to ἐν. The caesura is penthemimeral, after δήμῳ, with a hephthemimeral word-end after στρέφεται.^[9] Word-end after κακά, at the strong stop, is the bucolic caesura.^[6] The χρ of πενιχρῶν makes position inside the word.^[20]

4.24

Line 4.24 · ἱκνοῦνται πολλοὶ γαῖαν ἐς ἀλλοδαπήν,

ἱκνοῦνται πολλοὶ γαῖαν ἐς ἀλλοδαπήν,

ἱκνοῦνταιπολλοὶγαῖαν ἐς ἀλλοδαπήν,

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ἱκἱ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by κ before a nasal: stop + nasal makes position, as it usually does in epic.
2 —νοῦνοῦ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —ταιαι is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 —πολο is short by nature; closed by λ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —λοὶοὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
6 —γαῖαῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 ⏑αα is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable.
8 ⏑ν ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
9 —ς ἀλἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
10 ⏑λοο is short by nature.
11 ⏑δαα is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
12 ×πήν,ή is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.24, a pentameter with both bicipitia of the first hemiepes contracted (ἱκ-νοῦν-ται πολ-λοί), as only the first colon allows.^[7] The word-end after πολλοί is the caesura.^[7] Gerber prints Fick’s ἱκνέονται,^[21] which needs synizesis of -εο-.^[26]

4.25

Line 4.25 · πραθέντες δεσμοῖσί τʼ ἀεικελίοισι δεθέντες.

πραθέντες δεσμοῖσί τʼ ἀεικελίοισι δεθέντες.

πραθέντεςδεσμοῖσίτ’ἀεικελίοισιδεθέντες.

spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee.

1 —πραα is long by the metre (position 1 must be long).
2 —θένέ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —τεςε is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
4 —δεσε is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —μοῖοῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
6 ⏑σίί is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 ⏑τ’ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —ειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
9 ⏑κεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑λίί is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —οιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
12 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑δεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —θένέ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
15 ×τες.ε is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.25. Two spondees and three dactyls. The ᾱ of πραθέντες is long, as in the stem πρᾱ-.^[14] δεσμοῖσί τ’ ends between the shorts of the third foot, with τ’ elided onto ἀεικελίοισι: a feminine caesura.^[27] A gap follows this line in the text.^[21]

4.26

Line 4.26 · οὕτω δημόσιον κακὸν ἔρχεται οἴκαδʼ ἑκάστῳ,

οὕτω δημόσιον κακὸν ἔρχεται οἴκαδʼ ἑκάστῳ,

οὕτωδημόσιονκακὸν ἔρχεταιοἴκαδ’ἑκάστῳ,

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —οὕοὕ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —τωω is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δηη is long by nature.
4 ⏑μόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑σιι is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑κὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —ν ἔρἔ is short by nature; closed by ρ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
10 ⏑χεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑ταιαι is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —οἴοἴ is a diphthong, long by nature.
13 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑δ’ἑἑ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —κάσά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
16 ×τῳ,ῳ is long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.26, a hexameter after the gap. A spondee and four dactyls. The caesura is penthemimeral, after δημόσιον.^[9] -ται of ἔρχεται is shortened before οἴκαδ’ by epic correption,^[13] and the word-end after ἔρχεται is the bucolic caesura.^[6] οἴκαδ’ is elided.^[12]

4.27

Line 4.27 · αὔλειοι δʼ ἔτʼ ἔχειν οὐκ ἐθέλουσι θύραι,

αὔλειοι δʼ ἔτʼ ἔχειν οὐκ ἐθέλουσι θύραι,

αὔλειοιδ’ἔτ’ἔχεινοὐκἐθέλουσιθύραι,

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —αὔαὔ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —λειει is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —οιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 ⏑δ’ἔἔ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑τ’ἔἔ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —χεινει is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 —οὐκοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑ἐἐ is short by nature.
9 ⏑θέέ is short by nature.
10 —λουου is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable.
12 ⏑θύύ is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×ραι,αι is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.27, a pentameter with the first biceps contracted (αὔ-λει-). δ’ and ἔτ’ are elided.^[12] The word-end after ἔχειν is the caesura.^[7]

4.28

Line 4.28 · ὑψηλὸν δʼ ὑπὲρ ἕρκος ὑπέρθορεν, εὗρε δὲ πάντως,

ὑψηλὸν δʼ ὑπὲρ ἕρκος ὑπέρθορεν, εὗρε δὲ πάντως,

ὑψηλὸνδ’ὑπὲρ ἕρκος ὑπέρθορε,ν εὗρεδὲπάντως,

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —ὑψ is a double consonant (two sounds) and closes the syllable: long by position.
2 —ψηη is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —λὸνὸ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
4 ⏑δ’ὑὑ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑πὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ρ ἕρἕ is short by nature; closed by ρ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
7 ⏑κοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑ς ὑὑ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —πέρέ is short by nature; closed by ρ: long by position.
10 ⏑θοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑ρε,ε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ν εὗεὗ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
13 ⏑ρεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —πάνά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
16 ×τως,ω is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.28. A spondee and four dactyls. The ὑ- of ὑψηλόν is long before ψ, a double consonant.^[28] The ρ of ὑπέρ passes to ἕρκος, and the ς of ἕρκος to ὑπέρθορεν. The word ends between the shorts of the third foot: a feminine caesura.^[9] Word-end after ὑπέρθορεν is the bucolic caesura.^[6]

4.29

Line 4.29 · εἰ καί τις φεύγων ἐν μυχῷ ᾖ θαλάμου.

εἰ καί τις φεύγων ἐν μυχῷ ᾖ θαλάμου.

εἰκαίτιςφεύγωνἐνμυχῷᾖθαλάμου.

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —εἰεἰ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —καίαί is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —τιςι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position.
4 —φεύεύ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —γωνω is long by nature.
6 —ἐνἐ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 ⏑μυυ is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
8 ⏑χῷῷ is long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires.
9 —ᾖᾖ is long by nature.
10 ⏑θαα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
11 ⏑λάά is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
12 ×μου.ου is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.29, a pentameter with both bicipitia of the first hemiepes contracted (καί, φεύ-), as allowed.^[7] The word-end after φεύγων is the caesura.^[7] -χῷ of μυχῷ is shortened before ᾖ by epic correption.^[13]

4.30

Line 4.30 · ταῦτα διδάξαι θυμὸς Ἀθηναίους με κελεύει,

ταῦτα διδάξαι θυμὸς Ἀθηναίους με κελεύει,

ταῦταδιδάξαιθυμὸς Ἀθηναίουςμεκελεύει,

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee.

1 —ταῦαῦ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑ταα is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑διι is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —δάξ is a double consonant (two sounds) and closes the syllable: long by position.
5 —ξαιαι is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —θυυ is long by the metre (position 5 must be long).
7 ⏑μὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑ς ἈἈ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —θηη is long by nature.
10 —ναίαί is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —ουςου is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
12 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑κεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —λεύεύ is a diphthong, long by nature.
15 ×ει,ει is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.30. A dactyl, a spondee, a dactyl, a spondee and a dactyl. διδάξαι ends after the contracted second biceps. The υ of θυμός is long,^[29] and its ς passes to Ἀθηναίους, so the word ends between the shorts of the third foot: a feminine caesura.^[9] Ἀθηναίους runs from the third foot to the fifth princeps.

4.31

Line 4.31 · ὡς κακὰ πλεῖστα πόλει δυσνομίη παρέχει,

ὡς κακὰ πλεῖστα πόλει δυσνομίη παρέχει,

ὡςκακὰπλεῖσταπόλειδυσνομίηπαρέχει,

dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ὡςὡ is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
2 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑κὰὰ is a vowel of unknown length; the next word begins with πλ, a stop + liquid that does not make position here, so the syllable stays short; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —πλεῖσεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
5 ⏑ταα is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑πόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —λειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 —δυσυ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
9 ⏑νοο is short by nature.
10 ⏑μίί is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
11 —ηη is long by nature.
12 ⏑παα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
13 ⏑ρέέ is short by nature.
14 ×χει,ει is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.31, a pentameter. The ὰ of κακά stays short before the initial πλ of πλεῖστα.^[10] The word-end after πόλει is the caesura.^[7] δυσνομίη, “bad order”, is the opposite of εὐνομίη in the next line.

4.32

Line 4.32 · εὐνομίη δʼ εὔκοσμα καὶ ἄρτια πάντʼ ἀποφαίνει,

εὐνομίη δʼ εὔκοσμα καὶ ἄρτια πάντʼ ἀποφαίνει,

εὐνομίηδ’εὔκοσμακαὶἄρτιαπάντ’ἀποφαίνει,

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —εὐεὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑νοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑μίί is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ηη is long by nature.
5 —δ’εὔεὔ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —κοσο is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
7 ⏑μαα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —ἄρἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
10 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑αα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —πάνά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
13 ⏑τ’ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑ποο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —φαίαί is a diphthong, long by nature.
16 ×νει,ει is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.32. A dactyl, a spondee and three dactyls. δ’ is elided.^[12] The caesura is feminine, after εὔκοσμα.^[9] καί is shortened before ἄρτια by epic correption,^[13] and word-end after ἄρτια is the bucolic caesura.^[6] πάντ’ is elided.^[12]

4.33

Line 4.33 · καὶ θαμὰ τοῖς ἀδίκοις ἀμφιτίθησι πέδας,

καὶ θαμὰ τοῖς ἀδίκοις ἀμφιτίθησι πέδας,

καὶθαμὰτοῖςἀδίκοιςἀμφιτίθησιπέδας,

dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑θαα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑μὰὰ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —τοῖςοῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
5 ⏑ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑δίί is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —κοιςοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 —ἀμἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by μ: long by position.
9 ⏑φιι is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
10 ⏑τίί is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
11 —θηη is long by nature.
12 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable.
13 ⏑πέέ is short by nature.
14 ×δας,α is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.33, a pentameter. The word-end after ἀδίκοις is the caesura.^[7]

4.34

Line 4.34 · τραχέα λειαίνει, παύει κόρον, ὕβριν ἀμαυροῖ,

τραχέα λειαίνει, παύει κόρον, ὕβριν ἀμαυροῖ,

τραχέαλειαίνει,παύεικόρο,ν ὕβριν ἀμαυροῖ,

dactyl, spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —τραα is long by the metre (position 1 must be long).
2 ⏑χέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑αα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —λειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
5 —αίαί is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —νει,ει is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 —παύαύ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —ειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
9 ⏑κόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑ρο,ο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —ν ὕβὕ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by β before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
12 ⏑ριι is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑ν ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —μαυαυ is a diphthong, long by nature.
15 ×ροῖ,οῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.34. A dactyl, two spondees and two dactyls. The ᾱ of τραχέα is long.^[30] The caesura is penthemimeral, at the comma after λειαίνει, with a hephthemimeral word-end after παύει.^[9] Word-end after κόρον is the bucolic caesura.^[6] The three short clauses fall at the three caesura places.

4.35

Line 4.35 · αὐαίνει δʼ ἄτης ἄνθεα φυόμενα,

αὐαίνει δʼ ἄτης ἄνθεα φυόμενα,

αὐαίνειδ’ἄτηςἄνθεαφυόμενα,

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —αὐαὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —αίαί is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —νειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 —δ’ἄἄ is long by the metre (position 4 must be long); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —τηςη is long by nature.
6 —ἄνἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
7 ⏑θεε is short by nature.
8 ⏑αα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable.
9 —φυυ is long by the metre (position 9 must be long).
10 ⏑όό is short by nature.
11 ⏑μεε is short by nature.
12 ×να,α is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.35, a pentameter with both bicipitia of the first hemiepes contracted (αὐ-αί-νει δ’ ἄ-της). δ’ is elided.^[12] The ᾱ of ἄτης is long.^[31] The word-end after ἄτης is the caesura.^[7] The last syllable of φυόμενα is short at period-end.^[7]

4.36

Line 4.36 · εὐθύνει δὲ δίκας σκολιάς, ὑπερήφανά τʼ ἔργα

εὐθύνει δὲ δίκας σκολιάς, ὑπερήφανά τʼ ἔργα

εὐθύνειδὲδίκαςσκολιάς,ὑπερήφανάτ’ἔργα

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —εὐεὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —θύύ is long by the metre (position 2 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —νειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑δίί is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —καςα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position.
7 ⏑σκοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑λιι is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —άς,ά is long by the metre (position 7 must be long).
10 ⏑ὑὑ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑πεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ρήή is long by nature.
13 ⏑φαα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑νάά is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —τ’ἔρἔ is short by nature; closed by ρ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
16 ×γαα is of unknown length; the position is anceps, so either scans.

fr. 4.36. A spondee and four dactyls. The υ of εὐθύνει is long.^[32] The ς of δίκας makes position before σκ-. The caesura is penthemimeral, after δίκας, with a hephthemimeral word-end at the comma after σκολιάς.^[9] τ’ is elided before ἔργα.^[12] ἔργον once began with ϝ,^[33] but here the elision shows that the ϝ is ignored.

4.37

Line 4.37 · πραΰνει, παύει δʼ ἔργα διχοστασίης,

πραΰνει, παύει δʼ ἔργα διχοστασίης,

πραΰνει,παύειδ’ἔργαδιχοστασίης,

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —πραα is long by the metre (position 1 must be long).
2 —ΰΰ is long by the metre (position 2 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —νει,ει is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 —παύαύ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —ειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
6 —δ’ἔρἔ is short by nature; closed by ρ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
7 ⏑γαα is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
8 ⏑διι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
9 —χοσο is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
10 ⏑ταα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
11 ⏑σίί is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
12 ×ης,η is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.37, a pentameter with both bicipitia of the first hemiepes contracted (πρα-ΰ-νει, παύ-). The ῡ of πραΰνει is long.^[34] The word-end after παύει is the caesura.^[7] δ’ is elided.^[12]

4.38

Line 4.38 · παύει δʼ ἀργαλέης ἔριδος χόλον· ἔστι δʼ ὑπʼ αὐτῆς

παύει δʼ ἀργαλέης ἔριδος χόλον· ἔστι δʼ ὑπʼ αὐτῆς

παύειδ’ἀργαλέηςἔριδοςχόλο·ν ἔστιδ’ὑπ’αὐτῆς

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —παύαύ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —ειει is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δ’ἀρἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 ⏑γαα is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑λέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ηςη is long by nature.
7 ⏑ἔἔ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑ριι is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —δοςο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
10 ⏑χόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑λο·ο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ν ἔσἔ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
13 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑δ’ὑὑ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —π’αὐαὐ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
16 ×τῆςῆ is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 4.38. A spondee and four dactyls. δ’ is elided twice and ὑπ’ once.^[12] The caesura is penthemimeral, after ἀργαλέης, with a hephthemimeral word-end after ἔριδος.^[9] Word-end after χόλον, at the strong stop, is the bucolic caesura.^[6]

4.39

Line 4.39 · πάντα κατʼ ἀνθρώπους ἄρτια καὶ πινυτά.

πάντα κατʼ ἀνθρώπους ἄρτια καὶ πινυτά.

πάντακατ’ἀνθρώπουςἄρτιακαὶπινυτά.

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —πάνά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
2 ⏑ταα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —τ’ἀνἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
5 —θρώώ is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —πουςου is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 —ἄρἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
8 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑αα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable.
10 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑πιι is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
12 ⏑νυυ is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×τά.ᾰ́ is short (its length is not shown by the ordinary spelling); the position is anceps.

fr. 4.39, a pentameter with the second biceps contracted (-θρώ-). κατ’ is elided.^[12] The θρ of ἀνθρώπους makes position inside the word.^[20] The word-end after ἀνθρώπους is the caesura.^[7] καί fills the fifth princeps, and the last syllable is short at period-end.^[7]

The ᾰ of πινυτά is short;^[35] the metre does not show it here, at the end of the period, and the input marks it.

Notes

^ Bowie 2022, p. 304; Aloni 2009, p. 172.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 172.
^ Bowie 2022, p. 304.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 173.
^ Bowie 2022, p. 306.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ West 1987, p. 21.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y West 1987, p. 24.
^ Gerber 1999a, pp. 112–115.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ West 1987, p. 19.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e West 1987, p. 16.
^ See the note on 14.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p West 1987, p. 13.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f West 1987, p. 14.
^ ^a ^b LSJ s.v. πέρνημι.
^ Gerber 1999a, pp. 112–117.
^ See the note on the line.
^ West 1987, pp. 12, 16.
^ West 1987, p. 9.
^ ^a ^b West 1987, pp. 9, 13.
^ ^a ^b ^c West 1987, pp. 16–17.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Gerber 1999a, p. 114.
^ LSJ s.v. σιγάω.
^ West 1987, pp. 9, 16.
^ West 1987, p. 17.
^ LSJ s.v. τρύχω.
^ ^a ^b West 1987, p. 15.
^ West 1987, pp. 13, 19.
^ West 1987, p. 12 n. 1.
^ LSJ s.v. θυμός.
^ LSJ s.v. τραχύς.
^ LSJ s.v. ἄτη.
^ LSJ s.v. εὐθύνω.
^ West 1987, p. 23.
^ LSJ s.v. πραΰνω.
^ West 1987, p. 11: -ᾰ of the neuter plural.

Text and sources

Text: Demosthenes, On the False Embassy (19) 255, ed. S. H. Butcher, Demosthenis Orationes I (Oxford 1903), from the Perseus Digital Library (urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0014.tlg019.perseus-grc2), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (the Perseus repository’s licence; the TEI header states none). Lines 4.1–10 are on the “frr. 4.1–10, 5, 6” tab under Solon.
M. L. West, Introduction to Greek Metre (Oxford 1987): pp. 9, 12–24 (appositives, syllables, elision, correption, synizesis, stop + liquid, the hexameter and its caesurae, the elegiac couplet). Cited as “West 1987”.
D. E. Gerber (ed. and trans.), Greek Elegiac Poetry from the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC (Loeb Classical Library 258, Cambridge, MA 1999), pp. 112–117 (text and apparatus of fr. 4 compared). Cited as “Gerber 1999a”.
H. G. Liddell and R. Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, revised by H. S. Jones (Oxford 1940), Perseus Digital Library edition (CC BY-SA 4.0): s.vv. σιγάω, τρύχω, πέρνημι, τραχύς, ἄτη, εὐθύνω, πραΰνω, φύω, θυμός. Cited as “LSJ”.
Translation: metrehelp.org, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this page’s licence.

Sources

Demosthenes 19 (On the False Embassy) 255, ed. S. H. Butcher, Demosthenis Orationes I, Oxford 1903, via the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0014.tlg019.perseus-grc2), CC BY-SA 4.0 (repository licence); Solon fr. 4.11–39 checked letter by letter against the Perseus XML.
West, M. L. 1987. Introduction to Greek Metre. Oxford. pp. 9, 12–24.
LSJ (Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA), s.vv. σιγάω, τρύχω, πέρνημι, τραχύς, ἄτη, εὐθύνω, πραΰνω, φύω, θυμός.
Gerber, D. E. 1999a. Greek Elegiac Poetry from the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC (Loeb Classical Library 258). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. pp. 112–117 (Solon fr. 4, text and apparatus compared) (read on the Loeb Classical Library site).
Bowie, E. 2022. 'Solon and Theognis', in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric. Wiley. ch. 21, pp. 304, 306.
Aloni, A. 2009. 'Elegy: forms, functions and communication', in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. pp. 172–173.

Greek text: Demosthenes, ed. Butcher, Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Scansion, commentary and translation © metrehelp.org, CC BY-SA 4.0. Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this licence.

Xenophanes fr. 1: the well-ordered symposium (Athenaeus 11.462c–f)

Synopsis

Xenophanes came from Colophon in Ionia, but he spent most of his long life in South Italy and Sicily. He went there after the Persians took Colophon, about 540 BC. Diogenes Laertius puts his floruit in 540–537 BC.^[1] His life ran from the second quarter of the sixth century into the first half of the fifth.^[2] He was a wandering sage, whose thought helped to found Presocratic philosophy. He also performed elegies, and composed hexameter and iambic verse.^[3] His elegies continue the tradition of moral advice at the symposium, and he judges everything by its usefulness.^[1] Their subjects include the rules of the symposium and the honours given to athletes.^[4] Fr. 1, quoted by Athenaeus (11.462c–f), is the best example of his skill. It has two parts, each picturing the ideal symposium. It ends with advice: leave aside the wars of Titans, Giants and Centaurs, in which there is nothing useful, and always keep the gods in mind.^[1]

The whole poem, twelve couplets, is scanned here.

Red-figure cup interior: two men reclining on a couch, one playing the auloi, the other with his head thrown back. — Symposium: kylix by the Brygos Painter

Text and translation

νῦν γὰρ δὴ ζάπεδον καθαρὸν καὶ χεῖρες ἁπάντων

ll. 1–12: the scene

1.1

νῦν γὰρ δὴ ζάπεδον καθαρὸν καὶ χεῖρες ἁπάντων

Now the floor is swept clean, and everyone’s hands

1.2

καὶ κύλικες· πλεκτοὺς δ’ ἀμφιτιθεῖ στεφάνους,

and the cups; one puts woven wreaths about our heads,

1.3

ἄλλος δ’ εὐῶδες μύρον ἐν φιάλῃ παρατείνει·

another hands round sweet-smelling ointment in a dish;

1.4

κρατὴρ δ’ ἕστηκεν μεστὸς ἐυφροσύνης·

the mixing-bowl stands brimming with good cheer,

1.5

ἄλλος δ’ οἶνος ἕτοιμος, ὃς οὔποτέ φησι προδώσειν,

and there is more wine at hand, which promises never to fail us,

1.6

μείλιχος ἐν κεράμοις, ἄνθεος ὀσδόμενος·

soft in its jars, with a scent of flowers;

1.7

ἐν δὲ μέσοις ἁγνὴν ὀδμὴν λιβανωτὸς ἵησι·

in our midst the incense gives off its sacred smell,

1.8

ψυχρὸν δ’ ἐστὶν ὕδωρ καὶ γλυκὺ καὶ καθαρόν.

and there is water, cold, fresh and clean.

1.9

πάρκεινται δ’ ἄρτοι ξανθοὶ γεραρή τε τράπεζα

Brown loaves are set beside us, and a splendid table

1.10

τυροῦ καὶ μέλιτος πίονος ἀχθομένη·

weighed down with cheese and thick honey;

1.11

βωμὸς δ’ ἄνθεσιν ἀν τὸ μέσον πάντῃ πεπύκασται,

the altar in the centre is thickly decked with flowers on every side,

1.12

μολπὴ δ’ ἀμφὶς ἔχει δώματα καὶ θαλίη.

and singing and merriment fill the house.

ll. 13–18: hymn, libation, and drinking within measure

1.13

χρὴ δὲ πρῶτον μὲν θεὸν ὑμνεῖν εὔφρονας ἄνδρας

Cheerful men should first sing hymns to the god

1.14

εὐφήμοις μύθοις καὶ καθαροῖσι λόγοις·

with words of good omen and with clean speech;

1.15

σπείσαντας δὲ καὶ εὐξαμένους τὰ δίκαια δύνασθαι

and when they have poured drink-offerings and prayed for the power

1.16

πρήσσειν (ταῦτα γὰρ ὦν ἐστι προχειρότερον)

to do what is just (for that comes first to hand),

1.17

οὐχ ὕβρις πίνειν ὁπόσον κεν ἔχων ἀφίκοιο

there is no outrage in drinking as much as still lets you get

1.18

οἴκαδ’ ἄνευ προπόλου, μὴ πάνυ γηραλέος.

home without a servant, unless you are very old.

ll. 19–24: what to praise, and what not to sing

1.19

ἀνδρῶν δ’ αἰνεῖν τοῦτον ὃς ἐσθλὰ πιὼν ἀναφαίνῃ,

Among men, praise the one who, after drinking, brings fine things to light,

1.20

ὡς οἱ μνημοσύνη, καὶ τὸν ὃς ἀμφ’ ἀρετῆς.

as memory serves him, and the one who [strives] for excellence;

1.21

οὔτι μάχας διέπειν Τιτήνων οὐδὲ Γιγάντων

not to recount the wars of Titans or of Giants

1.22

οὐδέ ⟨τι⟩ Κενταύρων, πλάσματα τῶν προτέρων,

or of Centaurs, inventions of earlier men,

1.23

ἢ στάσιας σφεδανάς, τοῖς οὐδὲν χρηστὸν ἔνεστι,

or furious factional strife, in which there is no good;

1.24

θεῶν ⟨δὲ⟩ προμηθείην αἰὲν ἔχειν ἀγαθόν.

but always to keep the gods in mind is a good thing.

Xenophanes · fr. 1 W · text of Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 11.7 (462c–f), ed. Kaibel

How to read each line

A guide to the Greek, syllables, pitch marks and quantities.

Show the reading key

Above each line: the line as the edition prints it, each word placed over its own syllables. The main row: the same Greek divided into metrical syllables, each written as it is pronounced. A consonant that closes a syllable is written with it (λόθ | ρο); an elided word is closed up with the next vowel (ν’ἀ); a final consonant carried into the next word is set with a thin space (ς ἰ). Wider gaps mark word-ends.
Above the syllables: the pitch of each syllable, from the accents. Under them: the quantity of each syllable as it falls in the line, then the transliteration, syllable by syllable, with accented syllables in capitals.
Under each line: a line-for-line translation. In the right margin of the scansion: the line type, its scheme, and its analysis into cola.

Key to the labels

The names, patterns and symbols used beside this poem.

Show the labels and symbols

Label	Name and shape	What it is
hem1	First hemiepes— ⏔ — ⏔ —	The first two and a half feet of the hexameter, up to the penthemimeral caesura; in the pentameter, its whole first half.
hem2	Second half of the hexameter⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×	From the penthemimeral caesura to the line-end: the fifth foot is nearly always a dactyl, the sixth is — ×.
hemp	Second hemiepes— ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×	The second half of the pentameter: two dactyls and a single syllable, with no contraction allowed.

The traditional feet

Foot and shape	Where
First foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 1–2. The biceps (⏑ ⏑) may be contracted to a single long, making a spondee.
Second foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 3–4.
Third foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 5–6. The penthemimeral caesura falls after its first syllable, the “trochaic” caesura after its second.
Fourth foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 7–8. Word-end at the end of this foot, when it is a dactyl, is the bucolic diaeresis (West’s “bucolic caesura”: word-end at the end of the fourth foot after an uncontracted biceps)^[5].
Fifth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 9–10. A spondee here (a “spondaic line”) is rare.
Sixth foot— ×	Scheme positions 11–12: a long and the indifferent final syllable.
First foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 1–2 of the pentameter.
Second foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 3–4.
Half-foot before the diaeresis—	Scheme position 5: the long that closes the first hemiepes; word-end must follow.
Fourth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 6–8: no contraction after the diaeresis.
Fifth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 9–11.
Final syllable×	Scheme position 12.

Scansion

Twelve couplets describing a symposium as it should be: clean floor, garlands, wine, incense, a hymn to the god, and then stories that are useful. The poem shows both treatments of a stop + liquid at the beginning of a word, a synizesis in the last line and a correption, and the uncontracted ἐυ- of epic.

Click a syllable to see its

Section 1ll. 1–12: the scene
1.1
νῦνγὰρδὴζάπεδονκαθαρὸνκαὶχεῖρεςἁπάντων
νῦνNȲNγὰρgarδὴdēζάZAπεpeδονdonκαkaθαthaρὸνronκαὶkaiχεῖCHEIρεreς ἁshaπάνPANτωνtōn
Now the floor is swept clean, and everyone’s hands
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; word-end after a spondaic fourth foot
1.2
καὶκύλικες·πλεκτοὺςδ’ἀμφιτιθεῖστεφάνους,
καὶkaiκύKYλιliκες·kesπλεκplekτοὺςtousδ’ἀμd’amφιphiτιtiθεῖTHEIστεsteφάPHAνους,nous
and the cups; one puts woven wreaths about our heads,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
1.3
ἄλλοςδ’εὐῶδεςμύρονἐνφιάλῃπαρατείνει·
ἄλALλοςlosδ’εὐd’euῶŌδεςdesμύMYροroν ἐνnenφιphiάAλῃlēiπαpaραraτείTEIνει·nei
another hands round sweet-smelling ointment in a dish;
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura
1.4
κρατὴρδ’ἕστηκενμεστὸςἐυφροσύνης·
κραkrāτὴρtērδ’ἕσD’HESτηtēκενkenμεσmesτὸtoς ἐseυφyphροroσύSYνης·nēs
the mixing-bowl stands brimming with good cheer,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
1.5
ἄλλοςδ’οἶνοςἕτοιμος,ὃςοὔποτέφησιπροδώσειν,
ἄλALλοςlosδ’οἶD’OIνοnoς ἕSHEτοιtoiμο,moς ὃshoς οὔSOUποpoτέTEφηphēσιsiπροproδώDŌσειν,sein
and there is more wine at hand, which promises never to fail us,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis
1.6
μείλιχοςἐνκεράμοις,ἄνθεοςὀσδόμενος·
μείMEIλιliχοchoς ἐνsenκεkeράRAμοις,moisἄνANθεtheοoς ὀσsosδόDOμεmeνος·nos
soft in its jars, with a scent of flowers;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
1.7
ἐνδὲμέσοιςἁγνὴνὀδμὴνλιβανωτὸςἵησι·
ἐνenδὲdeμέMEσοιςsoisἁγhagνὴνnēnὀδodμὴνmēnλιliβαbaνωnōτὸtoς ἵSHIηēσι·si
in our midst the incense gives off its sacred smell,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura
1.8
ψυχρὸνδ’ἐστὶνὕδωρκαὶγλυκὺκαὶκαθαρόν.
ψυχpsychρὸνronδ’ἐσd’esτὶtiν ὕNHYδωρdōrκαὶkaiγλυglyκὺkyκαὶkaiκαkaθαthaρόν.RON
and there is water, cold, fresh and clean.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
1.9
πάρκεινταιδ’ἄρτοιξανθοὶγεραρήτετράπεζα
πάρPARκεινkeinταιtaiδ’ἄρD’ARτοιtoiξανxanθοὶthoiγεgeραraρήRĒτεteτράTRAπεpeζαza
Brown loaves are set beside us, and a splendid table
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura
1.10
τυροῦκαὶμέλιτοςπίονοςἀχθομένη·
τυtȳροῦROUκαὶkaiμέMEλιliτοςtosπίPĪοoνοnoς ἀχsachθοthoμέMEνη·nē
weighed down with cheese and thick honey;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
1.11
βωμὸςδ’ἄνθεσινἀντὸμέσονπάντῃπεπύκασται,
βωbōμὸςmosδ’ἄνD’ANθεtheσιsiν ἀνnanτὸtoμέMEσονsonπάνPANτῃtēiπεpeπύPYκασkasται,tai
the altar in the centre is thickly decked with flowers on every side,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura
1.12
μολπὴδ’ἀμφὶςἔχειδώματακαὶθαλίη.
μολmolπὴpēδ’ἀμd’amφὶphiς ἔSEχειcheiδώDŌμαmaταtaκαὶkaiθαthaλίLIη.ē
and singing and merriment fill the house.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Section 2ll. 13–18: hymn, libation, and drinking within measure
1.13
χρὴδὲπρῶτονμὲνθεὸνὑμνεῖνεὔφροναςἄνδρας
χρὴchrēδὲdeπρῶPRŌτονtonμὲνmenθεtheὸoν ὑμnhymνεῖνNEINεὔEUφροphroναnaς ἄνSANδραςdras
Cheerful men should first sing hymns to the god
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; word-end after a spondaic fourth foot
1.14
εὐφήμοιςμύθοιςκαὶκαθαροῖσιλόγοις·
εὐeuφήPHĒμοιςmoisμύMȲθοιςthoisκαὶkaiκαkaθαthaροῖROIσιsiλόLOγοις·gois
with words of good omen and with clean speech;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
1.15
σπείσανταςδὲκαὶεὐξαμένουςτὰδίκαιαδύνασθαι
σπείSPEIσανsanταςtasδὲdeκαὶkaiεὐeuξαxaμέMEνουςnousτὰtaδίDIκαιkaiαaδύDYνασnasθαιthai
and when they have poured drink-offerings and prayed for the power
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×hephthemimeral caesura
1.16
πρήσσειν(ταῦταγὰρὦνἐστιπροχειρότερον)
πρήσPRĒSσεινseinταῦTAUταtaγὰgaρ ὦνRŌNἐσesτιtiπροproχειcheiρόROτεteρονron
to do what is just (for that comes first to hand),
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
1.17
οὐχὕβριςπίνεινὁπόσονκενἔχωνἀφίκοιο
οὐχouchὕβHYBριςrisπίPĪνεινneinὁhoπόPOσονsonκεkeν ἔNEχωνchōnἀaφίPHIκοιkoiοo
there is no outrage in drinking as much as still lets you get
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura
1.18
οἴκαδ’ἄνευπροπόλου,μὴπάνυγηραλέος.
οἴOIκαkaδ’ἄD’AνευneuπροproπόPOλου,louμὴmēπάPAνυnyγηgēραraλέLEος.os
home without a servant, unless you are very old.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Section 3ll. 19–24: what to praise, and what not to sing
1.19
ἀνδρῶνδ’αἰνεῖντοῦτονὃςἐσθλὰπιὼνἀναφαίνῃ,
ἀνanδρῶνDRŌNδ’αἰd’aiνεῖνNEINτοῦTOUτοtoν ὃnhoς ἐσsesθλὰthlaπιpiὼνōnἀaναnaφαίPHAIνῃ,nēi
Among men, praise the one who, after drinking, brings fine things to light,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee
1.20
ὡςοἱμνημοσύνη,καὶτὸνὃςἀμφ’ἀρετῆς.
ὡςhōsοἱhoiμνηmnēμοmoσύSYνη,nēκαὶkaiτὸtoν ὃnhoς ἀμsamφ’ἀph’aρεreτῆς.TĒS
as memory serves him, and the one who [strives] for excellence;
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
1.21
οὔτιμάχαςδιέπεινΤιτήνωνοὐδὲΓιγάντων
οὔOUτιtiμάMAχαςchasδιdiέEπεινpeinΤιtīτήTĒνωνnōnοὐouδὲdeΓιgiγάνGANτωνtōn
not to recount the wars of Titans or of Giants
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, dactyl, spondee, spondee, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; word-end after a spondaic fourth foot
1.22
οὐδέ⟨τι⟩Κενταύρων,πλάσματατῶνπροτέρων,
οὐouδέDEτιtiΚενkenταύTAUρων,rōnπλάσPLASμαmaταtaτῶνTŌNπροproτέTEρων,rōn
or of Centaurs, inventions of earlier men,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
1.23
ἢστάσιαςσφεδανάς,τοῖςοὐδὲνχρηστὸνἔνεστι,
ἢēστάSTAσιsiαςasσφεspheδαdaνάς,NASτοῖςTOISοὐouδὲνdenχρησchrēsτὸtoν ἔNEνεσnesτι,ti
or furious factional strife, in which there is no good;
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, dactyl, spondee, spondee, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; word-end after a spondaic fourth foot
1.24
θε‿ῶν⟨δὲ⟩προμηθείηναἰὲνἔχεινἀγαθόν.
θε‿ῶνTHEŌNδὲdeπροproμηmēθείTHEIηνēnαἰaiὲeν ἔNEχεινcheinἀaγαgaθόν.THON
but always to keep the gods in mind is a good thing.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Metre

The couplet. A hexameter, with less prosodic licence than in epic, alternating with the “pentameter” — ⏔ — ⏔ — | — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ — ‖, two hemiepes (D | D ‖) always divided by a word-end; contraction of the bicipitia is limited to the first colon.^[6] The hexameter’s caesura falls in the third foot, after the princeps (penthemimeral) or after the first short (the “feminine” caesura after the third trochee), or occasionally after the fourth princeps (hephthemimeral).^[7] a prepositive is reckoned with the word after it, a postpositive with the word before it.^[8]
Xenophanes and the poem. A Colophonian who spent most of his long life in South Italy and Sicily, a wandering sage and elegiac performer whose poetry turns on usefulness (χρηστόν); Bartol calls this elegy, quoted by Athenaeus (11.462c), the best example of his skill: two parts, each developing the image of an ideal symposium, ending in the blame of those who tell of Titans, Giants or Centaurs, tales with no good in them (l. 23), and the advice always to have good regard for the gods (l. 24).^[9] Carey points to it as the elegy that lays down in detail how the drinking-party should be conducted, a theme that recurs in Anacreon PMG 356b and Theognis 467 ff..^[10] Athenaeus introduces it as the symposium “of Xenophanes of Colophon”, Kaibel’s reference being “fr. 1 B4”; Bartol cites it as fr. 1 W.
Stop + liquid at the beginning of a word. Early poets mostly let a syllable stay short before stop + liquid only when the group begins a word,^[11] and this poem shows both treatments there: the short final vowel stays short before πρ- and τρ- in ll. 5 (φησι προδώσειν), 9 (τε τράπεζα), 16 (ἐστι προχειρότερον) and 24 (δὲ προμηθείην), but δέ is long before πρῶτον in l. 13. Inside a word the group makes position: ἐυφροσύνης (l. 4), ψυχρόν (l. 8), ὕβρις (l. 17).
Prosody. As in epic: a final long vowel or diphthong may be shortened before a vowel (epic correption)^[12], as καί in l. 15; inside a word, two vowels are often run together into one syllable when the first is ε (synecphonesis, p. 15), as θεῶν in l. 24. The last position of each line is indifferent at period-end.^[13]
Text and marks. Kaibel’s supplements ⟨τι⟩ (l. 22) and ⟨δὲ⟩ (l. 24) are printed in angle brackets as he marks them; Bartol quotes l. 24 with ⟨δὲ⟩ and ἀγαθήν where Kaibel has ἀγαθόν.^[14] In l. 24 the input ties θε‿ῶν into one syllable; the page does not show the tie.

Prosody, line by line

1.1

Line 1.1 · νῦν γὰρ δὴ ζάπεδον καθαρὸν καὶ χεῖρες ἁπάντων

νῦν γὰρ δὴ ζάπεδον καθαρὸν καὶ χεῖρες ἁπάντων

νῦνγὰρδὴζάπεδονκαθαρὸνκαὶχεῖρες ἁπάντων

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura; word-end after a spondaic fourth foot.

1 —νῦνῦ carries a circumflex, so it is long; closed by ν: long by position.
2 —γὰρὰ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δὴὴ is long by nature; the next word begins with the double consonant ζ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
4 ⏑ζάά is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑πεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —δονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑θαα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —ρὸνὸ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
10 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —χεῖεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
12 ⏑ρεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑ς ἁἁ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —πάνά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
15 ×τωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.1. ζάπεδον = δάπεδον, “floor”.^[15] The fourth foot is contracted (ρὸν καί), with a word-end after it; West notes that word-division after a contracted biceps is frequent only in the first foot, and that in the fourth the word usually has a long vowel in its final syllable,^[16] as καί has. Penthemimeral caesura after ζάπεδον,^[7] hephthemimeral after καθαρόν. The σ of χεῖρες goes with ἁπάντων; the aspirate does not count.^[17]

1.2

Line 1.2 · καὶ κύλικες· πλεκτοὺς δ’ ἀμφιτιθεῖ στεφάνους,

καὶ κύλικες· πλεκτοὺς δ’ ἀμφιτιθεῖ στεφάνους,

καὶκύλικες·πλεκτοὺςδ’ἀμφιτιθεῖστεφάνους,

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑κύύ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑λιι is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —κες·ε is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
5 —πλεκε is short by nature; closed by κ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —τοὺςοὺ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
7 —δ’ἀμἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by μ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
8 ⏑φιι is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
10 —θεῖεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; the next word begins with στ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
11 ⏑στεε is short by nature.
12 ⏑φάά is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×νους,ου is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.2. δ’ is elided.^[18] The second biceps of the first hemiepes is contracted (πλεκ τοὺς), as the first colon allows.^[19] ἀμφιτιθεῖ, “puts round”:^[20] the subject is not named; ἄλλος in the next line is “another”.

1.3

Line 1.3 · ἄλλος δ’ εὐῶδες μύρον ἐν φιάλῃ παρατείνει·

ἄλλος δ’ εὐῶδες μύρον ἐν φιάλῃ παρατείνει·

ἄλλοςδ’εὐῶδεςμύρον ἐνφιάλῃπαρατείνει·

spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —ἄλἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position.
2 —λοςο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δ’εὐεὐ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 —ῶῶ is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —δεςε is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
6 ⏑μύύ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 ⏑ροο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —ν ἐνἐ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
9 ⏑φιι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑άά is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —λῃῃ is long by nature.
12 ⏑παα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑ραα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —τείεί is a diphthong, long by nature.
15 ×νει·ει is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.3. Two contracted feet open the line (ἄλλος δ’ εὐώ-). The ν of μύρον goes with ἐν.^[21] Penthemimeral caesura after εὐῶδες;^[7] the margin’s hephthemimeral word-end falls after ἐν, a prepositive that belongs with φιάλῃ,^[8] so it is not a real break.

1.4

Line 1.4 · κρατὴρ δ’ ἕστηκεν μεστὸς ἐυφροσύνης·

κρατὴρ δ’ ἕστηκεν μεστὸς ἐυφροσύνης·

κρατὴρδ’ἕστηκενμεστὸς ἐυφροσύνης·

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —κραα is long by the metre (position 1 must be long).
2 —τὴρὴ is long by nature; closed by ρ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δ’ἕσἕ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 —τηη is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —κενε is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
6 —μεσε is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
7 ⏑τὸὸ is short by nature.
8 ⏑ς ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
9 —υφυ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by φ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
10 ⏑ροο is short by nature.
11 ⏑σύύ is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
12 ×νης·η is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.4. The first α of κρατήρ is long, as in its Ionic form κρητήρ, in which original ᾱ became η.^[22] Both bicipitia of the first hemiepes are contracted (-τὴρ δ’ ἕσ-, -τη-), as the first colon allows.^[19] ἐυφροσύνης is written with the smooth breathing on ε, so ε and υ are separate syllables, the uncontracted epic spelling; the φρ inside the word closes υφ-.^[11]

1.5

Line 1.5 · ἄλλος δ’ οἶνος ἕτοιμος, ὃς οὔποτέ φησι προδώσειν,

ἄλλος δ’ οἶνος ἕτοιμος, ὃς οὔποτέ φησι προδώσειν,

ἄλλοςδ’οἶνος ἕτοιμο,ς ὃς οὔποτέφησιπροδώσειν,

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —ἄλἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position.
2 —λοςο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δ’οἶοἶ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 ⏑νοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑ς ἕἕ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —τοιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 ⏑μο,ο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑ς ὃὃ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —ς οὔοὔ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
10 ⏑ποο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑τέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —φηη is long by nature.
13 ⏑σιι is a vowel of unknown length; the next word begins with πρ, a stop + liquid that does not make position here, so the syllable stays short; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑προο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —δώώ is long by nature.
16 ×σειν,ει is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.5. The σ of οἶνος and of ἕτοιμος and ὃς go with the following vowels.^[21] The ι of φησι stays short before the πρ of προδώσειν, a stop + liquid at the beginning of a word.^[11] Caesura after the third trochee, after ἕτοιμος;^[7] bucolic diaeresis after οὔποτε.

1.6

Line 1.6 · μείλιχος ἐν κεράμοις, ἄνθεος ὀσδόμενος·

μείλιχος ἐν κεράμοις, ἄνθεος ὀσδόμενος·

μείλιχος ἐνκεράμοις,ἄνθεος ὀσδόμενος·

dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —μείεί is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑λιι is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑χοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ς ἐνἐ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
5 ⏑κεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑ράά is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —μοις,οι is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 —ἄνἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
9 ⏑θεε is short by nature.
10 ⏑οο is short by nature.
11 —ς ὀσὀ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
12 ⏑δόό is short by nature.
13 ⏑μεε is short by nature.
14 ×νος·ο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.6. The σ of μείλιχος and of ἄνθεος goes with the next vowel.^[21] ὀσδόμενος, “smelling of”. Diaeresis after κεράμοις.

1.7

Line 1.7 · ἐν δὲ μέσοις ἁγνὴν ὀδμὴν λιβανωτὸς ἵησι·

ἐν δὲ μέσοις ἁγνὴν ὀδμὴν λιβανωτὸς ἵησι·

ἐνδὲμέσοιςἁγνὴνὀδμὴνλιβανωτὸς ἵησι·

dactyl, spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —ἐνἐ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
2 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑μέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —σοιςοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
5 —ἁγἁ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by γ: long by position; γν is one of the four clusters (γμ, γν, δμ, δν) that never leave the syllable before them short;^[11] a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —νὴνὴ is long by nature.
7 —ὀδὀ is short by nature; closed by δ: long by position; δμ is one of the four clusters (γμ, γν, δμ, δν) that never leave the syllable before them short;^[11] a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —μὴνὴ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
9 ⏑λιι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑βαα is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —νωω is long by nature.
12 ⏑τὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑ς ἵἵ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —ηη is long by nature.
15 ×σι·ι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.7. The σ of λιβανωτὸς goes with ἵησι.^[21] Penthemimeral caesura after ἁγνήν,^[7] hephthemimeral after ὀδμήν; the second and third feet are contracted.

1.8

Line 1.8 · ψυχρὸν δ’ ἐστὶν ὕδωρ καὶ γλυκὺ καὶ καθαρόν.

ψυχρὸν δ’ ἐστὶν ὕδωρ καὶ γλυκὺ καὶ καθαρόν.

ψυχρὸνδ’ἐστὶν ὕδωρκαὶγλυκὺκαὶκαθαρόν.

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ψυχυ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by χ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
2 —ρὸνὸ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δ’ἐσἐ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 ⏑τὶὶ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑ν ὕὕ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —δωρω is long by nature; closed by ρ: long by position.
7 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; the next word begins with γλ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
8 ⏑γλυυ is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑κὺὺ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
10 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
12 ⏑θαα is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×ρόν.ό is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.8. In ψυχρόν the χρ inside the word makes position.^[11] The ν of ἐστὶν goes with ὕδωρ.^[21] Diaeresis after ὕδωρ.

1.9

Line 1.9 · πάρκεινται δ’ ἄρτοι ξανθοὶ γεραρή τε τράπεζα

πάρκεινται δ’ ἄρτοι ξανθοὶ γεραρή τε τράπεζα

πάρκεινταιδ’ἄρτοιξανθοὶγεραρήτετράπεζα

spondee, spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —πάρά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
2 —κεινει is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —ταιαι is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 —δ’ἄρἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —τοιοι is a diphthong, long by nature; the next word begins with the double consonant ξ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
6 —ξανα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 —θοὶοὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑γεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
9 ⏑ραα is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 —ρήή is long by nature.
11 ⏑τεε is short by nature; the next word begins with τρ, a stop + liquid that does not make position here, so the syllable stays short; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
12 ⏑τράά is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 —πεε is short by nature; ζ is a double consonant (two sounds) and closes the syllable: long by position.
14 ×ζαα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.9. πάρκεινται is παράκεινται with the preposition shortened to παρ-. Three contracted feet (πάρκειν-, -ται δ’ ἄρ-, -τοι ξαν-). The ε of τε stays short before the τρ of τράπεζα, a stop + liquid at the beginning of a word.^[11] Penthemimeral caesura after ἄρτοι, hephthemimeral after ξανθοί.^[7]

1.10

Line 1.10 · τυροῦ καὶ μέλιτος πίονος ἀχθομένη·

τυροῦ καὶ μέλιτος πίονος ἀχθομένη·

τυροῦκαὶμέλιτοςπίονος ἀχθομένη·

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —τυυ is long by the metre (position 1 must be long).
2 —ροῦοῦ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 ⏑μέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑λιι is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —τοςο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
7 —πίί is long by the metre (position 6 must be long).
8 ⏑οο is short by nature.
9 ⏑νοο is short by nature.
10 —ς ἀχἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by χ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
11 ⏑θοο is short by nature.
12 ⏑μέέ is short by nature.
13 ×νη·η is long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.10. The υ of τυροῦ is long. The ι of πίονος is long.^[23] Diaeresis after μέλιτος.

1.11

Line 1.11 · βωμὸς δ’ ἄνθεσιν ἀν τὸ μέσον πάντῃ πεπύκασται,

βωμὸς δ’ ἄνθεσιν ἀν τὸ μέσον πάντῃ πεπύκασται,

βωμὸςδ’ἄνθεσιν ἀντὸμέσονπάντῃπεπύκασται,

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —βωω is long by nature.
2 —μὸςὸ is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δ’ἄνἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 ⏑θεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ν ἀνἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
7 ⏑τὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑μέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —σονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
10 —πάνά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —τῃῃ is long by nature.
12 ⏑πεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑πύύ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —κασα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
15 ×ται,αι is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.11. ἀν τὸ μέσον: ἀνά shortened to ἀν. The ν of ἄνθεσιν goes with ἀν.^[21] The margin names penthemimeral (after ἀν), feminine (after τό) and hephthemimeral (after μέσον) word-ends; ἀν and τό are prepositives and belong with μέσον,^[8] so the only real caesura is the hephthemimeral after μέσον, the one West says occasionally replaces the third-foot caesura.^[7]

1.12

Line 1.12 · μολπὴ δ’ ἀμφὶς ἔχει δώματα καὶ θαλίη.

μολπὴ δ’ ἀμφὶς ἔχει δώματα καὶ θαλίη.

μολπὴδ’ἀμφὶς ἔχειδώματακαὶθαλίη.

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —μολο is short by nature; closed by λ: long by position.
2 —πὴὴ is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δ’ἀμἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by μ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 ⏑φὶὶ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑ς ἔἔ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —χειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 —δώώ is long by nature.
8 ⏑μαα is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑ταα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable.
10 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑θαα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
12 ⏑λίί is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×η.η is long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.12. δ’ is elided.^[18] The σ of ἀμφίς goes with ἔχει.^[21] Diaeresis after ἔχει.

1.13

Line 1.13 · χρὴ δὲ πρῶτον μὲν θεὸν ὑμνεῖν εὔφρονας ἄνδρας

χρὴ δὲ πρῶτον μὲν θεὸν ὑμνεῖν εὔφρονας ἄνδρας

χρὴδὲπρῶτονμὲνθεὸν ὑμνεῖνεὔφρονας ἄνδρας

spondee, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; word-end after a spondaic fourth foot.

1 —χρὴὴ is long by nature.
2 —δὲὲ is short by nature; the next word begins with πρ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —πρῶῶ is long by nature.
4 —τονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —μὲνὲ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
6 ⏑θεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 ⏑ὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —ν ὑμὑ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by μ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
9 —νεῖνεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 —εὔεὔ is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑φροο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
12 ⏑ναα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 —ς ἄνἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
14 ×δραςα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.13. Here δέ is long before the πρ of πρῶτον: at the beginning of a word the group may make position or not.^[11] The ν of θεὸν goes with ὑμνεῖν, and the σ of εὔφρονας with ἄνδρας.^[21] Penthemimeral caesura after πρῶτον μέν (μέν postpositive, pp. 20–21); the fourth foot is contracted (-μνεῖν), with word-end after it.

Gerber prints ὑμνὲν ἐύφρονας.^[24] With the uncontracted ἐύφρονας the line has one syllable more, and its fourth and fifth feet are dactyls.

1.14

Line 1.14 · εὐφήμοις μύθοις καὶ καθαροῖσι λόγοις·

εὐφήμοις μύθοις καὶ καθαροῖσι λόγοις·

εὐφήμοιςμύθοιςκαὶκαθαροῖσιλόγοις·

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —εὐεὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —φήή is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —μοιςοι is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
4 —μύύ is long by the metre (position 4 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —θοιςοι is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
6 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
8 ⏑θαα is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
9 —ροῖοῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
10 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable.
11 ⏑λόό is short by nature.
12 ×γοις·οι is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.14. The υ of μύθοις is long (μῦθος). Both bicipitia of the first hemiepes are contracted (εὐφή-, μύθ-), as the first colon allows.^[19] Diaeresis after μύθοις.

1.15

Line 1.15 · σπείσαντας δὲ καὶ εὐξαμένους τὰ δίκαια δύνασθαι

σπείσαντας δὲ καὶ εὐξαμένους τὰ δίκαια δύνασθαι

σπείσανταςδὲκαὶεὐξαμένουςτὰδίκαιαδύνασθαι

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —σπείεί is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —σανα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —ταςα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position.
4 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —εὐεὐ is a diphthong, long by nature; ξ is a double consonant (two sounds) and closes the syllable: long by position.
7 ⏑ξαα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑μέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —νουςου is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
10 ⏑τὰὰ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑δίί is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —καιαι is a diphthong, long by nature.
13 ⏑αα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑δύύ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —νασα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
16 ×θαιαι is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.15. καί is shortened before εὐξαμένους (epic correption)^[12]. The only caesura the margin names is the hephthemimeral, after εὐξαμένους; no word ends in the third foot, which is filled by -ξαμέ-. West notes that occasionally a long word extends across the whole third foot and the caesura falls after the fourth princeps.^[7]

1.16

Line 1.16 · πρήσσειν (ταῦτα γὰρ ὦν ἐστι προχειρότερον)

πρήσσειν (ταῦτα γὰρ ὦν ἐστι προχειρότερον)

πρήσσεινταῦταγὰρ ὦνἐστιπροχειρότερον

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —πρήσή is long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
2 —σεινει is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —ταῦαῦ is a diphthong, long by nature.
4 ⏑ταα is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑γὰὰ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ρ ὦνὦ is long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
7 —ἐσἐ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
8 ⏑τιι is a vowel of unknown length; the next word begins with πρ, a stop + liquid that does not make position here, so the syllable stays short.
9 ⏑προο is short by nature.
10 —χειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑ρόό is short by nature.
12 ⏑τεε is short by nature.
13 ×ρονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.16. Kaibel prints the second half of the line in parentheses. ὦν is the Ionic form of οὖν.^[25] The ρ of γὰρ goes with ὦν.^[21] The ι of ἐστι stays short before the πρ of προχειρότερον, a stop + liquid at the beginning of a word.^[11]

1.17

Line 1.17 · οὐχ ὕβρις πίνειν ὁπόσον κεν ἔχων ἀφίκοιο

οὐχ ὕβρις πίνειν ὁπόσον κεν ἔχων ἀφίκοιο

οὐχὕβριςπίνεινὁπόσονκεν ἔχωνἀφίκοιο

spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —οὐχοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —ὕβὕ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by β before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —ριςι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position.
4 —πίί is long by the metre (position 4 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —νεινει is a diphthong, long by nature.
6 ⏑ὁὁ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 ⏑πόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —σονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
9 ⏑κεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑ν ἔἔ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —χωνω is long by nature.
12 ⏑ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑φίί is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —κοιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
15 ×οο is short by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.17. In ὕβρις the βρ inside the word makes position.^[11] The ι of πίνειν is long. The ν of κεν goes with ἔχων.^[21] Penthemimeral caesura after πίνειν,^[7] hephthemimeral after ὁπόσον.

Gerber takes οὐχ ὕβρεις with the sentence before, “not deeds of violence”, and begins a new clause with πίνειν.^[24]

1.18

Line 1.18 · οἴκαδ’ ἄνευ προπόλου, μὴ πάνυ γηραλέος.

οἴκαδ’ ἄνευ προπόλου, μὴ πάνυ γηραλέος.

οἴκαδ’ἄνευπροπόλου,μὴπάνυγηραλέος.

dactyl, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —οἴοἴ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑δ’ἄἄ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —νευευ is a diphthong, long by nature; the next word begins with πρ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
5 ⏑προο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑πόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —λου,ου is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 —μὴὴ is long by nature.
9 ⏑πάά is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
10 ⏑νυυ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
11 —γηη is long by nature.
12 ⏑ραα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
13 ⏑λέέ is short by nature.
14 ×ος.ο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.18. οἴκαδ’ is elided before ἄνευ.^[18] Diaeresis after προπόλου.

1.19

Line 1.19 · ἀνδρῶν δ’ αἰνεῖν τοῦτον ὃς ἐσθλὰ πιὼν ἀναφαίνῃ,

ἀνδρῶν δ’ αἰνεῖν τοῦτον ὃς ἐσθλὰ πιὼν ἀναφαίνῃ,

ἀνδρῶνδ’αἰνεῖντοῦτον ὃς ἐσθλὰπιὼνἀναφαίνῃ,

spondee, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee.

1 —ἀνἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
2 —δρῶνῶ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δ’αἰαἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 —νεῖνεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —τοῦοῦ is a diphthong, long by nature.
6 ⏑τοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
7 ⏑ν ὃὃ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —ς ἐσἐ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
9 ⏑θλὰὰ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 ⏑πιι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —ὼνὼ is long by nature.
12 ⏑ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑ναα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —φαίαί is a diphthong, long by nature.
15 ×νῃ,ῃ is long by nature; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.19. The ν of τοῦτον and the σ of ὃς go with the following vowels.^[21] Caesura after the third trochee, after τοῦτον.^[7]

1.20

Line 1.20 · ὡς οἱ μνημοσύνη, καὶ τὸν ὃς ἀμφ’ ἀρετῆς.

ὡς οἱ μνημοσύνη, καὶ τὸν ὃς ἀμφ’ ἀρετῆς.

ὡςοἱμνημοσύνη,καὶτὸν ὃς ἀμφ’ἀρετῆς.

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ὡςὡ is long by nature.
2 —οἱοἱ is a diphthong, long by nature; the next word begins with μν: the syllable is closed before it: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —μνηη is long by nature.
4 ⏑μοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑σύύ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —νη,η is long by nature.
7 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑τὸὸ is short by nature.
9 ⏑ν ὃὃ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
10 —ς ἀμἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by μ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
11 ⏑φ’ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
12 ⏑ρεε is short by nature.
13 ×τῆς.ῆ is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.20. ὃς ἀμφ’ ἀρετῆς: Bartol takes the line to mean that the singer should keep excellence in memory and aim at it;^[14] the translation supplies a verb in brackets. The ν of τὸν goes with ὃς;^[21] ἀμφ’ is elided. Diaeresis after μνημοσύνη.

Gerber prints ὡς ᾖ μνημοσύνη καὶ τόνος ἀμφ’ ἀρετῆς, with the emendations of Ahrens and Koraes;^[24] the scansion is the same.

1.21

Line 1.21 · οὔτι μάχας διέπειν Τιτήνων οὐδὲ Γιγάντων

οὔτι μάχας διέπειν Τιτήνων οὐδὲ Γιγάντων

οὔτιμάχαςδιέπεινΤιτήνωνοὐδὲΓιγάντων

dactyl, dactyl, spondee, spondee, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; word-end after a spondaic fourth foot.

1 —οὔοὔ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑μάά is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —χαςα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position.
5 ⏑διι is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑έέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —πεινει is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
8 —Τιι is long by the metre (position 6 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —τήή is long by nature.
10 —νωνω is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
12 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑Γιι is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —γάνά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
15 ×τωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.21. The ι of Τιτήνων is long. The third and fourth feet are contracted (-πειν Τι-, -τή-νων), with word-end after the fourth.^[16] Penthemimeral caesura after διέπειν.^[7] Cingano quotes West’s translation of ll. 22–23.^[26]

1.22

Line 1.22 · οὐδέ ⟨τι⟩ Κενταύρων, πλάσματα τῶν προτέρων,

οὐδέ ⟨τι⟩ Κενταύρων, πλάσματα τῶν προτέρων,

οὐδέτιΚενταύρων,πλάσματατῶνπροτέρων,

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑δέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —Κενε is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
5 —ταύαύ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ρων,ω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 —πλάσά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
8 ⏑μαα is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑ταα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable.
10 —τῶνῶ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
11 ⏑προο is short by nature.
12 ⏑τέέ is short by nature.
13 ×ρων,ω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.22. ⟨τι⟩ is Kaibel’s supplement. The second biceps of the first hemiepes is contracted (-ταύ-). Diaeresis after Κενταύρων.

1.23

Line 1.23 · ἢ στάσιας σφεδανάς, τοῖς οὐδὲν χρηστὸν ἔνεστι,

ἢ στάσιας σφεδανάς, τοῖς οὐδὲν χρηστὸν ἔνεστι,

ἢστάσιαςσφεδανάς,τοῖςοὐδὲνχρηστὸν ἔνεστι,

dactyl, dactyl, spondee, spondee, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; word-end after a spondaic fourth foot.

1 —ἢἢ is long by nature; the next word begins with στ: the syllable is closed before it: long by position.
2 ⏑στάά is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑σιι is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —αςα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position.
5 ⏑σφεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑δαα is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —νάς,ά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position.
8 —τοῖςοῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
10 —δὲνὲ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —χρηση is long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
12 ⏑τὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑ν ἔἔ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —νεσε is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
15 ×τι,ι is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.23, the line Bartol cites for the poet’s test of usefulness (τοῖς οὐδὲν χρηστόν, “in which there is no good”)^[14]. Before the σφ of σφεδανάς the syllable -ας of στάσιας is closed, and ἢ is long by nature.^[21] Penthemimeral caesura after σφεδανάς;^[7] the fourth foot is contracted, with word-end after it.

1.24

Line 1.24 · θε‿ῶν ⟨δὲ⟩ προμηθείην αἰὲν ἔχειν ἀγαθόν.

θε‿ῶν ⟨δὲ⟩ προμηθείην αἰὲν ἔχειν ἀγαθόν.

θε‿ῶνδὲπρομηθείηναἰὲν ἔχεινἀγαθόν.

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —θε‿ῶνεῶ is two vowels of one word pronounced together as one long syllable (synizesis); closed by ν: long by position.
2 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; the next word begins with πρ, a stop + liquid that does not make position here, so the syllable stays short; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑προο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —μηη is long by nature.
5 —θείεί is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ηνη is long by nature.
7 —αἰαἰ is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑ὲὲ is short by nature.
9 ⏑ν ἔἔ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
10 —χεινει is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
12 ⏑γαα is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×θόν.ό is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

fr. 1.24. θεῶν is one syllable by synecphonesis (synizesis), frequent within a word when the first vowel is ε.^[27] ⟨δὲ⟩ is Kaibel’s supplement; its ε stays short before the πρ of προμηθείην, a stop + liquid at the beginning of a word.^[11] Bartol quotes the line ending ἀγαθήν;^[14] Kaibel has ἀγαθόν. Diaeresis after προμηθείην.

Gerber prints the manuscripts’ ἀγαθήν, with προμηθείην.^[28]

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c Bartol 2022, p. 229.
^ Budelmann 2009, p. 386.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 229 with n. 41.
^ Aloni 2009, p. 172.
^ West 1987, p. 21.
^ West 1987, p. 24; Battezzato 2009, p. 138.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l West 1987, p. 19.
^ ^a ^b ^c West 1987, pp. 20–21.
^ Bartol 2022, pp. 229–230.
^ Carey 2009, p. 34.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k West 1987, p. 16.
^ ^a ^b West 1987, p. 14.
^ West 1987, p. 4.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Bartol 2022, p. 229.
^ LSJ s.v. ζάπεδον, citing this line.
^ ^a ^b West 1987, p. 20.
^ West 1987, p. 12 n. 1.
^ ^a ^b ^c West 1987, p. 13.
^ ^a ^b ^c West 1987, p. 24.
^ LSJ s.v. ἀμφιτίθημι cites this form from this line.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m West 1987, p. 12.
^ D’Alessio 2009, p. 122.
^ LSJ s.v. πίων [ῑ].
^ ^a ^b ^c Gerber 1999a, p. 412.
^ LSJ s.v. οὖν.
^ Cingano 2022, p. 299 n. 27.
^ West 1987, p. 15.
^ Gerber 1999a, p. 414.

Text and sources

Text: Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 11.7 (462c–f), ed. G. Kaibel (Leipzig 1887–1890), Perseus Digital Library (tlg0008.tlg001.perseus-grc3), CC BY-SA 4.0, with Kaibel’s reference “fr. 1 B4”; checked letter by letter, Kaibel’s supplements (⟨τι⟩, ⟨δὲ⟩) kept.
Metre and prosody: M. L. West, Introduction to Greek Metre (Oxford 1987), pp. 4, 12–16, 19–21, 24, checked against the page images.
L. Battezzato, ‘Metre and music’, in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric (Cambridge 2009), p. 138 (the elegiac distich as an epodic strophe, hexameter ‖ D | D |||; contraction avoided in the second half of the pentameter).
K. Bartol, ‘Elegy’, ch. 15, pp. 229–230, and E. Cingano, ‘Ibycus and Anacreon’, ch. 20, p. 299 n. 27, in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric (Wiley 2022).
C. Carey, ‘Genre, occasion and performance’, and G. B. D’Alessio, ‘Language and pragmatics’, in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric (Cambridge 2009), pp. 34 and 122.
Meanings and quantities: Liddell–Scott–Jones, Greek–English Lexicon, Perseus Digital Library (CC BY-SA), s.vv. ἀμφιτίθημι, ζάπεδον, οὖν, πίων.
D. E. Gerber, Greek Elegiac Poetry from the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC (Loeb Classical Library 258, Cambridge, MA 1999), Xenophanes fr. 1 (pp. 412–415), compared line by line: same number as West; Gerber also prints κρητὴρ (4), ἵησιν (7) and σπείσαντάς τε (15).

Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this page’s licence.

Sources

Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 11.7 (462c–f), ed. G. Kaibel (Leipzig 1887–1890), Perseus Digital Library, tlg0008.tlg001.perseus-grc3 (Greek text of Xenophanes fr. 1, checked letter by letter).
West, M. L. 1987. Introduction to Greek Metre. Oxford. pp. 4, 12–16, 19–21, 24 (checked against page images).
Bartol, K. 2022. 'Elegy', in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric. Wiley. ch. 15, pp. 229–230. (synopsis: p. 229 with n. 41)
Cingano, E. 2022. 'Ibycus and Anacreon', ibid. ch. 20, p. 299 n. 27.
Carey, C. 2009. 'Genre, occasion and performance', in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. p. 34.
D'Alessio, G. B. 2009. 'Language and pragmatics', ibid. p. 122.
LSJ (Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA), s.vv. ἀμφιτίθημι, ζάπεδον, οὖν, πίων.
Gerber, D. E. 1999a. Greek Elegiac Poetry from the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC (Loeb Classical Library 258). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. pp. 412–415 (Xenophanes fr. 1) (read on the Loeb Classical Library site).
Budelmann, F. (ed.) 2009. The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. 'Chronology of select melic, elegiac and iambic poets', p. 386.
Aloni, A. 2009. 'Elegy: forms, functions and communication', in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. p. 172.

Greek text: Athenaeus, ed. Kaibel, Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Scansion, commentary and translation © metrehelp.org, CC BY-SA 4.0. Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this licence.

Xenophanes fr. 2: wisdom above athletes (Athenaeus 10.413f–414c)

Synopsis

Xenophanes came from Colophon in Ionia, but he spent most of his long life in South Italy and Sicily. He went there after the Persians took Colophon, about 540 BC. Diogenes Laertius puts his floruit in 540–537 BC.^[1] His life ran from the second quarter of the sixth century into the first half of the fifth.^[2] He was a wandering sage, whose thought helped to found Presocratic philosophy. He also performed elegies, and composed hexameter and iambic verse.^[3] His elegies continue the tradition of moral advice at the symposium, and he judges everything by its usefulness.^[1] Fr. 2, quoted by Athenaeus (10.413f–414c), attacks the honours a city heaps on athletes as useless to the community. It ranks the poet’s own wisdom above the strength of men and horses.^[4] It is a rare voice questioning the prestige of athletic victory. It comes from a man who lived in two cities, Colophon and Elea, that made little mark in the games.^[5]

The whole fragment, eleven couplets, is scanned here.

A black amphora with a single red figure of an athlete holding a discus. — A discus-thrower, by the Berlin Painter

Text and translation

ἀλλ’ εἰ μὲν ταχυτῆτι ποδῶν νίκην τις ἄροιτο

1–12: what the victor gets, and what he is worth

2.1

ἀλλ’ εἰ μὲν ταχυτῆτι ποδῶν νίκην τις ἄροιτο

Now if someone carried off the prize for fleetness of foot,

2.2

ἢ πενταθλεύων, ἔνθα Διὸς τέμενος

or for the five events, there where Zeus has his sacred ground

2.3

πὰρ Πίσαο ῥοῇσ’ ἐν Ὀλυμπίῃ, εἴτε παλαίων

by Pisa’s waters at Olympia, or for wrestling,

2.4

ἢ καὶ πυκτοσύνην ἀλγινόεσσαν ἔχων,

or for the painful art of boxing,

2.5

εἴτε τὸ δεινὸν ἄεθλον ὃ παγκράτιον καλέουσιν,

or for that fearsome contest men call the pankration,

2.6

ἀστοῖσίν κ’ εἴη κυδρότερος προσορᾶν

his fellow citizens would find him a grander sight than before,

2.7

καί κε προεδρίην φανερὴν ἐν ἀγῶσιν ἄροιτο

he would be given a seat of honour, plain to see, at the games,

2.8

καί κεν σίτησιν δημοσίων κτεάνων

and his meals out of the public stores

2.9

ἐκ πόλεως καὶ δῶρον ὅ οἱ κειμήλιον εἴη·

from the city, and a present to lay up as an heirloom;

2.10

εἴτε καὶ ἵπποισιν, ταῦτά κε πάντα λάχοι,

or if it were with his horses, he would win all of this just the same,

2.11

οὐκ ἐὼν ἄξιος ὥσπερ ἐγώ. ῥώμης γὰρ ἀμείνων

without being worth what I am worth. For our skill is better

2.12

ἀνδρῶν ἠδ’ ἵππων ἡμετέρη σοφίη.

than the strength of men or of horses.

13–22: why it does the city no good

2.13

ἀλλ’ εἰκῇ μάλα τοῦτο νομίζεται, οὐδὲ δίκαιον

No, this is a custom held quite at random, and it is not just

2.14

προκρίνειν ῥώμην τῆς ἀγαθῆς σοφίης.

to prefer strength to good skill.

2.15

οὔτε γὰρ εἰ πύκτης ἀγαθὸς λαοῖσι μετείη

For even if there were a good boxer among the people,

2.16

οὔτ’ εἰ πενταθλεῖν οὔτε παλαισμοσύνην,

or a man good at the five events or at wrestling,

2.17

οὐδὲ μὲν εἰ ταχυτῆτι ποδῶν, τόπερ ἐστὶ πρότιμον

or in fleetness of foot, which is honoured above all

2.18

ῥώμης ὅσσ’ ἀνδρῶν ἔργ’ ἐν ἀγῶνι πέλει,

the deeds of strength that men show in the contest,

2.19

τοὔνεκεν ἂν δὴ μᾶλλον ἐν εὐνομίῃ πόλις εἴη.

the city would not on that account be any better ordered.

2.20

σμικρὸν δ’ ἄν τι πόλει χάρμα γένοιτ’ ἐπὶ τῷ,

The city would get little delight from it

2.21

εἴ τις ἀεθλεύων νικῷ Πίσαο παρ’ ὄχθας·

if someone won the contest by the banks of Pisa;

2.22

οὐ γὰρ πιαίνει ταῦτα μυχοὺς πόλεως.

for that does not fill the city’s storehouses with plenty.

Xenophanes · fr. 2 W · elegiac couplets · quoted by Athenaeus 10.413f–414c · text of Kaibel

How to read each line

A guide to the Greek, syllables, pitch marks and quantities.

Show the reading key

Above each line: the line as the edition prints it, each word placed over its own syllables. The main row: the same Greek divided into metrical syllables, each written as it is pronounced. A consonant that closes a syllable is written with it (λόθ | ρο); an elided word is closed up with the next vowel (ν’ἀ); a final consonant carried into the next word is set with a thin space (ς ἰ). Wider gaps mark word-ends.
Above the syllables: the pitch of each syllable, from the accents. Under them: the quantity of each syllable as it falls in the line, then the transliteration, syllable by syllable, with accented syllables in capitals.
Under each line: a line-for-line translation. In the right margin of the scansion: the line type, its scheme, and its analysis into cola.

Key to the labels

The names, patterns and symbols used beside this poem.

Show the labels and symbols

Label	Name and shape	What it is
hem1	First hemiepes— ⏔ — ⏔ —	The first two and a half feet of the hexameter, up to the penthemimeral caesura; in the pentameter, its whole first half.
hem2	Second half of the hexameter⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×	From the penthemimeral caesura to the line-end: the fifth foot is nearly always a dactyl, the sixth is — ×.
hemp	Second hemiepes— ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×	The second half of the pentameter: two dactyls and a single syllable, with no contraction allowed.

The traditional feet

Foot and shape	Where
First foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 1–2. The biceps (⏑ ⏑) may be contracted to a single long, making a spondee.
Second foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 3–4.
Third foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 5–6. The penthemimeral caesura falls after its first syllable, the “trochaic” caesura after its second.
Fourth foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 7–8. Word-end at the end of this foot, when it is a dactyl, is the bucolic diaeresis (West’s “bucolic caesura”: word-end at the end of the fourth foot after an uncontracted biceps)^[6].
Fifth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 9–10. A spondee here (a “spondaic line”) is rare.
Sixth foot— ×	Scheme positions 11–12: a long and the indifferent final syllable.
First foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 1–2 of the pentameter.
Second foot: dactyl or spondee— ⏔	Scheme positions 3–4.
Half-foot before the diaeresis—	Scheme position 5: the long that closes the first hemiepes; word-end must follow.
Fourth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 6–8: no contraction after the diaeresis.
Fifth foot: dactyl— ⏑ ⏑	Scheme positions 9–11.
Final syllable×	Scheme position 12.

Scansion

Xenophanes sets his own wisdom above the strength of Olympic victors: eleven couplets that Athenaeus quotes as the source of a passage in Euripides’ Autolycus. Every line is scanned, with notes.

Click a syllable to see its

Section 11–12: what the victor gets, and what he is worth
2.1
ἀλλ’εἰμὲνταχυτῆτιποδῶννίκηντιςἄροιτο
ἀλalλ’εἰl’eiμὲνmenταtaχυchyτῆTĒτιtiποpoδῶνDŌNνίNĪκηνkēnτιtiς ἄSAροιroiτοto
Now if someone carried off the prize for fleetness of foot,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura
2.2
ἢπενταθλεύων,ἔνθαΔιὸςτέμενος
ἢēπενpenταθtathλεύLEUων,ōnἔνENθαthaΔιdiὸςosτέTEμεmeνοςnos
or for the five events, there where Zeus has his sacred ground
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
2.3
πὰρΠίσαοῥοῇσ’ἐνὈλυμπίῃ,εἴτεπαλαίων
πὰρparΠίPĪσαsāοoῥοroῇĒIσ’ἐs’eν ὈnoλυμlymπίPIῃ,ēiεἴEIτεteπαpaλαίLAIωνōn
by Pisa’s waters at Olympia, or for wrestling,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura (with elision); caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis
2.4
ἢκαὶπυκτοσύνηνἀλγινόεσσανἔχων,
ἢēκαὶkaiπυκpykτοtoσύSYνηνnēnἀλalγιgiνόNOεσesσαsaν ἔNEχων,chōn
or for the painful art of boxing,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
2.5
εἴτετὸδεινὸνἄεθλονὃπαγκράτιονκαλέουσιν,
εἴEIτεteτὸtoδειdeiνὸnoν ἄNAεθethλοloν ὃnhoπαγpanκράKRAτιtiονonκαkaλέLEουouσιν,sin
or for that fearsome contest men call the pankration,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee
2.6
ἀστοῖσίνκ’εἴηκυδρότεροςπροσορᾶν
ἀσasτοῖTOIσίνSINκ’εἴK’EIηēκυδkydρόROτεteροςrosπροproσοsoρᾶνRĀN
his fellow citizens would find him a grander sight than before,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
2.7
καίκεπροεδρίηνφανερὴνἐνἀγῶσινἄροιτο
καίKAIκεkeπροproεδedρίRĪηνēnφαphaνεneρὴνrēnἐeν ἀnaγῶGŌσιsiν ἄNAροιroiτοto
he would be given a seat of honour, plain to see, at the games,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura
2.8
καίκενσίτησινδημοσίωνκτεάνων
καίKAIκενkenσίSĪτηtēσινsinδηdēμοmoσίSIωνōnκτεkteάAνωνnōn
and his meals out of the public stores
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
2.9
ἐκπόλεωςκαὶδῶρονὅοἱκειμήλιονεἴη·
ἐκekπόPOλεleωςōsκαὶkaiδῶDŌροroν ὅNHOοἱhoiκειkeiμήMĒλιliοoν εἴNEIη·ē
from the city, and a present to lay up as an heirloom;
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura
2.10
εἴτεκαὶἵπποισιν,ταῦτάκεπάνταλάχοι,
εἴEIτεteκαὶkaiἵπHIPποιpoiσιν,sinταῦTAUτάTAκεkeπάνPANταtaλάLAχοι,choi
or if it were with his horses, he would win all of this just the same,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
2.11
οὐκἐ‿ὼνἄξιοςὥσπερἐγώ.ῥώμηςγὰρἀμείνων
οὐκoukἐ‿ὼνeōnἄAξιxiοoς ὥσSHŌSπεpeρ ἐreγώ.GŌῥώRŌμηςmēsγὰgaρ ἀraμείMEIνωνnōn
without being worth what I am worth. For our skill is better
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura
2.12
ἀνδρῶνἠδ’ἵππωνἡμετέρησοφίη.
ἀνanδρῶνDRŌNἠēδ’ἵπD’HIPπωνpōnἡhēμεmeτέTEρηrēσοsoφίPHIη.ē
than the strength of men or of horses.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Section 213–22: why it does the city no good
2.13
ἀλλ’εἰκῇμάλατοῦτονομίζεται,οὐδὲδίκαιον
ἀλalλ’εἰl’eiκῇKĒIμάMAλαlaτοῦTOUτοtoνοnoμίMIζεzeται,taiοὐouδὲdeδίDIκαιkaiονon
No, this is a custom held quite at random, and it is not just
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis
2.14
προκρίνεινῥώμηντῆςἀγαθῆςσοφίης.
προκprokρίRĪνεινneinῥώRŌμηνmēnτῆςTĒSἀaγαgaθῆςTHĒSσοsoφίPHIης.ēs
to prefer strength to good skill.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
2.15
οὔτεγὰρεἰπύκτηςἀγαθὸςλαοῖσιμετείη
οὔOUτεteγὰgaρ εἰreiπύκPYKτηςtēsἀaγαgaθὸςthosλαlāοῖOIσιsiμεmeτείTEIηē
For even if there were a good boxer among the people,
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura
2.16
οὔτ’εἰπενταθλεῖνοὔτεπαλαισμοσύνην,
οὔOUτ’εἰt’eiπενpenταθtathλεῖνLEINοὔOUτεteπαpaλαισlaisμοmoσύSYνην,nēn
or a man good at the five events or at wrestling,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
2.17
οὐδὲμὲνεἰταχυτῆτιποδῶν,τόπερἐστὶπρότιμον
οὐouδὲdeμὲmeν εἰneiταtaχυchyτῆTĒτιtiποpoδῶν,DŌNτόTOπεpeρ ἐσresτὶtiπρόPROτιtīμονmon
or in fleetness of foot, which is honoured above all
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis
2.18
ῥώμηςὅσσ’ἀνδρῶνἔργ’ἐνἀγῶνιπέλει,
ῥώRŌμηςmēsὅσHOSσ’ἀνs’anδρῶνDRŌNἔρERγ’ἐg’eν ἀnaγῶGŌνιniπέPEλει,lei
the deeds of strength that men show in the contest,
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
2.19
τοὔνεκενἂνδὴμᾶλλονἐνεὐνομίῃπόλιςεἴη.
τοὔTOUνεneκεkeν ἂνnanδὴdēμᾶλMĀLλοloν ἐneν εὐneuνοnoμίMIῃēiπόPOλιliς εἴSEIη.ē
the city would not on that account be any better ordered.
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×caesura after the third trochee
2.20
σμικρὸνδ’ἄντιπόλειχάρμαγένοιτ’ἐπὶτῷ,
σμικsmikρὸνronδ’ἄνD’ANτιtiπόPOλειleiχάρCHARμαmaγέGEνοιnoiτ’ἐt’eπὶpiτῷ,TŌI
The city would get little delight from it
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes
2.21
εἴτιςἀεθλεύωννικῷΠίσαοπαρ’ὄχθας·
εἴEIτιtiς ἀsaεθethλεύLEUωνōnνιnīκῷKŌIΠίPĪσαsāοoπαpaρ’ὄχR’OCHθας·thas
if someone won the contest by the banks of Pisa;
Dactylic hexameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏔ — ⏑ ⏑ — ×dactyl, spondee, spondee, spondee, dactyl, — ×penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura
2.22
οὐγὰρπιαίνειταῦταμυχοὺςπόλεως.
οὐouγὰρgarπιpīαίAIνειneiταῦTAUταtaμυmyχοὺςchousπόPOλεleως.ōs
for that does not fill the city’s storehouses with plenty.
Pentameter— ⏔ — ⏔ — ¦ — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ ×spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×diaeresis after the first hemiepes

Metre

The couplet. A hexameter alternating with the “pentameter”, — ⏔ — ⏔ — | — ⏑ ⏑ — ⏑ ⏑ —. The pentameter is two hemiepes, always divided by a word-end, and contraction is allowed only in its first half.^[7] Every pentameter here keeps that word-end. Ten of the eleven pentameters contract at least one biceps of the first half; only 10 has none. Eight contract both (2, 6, 8, 12, 14, 16, 18, 22); 4 and 20 contract the first only.
Caesurae. Every hexameter has a third-foot caesura.^[8] It is feminine in 1, 5, 9, 11, 13, 17 and 19, and masculine in 3, 7, 15 and 21. In line 3 the masculine caesura comes with an elision.
Prosody.
- Elision.^[9] In line 3 it removes the -ι of the dative plural ῥοῇσι. West counts that ι as unelidable on the whole, except in epic;^[9] here the elegist uses the epic freedom.
- Epic correption^[10] in 3, 10 and 13.
- Synizesis of ἐών (11)^[11].
- Hiatus before the old ϝ-pronoun οἱ (9)^[12].
- Crasis in τοὔνεκεν (19)^[11].
Vowel quantities. Checked in LSJ: νῑ́κη (1), σῑ́τησις (8), λᾱός (15), πρότῑμος (17; LSJ cites this very line), νῑκάω (21), πῑαίνω (22). Two long vowels rest on the metre alone. The ι of Πίσαο (3, 21) is long, as the circumflex of the nominative Πῖσα shows. The ι of προεδρίην (7) stands in a contracted biceps and must be long, but LSJ does not mark its quantity.
Gerber’s text. Compared with D. E. Gerber’s Loeb edition.^[13] The line numbers are the same, and Kaibel’s text agrees with Gerber’s in the readings that matter for the metre. Gerber prints ῥοῆς (3) without elision (his apparatus reports Schneidewin’s ῥοάς) and σῖτ’ εἴη (8) for Kaibel’s σίτησιν, both with the same scansion; and τούνεκεν (19). His apparatus credits εἴτε τό (5) to Wakefield, προσορᾶν (6) to Jacobs, κε πάντα (10) to Schweighäuser and λαοῖσι μετείη (15) to Stephanus; Kaibel prints all four. The Perseus text of Gulick’s Loeb Athenaeus has πόλιος (9) and ἀγαθῆς (15), which are not followed here.

Prosody, line by line

2.1

Line 2.1 · ἀλλ’ εἰ μὲν ταχυτῆτι ποδῶν νίκην τις ἄροιτο

ἀλλ’ εἰ μὲν ταχυτῆτι ποδῶν νίκην τις ἄροιτο

ἀλλ’εἰμὲνταχυτῆτιποδῶννίκηντις ἄροιτο

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —ἀλἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position.
2 —λ’εἰεἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —μὲνὲ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
4 ⏑ταα is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑χυυ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —τῆῆ is long by nature.
7 ⏑τιι is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑ποο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —δῶνῶ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
10 —νίί is long by the metre (position 8 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —κηνη is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
12 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑ς ἄἄ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —ροιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
15 ×τοο is short by nature; the position is anceps.

A spondee, two dactyls, a spondee and a dactyl. ἀλλ’ is elided.^[9] The caesura is feminine, after ταχυτῆτι,^[8] with a hephthemimeral word-end after ποδῶν. The ῑ of νίκην is long.^[14] The last syllable of ἄροιτο is short at period-end.^[7]

2.2

Line 2.2 · ἢ πενταθλεύων, ἔνθα Διὸς τέμενος

ἢ πενταθλεύων, ἔνθα Διὸς τέμενος

ἢπενταθλεύων,ἔνθαΔιὸςτέμενος

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ἢἢ is long by nature.
2 —πενε is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —ταθα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by θ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
4 —λεύεύ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —ων,ω is long by nature.
6 —ἔνἔ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 ⏑θαα is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
8 ⏑Διι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
9 —ὸςὸ is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
10 ⏑τέέ is short by nature.
11 ⏑μεε is short by nature.
12 ×νοςο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with both bicipitia of the first half contracted (πεν-ταθ-λεύ-), which only the first colon allows.^[7] The θλ of πενταθλεύων makes position inside the word.^[15] The word-end after πενταθλεύων is the caesura.^[7]

2.3

Line 2.3 · πὰρ Πίσαο ῥοῇσ’ ἐν Ὀλυμπίῃ, εἴτε παλαίων

πὰρ Πίσαο ῥοῇσ’ ἐν Ὀλυμπίῃ, εἴτε παλαίων

πὰρΠίσαοῥοῇσ’ἐν Ὀλυμπίῃ,εἴτεπαλαίων

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura (with elision); caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —πὰρὰ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
2 —Πίί is long by the metre (position 2 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —σαα is long by the metre (position 3 must be long).
4 ⏑οο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑ῥοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ῇῇ is long by nature.
7 ⏑σ’ἐἐ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑ν ὈὈ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —λυμυ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by μ: long by position.
10 ⏑πίί is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑ῃ,ῃ is long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —εἴεἴ is a diphthong, long by nature.
13 ⏑τεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑παα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —λαίαί is a diphthong, long by nature.
16 ×ωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

A spondee and four dactyls. πάρ is the shortened form of παρά.^[16] The ι of Πίσαο is long, as in Πῖσα, and so is the α of the old genitive ending -ᾱο, which fills the third princeps. ῥοῇσ’ is elided before ἐν, which goes with Ὀλυμπίῃ, so the caesura is penthemimeral, after ῥοῇσ’.^[17] -ῃ of Ὀλυμπίῃ is shortened before εἴτε by epic correption,^[10] and word-end after Ὀλυμπίῃ is the bucolic caesura.^[6]

2.4

Line 2.4 · ἢ καὶ πυκτοσύνην ἀλγινόεσσαν ἔχων,

ἢ καὶ πυκτοσύνην ἀλγινόεσσαν ἔχων,

ἢκαὶπυκτοσύνηνἀλγινόεσσαν ἔχων,

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ἢἢ is long by nature.
2 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —πυκυ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by κ: long by position.
4 ⏑τοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑σύύ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —νηνη is long by nature.
7 —ἀλἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position.
8 ⏑γιι is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑νόό is short by nature.
10 —εσε is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
11 ⏑σαα is short by the accent rule: acute on the antepenult requires a short final syllable.
12 ⏑ν ἔἔ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
13 ×χων,ω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with the first biceps contracted (καί). The word-end after πυκτοσύνην is the caesura.^[7] The ν of ἀλγινόεσσαν passes to ἔχων.

2.5

Line 2.5 · εἴτε τὸ δεινὸν ἄεθλον ὃ παγκράτιον καλέουσιν,

εἴτε τὸ δεινὸν ἄεθλον ὃ παγκράτιον καλέουσιν,

εἴτετὸδεινὸν ἄεθλον ὃπαγκράτιονκαλέουσιν,

dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee.

1 —εἴεἴ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑τεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑τὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —δειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
5 ⏑νὸὸ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑ν ἄἄ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —εθε is short by nature; closed by θ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
8 ⏑λοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 ⏑ν ὃὃ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
10 —παγα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by γ: long by position.
11 ⏑κράά is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
13 —ονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
14 ⏑καα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 ⏑λέέ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
16 —ουου is a diphthong, long by nature.
17 ×σιν,ι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

All five feet are dactyls. The θλ of ἄεθλον makes position inside the word.^[15] The ν of ἄεθλον passes to the relative ὅ, but the word ends between the shorts of the third foot: a feminine caesura.^[8] παγκράτιον runs from the fourth foot to the fifth princeps.

2.6

Line 2.6 · ἀστοῖσίν κ’ εἴη κυδρότερος προσορᾶν

ἀστοῖσίν κ’ εἴη κυδρότερος προσορᾶν

ἀστοῖσίνκ’εἴηκυδρότεροςπροσορᾶν

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ἀσἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by σ: long by position.
2 —τοῖοῖ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —σίνί is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
4 —κ’εἴεἴ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —ηη is long by nature.
6 —κυδυ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by δ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
7 ⏑ρόό is short by nature.
8 ⏑τεε is short by nature.
9 —ροςο is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
10 ⏑προο is short by nature.
11 ⏑σοο is short by nature.
12 ×ρᾶνᾶ carries a circumflex, so it is long; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with both bicipitia of the first half contracted (-τοῖ-σίν κ’ εἴ-). κ’ (κε) is elided.^[9] The word-end after εἴη is the caesura.^[7] The δρ of κυδρότερος makes position inside the word.^[15]

2.7

Line 2.7 · καί κε προεδρίην φανερὴν ἐν ἀγῶσιν ἄροιτο

καί κε προεδρίην φανερὴν ἐν ἀγῶσιν ἄροιτο

καίκεπροεδρίηνφανερὴνἐν ἀγῶσιν ἄροιτο

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —καίαί is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑κεε is short by nature; the next word begins with πρ, a stop + liquid that does not make position here, so the syllable stays short; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑προο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —εδε is short by nature; closed by δ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
5 —ρίί is long by the metre (position 4 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ηνη is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 ⏑φαα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑νεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —ρὴνὴ is long by nature.
10 ⏑ἐἐ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑ν ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —γῶῶ is long by nature.
13 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑ν ἄἄ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —ροιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
16 ×τοο is short by nature; the position is anceps.

A dactyl, a spondee and three dactyls. κε is a postpositive.^[18] The δρ of προεδρίην makes position,^[15] and the ι after it must be long to fill the contracted second biceps.^[19] The caesura is penthemimeral, after προεδρίην, with a hephthemimeral word-end after φανερήν.^[8] The written word-end after ἐν falls between the shorts of the fourth biceps, but ἐν is a preposition going with ἀγῶσιν, so Hermann’s Bridge is not broken.^[6]

2.8

Line 2.8 · καί κεν σίτησιν δημοσίων κτεάνων

καί κεν σίτησιν δημοσίων κτεάνων

καίκενσίτησινδημοσίωνκτεάνων

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —καίαί is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —κενε is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —σίί is long by the metre (position 3 must be long).
4 —τηη is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —σινι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
6 —δηη is long by nature.
7 ⏑μοο is short by nature.
8 ⏑σίί is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
9 —ωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
10 ⏑κτεε is short by nature.
11 ⏑άά is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
12 ×νωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with both bicipitia of the first half contracted: five long syllables, καί κεν σί-τη-σιν. The ι of σίτησιν is long.^[20] The word-end after σίτησιν is the caesura.^[7] The ων of δημοσίων is long before κτ-.

2.9

Line 2.9 · ἐκ πόλεως καὶ δῶρον ὅ οἱ κειμήλιον εἴη·

ἐκ πόλεως καὶ δῶρον ὅ οἱ κειμήλιον εἴη·

ἐκπόλεωςκαὶδῶρον ὅοἱκειμήλιον εἴη·

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —ἐκἐ is short by nature; closed by κ: long by position.
2 ⏑πόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑λεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ωςω is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
5 —καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —δῶῶ is long by nature.
7 ⏑ροο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑ν ὅὅ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; the next word begins with a vowel and nothing is elided: hiatus; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —οἱοἱ is a diphthong, long by nature.
10 —κειει is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —μήή is long by nature.
12 ⏑λιι is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑οο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —ν εἴεἴ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
15 ×η·η is long by nature; the position is anceps.

A dactyl, a spondee, a dactyl, a spondee and a dactyl. The κ of ἐκ never belongs to the following syllable.^[21] καί fills the contracted second biceps and goes with δῶρον.^[18] The ν of δῶρον passes to the relative ὅ, so the word ends between the shorts of the third foot: a feminine caesura.^[8] ὅ stays short and unelided before οἱ, the pronoun that once began with ϝ.^[12] The hephthemimeral word-end follows the enclitic οἱ.

2.10

Line 2.10 · εἴτε καὶ ἵπποισιν, ταῦτά κε πάντα λάχοι,

εἴτε καὶ ἵπποισιν, ταῦτά κε πάντα λάχοι,

εἴτεκαὶἵπποισιν,ταῦτάκεπάνταλάχοι,

dactyl, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —εἴεἴ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑τεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑καὶαὶ is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ἵπἵ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by π: long by position.
5 —ποιοι is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —σιν,ι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
7 —ταῦαῦ is a diphthong, long by nature.
8 ⏑τάά is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable.
9 ⏑κεε is short by nature.
10 —πάνά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
11 ⏑ταα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short).
12 ⏑λάά is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×χοι,οι is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with no contraction. καί is shortened before ἵπποισιν by epic correption.^[10] The word-end after ἵπποισιν is the caesura.^[7] κε is a postpositive.^[18]

2.11

Line 2.11 · οὐκ ἐ‿ὼν ἄξιος ὥσπερ ἐγώ. ῥώμης γὰρ ἀμείνων

οὐκ ἐ‿ὼν ἄξιος ὥσπερ ἐγώ. ῥώμης γὰρ ἀμείνων

οὐκἐ‿ὼνἄξιος ὥσπερ ἐγώ.ῥώμηςγὰρ ἀμείνων

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —οὐκοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —ἐ‿ὼνἐὼ is two vowels of one word pronounced together as one long syllable (synizesis); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —ἄξ is a double consonant (two sounds) and closes the syllable: long by position.
4 ⏑ξιι is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑οο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ς ὥσὥ is long by nature; closed by σ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
7 ⏑πεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑ρ ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —γώ.ώ is long by nature.
10 —ῥώώ is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —μηςη is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
12 ⏑γὰὰ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑ρ ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —μείεί is a diphthong, long by nature.
15 ×νωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

A spondee, two dactyls, a spondee and a dactyl. ἐών is one syllable by synizesis, as often where the first vowel is ε.^[11] The input ties it. ἄ- of ἄξιος is long by position before ξ.^[22] The caesura is feminine, after ὥσπερ, whose ρ passes to ἐγώ, and the hephthemimeral word-end follows ἐγώ at the strong stop.^[8] γάρ is a postpositive.^[18]

2.12

Line 2.12 · ἀνδρῶν ἠδ’ ἵππων ἡμετέρη σοφίη.

ἀνδρῶν ἠδ’ ἵππων ἡμετέρη σοφίη.

ἀνδρῶνἠδ’ἵππωνἡμετέρησοφίη.

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ἀνἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position.
2 —δρῶνῶ is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —ἠἠ is long by nature.
4 —δ’ἵπἵ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by π: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —πωνω is long by nature.
6 —ἡἡ is long by nature.
7 ⏑μεε is short by nature.
8 ⏑τέέ is short by nature.
9 —ρηη is long by nature.
10 ⏑σοο is short by nature.
11 ⏑φίί is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
12 ×η.η is long by nature; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with both bicipitia of the first half contracted (ἀν-δρῶν ἠδ’ ἵπ-). ἠδ’ is elided.^[9] The word-end after ἵππων is the caesura.^[7]

2.13

Line 2.13 · ἀλλ’ εἰκῇ μάλα τοῦτο νομίζεται, οὐδὲ δίκαιον

ἀλλ’ εἰκῇ μάλα τοῦτο νομίζεται, οὐδὲ δίκαιον

ἀλλ’εἰκῇμάλατοῦτονομίζεται,οὐδὲδίκαιον

spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —ἀλἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by λ: long by position.
2 —λ’εἰεἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —κῇῇ is long by nature.
4 ⏑μάά is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑λαα is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —τοῦοῦ is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 ⏑τοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑νοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —μίζ is a double consonant (two sounds) and closes the syllable: long by position.
10 ⏑ζεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑ται,αι is a diphthong, long by nature; shortened before the vowel that begins the next word (epic correption), as the metre requires; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
13 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑δίί is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —καιαι is a diphthong, long by nature.
16 ×ονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

A spondee and four dactyls. ἀλλ’ is elided.^[9] The caesura is feminine, after τοῦτο.^[8] -ται of νομίζεται is shortened before οὐδέ by epic correption,^[10] and word-end after νομίζεται is the bucolic caesura.^[6]

2.14

Line 2.14 · προκρίνειν ῥώμην τῆς ἀγαθῆς σοφίης.

προκρίνειν ῥώμην τῆς ἀγαθῆς σοφίης.

προκρίνεινῥώμηντῆςἀγαθῆςσοφίης.

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —προκο is short by nature; closed by κ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
2 —ρίί is long by the metre (position 2 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —νεινει is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
4 —ῥώώ is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —μηνη is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
6 —τῆςῆ is long by nature.
7 ⏑ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
8 ⏑γαα is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
9 —θῆςῆ is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
10 ⏑σοο is short by nature.
11 ⏑φίί is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
12 ×ης.η is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with both bicipitia of the first half contracted (προ-κρί-νειν ῥώ-). The κρ of προκρίνειν makes position inside the word,^[15] and its ι is long, as in κρίνω.^[23] The word-end after ῥώμην is the caesura.^[7]

2.15

Line 2.15 · οὔτε γὰρ εἰ πύκτης ἀγαθὸς λαοῖσι μετείη

οὔτε γὰρ εἰ πύκτης ἀγαθὸς λαοῖσι μετείη

οὔτεγὰρ εἰπύκτηςἀγαθὸςλαοῖσιμετείη

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, spondee, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —οὔοὔ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑τεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑γὰὰ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ρ εἰεἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
5 —πύκύ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by κ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —τηςη is long by nature.
7 ⏑ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑γαα is short by the metre (position 6 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —θὸςὸ is short by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
10 —λαα is long by the metre (position 8 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 —οῖοῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
12 ⏑σιι is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 ⏑μεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 —τείεί is a diphthong, long by nature.
15 ×ηη is long by nature; the position is anceps.

A dactyl, a spondee, a dactyl, a spondee and a dactyl. γάρ is a postpositive.^[18] The caesura is penthemimeral, after πύκτης, with a hephthemimeral word-end after ἀγαθός.^[8] The ᾱ of λαοῖσι is long^[24] and fills the contracted fourth biceps inside the word.

2.16

Line 2.16 · οὔτ’ εἰ πενταθλεῖν οὔτε παλαισμοσύνην,

οὔτ’ εἰ πενταθλεῖν οὔτε παλαισμοσύνην,

οὔτ’εἰπενταθλεῖνοὔτεπαλαισμοσύνην,

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —οὔοὔ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —τ’εἰεἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —πενε is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
4 —ταθα is a vowel of unknown length; closed by θ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —λεῖνεῖ is a diphthong, long by nature.
6 —οὔοὔ is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 ⏑τεε is short by nature.
8 ⏑παα is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
9 —λαισαι is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
10 ⏑μοο is short by nature.
11 ⏑σύύ is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
12 ×νην,η is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with both bicipitia of the first half contracted (οὔτ’ εἰ πεν-ταθ-). οὔτ’ is elided.^[9] The θλ of πενταθλεῖν makes position inside the word.^[15] The word-end after πενταθλεῖν is the caesura.^[7]

2.17

Line 2.17 · οὐδὲ μὲν εἰ ταχυτῆτι ποδῶν, τόπερ ἐστὶ πρότιμον

οὐδὲ μὲν εἰ ταχυτῆτι ποδῶν, τόπερ ἐστὶ πρότιμον

οὐδὲμὲν εἰταχυτῆτιποδῶν,τόπερ ἐστὶπρότιμον

dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee; hephthemimeral caesura; bucolic diaeresis.

1 —οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑δὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑μὲὲ is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ν εἰεἰ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
5 ⏑ταα is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 ⏑χυυ is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
7 —τῆῆ is long by nature.
8 ⏑τιι is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 ⏑ποο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
10 —δῶν,ῶ is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
11 ⏑τόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 ⏑πεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
13 —ρ ἐσἐ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
14 ⏑τὶὶ is a vowel of unknown length; the next word begins with πρ, a stop + liquid that does not make position here, so the syllable stays short; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 ⏑πρόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
16 —τιι is long by the metre (position 11 must be long).
17 ×μονο is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; the position is anceps.

All five feet are dactyls. The caesura is feminine, after ταχυτῆτι, with a hephthemimeral word-end at the comma after ποδῶν.^[8] Word-end after τόπερ, with the postpositive περ, is the bucolic caesura.^[25] The ι of ἐστί stays short before the initial πρ of πρότιμον.^[12] The ι of πρότιμον is long.^[26]

2.18

Line 2.18 · ῥώμης ὅσσ’ ἀνδρῶν ἔργ’ ἐν ἀγῶνι πέλει,

ῥώμης ὅσσ’ ἀνδρῶν ἔργ’ ἐν ἀγῶνι πέλει,

ῥώμηςὅσσ’ἀνδρῶνἔργ’ἐν ἀγῶνιπέλει,

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —ῥώώ is long by nature.
2 —μηςη is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —ὅσὅ is short by nature; closed by σ: long by position.
4 —σ’ἀνἀ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —δρῶνῶ is long by nature.
6 —ἔρἔ is short by nature; closed by ρ: long by position.
7 ⏑γ’ἐἐ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
8 ⏑ν ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
9 —γῶῶ is long by nature.
10 ⏑νιι is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable.
11 ⏑πέέ is short by nature.
12 ×λει,ει is a diphthong, long by nature; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with both bicipitia of the first half contracted (ῥώ-μης ὅσσ’ ἀν-). ὅσσ’ and ἔργ’ are elided.^[9] The word-end after ἀνδρῶν is the caesura.^[7] ἔργον once began with ϝ,^[27] but the elision before it shows the ϝ is ignored here.

2.19

Line 2.19 · τοὔνεκεν ἂν δὴ μᾶλλον ἐν εὐνομίῃ πόλις εἴη.

τοὔνεκεν ἂν δὴ μᾶλλον ἐν εὐνομίῃ πόλις εἴη.

τοὔνεκεν ἂνδὴμᾶλλον ἐν εὐνομίῃπόλις εἴη.

dactyl, spondee, dactyl, dactyl, dactyl, — ×; caesura after the third trochee.

1 —τοὔοὔ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑νεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑κεε is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —ν ἂνἂ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
5 —δὴὴ is long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —μᾶλᾶ carries a circumflex, so it is long; closed by λ: long by position.
7 ⏑λοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 ⏑ν ἐἐ is short by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
9 —ν εὐεὐ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
10 ⏑νοο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
11 ⏑μίί is short by the metre (position 8 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
12 —ῃῃ is long by nature.
13 ⏑πόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
14 ⏑λιι is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
15 —ς εἴεἴ is a diphthong, long by nature; the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel.
16 ×η.η is long by nature; the position is anceps.

A dactyl, a spondee and three dactyls. τοὔνεκεν is a crasis of τοῦ ἕνεκεν.^[11] δή fills the contracted second biceps. The ν of μᾶλλον passes to ἐν, but the word ends between the shorts of the third foot: a feminine caesura.^[8] ἐν goes with εὐνομίῃ.^[18]

2.20

Line 2.20 · σμικρὸν δ’ ἄν τι πόλει χάρμα γένοιτ’ ἐπὶ τῷ,

σμικρὸν δ’ ἄν τι πόλει χάρμα γένοιτ’ ἐπὶ τῷ,

σμικρὸνδ’ἄντιπόλειχάρμαγένοιτ’ἐπὶτῷ,

spondee, dactyl, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —σμικι is a vowel of unknown length; closed by κ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
2 —ρὸνὸ is short by nature; closed by ν: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —δ’ἄνἄ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ν: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
4 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 4 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 ⏑πόό is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —λειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 —χάρά is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position.
8 ⏑μαα is short by the metre (position 7 must be short).
9 ⏑γέέ is short by nature.
10 —νοιοι is a diphthong, long by nature.
11 ⏑τ’ἐἐ is short by nature; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
12 ⏑πὶὶ is short by the metre (position 11 must be short).
13 ×τῷ,ῷ is long by nature; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with the first biceps contracted (σμι-κρόν). The κρ of σμικρόν makes position inside the word.^[15] δ’ is elided.^[9] The word-end after πόλει is the caesura.^[7] γένοιτ’ is elided.^[9]

2.21

Line 2.21 · εἴ τις ἀεθλεύων νικῷ Πίσαο παρ’ ὄχθας·

εἴ τις ἀεθλεύων νικῷ Πίσαο παρ’ ὄχθας·

εἴτις ἀεθλεύωννικῷΠίσαοπαρ’ὄχθας·

dactyl, spondee, spondee, spondee, dactyl, — ×; penthemimeral caesura; hephthemimeral caesura.

1 —εἴεἴ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 ⏑τιι is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 ⏑ς ἀἀ is short by the metre (position 2 must be short); the first consonant belongs to the previous word and is carried over to this vowel; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
4 —εθε is short by nature; closed by θ before a liquid: stop + liquid makes position, as it usually does in epic.
5 —λεύεύ is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
6 —ωνω is long by nature; closed by ν: long by position.
7 —νιι is long by the metre (position 6 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 6.
8 —κῷῷ is long by nature.
9 —Πίί is long by the metre (position 8 must be long); a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 8.
10 —σαα is long by the metre (position 9 must be long).
11 ⏑οο is short by nature; one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
12 ⏑παα is short by the metre (position 10 must be short); one of the two shorts of the biceps at position 10.
13 —ρ’ὄχὄ is short by nature; closed by χ: long by position; the apostrophe marks an elided vowel; the consonant before it joins this syllable.
14 ×θας·α is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

A dactyl, three spondees and a dactyl. τις is a postpositive.^[18] The caesura is penthemimeral, after ἀεθλεύων, with a hephthemimeral word-end after νικῷ;^[8] the ι of νικῷ is long.^[28] The ι of Πίσαο is long and fills the contracted fourth biceps, and the ᾱ of -ᾱο the fifth princeps. παρ’ is elided.^[9]

2.22

Line 2.22 · οὐ γὰρ πιαίνει ταῦτα μυχοὺς πόλεως.

οὐ γὰρ πιαίνει ταῦτα μυχοὺς πόλεως.

οὐγὰρπιαίνειταῦταμυχοὺςπόλεως.

spondee, spondee, —, dactyl, dactyl, ×; diaeresis after the first hemiepes.

1 —οὐοὐ is a diphthong, long by nature.
2 —γὰρὰ is a vowel of unknown length; closed by ρ: long by position; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 2.
3 —πιι is long by the metre (position 3 must be long).
4 —αίαί is a diphthong, long by nature; a single long contracts the two shorts of the biceps at position 4.
5 —νειει is a diphthong, long by nature.
6 —ταῦαῦ is a diphthong, long by nature.
7 ⏑ταα is short by the accent rule: circumflex on the penult requires a short final syllable.
8 ⏑μυυ is short by the metre (position 8 must be short).
9 —χοὺςοὺ is a diphthong, long by nature; closed by ς: long by position.
10 ⏑πόό is short by nature.
11 ⏑λεε is short by nature.
12 ×ως.ω is long by nature; closed by ς: long by position; the position is anceps.

A pentameter with both bicipitia of the first half contracted (οὐ γὰρ πι-αί-νει). γάρ is a postpositive.^[18] The ι of πιαίνει is long.^[29] The word-end after πιαίνει is the caesura.^[7]

Notes

^ ^a ^b Bartol 2022, p. 229.
^ Budelmann 2009, p. 386.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 229 with n. 41.
^ Bartol 2022, p. 229; Aloni 2009, p. 172.
^ Nicholson 2022, p. 47.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d West 1987, p. 21.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ West 1987, p. 24.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k West 1987, p. 19.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k West 1987, p. 13.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d West 1987, p. 14.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d West 1987, p. 15.
^ ^a ^b ^c West 1987, p. 16.
^ Gerber 1999a, pp. 414–417.
^ LSJ s.v. νίκη.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g West 1987, pp. 16–17.
^ LSJ s.v. παρά.
^ West 1987, pp. 9, 13, 19.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h West 1987, p. 9.
^ See the Metre notes.
^ LSJ s.v. σίτησις.
^ West 1987, p. 17.
^ West 1987, p. 12 n. 1.
^ LSJ.
^ LSJ s.v. λαός.
^ West 1987, pp. 9, 21.
^ LSJ s.v. πρότιμος, which cites this line.
^ West 1987, p. 23.
^ LSJ s.v. νικάω.
^ LSJ s.v. πιαίνω.

Text and sources

Text: Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 10.413f–414c (10.6), ed. G. Kaibel (Leipzig 1887–1890), from the Perseus Digital Library (urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0008.tlg001.perseus-grc3), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Compared with Gulick’s text (perseus-grc4).
M. L. West, Introduction to Greek Metre (Oxford 1987): pp. 9, 12–24 (appositives, syllables, elision, correption, synizesis and crasis, hiatus, stop + liquid, the hexameter and its caesurae, digamma, the elegiac couplet). Cited as “West 1987”.
D. E. Gerber (ed. and trans.), Greek Elegiac Poetry from the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC (Loeb Classical Library 258, Cambridge, MA 1999), pp. 414–417 (text and apparatus of fr. 2 compared). Cited as “Gerber 1999a”.
H. G. Liddell and R. Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, revised by H. S. Jones (Oxford 1940), Perseus Digital Library edition (CC BY-SA 4.0): s.vv. νίκη, σίτησις, λαός, πρότιμος, νικάω, πιαίνω, κρίνω, προεδρία, παρά. Cited as “LSJ”.
Translation: metrehelp.org, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Quotations from copyrighted works are not covered by this page’s licence.

Sources

Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae 10.6 (413f–414c), ed. G. Kaibel (Leipzig 1887–1890), Perseus Digital Library, tlg0008.tlg001.perseus-grc3, CC BY-SA 4.0 (TEI header) (Greek text of Xenophanes fr. 2, checked letter by letter); compared with Gulick's text (perseus-grc4).
West, M. L. 1987. Introduction to Greek Metre. Oxford. pp. 9, 12–24.
LSJ (Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA), s.vv. νίκη, σίτησις, λαός, πρότιμος, νικάω, πιαίνω, κρίνω, προεδρία, παρά.
Gerber, D. E. 1999a. Greek Elegiac Poetry from the Seventh to the Fifth Centuries BC (Loeb Classical Library 258). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. pp. 414–417 (Xenophanes fr. 2, text and apparatus compared) (read on the Loeb Classical Library site).
Bartol, K. 2022. 'Elegy', in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric. Wiley. ch. 15, p. 229 with n. 41.
Budelmann, F. (ed.) 2009. The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. 'Chronology of select melic, elegiac and iambic poets', p. 386.
Aloni, A. 2009. 'Elegy: forms, functions and communication', in F. Budelmann (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Greek Lyric. Cambridge. p. 172.
Nicholson, N. 2022. 'Commemorating the Athlete', in L. Swift (ed.), A Companion to Greek Lyric. Wiley. ch. 4, p. 47.