Aristophanes, Knights

ὁ Θεμιστοκλέους γὰρ θάνατος αἱρετώτερος.

Yes, for the death of Themistocles is preferable.

Δημοσθένης

Demosthenes

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ἄκρατον οἶνον ἀγαθοῦ δαίμονος.

No, by Zeus, but neat wine, to the Good Spirit.

ἴσως γὰρ ἂν χρηστόν τι βουλευσαίμεθα.

Perhaps then we might hit on some good plan.

Νικίας

Nicias

ἰδού γʼ ἄκρατον. περὶ πότου γοῦν ἐστί σοι;

Listen to him: “neat”! So your mind is on drinking?

πῶς δʼ ἂν μεθύων χρηστόν τι βουλεύσαιτʼ ἀνήρ;

How could a man plan anything good while drunk?

Δημοσθένης

Demosthenes

ἄληθες οὗτος; κρουνοχυτρολήραιον εἶ.

Really, you? You're a gushing water-pot of drivel.

οἶνον σὺ τολμᾷς εἰς ἐπίνοιαν λοιδορεῖν;

You dare to slander wine as a spur to invention?

οἴνου γὰρ εὕροις ἄν τι πρακτικώτερον;

Could you find anything more effective than wine?

ὁρᾷς, ὅταν πίνωσιν ἄνθρωποι τότε

You see, it's when men drink that

πλουτοῦσι διαπράττουσι νικῶσιν δίκας

they get rich, get things done, win lawsuits,

εὐδαιμονοῦσιν ὠφελοῦσι τοὺς φίλους.

are happy, help their friends.

ἀλλʼ ἐξένεγκέ μοι ταχέως οἴνου χοᾶ,

Come on, bring me out a jug of wine, quick,

τὸν νοῦν ἵνʼ ἄρδω καὶ λέγω τι δεξιόν.

so I can water my wits and say something clever.

Νικίας

Nicias

οἴμοι τί ποθʼ ἡμᾶς ἐργάσει τῷ σῷ πότῳ;

Oh dear, what on earth will you do to us with your drinking?

Δημοσθένης

Demosthenes

ἀγάθʼ· ἀλλʼ ἔνεγκʼ· ἐγὼ δὲ κατακλινήσομαι.

Good things. Just bring it; I'll lie down.

ἢν γὰρ μεθυσθῶ, πάντα ταυτὶ καταπάσω

For if I get drunk, I'll sprinkle this whole place

βουλευματίων καὶ γνωμιδίων καὶ νοιδίων.

with little plans and little maxims and little notions.

Νικίας

Nicias

ὡς εὐτυχῶς ὅτι οὐκ ἐλήφθην ἔνδοθεν

How lucky that I wasn't caught inside

κλέπτων τὸν οἶνον.

stealing the wine.

Δημοσθένης

Demosthenes

εἰπέ μοι Παφλαγὼν τί δρᾷ;

Tell me, what is the Paphlagonian doing?

Νικίας

Nicias

ἐπίπαστα λείξας δημιόπραθʼ ὁ βάσκανος

Having licked up some confiscated titbits, the slanderer

ῥέγκει μεθύων ἐν ταῖσι βύρσαις ὕπτιος.

is snoring drunk, flat on his back among the hides.

Δημοσθένης

Demosthenes

ἴθι νυν ἄκρατον ἐγκάναξόν μοι πολὺν

Go on then, gurgle me in plenty of neat wine

σπονδήν.

as a libation.

Νικίας

Nicias

λαβὲ δὴ καὶ σπεῖσον ἀγαθοῦ δαίμονος.

Here, take it and pour a libation to the Good Spirit.

Δημοσθένης

Demosthenes

ἕλχʼ ἕλκε τὴν τοῦ δαίμονος τοῦ Πραμνίου.

Drink, drink down the cup of the Pramnian Spirit.