Author details/dating: Aristophanes

Instrument Cited: salpinx

Citation Reference: Aristophanes, 1240-1241

Citation Content - translation:

Maker of War Trumpets [1240] What is to be done with this trumpet, for which I gave sixty drachmae the other day?

Trygaeus Pour lead into the hollow and fit a good, long stick to the top; and you will have a balanced cottabus.

Maker of War Trumpets [1245] Don’t mock me.

Trygaeus Well, here’s another idea. Pour in lead as I said, add here a dish hung on strings, and you will have a balance for weighing the figs which you give your slaves in the fields.

Citation Content - original:

Σαλπιγγοποιός

1240 τί δ᾽ ἆρα τῇ σάλπιγγι τῇδε χρήσομαι, ἣν ἐπριάμην δραχμῶν ποθ᾽ ἑξήκοντ᾽ ἐγώ;

Τρυγαῖος

μόλυβδον ἐς τουτὶ τὸ κοῖλον ἐγχέας ἔπειτ᾽ ἄνωθεν ῥάβδον ἐνθεὶς ὑπόμακρον, γενήσεταί σοι τῶν κατακτῶν κοττάβων.

Σαλπιγγοποιός

1245 οἴμοι καταγελᾷς.

Τρυγαῖος ἀλλ᾽ ἕτερον παραινέσω. τὸν μὲν μόλυβδον, ὥσπερ εἶπον, ἔγχεον, ἐντευθενὶ δὲ σπαρτίοις ἠρτημένην πλάστιγγα πρόσθες, καὐτό σοι γενήσεται τὰ σῦκ᾽ ἐν ἀγρῷ τοῖς οἰκέταισιν ἱστάναι.