14C

Question 1

συ δε δη τι σιγας, ὦ Εὐεργιδη, και οὔτε συνεπαινεις τους λογους οὔτε ἐλεγχεις; ἥδομαι γαρ ἔγωγε μαλιστα ἀκουσας τον λογον ὃν διερχεται Ἀπολλοδωρος. τι οὖν λεγεις περι ὧν διηλθεν; ἆρ᾽ ἥδει και συ γε τοῖς λογοις.

Answer 1

But why are you silent, Euergides, and why do you neither join in praising nor refute the arguments? For I am very pleased, now I have heard the speech which Apollodoros has made. What do you say about what he has said? Are you, too, pleased by his words?

Question 2

μαλιστα γε δηπου, ὦ Στρυμοδωρε, τοις λογοις ἥδομαι οἷς διεληλυθεν Ἀπολλοδωρος. ἐπειδαν γαρ τις καλῶς λεγῃ και ἀληθη, τις οὐχ ἥδεται ἀκουσας;

Answer 2

I am certainly very pleased, Strymodoros, with the speech which Apollodoros made. For whenever anyone speaks well and truthfully, who does not enjoy listening?

Question 3

τι δε; ἆρα δεῖ ἡμας καταδικασαι της Νεαιρας;

Answer 3

What then? Must we condemn Neaira?

Question 4

πῶς γαρ οὔ; ἐαν γαρ ἀποψηφισωμεθα Νεαιρας, ἐξεσται ταις πορναις συνοικειν οἷς ἂν βουλωνται, και φασκειν τους παιδας εἶναι οὗ ἂν τυχωσιν.

Answer 4

Of course. For if we acquit Neaira it will be permissible for prostitutes to live with whoever they like, and to declare that their children belong to whoever they happen to find [to father them].

Question 5

οὐ μονον γε, ὦ Εὐεργιδη, ἀλλα και οἱ μεν καθεστωτες νομοι ἄκυροι ἔσονται, αἱ δε ἑταιραι κυριαι διαπραττεσθαι ὅ τι ἂν βουλωνται. τι φης, ὦ Κωμια; ἆρ᾽οἴει τους νομους ἀκυρους ἔσεσθαι;

Answer 5

Not only that, Euergides, but there is also the fact that the established laws will become powerless, and hetairas will have the power to do whatever they like. What do you say, Komias? Do you think the laws will become powerless?

Question 6

ὑμιν μεν μελει των τε ἑταιρων και των νομων, ἐμοι δε οὐδεν τουτων μελει. των γαρ πολιτιδων μοι μελει.

Answer 6

You are concerned with hetairas and the laws, but I am concerned with none of these things. My concern is with female citizens.

Question 7

σοι των πολιτιδων μελει; πως φης; ἴσως μεν τι λεγεις, ἐγω δ᾽οὐ μανθανω.

Answer 7

Your concern is with female citizens? How do you mean? Perhaps you are saying something important, but I don’t understand.

Question 8

εἰ συ γθνη ἦσθα, ὦ Στρυμοδωρε, ἐμανθανες ἄν, και σοι ἔμελε των πολιτιδων. σκοπει δη, ὦ Στρυμοδωρε.

Answer 8

If you were a woman, Strymodorus, you would understand, and you would be concerned about female citizens. Consider, then, Strymodoros