2 September 2014

Conjugal dissensions

As my wife and I strolled along a country lane the other day, eating an occasional passing blackberry, a conversation ended up with one of us saying "Ah well; win some, lose some". Immediately, there came into my mind ... you know how these things just spring fully armed from the head of Zeus ... the thought "That would go neatly into Greek as 'ta men nikomen ta de nikometha'". I rather liked it ... antithesis ... parallelism ... polyptoton ... but Pam viewed it with less enthusiasm. I mumbled something about how I have to do things like that ... and writing a blog ... to keep Altzheimer's at bay. She replied that she sought this end with rather greater success by doing crosswords and number-puzzles [she meant sudokus et alia eiusdem generis]. Instantly, punning with my characteristic brilliance, I said "su dokeis hoti ta ainigmata ten Heben trephei?". This simply elicited a slight rise in a disdainful eyebrow. Married men among you will know what I mean ... after all, cosi fan tutte.

I think I am suffering from Domestic Appreciation Deficit, which, of course, would go neatly into Greek as ... er ....

9 comments:

Josephus Muris Saliensis said...

One was amused by such a great mind lapsing into unforgivable and wholly uncharacteristic Relativism. The blackberries are stationery, apart perhaps from the mild tremor of a late-summer breeze, it is you who were passing.

Flambeaux said...

ROFLOL!
Thank you for sharing, Father. My wife and I are both enjoying this slice of life.

Sue Sims said...

Josephus MS: transferred epithet for humorous effect.

Adrian said...

Is 'occasional passing blackberry' an example of ὑπαλλαγή?

Simon Platt said...

Did you really think that the blackberries were stationery, Josephus?

William said...

I recall as a child making ink out of blackberries. Does that count?

Melinda said...

Yes indeed, it is lovely to see the transferred epithet in English (outside of its modern master, PG Wodehouse).

Anon. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anon. said...

τό ἔλλειμμα τῆς οἰκιακῆς ἐκτῑμησεως?