The previous post in this series may be found here: https://memoirandremains.wordpress.com/2014/02/26/plutarchs-marriage-advice-section-23-magic-charms/

On another occasion, Olympias spoke concerning a certain young man at court who had married a beautiful woman – with a bad reputation. “He has no sense at all. One ought not marry based on appearance, by what the eyes see or the fingers count – you know, the man who thinks  how much he’ll receive without thinking about how they’ll live together.

Greek Text:

πάλιν ἡ Ὀλυμπιάς, αὐλικοῦ τινος νεανίσκου γήμαντος εὐπρεπῆ γυναῖκα κακῶς ἀκούουσαν, ‘οὗτος’ εἶπεν ‘ οὐκ ἔχει λογισμόν· ουʼ γὰρ ἂν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς ἔγημε’ δεῖ δὲ μὴ τοῖς ὄμμασι γαμεῖν δὲ τοῖς δακτύλοις, ὥσπερ ἔνιοι ψηφίσαντες πόσα φέρουσαν λαμβάνουσιν, ουʼ κρίναντες πῶς συμβιωσομένην.

Translation Notes: 

πάλιν ἡ Ὀλυμπιάς

Again, Olympias

αὐλικοῦ τινος νεανίσκου

of the court a certain young man

aulikos means of the court, as in a courtier.

γήμαντος εὐπρεπῆ γυναῖκα

having married a beautiful woman

euprepes means of an attractive appearance, but it can also mean “fitting” or suited. In light of the comment concerning her wealth, the choice of this word may be a pun on her beauty being in her wealth.

κακῶς ἀκούουσαν

of an evil reputation

κακῶς: evilly

ἀκούουσαν: genitive participle: heard of

‘οὗτος’ εἶπεν

Thus, she

οὐκ ἔχει λογισμόν

he has no ability to reason/no thought

ουʼ γὰρ ἂν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς ἔγημε’

for then not by sight would have have married

δεῖ δὲ μὴ τοῖς ὄμμασι γαμεῖν

for not by the eyes ought one to marry

hommas is a poetic word for “eye”. The movement between ophthamos in the prior clause seems to indicate a movement from “by sight” to “eyes”.

δὲ τοῖς δακτύλοις

or by fingers

ὥσπερ ἔνιοι ψηφίσαντες πόσα φέρουσαν λαμβάνουσιν

as some number (count up) how much bringing (to the marriage) they would receive

ουʼ κρίναντες πῶς συμβιωσομένην

not judging how she would live (with him)