Ο ΑΟΙΔΟΣ (ε)

οἱ οὖν πάντες πρόσθεν τῆς σκηνῆς καθίζουσιν. καὶ δή, ἐν μὲν ταῖς ἕδραις τοῦ Δικαιοπολέως ἀγαθαῖς καθίζουσιν, οἱ δὲ πάντες τὴν σκηνὴν θεῶνται. ἡ γὰρ τῆς κωμῳδίας ἀρχὴ δι' ὀλίγου ἐστίν. ἡ κωμῳδία ἐστὶν ὀνόματι Νεφέλαι. οἱ μὲν πάντες ἐν ταῖς ἕδραις μένουσιν, ὁ δὲ Δικαιόπολις περὶ τ' αὐτοῦ κακά αὖθις λέγει · "ἐγὼ νῦν," φησιν ὁ Δικαιόπολις, "τε πλούσιος καὶ λαμπρός εἰμι. ἀλλὰ δὴ, οἰκτρός εἰμι. οἱ γὰρ μὲν παῖδες καὶ ἡ γυνὴ οἰκοφθοροῦσιν, ἐγὼ νῦνδὲ πολὺ πολλοῖς ὀφείλω. ὁ γὰρ παῖς, Φίλιππος - οἴμοι! - πολὺν οἶνον αἰεὶ πίνει, ("εὖ γέ" φησιν Ἀλκιβιάδης) τε καὶ πολλάκις καθεύδει ("ἀμείνων γέ" φησιν Ἀλκιβιάδης)." καὶ ὴ καί, ἡ γυνή, Μυρρίνη, τήν τινα ἐπιβουλὴν ποιεῖ μετὰ τῶν Λακεδαιμονιῶν · καθ' ἑκάστην τὴν ἡμέραν τὸ ἄγγελμα δέχεται ἀπὸ τοῦ Βρασίδου, τοῦ τῶν Λακεδαιμονιῶν στρατηγοῦ. καθ' οὖν ἑκάστην τὴν ἡμέραν, δεῖ με παρέχειν τὰ χρήματα τῷ ἀγγέλῳ! καὶ δὴ κατὰ τὴν θυγατέρα, Μέλιτταν · ἡ μὲν τὰ ἐμοῦ χρήματα κλέπτει, ἡ δὲ εἰς τὸν Πειραιέα μετὰ τῶν φίλων ἔρχεται. τ' οὐν ὁ παῖς, καὶ ἡ γυνὴ καὶ ἡ θυγάτηρ οἰκοφθοροῦσιν. μάλιστά γε, ὁ βίος ἐστὶ χαλεπὸς καὶ οἰκτρός." καὶ αὖθις ὁ Δικαιόπολίς φησιν · "ἀλλ' ἴσως, ὦ Σώκρατα, δύνασαί μοι βοηθεῖν...."

Why are they all watching the stage (ἡ σκηνή)?
1. Because they are all bored of talking to one another.
2. Because Aristophanes' play is due to start momentarily.
3. Because the chorus is performing.
4. Because Dikaiopolis is performing.
Once seated, what does Dicaiopolis start to talk about?
1. His new light-weight ash javelin.
2. His upcoming South Coast Tour.
3. His troubles.
4. His childhood.
What is the first cause of Dicaiopolis' wretchedness?
1. His family is wasting his newfound wealth and he is now heavily in debt.
2. Although wealthy and famous, he has never learned to swim.
3. His rugged, good looks are starting to fade.
4. Rising labour costs.
According to Alcibiades, what is the only thing better than drinking a lot of wine?
1. Drinking a lot of nectar.
2. Sleeping often.
3. Doing the Spartan 'thigh-flash' dance.
4. Travelling.
In what way does Myrrhine contribute to her husband's wretchedness and increasing debt?
1. By gambling in the seediest section of Athens.
2. By investing heavily in the high-risk, Corinthian hedge fund market.
3. By buying only imported Persian clothing.
4. By receiving 'cash on delivery' messages from Brasidas, the crafty Spartan strategist.
In what way does Melitta contribute to her father's wretchedness and increasing debt?
1. By breaking water jars.
2. By hanging out in the Piraeus wasting money with her friends.
3. By gambling on the intra-polis wrestling competitions.
4. By constantly inviting many friends over for dinner.
Where does Melitta get her money?
1. She steals it from her father.
2. She sells trinkets to tourists.
3. Working the concession at Dicaiopolis' concerts.
4. From Myrrhine and Philippos.
In what way does Dicaiopolis sum up his life?
1. It's exciting, but costly.
2. It's sometimes dreary, sometimes fun.
3. It's wretched and difficult.
4. It couldn't be better.

Ο ΑΟΙΔΟΣ (ε)

Multiple-choice exercise

Ο ΑΟΙΔΟΣ (ε)