---
title: "Birds · Ὄρνιθες"
author: "Aristophanes"
translator: "Anonymous (1912)"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
url: https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-birds/
cite: "Aristophanes, tr. Anonymous (1912), Birds · Ὄρνιθες. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-birds/"
---

# Birds · Ὄρνιθες

*Aristophanes, tr. Anonymous (1912)*

Two Athenians persuade the birds to build Cloudcuckooland between heaven and earth.

> Greek: ed. F. W. Hall, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0019.tlg006, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Anonymous (1912), from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0019.tlg006.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## Contents

1. [Lines 1–450](https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-birds/1.md)
2. [Lines 435–850](https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-birds/2.md)
3. [Lines 801–1312](https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-birds/3.md)
4. [Lines 1263–1765](https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-birds/4.md)

## 1. Lines 1–450

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-birds/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-birds/1/#p-N

[¶0] SCENE: A wild and desolate region; only thickets, rocks, and a single tree are seen. Euelpides and Pisthetaerus enter, each with a bird in his hand.
Euelpides: To his jay.
Do you think I should walk straight for yon tree?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ὀρθὴν κελεύεις, ᾗ τὸ δένδρον φαίνεται;

[¶1] Pisthetaerus: To his crow.
Cursed beast, what are you croaking to me?... to retrace my steps?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
διαρραγείης· ἥδε δʼ αὖ κρώζει πάλιν.

[¶2] Euelpides:
Why, you wretch, we are wandering at random, we are exerting ourselves only to return to the same spot; we're wasting our time.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τί ὦ πόνηρʼ ἄνω κάτω πλανύττομεν;
ἀπολούμεθʼ ἄλλως τὴν ὁδὸν προφορουμένω.

[¶3] Pisthetaerus:
To think that I should trust to this crow, which has made me cover more than a thousand furlongs!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τὸ δʼ ἐμὲ κορώνῃ πειθόμενον τὸν ἄθλιον
ὁδοῦ περιελθεῖν στάδια πλεῖν ἢ χίλια.

[¶4] Euelpides:
And that I, in obedience to this jay, should have worn my toes down to the nails!

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τὸ δʼ ἐμὲ κολοιῷ πειθόμενον τὸν δύσμορον
ἀποσποδῆσαι τοὺς ὄνυχας τῶν δακτύλων.

[¶5] Pisthetaerus:
If only I knew where we were...

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ὅπου γῆς ἐσμὲν οἶδʼ ἔγωγʼ ἔτι.

[¶6] Euelpides:
Could you find your country again from here?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἐντευθενὶ τὴν πατρίδʼ ἂν ἐξεύροις σύ που;

[¶7] Pisthetaerus:
No, I feel quite sure I could not, any more than could Execestides find his.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐδʼ ἂν μὰ Δία γʼ ἐντεῦθεν Ἐξηκεστίδης.

[¶8] Euelpides:
Alas!

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
οἴμοι.

[¶9] Pisthetaerus:
Aye, aye, my friend, it's surely the road of “alases” we are following.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
σὺ μὲν ὦ τᾶν τὴν ὁδὸν ταύτην ἴθι.

[¶10] Euelpides:
That Philocrates, the bird-seller, played us a scurvy trick,
when he pretended these two guides could help us to find Tereus, the Epops, who is a bird, without being born of one. He has indeed sold us this jay, a true son of Tharrhelides, for an obolus, and this crow for three, but what can they do? Why, nothing whatever but bite and scratch!
To his jay.
What's the matter with you then, that you keep opening your beak? Do you want us to fling ourselves headlong down these rocks? There is no road that way.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἦ δεινὰ νὼ δέδρακεν οὑκ τῶν ὀρνέων,
ὁ πινακοπώλης φιλοκράτης μελαγχολῶν,
ὃς τώδʼ ἔφασκε νῷν φράσειν τὸν Τηρέα
τὸν ἔποφʼ ὃς ὄρνις ἐγένετʼ ἐκ τῶν ὀρνέων·
κἀπέδοτο τὸν μὲν Θαρρελείδου τουτονὶ
κολοιὸν ὀβολοῦ, τηνδεδὶ τριωβόλου.
τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἄρʼ ᾔστην οὐδὲν ἄλλο πλὴν δάκνειν.
καὶ νῦν τί κέχηνας; ἔσθʼ ὅποι κατὰ τῶν πετρῶν
ἡμᾶς ἔτʼ ἔξεις. οὐ γάρ ἐστʼ ἐνταῦθά τις
ὁδός.

[¶11] Pisthetaerus:
Not even the vestige of a trail in any direction

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐδὲ μὰ Δίʼ ἐνταῦθά γʼ ἀτραπὸς οὐδαμοῦ.

[¶12] Euelpides:
And what does the crow say about the road to follow?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
οὐδʼ ἡ κορώνη τῆς ὁδοῦ τι λέγει πέρι;

[¶13] Pisthetaerus:
By Zeus, it no longer croaks the same thing it did.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐ ταὐτὰ κρώζει μὰ Δία νῦν τε καὶ τότε.

[¶14] Euelpides:
And which way does it tell us to go now?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τί δὴ λέγει περὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ;

[¶15] Pisthetaerus:
It says that, by dint of gnawing, it will devour my fingers.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τί δʼ ἄλλο γʼ ἢ
βρύκουσʼ ἀπέδεσθαί φησί μου τοὺς δακτύλους;

[¶16] Euelpides:
What misfortune is ours! we strain every nerve to get to the crows, do everything we can to that end, and we cannot find our way!
Yes, spectators, our madness is quite different from that of Sacas. He is not a citizen, and would fain be one at any cost; we, on the contrary, born of an honorable tribe and family and living in the midst of our fellow-citizens,
we have fled from our country as hard as ever we could go. It's not that we hate it; we recognize it to be great and rich, likewise that everyone has the right to ruin himself paying taxes; but the crickets only chirrup among the fig-trees for a month or two,
whereas the Athenians spend their whole lives in chanting forth judgments from their law-courts. That is why we started off with a basket, a stew-pot and some myrtle boughs and have come to seek a quiet country
in which to settle. We are going to Tereus, the Epops, to learn from him, whether, in his aerial flights, he has noticed some town of this kind.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
οὐ δεινὸν οὖν δῆτʼ ἐστὶν ἡμᾶς δεομένους
ἐς κόρακας ἐλθεῖν καὶ παρεσκευασμένους
ἔπειτα μὴ ʼξευρεῖν δύνασθαι τὴν ὁδόν;
ἡμεῖς γάρ, ὦνδρες οἱ παρόντες ἐν λόγῳ,
νόσον νοσοῦμεν τὴν ἐναντίαν Σάκᾳ·
ὁ μὲν γὰρ ὢν οὐκ ἀστὸς ἐσβιάζεται,
ἡμεῖς δὲ φυλῇ καὶ γένει τιμώμενοι,
ἀστοὶ μετʼ ἀστῶν, οὐ σοβοῦντος οὐδενὸς
ἀνεπτόμεσθʼ ἐκ τῆς πατρίδος ἀμφοῖν ποδοῖν,
αὐτὴν μὲν οὐ μισοῦντʼ ἐκείνην τὴν πόλιν
τὸ μὴ οὐ μεγάλην εἶναι φύσει κεὐδαίμονα
καὶ πᾶσι κοινὴν ἐναποτεῖσαι χρήματα.
οἱ μὲν γὰρ οὖν τέττιγες ἕνα μῆνʼ ἢ δύο
ἐπὶ τῶν κραδῶν ᾄδουσʼ, Ἀθηναῖοι δʼ ἀεὶ
ἐπὶ τῶν δικῶν ᾄδουσι πάντα τὸν βίον.
διὰ ταῦτα τόνδε τὸν βάδον βαδίζομεν,
κανοῦν δʼ ἔχοντε καὶ χύτραν καὶ μυρρίνας
πλανώμεθα ζητοῦντε τόπον ἀπράγμονα,
ὅποι καθιδρυθέντε διαγενοίμεθʼ ἄν.
ὁ δὲ στόλος νῷν ἐστι παρὰ τὸν Τηρέα
τὸν ἔποπα, παρʼ ἐκείνου πυθέσθαι δεομἐνω,
εἴ που τοιαύτην εἶδε πόλιν ᾗ ʼπέπτετο.

[¶17] Pisthetaerus:
Here! look!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὗτος.

[¶18] Euelpides:
What's the matter?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τί ἔστιν;

[¶19] Pisthetaerus:
Why, the crow has been directing me
to something up there for some time now.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἡ κορώνη μοι πάλαι
ἄνω τι φράζει.

[¶20] Euelpides:
And the jay is also opening it beak and craning its neck to show me I know not what. Clearly, there are some birds about here. We shall soon know, if we kick up a noise to start them.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
χὠ κολοιὸς οὑτοσὶ
ἄνω κέχηνεν ὡσπερεὶ δεικνύς τί μοι,
κοὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως οὐκ ἔστιν ἐνταῦθʼ ὄρνεα.
εἰσόμεθα δʼ αὐτίκʼ, ἢν ποιήσωμεν ψόφον.

[¶21] Pisthetaerus:
Do you know what to do? Knock your leg against this rock.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἀλλʼ οἶσθʼ ὃ δρᾶσον; τῷ σκέλει θένε τὴν πέτραν.

[¶22] Euelpides:
And you your head to double the noise.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
σὺ δὲ τῇ κεφαλῇ γʼ, ἵνʼ ᾖ διπλάσιος ὁ ψόφος.

[¶23] Pisthetaerus:
Well then use a stone instead; take one and hammer with it.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
σὺ δʼ οὖν λίθῳ κόψον λαβών.

[¶24] Euelpides:
Good idea! He does so. Ho there, within! Slave! slave!

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
πάνυ γʼ, εἰ δοκεῖ.
παῖ παῖ.

[¶25] Pisthetaerus:
What's that, friend! You say, “slave,” to summon Epops? It would be much better to shout, “Epops, Epops!”

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τί λέγεις οὗτος; τὸν ἔποπα παῖ καλεῖς;
οὐκ ἀντὶ τοῦ παιδός ⟨σʼ⟩ ἐχρῆν ἐποποῖ καλεῖν;

[¶26] Euelpides:
Well then, Epops! Must I knock again? Epops!

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἐποποῖ. ποιήσεις ἔτι με κόπτειν αὖθις αὖ.
ἐποποῖ.

[¶27] Trochilus:
Rushing out of a thicket. Who's there? Who calls my master?
Pisthetaerus: In terror.
Apollo the Deliverer! what an enormous beak!
He defecates. In the confusion both the jay and the crow fly away.

> Greek: Θεράπων Ἔποπος:
τίνες οὗτοι; τίς ὁ βοῶν τὸν δεσπότην;
Ἐυελπίδης:
Ἄπολλον ἀποτρόπαιε τοῦ χασμήματος.

[¶28] Trochilus: Equally frightened.
Good god! they are bird-catchers.

> Greek: Θεράπων Ἔποπος:
οἴμοι τάλας ὀρνιθοθήρα τουτωί.

[¶29] Euelpides: Reassuring himself.
But is it so terrible? Wouldn't it be better to explain things?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
οὕτως τι δεινὸν οὐδὲ κάλλιον λέγειν.

[¶30] Trochilus: Also reassuring himself.
You're done for.

> Greek: Θεράπων Ἔποπος:
ἀπολεῖσθον.

[¶31] Euelpides:
But we are not men.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐσμὲν ἀνθρώπω.

[¶32] Trochilus:
What are you, then?

> Greek: Θεράπων Ἔποπος:
τί δαί;

[¶33] Euelpides: Defecating also.
I am the Fearling, an African bird.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
Ὑποδεδιὼς ἔγωγε Λιβυκὸν ὄρνεον.

[¶34] Trochilus:
You talk nonsense.

> Greek: Θεράπων Ἔποπος:
οὐδὲν λέγεις.

[¶35] Euelpides:
Well, then, just ask it of my feet.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
καὶ μὴν ἐροῦ τὰ πρὸς ποδῶν.

[¶36] Trochilus:
And this other one, what bird is it? To Pisthetaerus. Speak up!

> Greek: Θεράπων Ἔποπος:
ὁδὶ δὲ δὴ τίς ἐστιν ὄρνις; οὐκ ἐρεῖς;

[¶37] Pisthetaerus: Weakly.
I? I am a Crapple, from the land of the pheasants.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
Ἐπικεχοδὼς ἔγωγε Φασιανικός.

[¶38] Euelpides:
But you yourself, in the name of the gods! what animal are you?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἀτὰρ σὺ τί θηρίον ποτʼ εἶ πρὸς τῶν θεῶν;

[¶39] Trochilus:
Why, I am a slave-bird.

> Greek: Θεράπων Ἔποπος:
ὄρνις ἔγωγε δοῦλος.

[¶40] Euelpides:
Why, have you been conquered by a cock?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἡττήθης τινὸς
ἀλεκτρυόνος;

[¶41] Trochilus:
No, but when my master was turned into a hoopoe, he begged me to become a bird also, to follow and to serve him.

> Greek: Θεράπων Ἔποπος:
οὐκ ἀλλʼ ὅτε περ ὁ δεσπότης
ἔποψ ἐγένετο, τότε γενέσθαι μʼ ηὔξατο
ὄρνιν, ἵνʼ ἀκόλουθον διάκονόν τʼ ἔχῃ.

[¶42] Euelpides:
Does a bird need a servant, then?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
δεῖται γὰρ ὄρνις καὶ διακόνου τινός;

[¶43] Trochilus:
That's no doubt because he was once a man. At times he wants to eat a dish of sardines from Phalerum; I seize my dish and fly to fetch him some. Again he wants some pea-soup; I seize a ladle and a pot and run to get it.

> Greek: Θεράπων Ἔποπος:
οὗτός γʼ, ἅτʼ οἶμαι πρότερον ἄνθρωπός ποτʼ ὤν,
τοτὲ μὲν ἐρᾷ φαγεῖν ἀφύας Φαληρικάς·
τρέχω ʼπʼ ἀφύας λαβὼν ἐγὼ τὸ τρύβλιον.
ἔτνους δʼ ἐπιθυμεῖ, δεῖ τορύνης καὶ χύτρας·
τρέχω ʼπὶ τορύνην.

[¶44] Euelpides:
This is, then,
truly a running-bird. Come, Trochilus, do us the kindness to call your master.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τροχίλος ὄρνις οὑτοσί.
οἶσθʼ οὖν ὃ δρᾶσον ὦ τροχίλε; τὸν δεσπότην
ἡμῖν κάλεσον.

[¶45] Trochilus:
Why, he has just fallen asleep after a feed of myrtle-berries and a few grubs.

> Greek: Θεράπων Ἔποπος:
ἀλλʼ ἀρτίως νὴ τὸν Δία
εὕδει καταφαγὼν μύρτα καὶ σέρφους τινάς.

[¶46] Euelpides:
Never mind; wake him up.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ὅμως ἐπέγειρον αὐτόν.

[¶47] Trochilus:
I am certain he will be angry. However, I will wake him to please you.
He goes back into the thicket.

> Greek: Θεράπων Ἔποπος:
οἶδα μὲν σαφῶς
ὅτι ἀχθέσεται, σφῷν δʼ αὐτὸν οὕνεκʼ ἐπεγερῶ.

[¶48] Pisthetaerus: As soon as Trochilus is out of sight.
You cursed brute! why, I am almost dead with terror!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
κακῶς σύ γʼ ἀπόλοιʼ, ὥς μʼ ἀπέκτεινας δέει.

[¶49] Euelpides:
Oh! my god! it was sheer fear that made me lose my jay.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
οἴμοι κακοδαίμων χὠ κολοιός μοἴχεται
ὑπὸ τοῦ δέους.

[¶50] Pisthetaerus:
Ah! you big coward! were you so frightened that you let go your jay?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὦ δειλότατον σὺ θηρίον,
δείσας ἀφῆκας τὸν κολοιόν;

[¶51] Euelpides:
And did you not lose your crow, when you fell sprawling on the ground? Tell me that.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
εἰπέ μοι,
σὺ δὲ τὴν κορώνην οὐκ ἀφῆκας καταπεσών;

[¶52] Pisthetaerus:
Not at all.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
μὰ Δίʼ οὐκ ἔγωγε.

[¶53] Euelpides:
Where is it, then?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ποῦ γάρ ἐστʼ;

[¶54] Pisthetaerus:
It flew away.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἀπέπτετο.

[¶55] Euelpides:
And you did not let it go? Oh! you brave fellow!

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
οὐκ ἆρʼ ἀφῆκας; ὦγάθʼ ὡς ἀνδρεῖος εἶ.

[¶56] Epops: From within.
Open the thicket, that I may go out!
He comes out of the thicket.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἄνοιγε τὴν ὕλην, ἵνʼ ἐξέλθω ποτέ.

[¶57] Euelpides:
By Heracles! what a creature! what plumage! What means this triple crest?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ὦ Ἡράκλεις τουτὶ τί ποτʼ ἐστὶ τὸ θηρίον;
τίς ἡ πτέρωσις; τίς ὁ τρόπος τῆς τριλοφίας;

[¶58] Epops:
Who wants me?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
τίνες εἰσί μʼ οἱ ζητοῦντες;

[¶59] Euelpides: Banteringly.
The twelve great gods have used you ill, it seems.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
οἱ δώδεκα θεοὶ
εἴξασιν ἐπιτρῖψαί σε.

[¶60] Epops:
Are you twitting me about my feathers? I have been a man, strangers.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
μῶν με σκώπτετον
ὁρῶντε τὴν πτέρωσιν; ἦν γὰρ ὦ ξένοι
ἄνθρωπος.

[¶61] Euelpides:
It's not you we are jeering at.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
οὐ σοῦ καταγελῶμεν.

[¶62] Epops:
At what, then?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἀλλὰ τοῦ;

[¶63] Euelpides:
Why, it's your beak that looks so ridiculous to us.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τὸ ῥάμφος ἡμῖν σου γέλοιον φαίνεται.

[¶64] Epops:
This is how Sophocles outrages me in his tragedies. Know, I once was Tereus.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
τοιαῦτα μέντοι Σοφοκλέης λυμαίνεται
ἐν ταῖς τραγῳδίαισιν ἐμὲ τὸν Τηρέα.

[¶65] Euelpides:
You were Tereus, and what are you now? a bird or a peacock?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
Τηρεὺς γὰρ εἶ σύ; πότερον ὄρνις ἢ ταὧς;

[¶66] Epops:
I am a bird.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ὄρνις ἔγωγε.

[¶67] Euelpides:
Then where are your feathers? I don't see any.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
κᾆτά σοι ποῦ τὰ πτερά;

[¶68] Epops:
They have fallen off.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἐξερρύηκε.

[¶69] Euelpides:
Through illness?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
πότερον ὑπὸ νόσου τινός;

[¶70] Epops:
No. All birds moult their feathers, you know, every winter, and others grow in their place. But tell me, who are you?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
οὔκ, ἀλλὰ τὸν χειμῶνα πάντα τὤρνεα
πτερορρυεῖ τε καὖθις ἕτερα φύομεν.
ἀλλʼ εἴπατόν μοι σφὼ τίνʼ ἐστόν;

[¶71] Euelpides:
We? We are mortals.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
νώ; βροτώ.

[¶72] Epops:
From what country?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ποδαπὼ τὸ γένος;

[¶73] Euelpides:
From the land of the beautiful galleys.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ὅθεν αἱ τριήρεις αἱ καλαί.

[¶74] Epops:
Are you dicasts?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
μῶν ἡλιαστά;

[¶75] Euelpides:
No, if anything,
we are anti-dicasts.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
μἀλλὰ θατέρου τρόπου,
ἀπηλιαστά.

[¶76] Epops:
Is that kind of seed sown among you?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
σπείρεται γὰρ τοῦτʼ ἐκεῖ
τὸ σπέρμʼ;

[¶77] Euelpides:
You have to look hard to find even a little in our fields.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ὀλίγον ζητῶν ἂν ἐξ ἀγροῦ λάβοις.

[¶78] Epops:
What brings you here?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
πράγους δὲ δὴ τοῦ δεομένω δεῦρʼ ἤλθετον;

[¶79] Euelpides:
We wish to pay you a visit.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
σοὶ ξυγγενέσθαι βουλομένω.

[¶80] Epops:
What for?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
τίνος πέρι;

[¶81] Euelpides:
Because you formerly were a man, like we are,
formerly you had debts, as we have, formerly you did not want to pay them, like ourselves; furthermore, being turned into a bird, you have when flying seen all lands and seas. Thus you have all human knowledge as well as that of birds.
And hence we have come to you to beg you to direct us to some cosy town, in which one can repose as if on thick coverlets.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ὅτι πρῶτα μὲν ἦσθʼ ἄνθρωπος ὥσπερ νὼ ποτέ,
κἀργύριον ὠφείλησας ὥσπερ νὼ ποτέ,
κοὐκ ἀποδιδοὺς ἔχαιρες ὥσπερ νὼ ποτέ·
εἶτʼ αὖθις ὀρνίθων μεταλλάξας φύσιν
καὶ γῆν ἐπέπτου καὶ θάλατταν ἐν κύκλῳ,
καὶ πάνθʼ ὅσαπερ ἄνθρωπος ὅσα τʼ ὄρνις φρονεῖς·
ταῦτ οὖν ἱκέται νὼ πρὸς σὲ δεῦρʼ ἀφίγμεθα,
εἴ τινα πόλιν φράσειας ἡμῖν εὔερον
ὥσπερ σισύραν ἐγκατακλινῆναι μαλθακήν.

[¶82] Epops:
And are you looking for a greater city than Athens?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἔμειτα μείζω τῶν Κραναῶν ζητεῖς πόλιν;

[¶83] Euelpides:
No, not a greater, but one more pleasant to live in.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
μείζω μὲν οὐδέν, προσφορωτέραν δὲ νῷν.

[¶84] Epops:
Then you are looking for an aristocratic country.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἀριστοκρατεῖσθαι δῆλος εἶ ζητῶν.

[¶85] Euelpides:
I? Not at all! I hold the son of Scellias in horror.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἐγώ;
ἥκιστα· καὶ ⟨γὰρ⟩ τὸν Σκελίου βδελύττομαι.

[¶86] Epops:
But, after all, what sort of city would please you best?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ποίαν τινʼ οὖν ἥδιστʼ ἂν οἰκοῖτʼ ἂν πόλιν;

[¶87] Euelpides:
A place where the following would be the most important business transacted. —Some friend would come knocking at the door quite early in the morning
saying, “By Olympian Zeus, be at my house early, as soon as you have bathed, and bring your children too. I am giving a nuptial feast, so don't fail, or else don't cross my threshold when I am in distress.”

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ὅπου τὰ μέγιστα πράγματʼ εἴη τοιάδε·
ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν μου πρῴ τις ἐλθὼν τῶν φίλων
λέγοι ταδί· πρὸς τοῦ Διὸς τοὐλυμπίου
ὅπως παρέσει μοι καὶ σὺ καὶ τὰ παιδία
λουσάμενα πρῴ· μέλλω γὰρ ἑστιᾶν γάμους·
καὶ μηδαμῶς ἄλλως ποιήσῃς· εἰ δὲ μή,
μή μοι τότε γʼ ἔλθῃς, ὅταν ἐγὼ πράττω κακῶς.

[¶88] Epops:
Ah! that's what may be called being fond of hardships! To Pisthetaerus. And what say you?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
νὴ Δία ταλαιπώρων γε πραγμάτων ἐρᾷς.
τί δαὶ σύ;

[¶89] Pisthetaerus:
My tastes are similar.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τοιούτων ἐρῶ κἀγώ.

[¶90] Epops:
And they are?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
τίνων;

[¶91] Pisthetaerus:
I want a town where the father of a handsome lad will stop in the street and say to me reproachfully as if I had failed him, “Ah! Is this well done, Stilbonides?”
“You met my son coming from the bath after the gymnasium and you neither spoke to him, nor kissed him, nor took him with you, nor ever once felt his balls. Would anyone call you an old friend of mine?”

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὅπου ξυναντῶν μοι ταδί τις μέμψεται
ὥσπερ ἀδικηθεὶς παιδὸς ὡραίου πατήρ·
καλῶς γέ μου τὸν υἱὸν ὦ Στιλβωνίδη
εὑρὼν ἀπιόντʼ ἀπὸ γυμνασίου λελουμένον
οὐκ ἔκυσας, οὐ προσεῖπας, οὐ προσηγάγου,
οὐκ ὠρχιπέδισας, ὢν ἐμοὶ πατρικὸς φίλος.

[¶92] Epops:
Ah! wag, I see you are fond of suffering. But there is a city of delights such as you want.
It's on the Red Sea.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ὦ δειλακρίων σὺ τῶν κακῶν οἵων ἐρᾷς.
ἀτὰρ ἔστι γʼ ὁποίαν λέγετον εὐδαίμων πόλις
παρὰ τὴν ἐρυθρὰν θάλατταν.

[¶93] Euelpides:
Oh, no. Not a sea-port, where some fine morning the Salaminian galley can appear, bringing a process-server along. Have you no Greek town you can propose to us?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
οἴμοι μηδαμῶς
ἡμῖν παρὰ τὴν θάλατταν, ἵνʼ ἀνακύψεται
κλητῆρʼ ἄγουσʼ ἕωθεν ἡ Σαλαμινία.
Ἑλληνικὴν δὲ πόλιν ἔχεις ἡμῖν φράσαι;

[¶94] Epops:
Why not choose Lepreum in Elis for your settlement?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
τί οὐ τὸν Ἠλεῖον Λέπρεον οἰκίζετον
ἐλθόνθʼ;

[¶95] Euelpides:
By Zeus! I could not look at Lepreum without disgust, because of Melanthius.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ὁτιὴ νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς ὅσʼ οὐκ ἰδὼν
βδελύττομαι τὸν Λέπρεον ἀπὸ Μελανθίου.

[¶96] Epops:
Then, again, there is the Opuntian Locris, where you could live.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἀλλʼ εἰσὶν ἕτεροι τῆς Λοκρίδος Ὀπούντιοι,
ἵνα χρὴ κατοικεῖν.

[¶97] Euelpides:
I would not be Opuntian for a talent.
But come, what is it like to live with the birds? You should know pretty well.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἀλλʼ ἔγωγʼ Ὀπούντιος
οὐκ ἂν γενοίμην ἐπὶ ταλάντῳ χρυσίου.
οὗτος δὲ δὴ τίς ἔσθʼ ὁ μετʼ ὀρνίθων βίος;
σὺ γὰρ οἶσθʼ ἀκριβῶς.

[¶98] Epops:
Why, it's not a disagreeable life. In the first place, one has no purse.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
οὐκ ἄχαρις ἐς τὴν τριβήν·
οὗ πρῶτα μὲν δεῖ ζῆν ἄνευ βαλλαντίου.

[¶99] Euelpides:
That does away with a lot of roguery.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
πολλήν γʼ ἀφεῖλες τοῦ βίου κιβδηλίαν.

[¶100] Epops:
For food the gardens yield us white sesame,
myrtle-berries, poppies and mint.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
νεμόμεσθα δʼ ἐν κήποις τὰ λευκὰ σήσαμα
καὶ μύρτα καὶ μήκωνα καὶ σισύμβρια.

[¶101] Euelpides:
Why, 'tis the life of the newly-wed indeed.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ὑμεῖς μὲν ἆρα ζῆτε νυμφίων βίον.

[¶102] Pisthetaerus:
Ha! I am beginning to see a great plan, which will transfer the supreme power to the birds, if you will but take my advice.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
φεῦ φεῦ·
ἦ μέγʼ ἐνορῶ βούλευμʼ ἐν ὀρνίθων γένει,
καὶ δύναμιν ἣ γένοιτʼ ἄν, εἰ πίθοισθέ μοι.

[¶103] Epops:
Take your advice? In what way?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
τί σοι πιθώμεσθʼ;

[¶104] Pisthetaerus:
In what way? Well, firstly,
do not fly in all directions with open beak; it is not dignified. Among us, when we see a thoughtless man, we ask, “What sort of bird is this?” and Teleas answers, “It's a man who has no brain, a bird that has lost his head, a creature”
“you cannot catch, for it never remains in any one place.”

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὅ τι πίθησθε; πρῶτα μὲν
μὴ περιπέτεσθε πανταχῇ κεχηνότες·
ὡς τοῦτʼ ἄτιμον τοὔργον ἐστίν. αὐτίκα
ἐκεῖ παρʼ ἡμῖν τοὺς πετομένους ἢν ἔρῃ,
τίς ὄρνις οὗτος; ὁ Τελέας ἐρεῖ ταδί·
ἅνθρωπος ὄρνις ἀστάθμητος πετόμενος,
ἀτέκμαρτος, οὐδὲν οὐδέποτʼ ἐν ταὐτῷ μένων.

[¶105] Epops:
By Zeus himself! your jest hits the mark. What then is to be done?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
νὴ τὸν Διόνυσον εὖ γε μωμᾷ ταυταγί.
τί ἂν οὖν ποιοῖμεν;

[¶106] Pisthetaerus:
Found a city.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οἰκίσατε μίαν πόλιν.

[¶107] Epops:
We birds? But what sort of city should we build?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ποίαν δʼ ἂν οἰκίσαιμεν ὄρνιθες πόλιν;

[¶108] Pisthetaerus:
Oh, really, really! you talk like such a fool!
Look down.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἄληθες; ὦ σκαιότατον εἰρηκὼς ἔπος,
βλέψον κάτω.

[¶109] Epops:
I am looking.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
καὶ δὴ βλέπω.

[¶110] Pisthetaerus:
Now look up.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
βλέπε νῦν ἄνω.

[¶111] Epops:
I am looking.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
βλέπω.

[¶112] Pisthetaerus:
Turn your head round.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
περίαγε τὸν τράχηλον.

[¶113] Epops:
Ah! it will be pleasant for me if I end in twisting my neck off!

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
νὴ Δία
ἀπολαύσομαί τί γʼ, εἰ διαστραφήσομαι.

[¶114] Pisthetaerus:
What have you seen?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
εἶδές τι;

[¶115] Epops:
The clouds and the sky.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
τὰς νεφέλας γε καὶ τὸν οὐρανόν.

[¶116] Pisthetaerus:
Very well! is not this the pole of the birds then?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐχ οὗτος οὖν δήπου ʼστὶν ὀρνίθων πόλος;

[¶117] Epops:
How their pole?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
πόλος; τίνα τρόπον;

[¶118] Pisthetaerus:
Or, if you like it, their place. And since it turns and passes through the whole universe, it is called ‘pole.’ If you build and fortify it, you will turn your pole into a city.
In this way you will reign over mankind as you do over the grasshoppers and you will cause the gods to die of rabid hunger.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὥσπερ ⟨ἂν⟩ εἴποι τις τόπος.
ὅτι δὲ πολεῖται τοῦτο καὶ διέρχεται
ἅπαντα διὰ τούτου, καλεῖται νῦν πόλος.
ἢν δʼ οἰκίσητε τοῦτο καὶ φάρξηθʼ ἅπαξ,
ἐκ τοῦ πόλου τούτου κεκλήσεται πόλις.
ὥστʼ ἄρξετʼ ἀνθρώπων μὲν ὥσπερ παρνόπων,
τοὺς δʼ αὖ θεοὺς ἀπολεῖτε λιμῷ Μηλίῳ.

[¶119] Epops:
How so?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
πῶς;

[¶120] Pisthetaerus:
The air is between earth and heaven. When we want to go to Delphi, we ask the Boeotians for leave of passage;
in the same way, when men sacrifice to the gods, unless the latter pay you tribute, you exercise the right of every nation towards strangers and don't allow the smoke of the sacrifices to pass through your city and territory.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἐν μέσῳ δήπουθεν ἀήρ ἐστι γῆς.
εἶθʼ ὥσπερ ἡμεῖς, ἢν ἰέναι βουλώμεθα
Πυθώδε, Βοιωτοὺς δίοδον αἰτούμεθα,
οὕτως, ὅταν θύσωσιν ἄνθρωποι θεοῖς,
ἢν μὴ φόρον φέρωσιν οἱ ὑμῖν οἱ θεοί,
[διὰ τῆς πόλεως τῆς ἀλλοτρίας καὶ τοῦ χάους]
τῶν μηρίων τὴν κνῖσαν οὐ διαφρήσετε.

[¶121] Epops:
By earth! by snares! by network! by cages!
I never heard of anything more cleverly conceived; and, if the other birds approve, I am going to build the city along with you.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἰοὺ ἰού·
μὰ γῆν μὰ παγίδας μὰ νεφέλας μὰ δίκτυα,
μὴ ʼγὼ νόημα κομψότερον ἤκουσά πω·
ὥστʼ ἂν κατοικίζοιμι μετὰ σοῦ τὴν πόλιν,
εἰ ξυνδοκοίη τοῖσιν ἄλλοις ὀρνέοις.

[¶122] Pisthetaerus:
Who will explain the matter to them?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τίς ἂν οὖν τὸ πρᾶγμʼ αὐτοῖς διηγήσαιτο;

[¶123] Epops:
You must yourself. Before I came they were quite ignorant,
but since I have lived with them I have taught them to speak.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
σύ.
ἐγὼ γὰρ αὐτοὺς βαρβάρους ὄντας πρὸ τοῦ
ἐδίδαξα τὴν φωνήν, ξυνὼν πολὺν χρόνον.

[¶124] Pisthetaerus:
But how can they be gathered together?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
πῶς δῆτʼ ἂν αὐτοὺς ξυγκαλέσειας;

[¶125] Epops:
Easily. I will hasten down to the thicket to waken my dear Procne
and as soon as they hear our voices, they will come to us hot wing.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ῥᾳδίως.
δευρὶ γὰρ ἐσβὰς αὐτίκα μάλʼ ἐς τὴν λόχμην,
ἔπειτʼ ἀνεγείρας τὴν ἐμὴν ἀηδόνα,
καλοῦμεν αὐτούς· οἱ δὲ νῷν τοῦ φθέγματος
ἐάνπερ ἐπακούσωσι θεύσονται δρόμῳ.

[¶126] Pisthetaerus:
My dear bird, lose no time, please! Fly at once into the thicket and awaken Procne.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὦ φίλτατʼ ὀρνίθων σὺ μή νυν ἕσταθι·
ἀλλʼ ἀντιβολῶ σʼ ἄγʼ ὡς τάχιστʼ ἐς τὴν λόχμην
ἔσβαινε κἀνέγειρε τὴν ἀηδόνα.

[¶127] Epops rushes into the thicket.
Epops: From within; singing.
Chase off drowsy sleep, dear companion.
Let the sacred hymn gush from thy divine throat in melodious strains; roll forth in soft cadence your refreshing melodies to bewail the fate of Itys, which has been the cause of so many tears to us both.
Your pure notes rise through the thick leaves of the yew-tree right up to the throne of Zeus, where Phoebus listens to you, Phoebus with his golden hair. And his ivory lyre responds to your plaintive accents;
he gathers the choir of the gods and from their immortal lips pours forth a sacred chant of blessed voices.
The flute is played behind the scene, imitating the song of the nightingale.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἄγε σύννομέ μοι παῦσαι μὲν ὕπνου,
λῦσον δὲ νόμους ἱερῶν ὕμνων,
οὓς διὰ θείου στόματος θρηνεῖς
τὸν ἐμὸν καὶ σὸν πολύδακρυν Ἴτυν·
ἐλελιζομένης δʼ ἱεροῖς μέλεσιν
γένυος ξουθῆς
καθαρὰ χωρεῖ διὰ φυλλοκόμου
μίλακος ἠχὼ πρὸς Διὸς ἕδρας,
ἵνʼ ὁ χρυσοκόμας Φοῖβος ἀκούων
τοῖς σοῖς ἐλέγοις ἀντιψάλλων
ἐλεφαντόδετον φόρμιγγα θεῶν
ἵστησι χορούς· διὰ δʼ ἀθανάτων
στομάτων χωρεῖ ξύμφωνος ὁμοῦ
θεία μακάρων ὀλολυγή.
(ἁὐλεἶ)

[¶128] Pisthetaerus:
Oh! by Zeus! what a throat that little bird possesses. He has filled the whole thicket with honey-sweet melody!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὦ Ζεῦ βασιλεῦ τοῦ φθέγματος τοὐρνιθίου·
οἶον κατεμελίτωσε τὴν λόχμην ὃλην.

[¶129] Euelpides:
Hush!

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
οὗτος.

[¶130] Pisthetaerus:
What's the matter?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τί ἔστιν;
οὐ σιωπήσει;

[¶131] Euelpides:
Be still!

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τί δαί;

[¶132] Pisthetaerus:
What for?
Euelpides:
Epops is going to sing again.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὕποψ μελῳδεῖν αὖ παρασκευάζεται.

[¶133] Epops: In the thicket, singing.
Epopopoi popoi popopopoi popoi, here, here, quick, quick, quick, my comrades in the air;
all you who pillage the fertile lands of the husbandmen, the numberless tribes who gather and devour the barley seeds, the swift flying race that sings so sweetly. And you whose gentle twitter
resounds through the fields with the little cry of tiotiotiotiotiotiotiotio; and you who hop about the branches of the ivy in the gardens;
the mountain birds, who feed on the wild olive-berries or the arbutus, hurry to come at my call, trioto, trioto, totobrix; you also, who snap up the sharp-stinging
gnats in the marshy vales, and you who dwell in the fine plain of Marathon, all damp with dew, and you, the francolin with speckled wings;
you too, the halcyons, who flit over the swelling waves of the sea, come hither to hear the tidings; let all the tribes of long-necked birds assemble here;
know that a clever old man has come to us, bringing an entirely new idea and proposing great reforms. Let all come to the debate here, here, here, here.
Torotorotorotorotix, kikkabau, kikkabau, torotorotorolililix.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἐποποῖ ποποποποποποποῖ,
ἰὼ ἰὼ ἰτὼ ἰτὼ ἰτὼ ἰτὼ,
ἴτω τις ὧδε τῶν ἐμῶν ὁμοπτέρων·
ὅσοι τʼ εὐσπόρους ἀγροίκων γύας
νέμεσθε, φῦλα μυρία κριθοτράγων
σπερμολόγων τε γένη
ταχὺ πετόμενα, μαλθακὴν ἱέντα γῆρυν·
ὅσα τʼ ἐν ἄλοκι θαμὰ
βῶλον ἀμφιτιττυβίζεθʼ ὧδε λεπτὸν
ἡδομένᾳ φωνᾷ·
τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιό.
ὅσα θʼ ὑμῶν κατὰ κήπους ἐπὶ κισσοῦ
κλάδεσι νομὸν ἔχει,
τά τε κατʼ ὄρεα τά τε κοτινοτράγα τά τε κομαροφάγα,
ἀνύσατε πετόμενα πρὸς ἐμὰν αὐδάν·
τριοτὸ τριοτὸ τοτοβρίξ·
οἵ θʼ ἑλείας παρʼ αὐλῶνας ὀξυστόμους
ἐμπίδας κάπτεθʼ, ὅσα τʼ εὐδρόσους γῆς τόπους
ἔχετε λειμῶνά τʼ ἐρόεντα Μαραθῶνος, ὄρνις
πτερυγοποίκιλός τʼ ἀτταγᾶς ἀτταγᾶς.
ὧν τʼ ἐπὶ πόντιον οἶδμα θαλάσσης
φῦλα μετʼ ἀλκυόνεσσι ποτῆται,
δεῦρʼ ἴτε πευσόμενοι τὰ νεώτερα,
πάντα γὰρ ἐνθάδε φῦλʼ ἀθροΐζομεν
οἰωνῶν ταναοδείρων.
ἥκει γὰρ τις δριμὺς πρέσβυς
καινὸς γνώμην
καινῶν τʼ ἔργων ἐγχειρητής.
ἀλλʼ ἴτʼ ἐς λόγους ἅπαντα,
δεῦρο δεῦρο δεῦρο δεῦρο.
Χορός:
τοροτοροτοροτοροτίξ.
κικκαβαῦ κικκαβαῦ.
τοροτοροτοροτορολιλιλίξ.

[¶134] Pisthetaerus:
Can you see any bird?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὁρᾷς τινʼ ὄρνιν;

[¶135] Euelpides:
By Phoebus, no! and yet I am straining my eyesight to scan the sky.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
μὰ τὸν Ἀπόλλω ʼγὼ μὲν οὔ·
καίτοι κέχηνά γʼ ἐς τὸν οὐρανὸν βλέπων.

[¶136] Pisthetaerus:
It was hardly worth Epops' while to go and bury himself in the thicket like a hatching plover.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἄλλως ἄρʼ οὕποψ, ὡς ἔοικʼ, ἐς τὴν λόχμην
ἐσβὰς ἐπῷζε χαραδριὸν μιμούμενος.

[¶137] A Bird: Entering.
Torotix, torotix.
Pisthetaerus:
Wait, friend, there's a bird.

> Greek: Ὄρνις Τις:
τοροτὶξ τοροτίξ.
Πισθέταιρος:
ὦγάθʼ ἀλλʼ ⟨εἶς⟩ οὑτοσὶ καὶ δή τις ὄρνις ἔρχεται.

[¶138] Euelpides:
By Zeus, it is a bird, but what kind? Isn't it a peacock?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
νὴ Δίʼ ὄρνις δῆτα. τίς ποτʼ ἐστίν; οὐ δήπου ταὧς;

[¶139] Pisthetaerus: As Epops comes out of the thicket.
Epops will tell us. What is this bird?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὗτος αὐτὸς νῷν φράσει· τίς ἐστιν ὄρνις οὑτοσί;

[¶140] Epops:
It's not one of those you are used to seeing; it's a bird from the marshes.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
οὗτος οὐ τῶν ἠθάδων τῶνδʼ ὧν ὁρᾶθʼ ὑμεῖς ἀεί,
ἀλλὰ λιμναῖος.

[¶141] Euelpides:
Oh! oh! but he is very handsome with his wings as crimson as flame.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
βαβαὶ καλός γε καὶ φοινικιοῦς.

[¶142] Epops:
Undoubtedly; indeed he is called flamingo.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
εἰκότως ⟨γε⟩· καὶ γὰρ ὄνομʼ αὐτῷ ʼστὶ φοινικόπτερος.

[¶143] Euelpides: Excitedly.
Hi! I say! You!

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
οὗτος ὦ σέ τοι.

[¶144] Pisthetaerus:
What are you shouting for?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τί βωστρεῖς;

[¶145] Euelpides:
Why, here's another bird.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἕτερος ὄρνις οὑτοσί.

[¶146] Pisthetaerus:
Aye, indeed; this one's a foreign bird too. To Epops. What is this bird from beyond the mountains with a look as solemn as it is stupid?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
νὴ Δίʼ ἕτερος δῆτα χοὖτος ἔξεδρον χρόαν ἔχων.
τίς ποτʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ μουσόμαντις ἄτοπος ὄρνις ὀρειβάτης;

[¶147] Epops:
He is called the Mede.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ὄνομα τούτῳ Μῆδός ἐστο.
Πισθέταιρος:
Μῆδος; ὦναξ Ἡράκλεις·
εἶτα πῶς ἄνευ καμήλου Μῆδος ὤν εἰσέπτετο;

[¶148] Euelpides:
The Mede! But, by Heracles, how, if a Mede, has he flown here without a camel?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἕτερος αὖ λόφον κατειληφώς τις ὄρνις οὑτοσί.

[¶149] Pisthetaerus:
Here's another bird with a crest.
From here on, the numerous birds that make up the Chorus keep rushing in.
Euelpides:
Ah! that's curious. I say, Epops, you are not the only one of your kind then?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τί τὸ τέρας τουτί ποτʼ ἐστίν; οὐ σὺ μόνος ἄρʼ ἦσθʼ ἔποψ,
ἀλλὰ χοὖτος ἕτερος;

[¶150] Epops:
This bird is the son of Philocles, who is the son of Epops; so that, you see, I am his grandfather; just as one might say, Hipponicus, the son of Callias, who is the son of Hipponicus.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
οὑτοσὶ μέν ἐστι Φιλοκλέους
ἐξ ἔποπος, ἐγὼ δὲ τούτου πάππος, ὥσπερ εἰ λέγοις
Ἱππόνικος Καλλίου κἀξ Ἱππονίκου Καλλίας.
Πισθέταιρος:
Καλλίας ἄρʼ οὗτος οὕρνις ἐστίν· ὡς πτερορρυεῖ.

[¶151] Euelpides:
Then this bird is Callias! Why, what a lot of his feathers he has lost!

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἅτε γὰρ ὢν γενναῖος ὑπό ⟨τε⟩ συκοφαντῶν τίλλεται,
αἵ τε θήλειαι προσεκτίλλουσιν αὐτοῦ τὰ πτερά.
Πισθέταιρος:
ὦ Πόσειδον ἕτερος αὖ τις βαπτὸς ὄρνις οὑτοσί.
τίς ὀνομάξεταί ποθʼ οὗτος;

[¶152] Epops:
That's because he is honest; so the informers set upon him and the women too pluck out his feathers.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
οὑτοσὶ κατωφαγᾶς.
Πισθέταιρος:
ἔστι γὰρ κατωφαγᾶς τις ἄλλος ἢ Κλεώνυμος;

[¶153] Euelpides:
By Poseidon, do you see that many-coloured bird? What is his name?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
πῶς ἂν οὖν Κλεώνυμός γʼ ὢν οὐκ ἀπέβαλε τὸν λόφον;
Πισθέταιρος:
ἀλλὰ μέντοι τίς ποθʼ ἡ λόφωσις ἡ τῶν ὀρνέων;
ἦ ʼπὶ τὸν δίαυλον ἦλθον;

[¶154] Epops:
This one? That's the glutton.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ὥσπερ οἱ Κᾶρες μὲν οὖν
ἐπὶ λόφων οἰκοῦσιν ὦγάθʼ ἀσφαλείας οὔνεκα.
Πισθέταιρος:
ὦ Πόσειδον οὐχ ὁρᾷς ὅσον συνείλεκται κακὸν
ὀρνέων;

[¶155] Euelpides:
Is there another glutton besides Cleonymus?
But why, if he is Cleonymus, has he not thrown away his crest?
But what is the meaning of all these crests? Have these birds come to contend for the double stadium prize?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ὦναξ Ἄπολλον τοῦ νέφους. ἰοὺ ἰού,
οὐδʼ ἰδεῖν ἔτʼ ἔσθʼ ὑπʼ αὐτῶν πετομένων τὴν εἴσοδον.

[¶156] Epops:
They are like the Carians, who cling to the crests of their mountains for greater safety.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
οὑτοσὶ πέρδιξ, ἐκεινοσί γε νὴ Δίʼ ἀτταγᾶς,
οὑτοσὶ δὲ πηνέλοψ, ἐκεινηὶ δέ γʼ ἀλκυών.

[¶157] Pisthetaerus:
Oh, Poseidon! look what awful swarms of birds are gathering here!
Euelpides:
By Phoebus! what a cloud! The entrance to the stage is no longer visible so closely do they fly together.
Pisthetaerus:
Here is the partridge.
Euelpides:
Why, there is the francolin.
Pisthetaerus:
There is the poachard.
Euelpides:
Here is the kingfisher.
To Epops. What's that bird behind the kingfisher?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τίς γάρ ἐσθʼ οὕπισθεν αὐτῆς;

[¶158] Epops:
That's the barber.
Euelpides:
What? a bird a barber?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ὅστις ἐστί; κειρύλος.

[¶159] Pisthetaerus:
Why, Sporgilus is one.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
κειρύλος γάρ ἐστιν ὄρνις;

[¶160] Epops:
Here comes the owl.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
οὐ γάρ ἐστι Σποργίλος;
χαὐτηί γε γλαῦξ.

[¶161] Euelpides:
And who is it brings an owl to Athens?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τί φῄς; τίς γλαῦκʼ Ἀθήναζʼ ἤγαγεν;

[¶162] Epops: Pointing to the various species.
Here is the magpie, the turtle-dove, the swallow, the horned-owl, the buzzard, the pigeon, the falcon, the ring-dove, the cuckoo, the red-foot, the red-cap, the purple-cap, the kestrel, the diver, the ousel, the osprey, the woodpecker...

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
κίττα τρυγὼν κορυδὸς ἐλεᾶς ὑποθυμὶς περιστερὰ
νέρτος ἱέραξ φάττα κόκκυξ ἐρυθρόπους κεβλήπυρις
πορφυρὶς κερχνῂς κολυμβὶς ἀμπελὶς φήνη δρύοψ.

[¶163] Pisthetaerus:
Oh! what a lot of birds! Oh! what a lot of blackbirds! How they scold, how they come rushing up! What a noise! what a noise! Can they be bearing us ill-will? Oh! there! there! they are opening their beaks and staring at us.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἰοὺ ἰοὺ τῶν ὀρνέων, ἰοὺ ἰοὺ τῶν κοψίχων·
οἶα πιππίζουσι καὶ τρέχουσι διακεκραγότες.
ἆρʼ ἀπειλοῦσίν γε νῷν; οἴμοι, κεχήνασίν γέ τοι
καὶ βλέπουσιν ἐς σὲ κἀμέ.

[¶164] Euelpides:
Why, so they are.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τοῦτο μὲν κἀμοὶ δοκεῖ.

[¶165] Leader of the Chorus:
Popopopopopo. Where is he who called me? Where am I to find him?

> Greek: Χορός:
ποποποποποποποποποποῖ ποῦ μʼ ἄρʼ ὃς
ἐκάλεσε; τίνα τόπον ἄρα ποτὲ νέμεται;

[¶166] Epops:
I have been waiting for you a long while! I never fail in my word to my friends.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
οὑτοσὶ πάλαι πάρειμι κοὐκ ἀποστατῶ φίλων.

[¶167] Leader of the Chorus:
Tititititititi. What good news
have you for me?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί τί τί τί τί τί τί τί· τίνα λόγον ἄρα ποτὲ
πρὸς ἐμὲ φίλον ἔχων;

[¶168] Epops:
Something that concerns our common safety, and that is just as pleasant as it is to the point. Two men, who are subtle reasoners, have come here to seek me.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
κοινὸν ἀσφαλῆ δίκαιον ἡδὺν ὠφελήσιμον.
ἄνδρε γὰρ λεπτὼ λογιστὰ δεῦρʼ ἀφῖχθον ὡς ἐμέ.

[¶169] Leader of the Chorus:
Where? How? What are you saying?

> Greek: Χορός:
ποῦ; πᾷ; πῶς φῄς;

[¶170] Epops:
I say, two old men have come from the abode of humans to propose a vast and splendid scheme to us.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
φήμʼ ἀπʼ ἀνθρώπων ἀφῖχθαι δεῦρο πρεσβύτα δύο·
ἥκετον δʼ ἔχοντε πρέμνον πράγματος πελωρίου.

[¶171] Leader of the Chorus:
Oh! it's a horrible, unheard-of crime! What are you saying?

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ μέγιστον ἐξαμαρτὼν ἐξ ὅτου ʼτράφην ἐγώ,
πῶς λέγεις;

[¶172] Epops:
Never let my words scare you.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
μήπω φοβηθῇς τὸν λόγον.

[¶173] Leader of the Chorus:
What have you done to me?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί μʼ ἠργάσω;

[¶174] Epops:
I have welcomed two men, who wish to live with us.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἄνδρʼ ἐδεξάμην ἐραστὰ τῆσδε τῆς ξυνουσίας.

[¶175] Leader of the Chorus:
And you have dared to do that!

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ δέδρακας τοῦτο τοὔργον;

[¶176] Epops:
Yes, and I am delighted at having done so.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
καὶ δεδρακώς γʼ ἥδομαι.

[¶177] Leader of the Chorus:
And are they already with us?

> Greek: Χορός:
κἀστὸν ἤδη που παρʼ ἡμῖν;

[¶178] Epops:
Just as much as I am.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
εἰ παρʼ ὑμῖν εἴμʼ ἐγώ.

[¶179] Chorus: Singing.
Ah! ah! we are betrayed; 'tis sacrilege! Our friend,
he who picked up corn-seeds in the same plains as ourselves, has violated our ancient laws; he has broken the oaths that bind all birds; he has laid a snare for me, he has handed us over to the attacks of that impious race which, throughout all time,
has never ceased to war against us.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔα ἔα,
προδεδόμεθʼ ἀνόσιά τʼ ἐπάθομεν·
ὃς γὰρ φίλος ἦν ὁμότροφά θʼ ἡμῖν
ἐνέμετο πεδία παρʼ ἡμῖν,
παρέβη μὲν θεσμοὺς ἀρχαίους,
παρέβη δʼ ὅρκους ὀρνίθων·
ἐς δὲ δόλον ἐκάλεσε, παρέβαλέ τʼ ἐμὲ παρὰ
γένος ἀνόσιον, ὅπερ ἐξότʼ ἐγένετʼ ἐπʼ ἐμοὶ
πολέμιον ἐτράφη.

[¶180] Leader of the Chorus:
As for this traitorous bird, we will decide his case later, but the two old men shall be punished forthwith; we are going to tear them to pieces.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλὰ πρὸς τοῦτον μὲν ἡμῖν ἐστιν ὕστερος λόγος·
τὼ δὲ πρεσβύτα δοκεῖ μοι τώδε δοῦναι τὴν δίκην
διαφορηθῆναί θʼ ὑφʼ ἡμῶν.

[¶181] Pisthetaerus:
It's all over with us.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὡς ἀπωλόμεσθʼ ἄρα.

[¶182] Euelpides:
You are the sole cause of all our trouble.
Why did you bring me from down yonder?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
αἴτιος μέντοι σὺ νῷν εἶ τῶν κακῶν τούτων μόνος.
ἐπὶ τί γάρ μʼ ἐκεῖθεν ἦγες;

[¶183] Pisthetaerus:
To have you with me.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἵνʼ ἀκολουθοίης ἐμοί.

[¶184] Euelpides:
Say rather to have me melt into tears.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἵνα μὲν οὖν κλάοιμι μεγάλα.

[¶185] Pisthetaerus:
Go on! you are talking nonsense. How will you weep with your eyes pecked out?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τοῦτο μὲν ληρεῖς ἔχων
κάρτα· πῶς κλαύσει γάρ, ἢν ἅπαξ γε τὠφθαλμὼ ʼκκοπῇς;

[¶186] Chorus: Singing.
Io! io! forward to the attack, throw yourselves upon the foe,
spill his blood; take to your wings and surround them on all sides. Woe to them! let us get to work with our beaks, let us devour them.
Nothing can save them from our wrath, neither the mountain forests, nor the clouds that float in the sky, nor the foaming deep.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ ἰώ,
ἔπαγʼ ἔπιθʼ ἐπίφερε πολέμιον
ὁρμὰν φονίαν, πτέρυγά τε παντᾷ
ἐπίβαλε περί τε κύκλωσαι·
ὡς δεῖ τώδʼ οἰμώζειν ἄμφω
καὶ δοῦναι ῥύγχει φορβάν.
οὔτε γὰρ ὄρος σκιερὸν οὔτε νέφος αἰθέριον
οὔτε πολιὸν πέλαγος ἔστιν ὅ τι δέξεται
τώδʼ ἀποφυγόντε με.

[¶187] Leader of the Chorus:
Come, peck, tear to ribbons. Where is the chief of the cohort? Let him engage the right wing.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλὰ μὴ μέλλωμεν ἤδη τώδε τίλλειν καὶ δάκνειν.
ποῦ ʼσθʼ ὁ ταξίαρχος; ἐπαγέτω τὸ δεξιὸν κέρας.

[¶188] They rush at the two Athenians.
Euelpides:
This is the fatal moment. Where shall I fly to, unfortunate wretch that I am?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τοῦτʼ ἐκεῖνο· ποῖφύγω δύστηνος;

[¶189] Pisthetaerus:
Wait! Stay here!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὗτος οὐ μενεῖς;

[¶190] Euelpides:
That they may tear me to pieces?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἵνʼ ὑπὸ τούτων διαφορηθῶ;

[¶191] Pisthetaerus:
And how do you think to escape them?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
πῶς γὰρ ἂν τούτους δοκεῖς
ἐκφυγεῖν;

[¶192] Euelpides:
I don't know at all.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅπως ἄν.

[¶193] Pisthetaerus:
Come, I will tell you. We must stop and fight them. Let us arm ourselves with these stew-pots.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἀλλʼ ἐγώ τοί σοι λέγω,
ὅτι μένοντε δεῖ μάχεσθαι λαμβάνειν τε τῶν χυτρῶν.

[¶194] Euelpides:
Why with the stew-pots?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τί δὲ χύτρα νώ γʼ ὠφελήσει;

[¶195] Pisthetaerus:
The owl will not attack us then.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
γλαῦξ μὲν οὐ πρόσεισι νῷν.

[¶196] Euelpides:
But do you see all those hooked claws?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τοῖς δὲ γαμψώνυξι τοισδί;

[¶197] Pisthetaerus:
Take the spit
and pierce the foe on your side.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τὸν ὀβελίσκον ἁρπάσας
εἶτα κατάπηξον πρὸ σαυτοῦ.

[¶198] Euelpides:
And how about my eyes?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τοῖσι δʼ ὀφθαλμοῖσι τί;

[¶199] Pisthetaerus:
Protect them with this dish or this vinegar-pot.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὀξύβαφον ἐντευθενὶ προσδοῦ λαβὼν ἢ τρύβλιον.

[¶200] Euelpides:
Oh! what cleverness! what inventive genius! You are a great general, even greater than Nicias, where stratagem is concerned.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ὦ σοφώτατʼ, εὖ γʼ ἀνηῦρες αὐτὸ καὶ στρατηγικῶς·
ὑπερακοντίζεις σύ γʼ ἤδη Νικίαν ταῖς μηχαναῖς.

[¶201] Leader of the Chorus:
Forward, forward, charge with your beaks! Come, no delay.
Tear, pluck, strike, flay them, and first of all smash the stew-pot.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐλελελεῦ χώρει κάθες τὸ ῥύγχος· οὐ μέλλειν ἐχρῆν.
ἕλκε τίλλε παῖε δεῖρε, κόπτε πρώτην τὴν χύτραν.

[¶202] Epops: Stepping in front of the Chorus.
Oh, most cruel of all animals, why tear these two men to pieces, why kill them? What have they done to you? They belong to the same tribe, to the same family as my wife.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
εἰπέ μοι τί μέλλετʼ ὦ πάντων κάκιστα θηρίων
ἀπολέσαι παθόντες οὐδὲν ἄνδρε καὶ διασπάσαι
τῆς ἐμῆς γυναικὸς ὄντε ξυγγενεῖ καὶ φυλέτα;

[¶203] Leader of the Chorus:
Are wolves to be spared? Are they not our most mortal foes?
So let us punish them.

> Greek: Χορός:
φεισόμεσθα γάρ τι τῶνδε μᾶλλον ἡμεῖς ἢ λύκων;
ἢ τίνας τεισαίμεθʼ ἄλλους τῶνδʼ ἂν ἐχθίους ἔτι;

[¶204] Epops:
If they are your foes by nature, they are your friends in heart, and they come here to give you useful advice.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
εἰ δὲ τὴν φύσιν μὲν ἐχθροὶ τὸν δὲ νοῦν εἰσιν φίλοι,
καὶ διδάξοντές τι δεῦρʼ ἥκουσιν ὑμᾶς χρήσιμον;

[¶205] Leader of the Chorus:
Advice or a useful word from their lips, from them, the enemies of my forebears?

> Greek: Χορός:
πῶς δʼ ἂν οἵδʼ ἡμᾶς τι χρήσιμον διδάξειάν ποτε
ἢ φράσειαν, ὄντες ἐχθροὶ τοῖσι πάπποις τοῖς ἐμοῖς;

[¶206] Epops:
The wise can often profit by the lessons of a foe, for caution is the mother of safety. It is just such a thing as one will not learn from a friend and which an enemy compels you to know. To begin with, it's the foe and not the friend that taught cities to build high walls, to equip long vessels of war;
and it's this knowledge that protects our children, our slaves and our wealth.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἀλλʼ ἀπʼ ἐχθρῶν δῆτα πολλὰ μανθάνουσιν οἱ σοφοί.
ἡ γὰρ εὐλάβεια σῴζει πάντα. παρὰ μὲν οὖν φίλου
οὐ μάθοις ἂν τοῦθʼ, ὁ δʼ ἐχθρὸς εὐθὺς ἐξηνάγκασεν.
αὐτίχʼ αἱ πόλεις παρʼ ἀνδρῶν γʼ ἔμαθον ἐχθρῶν κοὐ φίλων
ἐκπονεῖν θʼ ὑψηλὰ τείχη ναῦς τε κεκτῆσθαι μακράς·
τὸ δὲ μάθημα τοῦτο σῴζει παῖδας οἶκον χρήματα.

[¶207] Leader of the Chorus:
Well then, I agree, let us first hear them, for that is best; one can even learn something in an enemy's school.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔστι μὲν λόγων ἀκοῦσαι πρῶτον, ὡς ἡμῖν δοκεῖ,
χρήσιμον· μάθοι γὰρ ἄν τις κἀπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν σοφόν.

[¶208] Pisthetaerus: To Euelpides.
Their wrath seems to cool. Draw back a little.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οἵδε τῆς ὀργῆς χαλᾶν εἴξασιν. ἄναγʼ ἐπὶ σκέλος.

[¶209] Epops:
It's only justice, and you will thank me later.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
καὶ δίκαιόν γʼ ἐστὶ κἀμοὶ δεῖ νέμειν ὑμᾶς χάριν.

[¶210] Leader of the Chorus:
Never have we opposed your advice up to now.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλὰ μὴν οὐδʼ ἄλλο σοί πω πρᾶγμʼ ἐνηντιώμεθα.

[¶211] Pisthetaerus:
They are in a more peaceful mood; put down your stew-pot and your two dishes; spit in hand, doing duty for a spear, let us mount guard inside the camp
close to the pot and watch in our arsenal closely; for we must not fly.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
μᾶλλον εἰρήνην ἄγουσι νὴ Δίʼ, ὥστε τὴν χύτραν
τώ τε τρυβλίω καθίει·
καὶ τὸ δόρυ χρή, τὸν ὀβελίσκον,
περιπατεῖν ἔχοντας ἡμᾶς
τῶν ὅπλων ἐντός, παρʼ αὐτὴν
τὴν χύτραν ἄκραν ὁρῶντας
ἐγγύς· ὡς οὐ φευκτέον νῷν.

[¶212] Euelpides:
You are right. But where shall we be buried, if we die?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἐτεὸν ἢν δʼ ἄρʼ ἀποθάνωμεν,
κατορυχθησόμεσθα ποῦ γῆς;

[¶213] Pisthetaerus:
In the Ceramicus; for, to get a public funeral, we shall tell the Strategi that we fell at Orneae, fighting the country's foes.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὁ Κεραμεικὸς δέξεται νώ.
δημοσίᾳ γὰρ ἵνα ταφῶμεν,
φήσομεν πρὸς τοὺς στρατηγοὺς
μαχομένω τοῖς πολεμίοισιν
ἀποθανεῖν ἐν Ὀρνεαῖς.

[¶214] Leader of the Chorus:
Return to your ranks and lay down your courage beside your wrath as the hoplites do. Then let us ask these men who they are, whence they come,
and with what intent. Here, Epops, answer me.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄναγʼ ἐς τάξιν πάλιν ἐς ταὐτόν,
καὶ τὸν θυμὸν κατάθου κύψας
παρὰ τὴν ὀργὴν ὥσπερ ὁπλίτης·
κἀναπυθώμεθα τούσδε τίνες ποτὲ
καὶ πόθεν ἔμολον
† ἐπὶ τίνα τʼ ἐπίνοιαν. †
ἰὼ ἔποψ σέ τοι καλῶ.

[¶215] Epops:
Are you calling me? What do you want of me?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
καλεῖς δὲ τοῦ κλύειν θέλων;

[¶216] Leader of the Chorus:
Who are they? From what country?

> Greek: Χορός:
τίνες ποθʼ οἵδε καὶ πόθεν;

[¶217] Epops:
Strangers, who have come from Greece, the land of the wise.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ξείνω σοφῆς ἀφʼ Ἑλλάδος.

[¶218] Leader of the Chorus:
And what fate has led them hither to the land of the birds?

> Greek: Χορός:
τύχη δὲ ποία κομίζει
ποτʼ αὐτὼ πρὸς ὄρνιθας
ἐλθεῖν;

[¶219] Epops:
Their love for you and their wish to share your kind of life; to dwell and
remain with you always.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἔρως
βίου διαίτης τε καὶ
σοῦ ξυνοικεῖν τέ σοι
καὶ ξυνεῖναι τὸ πᾶν.

[¶220] Leader of the Chorus:
Indeed, and what are their plans?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί φῄς;
λέγουσι δὴ τίνας λόγους;

[¶221] Epops:
They are wonderful, incredible, unheard of.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἄπιστα καὶ πέρα κλύειν.

[¶222] Leader of the Chorus:
Why, do they think to see some advantage that determines them to settle here? Are they hoping with our help
to triumph over their foes or to be useful to their friends?

> Greek: Χορός:
ὁρᾷ τι κέρδος ἐνθάδʼ ἄξιον
μονῆς, ὅτῳ πέποιθʼ
ἐμοὶ ξυνὼν …
κρατεῖν ἂν ἢ τὸν ἐχθρὸν ἢ
φίλοισιν ὠφελεῖν ἔχειν;

[¶223] Epops:
They speak of benefits so great it is impossible either to describe or conceive them; all shall be yours,
all that we see here, there, above and below us; this they vouch for.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
λέγει μέγαν τινʼ ὄλβον οὔτε
λεκτὸν οὔτε πιστόν· ὡς
σὰ γὰρ ⟨τὰ⟩ πάντα ταῦτα καὶ
τὸ τῇδε καὶ τὸ κεῖσε καὶ
τὸ δεῦρο προσβιβᾷ λέγων.

[¶224] Leader of the Chorus:
Are they mad?

> Greek: Χορός:
πότερα μαινόμενος;

[¶225] Epops:
They are the sanest people in the world.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἄφατον ὡς φρόνιμος.

[¶226] Leader of the Chorus:
Clever men?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔνι σοφόν τι φρενί;

[¶227] Epops:
The slyest of foxes, cleverness its very self, men of the world, cunning, the cream of knowing folk.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
πυκνότατον κίναδος,
σόφισμα κύρμα τρῖμμα παιπάλημʼ ὅλον.

[¶228] Leader of the Chorus:
Tell them to speak and speak quickly; why, as I listen to you, I am beside myself with delight.

> Greek: Χορός:
λέγειν λέγειν κέλευέ μοι.
κλύων γὰρ ὧν σύ μοι λέγεις
λόγων ἀνεπτέρωμαι.

[¶229] Epops: To two attendants.
Here, you there, take all these weapons and hang them up inside close to the fire, near the figure of the god who presides there and under his protection; To Pisthetaerus. as for you, address the birds, tell them why I have gathered them together.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἄγε δὴ σὺ καὶ σὺ τὴν πανοπλίαν μὲν πάλιν
ταύτην λαβόντε κρεμάσατον τύχἀγαθῇ
ἐς τὸν ἰπνὸν εἴσω πλησίον τοὐπιστάτου·
σὺ δὲ τούσδʼ ἐφʼ οἷσπερ τοῖς λόγοις συνέλεξʼ ἐγὼ
φράσον, δίδαξον.

## 2. Lines 435–850

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-birds/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-birds/2/#p-N

[¶0] Pisthetaerus:
Not I, by Apollo,
unless they agree with me as the little ape of an armorer agreed with his wife, not to bite me, nor pull me by the balls, nor shove things into my...
Euelpides: Bending over and pointing his finger at his anus.
Do you mean this?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
μὰ τὸν Ἀπόλλω ʼγὼ μὲν οὔ,
ἢν μὴ διάθωνταί γʼ οἵδε διαθήκην ἐμοὶ
ἥνπερ ὁ πίθηκος τῇ γυναικὶ διέθετο,
ὁ μαχαιροποιός, μήτε δάκνειν τούτους ἐμὲ
μήτʼ ὀρχίπεδʼ ἕλκειν μήτʼ ὀρύττειν —
Χορός:
οὔτι που
τόν —; οὐδαμῶς.

[¶1] Pisthetaerus:
No, I mean my eyes.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὔκ, ἀλλὰ τὠφθαλμὼ λέγω.

[¶2] Leader of the Chorus:
Agreed.

> Greek: Χορός:
διατίθεμαι ʼγώ.

[¶3] Pisthetaerus:
Swear it.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
κατόμοσόν νυν ταῦτά μοι.

[¶4] Leader of the Chorus:
I swear it and, if I keep my promise, let judges and spectators give me the victory unanimously.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὄμνυμʼ ἐπὶ τούτοις, πᾶσι νικᾶν τοῖς κριταῖς
καὶ τοῖς θεαταῖς πᾶσιν.

[¶5] Pisthetaerus:
It is a bargain.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἔσται ταυταγί.

[¶6] Leader of the Chorus:
And if I break my word, may I succeed by one vote only.
Epops: As Herald.
Hearken, ye people! Hoplites, pick up your weapons and return to your firesides;
do not fail to read the decrees of dismissal we have posted.

> Greek: Χορός:
εἰ δὲ παραβαίην, ἑνὶ κριτῇ νικᾶν μόνον.
Κῆρυξ:
ἀκούετε λεῴ· τοὺς ὁπλίτας νυνμενὶ
ἀνελομένους θὤπλʼ ἀπιέναι πάλιν οἴκαδε,
σκοπεῖν δʼ ὅ τι ἂν προγράφωμεν ἐν τοῖς πινακίοις.

[¶7] Chorus: Singing.
Man is a truly cunning creature, but nevertheless explain. Perhaps you are going to show me some good way
to extend my power, some way that I have not had the wit to find out and which you have discovered. Speak! 'tis to your own interest as well as to mine, for if you secure me some advantage, I will surely share it with you.

> Greek: Χορός:
δολερὸν μὲν ἀεὶ κατὰ πάντα δὴ τρόπον
πέφυκεν ἄνθρωπος· σὺ δʼ ὅμως λέγε μοι.
τάχα γὰρ τύχοις ἂν
χρηστὸν ἐξειπὼν ὅ τι μοι παρορᾷς, ἢ
δύναμίν τινα μείζω
παραλειπομένην ὑπʼ ἐμῆς φρενὸς ἀξυνέτου·
σὺ δὲ τοῦθʼ οὑρᾷς λέγʼ ἐς κοινόν.
ὃ γὰρ ἂν σὺ τύχῃς μοι
ἀγαθὸν πορίσας, τοῦτο κοινὸν ἔσται.

[¶8] Leader of the Chorus:
But what object can have induced you to come among us? Speak boldly, for I shall not break the truce, —until you have told us all.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ ἐφʼ ὅτῳπερ πράγματι τὴν σὴν ἥκεις γνώμην ἀναπείσας,
λέγε θαρρήσας· ὡς τὰς σπονδὰς οὐ μὴ πρότεροι παραβῶμεν.

[¶9] Pisthetaerus:
I am bursting with desire to speak; I have already mixed the dough of my address and nothing prevents me from kneading it.... Slave! bring the chaplet and water, which you must pour over my hands. Be quick!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
καὶ μὴν ὀργῶ νὴ τὸν Δία καὶ προπεφύραται λόγος εἷς μοι,
ὃν διαμάττειν οὐ κωλύει· φέρε παῖ στέφανον· καταχεῖσθαι
κατὰ χειρὸς ὕδωρ φερέτω ταχύ τις.

[¶10] Euelpides:
Is it a question of feasting? What does it all mean?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
δειπνήσειν μέλλομεν; ἢ τί;

[¶11] Pisthetaerus:
By Zeus, no! but I am hunting for fine, tasty words to break down the hardness of their hearts. To the Chorus. I grieve so much for you, who at one time were kings...

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλὰ λέγειν ζητῶ τι πάλαι μέγα καὶ λαρινὸν ἔπος τι,
ὅ το τὴν τούτων θραύσει ψυχήν· οὕτως ὑμῶν ὑπεραλγῶ,
οἵτινες ὄντες πρότερον βασιλῆς —

[¶12] Leader of the Chorus:
We kings? Over whom?
Pisthetaerus:... of all that exists, firstly of me and of this man, even of Zeus himself. Your race is older than Saturn, the Titans and the Earth.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἡμεῖς βασιλῆς; τίνος;
Πισθέταιρος:
ὑμεῖς
πάντων ὁπόσʼ ἔστιν, ἐμοῦ πρῶτον, τουδί, καὶ τοῦ Διὸς αὐτοῦ,
ἀρχαιότεροι πρότεροί τε Κρόνου καὶ Τιτάνων ἐγένεσθε,
καὶ γῆς.

[¶13] Leader of the Chorus:
What, older than the Earth!

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ γῆς;

[¶14] Pisthetaerus:
By Phoebus, yes.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
νὴ τὸν Ἀπόλλω.

[¶15] Leader of the Chorus:
By Zeus, but I never knew that before!

> Greek: Χορός:
τουτὶ μὰ Δίʼ οὐκ ἐπεπύσμην.

[¶16] Pisthetaerus:
That's because you are ignorant and heedless, and have never read your Aesop. He is the one who tells us that the lark was born before all other creatures, indeed before the Earth; his father died of sickness, but the Earth did not exist then; he remained unburied for five days, when the bird in its dilemma decided,
for want of a better place, to entomb its father in its own head.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἀμαθὴς γὰρ ἔφυς κοὐ πολυπράγμων, οὐδʼ Αἴσωπον πεπάτηκας,
ὃς ἔφασκε λέγων κορυδὸν πάντων πρώτην ὄρνιθα γενέσθαι,
προτέραν τῆς γῆς, κἄπειτα νόσῳ τὸν πατέρʼ αὐτῆς ἀποθνῄσκειν·
γῆν δʼ οὐκ εἶναι, τὸν δὲ προκεῖσθαι πεμπταῖον· τὴν δʼ ἀποροῦσαν
ὑπʼ ἀμηχανίας τὸν πατέρʼ αὑτῆς ἐν τῇ κεφαλῇ κατορύξαι.

[¶17] Euelpides:
So that the lark's father is buried at Cephalae.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ὁ πατὴρ ἄρα τῆς κορυδοῦ νυνὶ κεῖται τεθνεὼς Κεφαλῆσιν.

[¶18] Pisthetaerus:
Hence, if they existed before the Earth, before the gods, the kingship belongs to them by right of priority.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὔκουν δῆτʼ εἰ πρότεροι μὲν γῆς πρότεροι δὲ θεῶν ἐγένοντο,
ὡς πρεσβυτάτων αὐτῶν ὄντῶν ὀρθῶς ἐσθʼ ἡ βασιλεία;

[¶19] Euelpides:
Undoubtedly, but sharpen your beak well;
Zeus won't be in a hurry to hand over his scepter to the woodpecker.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
νὴ τὸν Ἀπόλλω· πάνυ τοίνυν χρὴ ῥύγχος βόσκειν σε τὸ λοιπόν·
οὐκ ἀποδώσει ταχέως ὁ Ζεὺς τὸ σκῆπτρον τῷ δρυκολάπτῃ.

[¶20] Pisthetaerus:
It was not the gods, but the birds, who were formerly the masters and kings over men; of this I have a thousand proofs. First of all, I will point you to the cock, who governed the Persians before all other monarchs, before Darius and Megabazus.
It's in memory of his reign that he is called the Persian bird.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὡς δʼ οὐχὶ θεοὶ τοίνυν ἦρχον τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὸ παλαιόν,
ἀλλʼ ὄρνιθες, κἀβασίλευον, πόλλʼ ἐστὶ τεκμήρια τούτων.
αὐτίκα δʼ ὑμῖν πρῶτʼ ἐπιδείξω τὸν ἀλεκτρυόνʼ, ὡς ἐτυράννει
ἦρχέ τε Περσῶν πρῶτον πάντων Δαρείου καὶ Μεγαβάζου,
ὥστε καλεῖται Περσικὸς ὄρνις ἀπὸ τῆς ἀρχῆς ἔτʼ ἐκείνης.

[¶21] Euelpides:
For this reason also, even to-day, he alone of all the birds wears his tiara straight on his head, like the Great King.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
διὰ ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἔχων καὶ νῦν ὥσπερ βασιλεὺς ὁ μέγας διαβάσκει
ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς τὴν κυρβασίαν τῶν ὀρνίθων μόνος ὀρθήν.

[¶22] Pisthetaerus:
He was so strong, so great, so feared, that even now, on account of his ancient power,
everyone jumps out of bed as soon as ever he crows at daybreak. Blacksmiths, potters, tanners, shoemakers, bathmen, corn-dealers, lyre-makers and armorers, all put on their shoes and go to work before it is daylight.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὕτω δʼ ἴσχυσέ τε καὶ μέγας ἦν τότε καὶ πολύς, ὥστʼ ἔτι καὶ νῦν
ὑπὸ τῆς ῥώμης τῆς τότʼ ἐκείνης, ὁπόταν μόνον ὄρθριον ᾄσῃ,
ἀναπηδῶσιν πάντες ἐπʼ ἔργον χαλκῆς κεραμῆς σκυλοδέψαι
σκυτῆς βαλανῆς ἀλφιταμοιβοὶ τορνευτολυρασπιδοπηγοί·
οἱ δὲ βαδίζουσʼ ὑποδησάμενοι νύκτωρ.

[¶23] Euelpides:
I can tell you something about that. It was the cock's fault that I lost a splendid tunic of Phrygian wool. I was at a feast in town, given to celebrate the birth of a child; I had drunk pretty freely
and had just fallen asleep, when a cock, I suppose in a greater hurry than the rest, began to crow. I thought it was dawn and set out for Halimus. I had hardly got beyond the walls, when a footpad struck me in the back with his bludgeon; down I went and wanted to shout, but he had already made off with my mantle.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἐμὲ τοῦτό γʼ ἐρώτα.
χλαῖναν γὰρ ἀπώλεσʼ ὁ μοχθηρὸς Φρυγίων ἐρίων διὰ τοῦτον.
ἐς δεκάτην γάρ ποτε παιδαρίου κληθεὶς ὑπέπινον ἐν ἄστει,
κἄρτι καθηῦδον, καὶ πρὶν δειπνεῖν τοὺς ἄλλους οὗτος ἄρʼ ᾖσεν·
κἀγὼ νομίσας ὄρθρον ἐχώρουν Ἀλιμουντάδε, κἄρτι προκύπτω
ἔξω τείχους καὶ λωποδύτης παίει ῥοπάλῳ με τὸ νῶτον·
κἀγὼ πίπτω μέλλω τε βοᾶν, ὁ δʼ ἀπέβλισε θοἰμάτιόν μου.

[¶24] Pisthetaerus:
Formerly also the kite was ruler and king over the Greeks.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἰκτῖνος δʼ οὖν τῶν Ἑλλήνων ἦρχεν τότε κἀβασίλευεν.

[¶25] Leader of the Chorus:
The Greeks?

> Greek: Χορός:
τῶν Ἑλλήνων;

[¶26] Pisthetaerus:
And when he was king, he was the one who first taught them to fall on their knees before the kites.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
καὶ κατέδειξέν γʼ οὗτος πρῶτος βασιλεύων
προκυλινδεῖσθαι τοῖς ἰκτίνοις.

[¶27] Euelpides:
By Zeus! that's what I did myself one day on seeing a kite; but at the moment I was on my knees, and leaning backwards with mouth agape, I bolted an obolus and was forced to carry my meal-sack home empty.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
νὴ τὸν Διόνυσον, ἐγὼ γοῦν
ἐκυλινδούμην ἰκτῖνον ἰδών· κᾆθʼ ὕπτιος ὢν ἀναχάσκων
ὀβολὸν κατεβρόχθισα· κᾆτα κενὸν τὸν θύλακον οἴκαδʼ ἀφεῖλκον.

[¶28] Pisthetaerus:
The cuckoo was king of Egypt and of the whole of Phoenicia.
When he called out “cuckoo,” all the Phoenicians hurried to the fields to reap their wheat and their barley.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
Αἰγύπτου δʼ αὖ καὶ Φοινίκης πάσης κόκκυξ βασιλεὺς ἦν·
χὠπόθʼ ὁ κόκκυξ εἴποι κόκκυ, τότʼ ἂν οἱ Φοίνικες ἅπαντες
τοὺς πυροὺς ἂν καὶ τὰς κριθὰς ἐν τοῖς πεδίοις ἐθέριζον.

[¶29] Euelpides:
Hence no doubt the proverb, “Cuckoo! cuckoo! go to the fields, ye circumcised.”

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τοῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἐκεῖνʼ ἦν τοὔπος ἀληθῶς· κόκκυψωλοὶ πεδίονδε.

[¶30] Pisthetaerus:
So powerful were the birds that the kings of Grecian cities, Agamemnon, Menelaus, for instance,
carried a bird on the tip of their scepters, who had his share of all presents.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἦρχον δʼ οὕτω σφόδρα τὴν ἀρχήν, ὥστʼ εἴ τις καὶ βασιλεύοι
ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν τῶν Ἑλλήνων Ἀγαμέμνων ἢ Μενέλαος,
ἐπὶ τῶν σκήπτρων ἐκάθητʼ ὄρνις μετέχων ὅ τι δωροδοκοίη.

[¶31] Euelpides:
That I didn't know and was much astonished when I saw Priam come upon the stage in the tragedies with a bird, which kept watching Lysicrates to see if he got any present.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τουτὶ τοίνυν οὐκ ᾔδη ʼγώ· καὶ δῆτά μʼ ἐλάμβανε θαῦμα,
ὁπότʼ ἐξέλθοι Πρίαμός τις ἔχων ὄρνιν ἐν τοῖσι τραγῳδοῖς,
ὁ δʼ ἄρʼ εἱστήκει τὸν Λυσικράτη τηρῶν ὅ τι δωροδοκοίη.

[¶32] Pisthetaerus:
But the strongest proof of all is that Zeus, who now reigns,
is represented as standing with an eagle on his head as a symbol of his royalty; his daughter has an owl, and Phoebus, as his servant, has a hawk.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὃ δὲ δεινότατόν γʼ ἐστὶν ἁπάντων, ὁ Ζεὺς γὰρ ὁ νῦν βασιλεύων
αἰετὸν ὄρνιν ἕστηκεν ἔχων ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς βασιλεὺς ὤν,
ἡ δʼ αὖ θυγάτηρ γλαῦχʼ, ὁ δʼ Ἀπόλλων ὥσπερ θεράπων ἱέρακα.

[¶33] Euelpides:
By Demeter, the point is well taken. But what are all these birds doing in heaven?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
νὴ τὴν Δήμητρʼ εὖ ταῦτα λέγεις. τίνος οὕνεκα ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἔχουσιν;

[¶34] Pisthetaerus:
When anyone sacrifices and, according to the rite, offers the entrails to the gods, these birds take their share before Zeus.
Formerly men always swore by the birds and never by the gods. And even now Lampon swears by the goose whenever he wishes to deceive someone. Thus it is clear that you were once great and sacred,

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἵνʼ ὅταν θύων τις ἔπειτʼ αὐτοῖς ἐς τὴν χεῖρʼ, ὡς νόμος ἐστίν,
τὰ σπλάγχνα διδῷ, τοῦ Διὸς αὐτοὶ πρότεροι τὰ σπλάγχνα λάβωσιν.
ὤμνυ τʼ οὐδεὶς τότʼ ⟨ἂν⟩ ἀνθρώπων θεόν, ἀλλʼ ὄρνιθας ἅπαντες·
Λάμπων δʼ ὄμνυσʼ ἔτι καὶ νυνὶ τὸν χῆνʼ, ὅταν ἐξαπατᾷ τι.
οὕτως ὑμᾶς πάντες πρότερον μεγάλους ἁγίους τʼ ἐνόμιζον,

[¶35] Pisthetaerus:
but now you are looked upon as slaves, as fools, as Maneses; stones
are thrown at you as at raving madmen, even in holy places. A crowd of bird-catchers sets snares, traps, limed twigs and nets of all sorts for you; you are caught, you are sold in heaps
and the buyers finger you over to be certain you are fat. Again, if they would but serve you up simply roasted; but they rasp cheese into a mixture of oil, vinegar and laserwort,
to which another sweet and greasy sauce is added, and the whole is poured scalding hot over your back, for all the world as if you were diseased meat.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
νῦν δʼ ἀνδράποδʼ ἠλιθίους Μανᾶς·
ὥσπερ δʼ ἤδη τοὺς μαινομένους
βάλλουσʼ ὑμᾶς, κἀν τοῖς ἱεροῖς
πᾶς τις ἐφʼ ὑμῖν ὀρνιθευτὴς
ἵστησι βρόχους παγίδας ῥάβδους
ἕρκη νεφέλας δίκτυα πηκτάς·
εἶτα λαβόντες πωλοῦσʼ ἁθρόους·
οἱ δʼ ὠνοῦνται βλιμάζοντες·
κοὐδʼ οὖν, εἴπερ ταῦτα δοκεῖ δρᾶν,
ὀπτησάμενοι παρέθενθʼ ὑμᾶς,
ἀλλʼ ἐπικνῶσιν τυρὸν ἔλαιον
σίλφιον ὄξος καὶ τρίψαντες
κατάχυσμʼ ἕτερον γλυκὺ καὶ λιπαρόν,
κἄπειτα κατεσκέδασαν θερμὸν
τοῦτο καθʼ ὑμῶν
αὐτῶν ὥσπερ κενεβρείων.

[¶36] Chorus: Singing.
Man, your words have
made my heart bleed; I have groaned over the treachery of our fathers, who knew not how to transmit to us the high rank they held from their forefathers. But 'tis a benevolent Genius, a happy Fate, that sends you to us;
you shall be our deliverer and I place the destiny of my little ones and my own in your hands with every confidence.

> Greek: Χορός:
πολὺ δὴ πολὺ δὴ χαλεπωτάτους λόγους
ἤνεγκας ἄνθρωφʼ. ὡς ἐδάκρυσά γʼ ἐμῶν
πατέρων κάκην, οἳ
τάσδε τὰς τιμὰς προγόνων παραδόντων
ἐπʼ ἐμοῦ κατέλυσαν.
σὺ δέ μοι κατὰ δαίμονα καί ⟨τινα⟩ συντυχίαν
ἀγαθὴν ἥκεις ἐμοὶ σωτήρ.
ἀναθεὶς γὰρ ἐγώ σοι
τὰ νεοττία κἀμαυτὸν οἰκήσω.

[¶37] Leader of the Chorus:
But hasten to tell me what must be done; we should not be worthy to live, if we did not seek to regain our royalty by every possible means.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ ὅ τι χρὴ δρᾶν, σὺ δίδασκε παρών· ὡς ζῆν οὐκ ἄξιον ἡμῖν,
εἰ μὴ κομιούμεθα παντὶ τρόπῳ τὴν ἡμετέραν βασιλείαν.

[¶38] Pisthetaerus:
First I advise that the birds gather together in one city and that they build a wall of great bricks, like that at Babylon, round the plains of the air and the whole region of space that divides earth from heaven.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
καὶ δὴ τοίνυν πρῶτα διδάσκω μίαν ὀρνίθων πόλιν εἶναι,
κἄπειτα τὸν ἀέρα πάντα κύκλῳ καὶ πᾶν τουτὶ τὸ μεταξὺ
περιτειχίζειν μεγάλαις πλίνθοις ὀπταῖς ὥσπερ Βαβυλῶνα.

[¶39] Epops:
Oh, Cebriones! oh, Porphyrion! what a terribly strong place!

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ὦ Κεβριόνη καὶ Πορφυρίων ὡς σμερδαλέον τὸ πόλισμα.

[¶40] Pisthetaerus:
Then, when this has been well done and completed, you demand back the empire from Zeus;
if he will not agree, if he refuses and does not at once confess himself beaten, you declare a sacred war against him and forbid the gods henceforward to pass through your country with their tools up, as hitherto, for the purpose of laying their Alcmenas, their Alopes, or their Semeles! if they try to pass through,
you put rings on their tools so that they can't make love any longer. You send another messenger to mankind, who will proclaim to them that the birds are kings, that for the future they must first of all sacrifice to them, and only afterwards to the gods; that it is fitting to appoint to each deity the bird that has most in common with it.
For instance, are they sacrificing to Aphrodite, let them at the same time offer barley to the coot; are they immolating a sheep to Poseidon, let them consecrate wheat in honor of the duck; if a steer is being offered to Heracles, let honey-cakes be dedicated to the gull; if a goat is being slain for King Zeus, there is a King-Bird, the wren, to whom the sacrifice of a male gnat is due before Zeus himself even.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
κἄπειτʼ ἢν τοῦτʼ ἐπανεστήκῃ, τὴν ἀρχὴν τὸν Δίʼ ἀπαιτεῖν·
κἂν μὲν μὴ φῇ μηδʼ ἐθελήσῃ μηδʼ εὐθὺς γνωσιμαχήσῃ,
ἱερὸν πόλεμον πρωὐδᾶν αὐτῷ, καὶ τοῖσι θεοῖσιν ἀπειπεῖν
διὰ τῆς χώρας τῆς ὑμετέρας ἐστυκόσι μὴ διαφοιτᾶν,
ὥσπερ πρότερον μοιχεύσοντες τὰς Ἀλκμήνας κατέβαινον
καὶ τὰς Ἀλόπας καὶ τὰς Σεμέλας· ἤνπερ δʼ ἐπίωσʼ, ἐπιβάλλειν
σφραγῖδʼ αὐτοῖς ἐπὶ τὴν ψωλήν, ἵνα μὴ βινῶσʼ ἔτʼ ἐκείνας.
τοῖς δʼ ἀνθρώποις ὄρνιν ἕτερον πέμψαι κήρυκα κελεύω,
ὡς ὀρνίθων βασιλευόντων θύειν ὄρνισι τὸ λοιπόν,
κἄπειτα θεοῖς ὕστερον αὖθις· προσνείμασθαι δὲ πρεπόντως
τοῖσι θεοῖσιν τῶν ὀρνίθων ὃς ἂν ἁρμόττῃ καθʼ ἕκαστον·
ἢν Ἀφροδίτῃ θύῃ, πυροὺς ὄρνιθι φαληρίδι θύειν·
ἢν δὲ Ποσειδῶνί τις οἶν θύῃ, νήττῃ πυροὺς καθαγίζειν·
ἢν δʼ Ἡρακλέει θύῃ τι, λάρῳ ναστοὺς θύειν μελιτοῦντας·
κἂν Διὶ θύῃ βασιλεῖ κριόν, βασιλεύς ἐστʼ ὀρχίλος ὄρνις,
ᾧ προτέρῳ δεῖ τοῦ Διὸς αὐτοῦ σέρφον ἐνόρχην σφαγιάζειν.

[¶41] Euelpides:
This notion of an immolated gnat delights me! And now let the great Zeus thunder!

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἥσθην σέρφῳ σφαγιαζομένῳ. βροντάτω νῦν ὁ μέγας Ζάν.

[¶42] Leader of the Chorus:
But how will mankind recognize us as gods and not as jays? Us, who have wings and fly?

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ πῶς ἡμᾶς νομιοῦσι θεοὺς ἄνθρωποι κοὐχὶ κολοιούς,
οἳ πετόμεσθα πτέρυγάς τʼ ἔχομεν;

[¶43] Pisthetaerus:
You talk rubbish! Hermes is a god and has wings and flies, and so do many other gods. First of all, Victory flies with golden wings, Eros is undoubtedly winged too,
and Iris is compared by Homer to a timorous dove.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ληρεῖς· καὶ νὴ Δίʼ ὅ γʼ Ἑρμῆς
πέτεται θεὸς ὢν πτέρυγάς τε φορεῖ, κἄλλοι γε θεοὶ πάνυ πολλοί.
αὐτίκα Νίκη πέτεται πτερύγοιν χρυσαῖν καὶ νὴ Δίʼ Ἔρως γε·
Ἥρην δέ γʼ Ὅμηρος ἔφασκʼ ἰκέλην εἶναι τρήρωνι πελείῃ.

[¶44] Euelpides:
But will not Zeus thunder and send his winged bolts against us?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ὁ Ζεὺς δʼ ἡμῖν οὐ βροντήσας πέμψει πτερόεντα κεραυνόν;

[¶45] Pisthetaerus:
If men in their blindness do not recognize us as gods and so continue to worship the dwellers in Olympus? Then a cloud of sparrows greedy for corn must descend upon their fields and eat up all their seeds;
we shall see then if Demeter will mete them out any wheat.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἢν δʼ οὖν ὑμᾶς μὲν ὑπʼ ἀγνοίας εἶναι νομίσωσι τὸ μηδέν,
τούτους δὲ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ τότε χρὴ στρούθων νέφος ἀρθὲν
καὶ σπερμολόγων ἐκ τῶν ἀγρῶν τὸ σπέρμʼ αὐτῶν ἀνακάψαι·
κἄπειτʼ αὐτοῖς ἡ Δημήτηρ πυροὺς πεινῶσι μετρείτω.

[¶46] Euelpides:
By Zeus, she'll take good care she does not, and you will see her inventing a thousand excuses.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
οὐκ ἐθελήσει μὰ Δίʼ, ἀλλʼ ὄψει προφάσεις αὐτὴν παρέχουσαν.

[¶47] Pisthetaerus:
The crows too will prove your divinity to them by pecking out the eyes of their flocks and of their draught-oxen; and then let Apollo cure them, since he is a physician and is paid for the purpose.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οἱ δʼ αὖ κόρακες τῶν ζευγαρίων, οἷσιν τὴν γῆν καταροῦσιν,
καὶ τῶν προβάτων τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐκκοψάντων ἐπὶ πείρᾳ·
εἶθʼ ὅ γʼ Ἀπόλλων ἰατρός ⟨γʼ⟩ ὢν ἰάσθω· μισθοφορεῖ δέ.

[¶48] Euelpides:
Oh! don't do that! Wait first until I have sold my two young bullocks.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
μὴ πρίν γʼ ἂν ἐγὼ τὼ βοιδαρίω τὠμὼ πρώτιστʼ ἀποδῶμαι.

[¶49] Pisthetaerus:
If on the other hand they recognize that you are God, the principle of life, that you are Earth, Kronos, Poseidon, they shall be loaded with benefits.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἢν δʼ ἡγῶνται σὲ θεὸν σὲ βίον σὲ δὲ γῆν σὲ Κρόνον σὲ Ποσειδῶ,
ἀγάθʼ αὐτοῖσιν πάντα παρέσται.

[¶50] Epops:
Name me one of these then.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
λέγε δή μοι τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἕν.

[¶51] Pisthetaerus:
Firstly, the locusts shall not eat up their vine-blossoms; a legion of owls and kestrels will devour them.
Moreover, the gnats and the gallbugs shall no longer ravage the figs; a flock of thrushes shall swallow the whole host down to the very last.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
πρῶτα μὲν αὐτῶν τὰς οἰνάνθας οἱ πάρνοπες οὐ κατέδονται,
ἀλλὰ γλαυκῶν λόχος εἷς αὐτοὺς καὶ κερχνῄδων ἐπιτρίψει.
εἶθʼ οἱ κνῖπες καὶ ψῆνες ἀεὶ τὰς συκᾶς οὐ κατέδονται,
ἀλλʼ ἀναλέξει πάντας καθαρῶς αὐτοὺς ἀγέλη μία κιχλῶν.

[¶52] Epops:
And how shall we give wealth to mankind? This is their strongest passion.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
πλουτεῖν δὲ πόθεν δώσομεν αὐτοῖς; καὶ γὰρ τούτου σφόδρʼ ἐρῶσιν.

[¶53] Pisthetaerus:
When they consult the omens, you will point them to the richest mines, you will reveal the paying ventures to the diviner,
and not another shipwreck will happen or sailor perish.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τὰ μέταλλʼ αὐτοῖς μαντευομένοις οὗτοι δώσουσι τὰ χρηστά,
τάς τʼ ἐμπορίας τὰς κερδαλέας πρὸς τὸν μάντιν κατεροῦσιν,
ὥστʼ ἀπολεῖται τῶν ναυκλήρων οὐδείς.

[¶54] Epops:
No more shall perish? How is that?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
πῶς οὐκ ἀπολεῖται;

[¶55] Pisthetaerus:
When the auguries are examined before starting on a voyage, some bird will not fail to say, “Don't start! there will be a storm,” or else, “Go! you will make a most profitable venture.”

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
προερεῖ τις ἀεὶ τῶν ὀρνίθων μαντευομένῳ περὶ τοῦ πλοῦ·
νυνὶ μὴ πλεῖ, χειμὼν ἔσται· νυνὶ πλεῖ, κέρδος ἐπέσται.

[¶56] Euelpides:
I shall buy a trading-vessel and go to sea. I will not stay with you.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
γαῦλον κτῶμαι καὶ ναυκληρῶ, κοὐκ ἂν μείναιμι παρʼ ὑμῖν.

[¶57] Pisthetaerus:
You will discover treasures to them, which were buried in former times,
for you know them. Do not all men say, “None knows where my treasure lies, unless perchance it be some bird.”

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τοὺς θησαυρούς τʼ αὐτοῖς δείξουσʼ οὓς οἱ πρότεροι κατέθεντο
τῶν ἀργυρίων· οὗτοι γὰρ ἴσασι· λέγουσι δέ τοι τάδε πάντες,
οὐδεὶς οἶδεν τὸν θησαυρὸν τὸν ἐμὸν πλὴν εἴ τις ἄρʼ ὄρνις.

[¶58] Euelpides:
I shall sell my boat and buy a spade to unearth the vessels.
Leader of the Chorus:
And how are we to give them health, which belongs to the gods?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
πωλῶ γαῦλον, κτῶμαι σμινύην, καὶ τὰς ὑδρίας ἀνορύττω.
Ἔποψ:
πῶς δʼ ὑγιείαν δώσουσʼ αὐτοῖς, οὖσαν παρὰ τοῖσι θεοῖσιν;

[¶59] Pisthetaerus:
If they are happy, is not that the chief thing towards health?
The miserable man is never well.
Leader of the Chorus:
Old Age also dwells in Olympus. How will they get at it? Must they die in early youth?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἢν εὖ πράττωσʼ, οὐχ ὑγιεία μεγάλη τοῦτʼ ἐστί; σάφʼ ἴσθι,
ὡς ἄνθρωπός γε κακῶς πράττων ἀτεχνῶς οὐδεὶς ὑγιαίνει.
Ἔποψ:
πῶς δʼ ἐς γῆράς ποτʼ ἀφίξονται; καὶ γὰρ τοῦτʼ ἔστʼ ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ·
ἢ παιδάριʼ ὄντʼ ἀποθνῄσκειν δεῖ;

[¶60] Pisthetaerus:
Why, the birds, by Zeus,
will add three hundred years to their life.
Leader of the Chorus:
From whom will they take them?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλὰ τριακόσιʼ αὐτοῖς
ἔτι προσθήσουσʼ ὄρνιθες ἔτη.
Ἔποψ:
παρὰ τοῦ;

[¶61] Pisthetaerus:
From whom? Why, from themselves. Don't you know the cawing crow lives five times as long as a man?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
παρʼ ὅτου; παρʼ ἑαυτῶν.
οὐκ οἶσθʼ ὅτι πέντʼ ἀνδρῶν γενεὰς ζώει λακέρυζα κορώνη;

[¶62] Euelpides:
Ah! ah! these are far better kings for us than Zeus!

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
αἰβοῖ πολλῷ κρείττους οὗτοι τοῦ Διὸς ἡμῖν βασιλεύειν.

[¶63] Pisthetaerus: Solemnly.
Far better, are they not? And firstly, we shall not have to build them temples of hewn stone, closed with gates of gold;
they will dwell amongst the bushes and in the thickets of green oak; the most venerated of birds will have no other temple than the foliage of the olive tree; we shall not go to Delphi or to Ammon
to sacrifice; but standing erect in the midst of arbutus and wild olives and holding forth our hands filled with wheat and barley, we shall pray them to admit us to a share of the blessings they enjoy
and shall at once obtain them for a few grains of wheat.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐ γὰρ πολλῷ;
πρῶτον μέν ⟨γʼ⟩ οὐχὶ νεὼς ἡμᾶς
οἰκοδομεῖν δεῖ λιθίνους αὐτοῖς,
οὐδὲ θυρῶσαι χρυσαῖσι θύραις,
ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ θάμνοις καὶ πρινιδίοις
οἰκήσουσιν. τοῖς δʼ αὖ σεμνοῖς
τῶν ὀρνίθων δένδρον ἐλάας
ὁ νεὼς ἔσται· κοὐκ ἐς Δελφοὺς
οὐδʼ εἰς Ἄμμωνʼ ἐλθόντες ἐκεῖ
θύσομεν, ἀλλʼ ἐν ταῖσιν κομάροις
καὶ τοῖς κοτίνοις στάντες ἔχοντες
κριθὰς πυροὺς εὐξόμεθʼ αὐτοῖς
ἀνατείνοντες τὼ χεῖρʼ ἀγαθῶν
διδόναι τι μέρος· καὶ ταῦθʼ ἡμῖν
παραχρῆμʼ ἔσται
πυροὺς ὀλίγους προβαλοῦσιν.

[¶64] Leader of the Chorus:
Old man, whom I detested, you are now to me the dearest of all; never shall I, if I can help it, fail to follow your advice.
Chorus: Singing.
Inspirited by your words,
I threaten my rivals the gods, and I swear that if you march in alliance with me against the gods and are faithful to our just, loyal and sacred bond, we shall soon have shattered their scepter.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ φίλτατʼ ἐμοὶ πολὺ πρεσβυτῶν ἐξ ἐχθίστου μεταπίπτων,
οὐκ ἔστιν ὅπως ἂν ἐγώ ποθʼ ἑκὼν τῆς σῆς γνώμης ἔτʼ ἀφείμην.
Χορός:
ἐπαυχήσας δὲ τοῖσι σοῖς λόγοις
ἐπηπείλησα καὶ κατώμοσα,
ἢν σὺ παρʼ ἐμὲ θέμενος
ὁμόφρονας λόγους δικαίους
ἀδόλους ὁσίους
ἐπὶ θεοὺς ἴῃς, ἐμοὶ
Χορός:
φρονῶν ξυνῳδά, μὴ πολὺν χρόνον
θεοὺς ἔτι σκῆπτρα τἀμὰ τρίψειν.

[¶65] Leader of the Chorus:
We shall charge ourselves with the performance of everything that requires force; that which demands thought and deliberation shall be yours to supply.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ ὅσα μὲν δεῖ ῥώμῃ πράττειν, ἐπὶ ταῦτα τεταξόμεθʼ ἡμεῖς·
ὅσα δὲ γνώμῃ δεῖ βουλεύειν, ἐπὶ σοὶ τάδε πάντʼ ἀνάκειται.

[¶66] Epops:
By Zeus! it's no longer
the time to delay and loiter like Nicias; let us act as promptly as possible.... In the first place, come, enter my nest built of brushwood and blades of straw, and tell me your names.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
καὶ μὴν μὰ τὸν Δίʼ οὐχὶ νυστάζειν ἔτι
ὥρα ʼστὶν ἡμῖν οὐδὲ μελλονικιᾶν,
ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστα δεῖ τι δρᾶν· πρῶτον δέ γε
εἰσέλθετʼ ἐς νεοττιάν γε τὴν ἐμὴν
καὶ τἀμὰ κάρφη καὶ τὰ παρόντα φρύγανα,
καὶ τοὔνομʼ ἡμῖν φράσατον.

[¶67] Pisthetaerus:
That is soon done; my name is Pisthetaerus, and his,
Euelpides, of the deme Crioa.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἀλλὰ ῥᾴδιον.
ἐμοὶ μὲν ὄνομα Πισθέταιρος, τῳδεδὶ
Εὐελπίδης Κριῶθεν.

[¶68] Epops:
Good! and good luck to you.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἀλλὰ χαίρετον
ἄμφω.

[¶69] Pisthetaerus:
We accept the omen.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
δεχόμεθα.

[¶70] Epops:
Come in here.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
δεῦρο τοίνυν εἴσιτον.

[¶71] Pisthetaerus:
Very well, you are the one who must lead us and introduce us.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἴωμεν· εἰσηγοῦ σὺ λαβὼν ἡμᾶς.

[¶72] Epops:
Come then.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἴθι.

[¶73] Pisthetaerus: Pisthetaerus starts to fly away, then stops himself.
Oh! my god! do come back here. Hi! tell us how
we are to follow you. You can fly, but we cannot.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἀτὰρ τὸ δεῖνα, δεῦρʼ ἐπανάκρουσαι πάλιν.
φέρʼ ἴδω, φράσον νῷν, πῶς ἐγώ τε χοὐτοσὶ
ξυνεσόμεθʼ ὑμῖν πετομένοις οὐ πετομένω;

[¶74] Epops:
Well, well.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
καλῶς.

[¶75] Pisthetaerus:
Remember Aesop's fables. It is told there that the fox fared very badly, because he had made an alliance with the eagle.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὅρα νυν, ὡς ἐν Αἰσώπου λόγοις
ἐστὶν λεγόμενον δή τι, τὴν ἀλώπεχʼ, ὡς
φλαύρως ἐκοινώνησεν αἰετῷ ποτέ.

[¶76] Epops:
Be at ease. You shall eat a certain root
and wings will grow on your shoulders.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
μηδὲν φοβηθῇς· ἔστι γάρ τι ῥιζίον,
ὃ διατραγόντʼ ἔσεσθον ἐπτερωμένω.

[¶77] Pisthetaerus:
Then let us enter. Xanthias and Manodorus, pick up our baggage.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὕτω μὲν εἰσίωμεν. ἄγε δὴ Ξανθία
καὶ Μανόδωρε λαμβάνετε τὰ στρώματα.

[¶78] Leader of the Chorus:
Hi! Epops! do you hear me?

> Greek: Χορός:
οὗτος σὲ καλῶ, σὲ λέγω.

[¶79] Epops:
What's the matter?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
τί καλεῖς;

[¶80] Leader of the Chorus:
Take them off to dine well and call your mate, the melodious Procne, whose songs are worthy of the Muses;
she will delight our leisure moments.

> Greek: Χορός:
τούτους μὲν ἄγων μετὰ σαυτοῦ
ἀρίστισον εὖ· τὴν δʼ ἡδυμελῆ ξύμφωνον ἀηδόνα Μούσαις
κατάλειφʼ ἡμῖν δεῦρʼ ἐκβιβάσας, ἵνα παίσωμεν μετʼ ἐκείνης.

[¶81] Pisthetaerus:
Oh! I conjure you, accede to their wish; for this delightful bird will leave her rushes at the sound of your voice;
for the sake of the gods, let her come here, so that we may contemplate the nightingale.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὦ τοῦτο μεντοι νὴ Δίʼ αὐτοῖσιν πιθοῦ·
ἐκβίβασον ἐκ τοῦ βουτόμου τοὐρνίθιον.
Ἐυελπίδης:
ἐκβίβασον αὐτοῦ πρὸς θεῶν αὐτήν, ἵνα
καὶ νὼ θεασώμεσθα τὴν ἀηδόνα.

[¶82] Epops:
Let it be as you desire. Come forth, Procne, show yourself to these strangers.
Procne appears; she resembles a young flute-girl.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἀλλʼ εἰ δοκεῖ σφῷν, ταῦτα χρὴ δρᾶν. ἡ Πρόκνη
ἔκβαινε καὶ σαυτὴν ἐπιδείκνυ τοῖς ξένοις.

[¶83] Pisthetaerus:
Oh! great Zeus! what a beautiful little bird! what a dainty form! what brilliant plumage!
Do you know how dearly I should like to get between her thighs?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὦ Ζεῦ πολυτίμηθʼ ὡς καλὸν τοὐρνίθιον,
ὡς δʼ ἁπαλόν, ὡς δὲ λευκόν.

[¶84] Euelpides:
She is dazzling all over with gold, like a young girl.
Oh! how I should like to kiss her!

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἆρά γʼ οἶσθʼ ὅτι
ἐγὼ διαμηρίζοιμʼ ἂν αὐτὴν ἡδέως;

[¶85] Pisthetaerus:
Why, wretched man, she has two little sharp points on her beak!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὅσον δʼ ἔχει τὸν χρυσόν, ὥσπερ παρθένος.

[¶86] Euelpides:
I would treat her like an egg, the shell of which we remove before eating it; I would take off her mask and then kiss her pretty face.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἐγὼ μὲν αὐτὴν κἂν φιλῆσαί μοι δοκῶ.
Πισθέταιρος:
ἀλλʼ ὦ κακόδαιμον ῥύγχος ὀβελίσκοιν ἔχει.
Ἐυελπίδης:
ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ ᾠὸν νὴ Δίʼ ἀπολέψαντα χρὴ
ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς τὸ λέμμα κᾆθʼ οὕτω φιλεῖν.

[¶87] Epops:
Let us go in.

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἴωμεν.

[¶88] Pisthetaerus:
Lead the way, and may success attend us. Epops goes into the thicket, followed by Pisthetaerus and Euelpides.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἡγοῦ δὴ σὺ νῷν τύχἀγαθῇ.

[¶89] Chorus: Singing.
Lovable golden bird, whom I cherish above all others, you, whom I associate with all my songs, nightingale,
you have come, you have come, to show yourself to me and to charm me with your notes. Come, you, who play spring melodies upon the harmonious flute, lead off our anapests.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ φίλη, ὦ ξουθή,
ὦ φίλτατον ὀρνέων
πάντων, ξύννομε τῶν ἐμῶν
ὕμνων, ξύντροφʼ ἀηδοῖ,
ἦλθες ἦλθες ὤφθης,
ἡδὺν φθόγγον ἐμοὶ φέρουσʼ.
ἀλλʼ ὦ καλλιβόαν κρέκουσʼ
αὐλὸν φθέγμασιν ἠρινοῖς,
ἄρχου τῶν ἀναπαίστων.

[¶90] The Chorus turns and faces the audience.
Leader of the Chorus:
Weak mortals, chained to the earth, creatures of clay as frail as the foliage of the woods, you unfortunate race, whose life is but darkness, as unreal as a shadow, the illusion of a dream, hearken to us, who are immortal beings, ethereal, ever young and occupied with eternal thoughts, for we shall teach you about all celestial matters;
you shall know thoroughly what is the nature of the birds, what the origin of the gods, of the rivers, of Erebus, and Chaos; thanks to us, even Prodicus will envy you your knowledge.
At the beginning there was only Chaos, Night, dark Erebus, and deep Tartarus. Earth, the air and heaven had no existence.
Firstly, blackwinged Night laid a germless egg in the bosom of the infinite deeps of Erebus, and from this, after the revolution of long ages, sprang the graceful Eros with his glittering golden wings, swift as the whirlwinds of the tempest. He mated in deep Tartarus with dark Chaos, winged like himself, and thus hatched forth our race, which was the first to see the light.
That of the Immortals did not exist until Eros had brought together all the ingredients of the world, and from their marriage Heaven, Ocean, Earth and the imperishable race of blessed gods sprang into being. Thus our origin is very much older than that of the dwellers in Olympus. We are the offspring of Eros; there are a thousand proofs to show it. We have wings and we lend assistance to lovers.
How many handsome youths, who had sworn to remain insensible, have opened their thighs because of our power and have yielded themselves to their lovers when almost at the end of their youth, being led away by the gift of a quail, a waterfowl, a goose, or a cock.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄγε δὴ φύσιν ἄνδρες ἀμαυρόβιοι, φύλλων γενεᾷ προσόμοιοι,
ὀλιγοδρανέες, πλάσματα πηλοῦ, σκιοειδέα φῦλʼ ἀμενηνά,
ἀπτῆνες ἐφημέριοι ταλαοὶ βροτοὶ ἀνέρες εἰκελόνειροι,
προσέχετε τὸν νοῦν τοῖς ἀθανάτοις ἡμῖν τοῖς αἰὲν ἐοῦσιν,
τοῖς αἰθερίοις τοῖσιν ἀγήρῳς τοῖς ἄφθιτα μηδομένοισιν,
ἵνʼ ἀκούσαντες πάντα παρʼ ἡμῶν ὀρθῶς περὶ τῶν μετεώρων.
φύσιν οἰωνῶν γένεσίν τε θεῶν ποταμῶν τʼ Ἐρέβους τε Χάους τε
εἰδότες ὀρθῶς, Προδίκῳ παρʼ ἐμοῦ κλάειν εἴπητε τὸ λοιπόν.
Χάος ἦν καὶ Νὺξ Ἔρεβός τε μέλαν πρῶτον καὶ Τάρταρος εὐρύς,
γῆ δʼ οὐδʼ ἀὴρ οὐδʼ οὐρανὸς ἦν· Ἐρέβους δʼ ἐν ἀπείροσι κόλποις
τίκτει πρώτιστον ὑπηνέμιον Νὺξ ἡ μελανόπτερος ᾠόν,
ἐξ οὖ περιτελλομέναις ὥραις ἔβλαστεν Ἔρως ὁ ποθεινός,
στίλβων νῶτον πτερύγοιν χρυσαῖν, εἰκὼς ἀνεμώκεσι δίναις.
οὗτος δὲ Χάει πτερόεντι μιγεὶς νυχίῳ κατὰ Τάρταρον εὐρὺν
ἐνεόττευσεν γένος ἡμέτερον, καὶ πρῶτον ἀνήγαγεν ἐς φῶς.
πρότερον δʼ οὐκ ἦν γένος ἀθανάτων, πρὶν Ἔρως ξυνέμειξεν ἅπαντα·
ξυμμιγνυμένων δʼ ἑτέρων ἑτέροις γένετʼ οὐρανὸς ὠκεανός τε
καὶ γῆ πάντων τε θεῶν μακάρων γένος ἄφθιτον. ὦδε μέν ἐσμεν
πολὺ πρεσβύτατοι πάντων μακάρων. ἡμεῖς δʼ ὡς ἐσμὲν Ἔρωτος
πολλοῖς δῆλον· πετόμεσθά τε γὰρ καὶ τοῖσιν ἐρῶσι σύνεσμεν·
πολλοὺς δὲ καλοὺς ἀπομωμοκότας παῖδας πρὸς τέρμασιν ὥρας
διὰ τὴν ἰσχὺν τὴν ἡμετέραν διεμήρισαν ἄνδρες ἐρασταί,
ὁ μὲν ὄρτυγα δοὺς ὁ δὲ πορφυρίωνʼ ὁ δὲ χῆνʼ ὁ δὲ Περσικὸν ὄρνιν.

[¶91] Chorus:
And what important services do not the birds render to mortals! First of all, they mark the seasons for them, springtime, winter, and autumn.
Does the screaming crane migrate to Libya, —it warns the husbandman to sow, the pilot to take his ease beside his tiller hung up in his dwelling, and Orestes to weave a tunic, so that the rigorous cold may not drive him any more to strip other folk. When the kite reappears, he tells of the return of spring and of the period when the fleece of the sheep must be clipped. Is the swallow in sight?
All hasten to sell their warm tunic and to buy some light clothing. We are your Ammon, Delphi, Dodona, your Phoebus Apollo. Before undertaking anything, whether a business transaction, a marriage, or the purchase of food, you consult the birds by reading the omens, and you give this name of omen to all signs that tell of the future.
With you a word is an omen, you call a sneeze an omen, a meeting an omen, an unknown sound an omen, a slave or an ass an omen. Is it not clear that we are a prophetic Apollo to you?

> Greek: Χορός:
πάντα δὲ θνητοῖς ἐστὶν ἀφʼ ἡμῶν τῶν ὀρνίθων τὰ μέγιστα.
πρῶτα μὲν ὥρας φαίνομεν ἡμεῖς ἦρος χειμῶνος ὀπώρας·
σπείρειν μέν, ὅταν γέρανος κρώζουσʼ ἐς τὴν Λιβύην μεταχωρῇ.
καὶ πηδάλιον τότε ναυκλήρῳ φράζει κρεμάσαντι καθεύδειν,
εἶτα δʼ Ὀρέστῃ χλαῖναν ὑφαίνειν, ἵνα μὴ ῥιγῶν ἀποδύῃ.
ἰκτῖνος ⟨δʼ⟩ αὖ μετὰ ταῦτα φανεὶς ἑτέραν ὥραν ἀποφαίνει,
ἡνίκα πεκτεῖν ὥρα προβάτων πόκον ἠρινόν· εἶτα χελιδών,
ὅτε χρὴ χλαῖναν πωλεῖν ἤδη καὶ ληδάριόν τι πρίασθαι.
ἐσμὲν δʼ ὑμῖν Ἄμμων Δελφοὶ Δωδώνη Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων.
ἐλθόντες γὰρ πρῶτον ἐπʼ ὄρνις οὕτω πρὸς ἅπαντα τρέπεσθε,
πρός τʼ ἐμπορίαν, καὶ πρὸς βιότου κτῆσιν, καὶ πρὸς γάμον ἀνδρός.
ὄρνιν τε νομίζετε πάνθʼ ὅσαπερ περὶ μαντείας διακρίνει·
φήμη γʼ ὑμῖν ὄρνις ἐστί, πταρμόν τʼ ὄρνιθα καλεῖτε,
ξύμβολον ὄρνιν, φωνὴν ὄρνιν, θεράποντʼ ὄρνιν, ὄνον ὄρνιν.
ἆρʼ οὐ φανερῶς ἡμεῖς ὑμῖν ἐσμὲν μαντεῖος Ἀπόλλων;

[¶92] Chorus: More and more rapidly from here on.
If you recognize us as gods, we shall be your divining Muses, through us you will know the winds and the seasons, summer,
winter, and the temperate months. We shall not withdraw ourselves to the highest clouds like Zeus, but shall be among you and shall give to you
and to your children and the children of your children, health and wealth, long life, peace, youth, laughter, songs and feasts; in short, you will all be so well off,
that you will be weary and cloyed with enjoyment.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἢν οὖν ἡμᾶς νομίσητε θεούς,
ἕξετε χρῆσθαι μάντεσι Μούσαις
αὔραις ὥραις χειμῶνι θέρει
μετρίῳ πνίγει· κοὐκ ἀποδράντες
καθεδούμεθʼ ἄνω σεμνυνόμενοι
παρὰ ταῖς νεφέλαις ὥσπερ χὠ Ζεύς·
ἀλλὰ παρόντες δώσομεν ὑμῖν
αὐτοῖς, παισίν, παίδων παισίν,
πλουθυγιείαν
εὐδαιμονίαν βίον εἰρήνην
νεότητα γέλωτα χοροὺς θαλίας
γάλα τʼ ὀρνίθων. ὥστε παρέσται
κοπιᾶν ὑμῖν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀγαθῶν·
οὕτω πλουτήσετε πάντες.

[¶93] First Semi-Chorus: Singing.
Oh, rustic Muse of such varied note, tiotiotiotiotiotinx, I sing with you
in the groves and on the mountain tops, tiotiotiotinx. I poured forth sacred strains from my golden throat
in honor of the god Pan, tiotiotiotinx, from the top of the thickly leaved ash, and my voice mingles with the mighty choirs who extol Cybele on the mountain tops, totototototototototinx. 'Tis to our concerts that Phrynichus comes to pillage like a bee the ambrosia of his songs,
the sweetness of which so charms the ear, tiotiotiotinx.

> Greek: Χορός:
Μοῦσα λοχμαία,
τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιοτίγξ,
ποικίλη, μεθʼ ἧς ἐγὼ
νάπαισι ⟨καὶ⟩ κορυφαῖς ἐν ὀρείαις,
τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιοτίγξ,
ἱζόμενος μελίας ἐπὶ φυλλοκόμου,
τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιοτίγξ,
διʼ ἐμῆς γένυος ξουθῆς μελέων
Πανὶ νόμους ἱεροὺς ἀναφαίνω
σεμνά τε μητρὶ χορεύματʼ ὀρείᾳ,
τοτοτοτοτοτοτοτοτοτίγξ,
ἔνθεν ὡστερεὶ μέλιττα
Φρύνιχος ἀμβροσίων μελέων ἀπεβόσκετο καρπὸν ἀεὶ
φέρων γλυκεῖαν ᾠδάν.
τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιοτίγξ.

[¶94] Leader of First Semi-Chorus:
If there is one of you spectators who wishes to spend the rest of his life quietly among the birds, let him come to us.
All that is disgraceful and forbidden by law on earth is on the contrary honorable among us, the birds. For instance, among you it's a crime to beat your father, but with us it's an estimable deed; it's considered fine to run straight at your father and hit him, saying, “Come, lift your spur if you want to fight.”
The runaway slave, whom you brand, is only a spotted francolin with us. Are you Phrygian like Spintharus? Among us you would be the Phrygian bird, the goldfinch, of the race of Philemon. Are you a slave and a Carian like Execestides?
Among us you can create yourself forefathers; you can always find relations. Does the son of Pisias want to betray the gates of the city to the foe? Let him become a partridge, the fitting offspring of his father; among us there is no shame in escaping as cleverly as a partridge.

> Greek: Χορός:
εἰ μετʼ ὀρνίθων τις ὑμῶν ὦ θεαταὶ βούλεται
διαπλέκειν ζῶν ἡδέως τὸ λοιπόν, ὡς ἡμᾶς ἴτω.
ὅσα γάρ ἐστιν ἐνθάδʼ αἰσχρὰ τῷ νόμῳ κρατούμενα,
ταῦτα πάντʼ ἐστὶν παρʼ ἡμῖν τοῖσιν ὄρνισιν καλά.
εἰ γὰρ ἐνθάδʼ ἐστὶν αἰσχρὸν τὸν πατέρα τύπτειν νόμῳ,
τοῦτʼ ἐκεῖ καλὸν παρʼ ἡμῖν ἐστιν, ἤν τις τῷ πατρὶ
προσδραμὼν εἴπῃ πατάξας, αἶρε πλῆκτρον, εἰ μαχεῖ.
εἰ δὲ τυγχάνει τις ὑμῶν δραπέτης ἐστιγμένος,
ἀτταγᾶς οὗτος παρʼ ἡμῖν ποικίλος κεκλήσεται.
εἰ δὲ τυγχάνει τις ὢν Φρὺξ μηδὲν ἦττον Σπινθάρου,
φρυγίλος ὄρνις ἐνθάδʼ ἔσται, τοῦ Φιλήμονος γένους.
εἰ δὲ δοῦλός ἐστι καὶ Κὰρ ὥσπερ Ἐξηκεστίδης,
φυσάτω πάππους παρʼ ἡμῖν, καὶ φανοῦνται φράτερες.
εἰ δʼ ὁ Πεισίου προδοῦναι τοῖς ἀτίμοις τὰς πύλας
βούλεται, πέρδιξ γενέσθω, τοῦ πατρὸς νεοττίον·
ὡς παρʼ ἡμῖν οὐδὲν αἰσχρόν ἐστιν ἐκπερδικίσαι.

[¶95] Second Semi-Chorus: Singing.
So the swans on the banks of the Hebrus,
tiotiotiotiotiotinx, mingle their voices to serenade Apollo, tiotiotiotinx, flapping their wings the while,
tiotiotiotinx; their notes reach beyond the clouds of heaven; they startle the various tribes of the beasts; a windless sky calms the waves, totototototototototinx;
all Olympus resounds, and astonishment seizes its rulers; the Olympian graces and Muses cry aloud the strain, tiotiotiotinx.

> Greek: Χορός:
τοιάδε κύκνοι,
τιὸ τιὸ τιὰ τιὸ τιὸ τιοτίγξ,
συμμιγῆ βοὴν ὁμοῦ
πτεροῖς κρέκοντες ἴακχον Ἀπόλλω,
τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιοτίγξ,
ὄχθῳ ἐφεζόμενοι παρʼ Ἕβρον ποταμόν,
τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιοτίγξ,
διὰ δʼ αἰθέριον νέφος ἦλθε βοά·
πτῆξε δὲ φῦλά τε ποικίλα θηρῶν,
κύματά τʼ ἔσβεσε νήνεμος αἴθρη,
τοτοτοτοτοτοτοτοτοτίγξ·
πᾶς δʼ ἐπεκτύπησʼ Ὄλυμπος·
εἷλε δὲ θάμβος ἄνακτας· Ὀλυμπιάδες δὲ μέλος Χάριτες
Μοῦσαί τʼ ἐπωλόλυξαν.
τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιοτίγξ.

[¶96] Leader of Second Semi-Chorus:
There is nothing more useful nor more pleasant than to have wings. To begin with, just let us suppose a spectator to be dying with hunger and to be weary of the choruses of the tragic poets; if he were winged, he would fly off, go home to dine and come back with his stomach filled.
Some Patroclides, needing to take a crap, would not have to spill it out on his cloak, but could fly off, satisfy his requirements, let a few farts and, having recovered his breath, return. If one of you, it matters not who, had adulterous relations and saw the husband of his mistress in the seats of the senators,
he might stretch his wings, fly to her, and, having laid her, resume his place. Is it not the most priceless gift of all, to be winged? Look at Diitrephes! His wings were only wicker-work ones, and yet he got himself chosen Phylarch and then Hipparch; from being nobody,
he has risen to be famous; he's now the finest gilded cock of his tribe.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐδέν ἐστʼ ἄμεινον οὐδʼ ἥδιον ἢ φῦσαι πτερά.
αὐτίχʼ ὑμῶν τῶν θεατῶν εἴ τις ἧν ὑπόπτερος,
εἶτα πεινῶν τοῖς χοροῖσι τῶν τραγῳδῶν ἤχθετο,
ἐκπτόμενος ἂν οὗτος ἠρίστησεν ἐλθὼν οἴκαδε,
κᾆτʼ ἂν ἐμπλησθεὶς ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς αὖθις αὖ κατέπτετο.
εἴ τε Πατροκλείδης τις ὑμῶν τυγχάνει χεζητιῶν,
οὐκ ἂν ἐξίδισεν ἐς θοἰμάτιον, ἀλλʼ ἀνέπτετο,
κἀποπαρδὼν κἀναπνεύσας αὖθις αὖ κατέπτετο·
εἴ τε μοιχεύων τις ὑμῶν ἐστιν ὅστις τυγχάνει,
κᾆθʼ ὁρᾷ τὸν ἄνδρα τῆς γυναικὸς ἐν βουλευτικῷ,
οὗτος ἂν πάλιν παρʼ ὑμῶν πτερυγίσας ἀνέπτετο,
εἶτα βινήσας ἐκεῖθεν αὖθις αὖ κατέπτετο.
ἆρʼ ὑπόπτερον γενέσθαι παντός ἐστιν ἄξιον;
ὡς Διειτρέφης γε πυτιναῖα μόνον ἔχων πτερὰ
ᾑρέθη φύλαρχος, εἶθʼ ἵππαρχος, εἶτʼ ἐξ οὐδενὸς
μεγάλα πράττει κἀστὶ νυνὶ ξουθὸς ἱππαλεκτρυών.

[¶97] Pisthetaerus and Euelpides return; they now have wings.
Pisthetaerus:
Halloa! What's this? By Zeus! I never saw anything so funny in all my life.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ταυτὶ τοιαυτί· μὰ Δίʼ ἐγὼ μὲν πρᾶγμά πω
γελοιότερον οὐκ εἶδον οὐδεπώποτε.

[¶98] Euelpides:
What makes you laugh?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἐπὶ τῷ γελᾷς;

[¶99] Pisthetaerus:
Your little wings. D'you know what you look like?
Like a goose painted by some dauber.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἐπὶ τοῖσι σοῖς ὠκυπτέροις.
οἶσθʼ ᾧ μάλιστʼ ἔοικας ἐπτερωμένος;
εἰς εὐτέλειαν χηνὶ συγγεγραμμένῳ.

[¶100] Euelpides:
And you look like a close-shaven blackbird.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
σὺ δὲ κοψίχῳ γε σκάφιον ἀποτετιλμένῳ.

[¶101] Pisthetaerus:
We ourselves asked for this transformation, and, as Aeschylus has it, “These are no borrowed feathers, but truly our own.”

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ταυτὶ μὲν ᾐκάσμεσθα κατὰ τὸν Αἰσχύλον·
τάδʼ οὐχ ὑπʼ ἄλλων ἀλλὰ τοῖς αὑτῶν πτεροῖς.

[¶102] Epops:
Come now, what must be done?

> Greek: Ἔποψ:
ἄγε δὴ τί χρὴ δρᾶν;

[¶103] Pisthetaerus:
First give our city
a great and famous name, then sacrifice to the gods.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
πρῶτον ὄνομα τῇ πόλει
θέσθαι τι μέγα καὶ κλεινόν, εἶτα τοῖς θεοῖς
θῦσαι μετὰ τοῦτο.

[¶104] Euelpides:
I think so too.
Leader of the Chorus:
Let's see. What shall our city be called?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ταῦτα κἀμοὶ συνδοκεῖ.
Ἔποψ:
φέρʼ ἴδω, τί δʼ ἡμῖν τοὔνομʼ ἔσται τῇ πόλει;
Ἐυελπίδης:
βούλεσθε τὸ μέγα τοῦτο τοὐκ Λακεδαίμονος
Σπάρτην ὄνομα καλῶμεν αὐτήν;

[¶105] Pisthetaerus:
Will you have a high-sounding Laconian name? Shall we call it Sparta?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
Ἡράκλεις·
Σπάρτην γὰρ ἂν θείμην ἐγὼ τἠμῇ πόλει;
οὐδʼ ἂν χαμεύνῃ πάνυ γε κειρίαν γʼ ἔχων.

[¶106] Euelpides:
What!
call my town Sparta? Why, I would not use esparto for my bed, even though I had nothing but bands of rushes.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τί δῆτʼ ὄνομʼ αὐτῇ θησόμεσθʼ;
Ἔποψ:
ἐντευθενὶ
ἐκ τῶν νεφελῶν καὶ τῶν μετεώρων χωρίων
χαῦνόν τι πάνυ.

[¶107] Pisthetaerus:
Well then, what name can you suggest?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
βούλει Νεφελοκοκκυγίαν;
Ἔποψ:
ἰοὺ ἰού·
καλόν γʼ ἀτεχνῶς ⟨σὺ⟩ καὶ μέγʼ ηὗρες τοὔνομα.

[¶108] Euelpides:
Some name borrowed from the clouds, from these lofty regions in which we dwell —in short, some well-known name.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ἆρʼ ἐστὶν αὑτηγὶ Νεφελοκοκκυγία,
ἵνα καὶ τὰ Θεογένους τὰ πολλὰ χρήματα
τά τʼ Αἰσχίνου γʼ ἅπαντα;

[¶109] Pisthetaerus:
Do you like Nephelococcygia?
Leader of the Chorus:
Oh! capital!
truly that's a brilliant thought!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
καὶ λῷστον μὲν οὖν
τὸ Φλέγρας πεδίον, ἵνʼ οἱ θεοὶ τοὺς γηγενεῖς
ἀλαζονευόμενοι καθυπερηκόντισαν.
Ἔποψ:
λιπαρὸν τὸ χρῆμα τῆς πόλεως. τίς δαὶ θεὸς
πολιοῦχος ἔσται; τῷ ξανοῦμεν τὸν πέπλον;

[¶110] Euelpides:
Is it in Nephelococcygia that all the wealth of Theogenes and most of Aeschines' is?

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τί δʼ οὐκ Ἀθηναίαν ἐῶμεν Πολιάδα;

[¶111] Pisthetaerus:
No, it's rather the plain of Phlegra, where the gods
withered the pride of the sons of the Earth with their shafts.
Leader of the Chorus:
Oh! what a splendid city! But what god shall be its patron? for whom shall we weave the peplus?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
καὶ πῶς ἂν ἔτι γένοιτʼ ἂν εὔτακτος πόλις,
ὅπου θεὸς γυνὴ γεγονυῖα πανοπλίαν
ἕστηκʼ ἔχουσα, Κλεισθένης δὲ κερκίδα;

## 3. Lines 801–1312

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-birds/3/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-birds/3/#p-N

[¶0] Euelpides:
Why not choose Athena Polias?
Pisthetaerus:
Oh! what a well-ordered town it would be
to have a female deity armed from head to foot, while Clisthenes was spinning!
Leader of the Chorus:
Who then shall guard the Pelargicon?
Pisthetaerus:
A bird
Leader of the Chorus:
One of us? What kind of bird?
Pisthetaerus:
A bird of Persian strain, who is everywhere proclaimed to be the bravest of all,
a true chick of Ares.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
τίς δαὶ καθέξει τῆς πόλεως τὸ Πελαργικόν;
Ἔποψ:
ὄρνις ἀφʼ ἡμῶν τοῦ γένους τοῦ Περσικοῦ,
ὅσπερ λέγεται δεινότατος εἶναι πανταχοῦ
Ἄρεως νεοττός.

[¶1] Euelpides:
Oh! noble chick!

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
ὦ νεοττὲ δέσποτα·
ὡς δʼ ὁ θεὸς ἐπιτήδειος οἰκεῖν ἐπὶ πετρῶν.

[¶2] Pisthetaerus:
Because he is a god well suited to live on the rocks. Come! into the air with you to help the workers who are building the wall; carry up rubble, strip yourself to mix the mortar,
take up the hod, tumble down the ladder, if you like, post sentinels, keep the fire smouldering beneath the ashes, go round the walls, bell in hand, and go to sleep up there yourself; then despatch two heralds, one to the gods above, the other to mankind on earth
and come back here.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἄγε νυν σὺ μὲν βάδιζε πρὸς τὸν ἀέρα
καὶ τοῖσι τειχίζουσι παραδιακόνει,
χάλικας παραφόρει, πηλὸν ἀποδὺς ὄργασον,
λεκάνην ἀνένεγκε, κατάπεσʼ ἀπὸ τῆς κλίμακος,
φύλακας κατάστησαι, τὸ πῦρ ἔγκρυπτʼ ἀεί,
κωδωνοφορῶν περίτρεχε καὶ κάθευδʼ ἐκεῖ·
κήρυκα δὲ πέμψον τὸν μὲν ἐς θεοὺς ἄνω,
ἕτερον δʼ ἄνωθεν ἆυ παρʼ ἀνθρώπους κάτω,
κἀκεῖθεν αὖθις παρʼ ἐμέ.

[¶3] Euelpides:
As for yourself, remain here, and may the plague take you for a troublesome fellow! He departs.

> Greek: Ἐυελπίδης:
σὺ δέ γʼ αὐτοῦ μένων
οἴμωζε παρʼ ἔμʼ.

[¶4] Pisthetaerus:
Go, friend, go where I send you, for without you my orders cannot be obeyed. For myself, I want to sacrifice to the new god, and I am going to summon the priest who must preside at the ceremony.
Slaves! slaves! bring forward the basket and the lustral water.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἴθʼ ὦγάθʼ οἷ πέμπω σʼ ἐγώ.
οὐδὲν γὰρ ἄνευ σοῦ τῶνδʼ ἃ λέγω πεπράξεται.
ἐγὼ δʼ ἵνα θύσω τοῖσι καινοῖσιν θεοῖς,
τὸν ἱερέα πέμψοντα τὴν πομπὴν καλῶ.
παῖ παῖ, τὸ κανοῦν αἴρεσθε καὶ τὴν χέρνιβα.

[¶5] Chorus: Singing.
I do as you do, and I wish as you wish, and I implore you to address powerful and solemn prayers to the gods, and in addition
to immolate a sheep as a token of our gratitude. Let us sing the Pythian chant in honor of the god, and let Chaeris accompany our voices.

> Greek: Ἱερεύς:
ὁμορροθῶ, συνθέλω,
συμπαραινέσας ἔχω
προσόδια μεγάλα σεμνὰ προσιέναι θεοῖσιν,
ἅμα δὲ προσέτι χάριτος ἕνεκα προβάτιόν τι θύειν.
ἴτω ἴτω δὲ Πυθιὰς βοὰ θεῷ,
συνᾳδέτω δὲ Χαῖρις ᾠδάν.

[¶6] Pisthetaerus: To the flute-player.
Enough! but, by Heracles! what is this?
Great gods! I have seen many prodigious things, but I never saw a muzzled raven. The Priest arrives. Priest! it's high time! Sacrifice to the new gods.
Priest:
I begin, but where is the man with the basket? Pray to the Hestia of the birds, to the kite, who presides over the hearth, and to all the god and goddess-birds who dwell in Olympus...

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
παῦσαι σὺ φυσῶν. Ἡράκλεις τουτὶ τί ἦν;
τουτὶ μὰ Δίʼ ἐγὼ πολλὰ δὴ καὶ δείνʼ ἰδὼν
οὔπω κόρακʼ εἶδον ἐμπεφορβειωμένον.
ἱερεῦ σὸν ἔργον, θῦε τοῖς καινοῖς θεοῖς.
Ἱερεύς:
δράσω τάδʼ. ἀλλὰ ποῦ ʼστιν ὁ τὸ κανοῦν ἔχων;
εὔχεσθε τῇ Ἑστίᾳ τῇ ὀρνιθείῳ καὶ τῷ ἰκτίνῳ τῷ ἑστιούχῳ καὶ ὄρνισιν Ὀλυμπίοις καὶ Ὀλυμπίῃσι πᾶσι καὶ πάσῃσιν —

[¶7] Pisthetaerus:
Oh! Hawk, the sacred guardian of Sunium, oh, god of the storks!
Priest:... to the swan of Delos, to Leto the mother of the quails, and to Artemis, the goldfinch...

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὦ Σουνιέρακε χαῖρʼ ἄναξ Πελαργικέ.
Ἱερεύς:
καὶ κύκνῳ Πυθίῳ καὶ Δηλίῳ καὶ Λητοῖ Ὀρτυγομήτρᾳ καὶ Ἀρτέμιδι Ἀκαλανθίδι —

[¶8] Pisthetaerus:
It's no longer Artemis Colaenis, but Artemis the goldfinch.
Priest:... to Bacchus, the finch and Cybele, the ostrich and mother of the gods and mankind...

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐκέτι Κολαινὶς ἀλλʼ Ἀκαλανθὶς Ἄρτεμις.
Ἱερεύς:
καὶ φρυγίλῳ Σαβαζίῳ καὶ στρούθῳ μεγάλῃ μητρὶ θεῶν καὶ ἀνθρώπων —

[¶9] Pisthetaerus:
Oh! sovereign ostrich Cybele, mother of Cleocritus!
Priest:... to grant health and safety to the Nephelococcygians as well as to the dwellers in Chios...

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
δέσποινα Κυβέλη, στροῦθε, μῆτερ Κλεοκρίτου.
Ἱερεύς:
διδόναι Νεφελοκοκκυγιεῦσιν ὑγιείαν καὶ σωτηρίαν αὐτοῖσι καὶ Χίοισι —

[¶10] Pisthetaerus:
The dwellers in Chios! Ah! I am delighted they should be thus mentioned on all occasions.
Priest:... to the heroes, the birds, to the sons of heroes, to the porphyrion, the pelican, the spoon-bill, the redbreast, the grouse, the peacock, the horned-owl, the teal, the bittern, the heron, the stormy petrel, the fig-pecker, the titmouse...

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
Χίοισιν ἥσθην πανταχοῦ προσκειμένοις.
Ἱερεύς:
καὶ ἥρωσιν ὄρνισι καὶ ἡρώων παισί, πορφυρίωνι καὶ
πελεκᾶντι καὶ πελεκίνῳ καὶ φλέξιδι καὶ τέτρακι καὶ ταὧνι
καὶ ἐλεᾷ καὶ βασκᾷ καὶ ἐλασᾷ καὶ ἐρωδιῷ καὶ καταρράκτῃ
καὶ μελαγκορύφῳ καὶ αἰγιθάλλῳ —

[¶11] Pisthetaerus:
Stop! stop! you drive me crazy with your endless list. Why, wretch,
to what sacred feast are you inviting the vultures and the sea-eagles? Don't you see that a single kite could easily carry off the lot at once? Begone, you and your fillets and all; I shall know how to complete the sacrifice by myself.
The Priest departs.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
παῦʼ ἐς κόρακας, παῦσαι καλῶν. ἰοὺ ἰού,
ἐπὶ ποῖον ὦ κακόδαιμον ἱερεῖον καλεῖς
ἁλιαιέτους καὶ γῦπας; οὐχ ὁρᾷς ὅτι
ἰκτῖνος εἷς ἂν τοῦτό γʼ οἴχοιθʼ ἁρπάσας;
ἄπελθʼ ἀφʼ ἡμῶν καὶ σὺ καὶ τὰ στέμματα·
ἐγὼ γὰρ αὐτὸς τουτογὶ θύσω μόνος.

[¶12] Chorus: Singing.
It is imperative that I sing another sacred chant for the rite of the lustral water, and that I invoke
the immortals, or at least one of them, provided always that you have some suitable food to offer him; from what I see here, in the shape of gifts, there is naught whatever but horn and hair.

> Greek: Ἱερεύς:
εἶτʼ αὖθις αὖ τἄρα σοι
δεῖ με δεύτερον μέλος
χέρνιβι θεοσεβὲς ὅσιον ἐπιβοᾶν, καλεῖν δὲ
μάκαρας, ἕνα τινὰ μόνον, εἴπερ ἱκανὸν ἕξετʼ ὄψον.
τὰ γὰρ παρόντα θύματʼ οὐδὲν ἄλλο πλὴν
γένειόν ἐστι καὶ κέρατα.

[¶13] Pisthetaerus:
Let us address our sacrifices and our prayers to the winged gods.
A Poet enters.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
θύοντες εὐξώμεσθα τοῖς πτερίνοις θεοῖς.

[¶14] Poet:
Oh, Muse! celebrate happy Nephelococcygia in your hymns.

> Greek: Ποιητής:
Νεφελοκοκκυγίαν τὰν εὐδαίμονα
κλῇσον ὦ Μοῦσα τεαῖς ἐν ὓμνων ἀοιδαῖς.

[¶15] Pisthetaerus:
What have we here? Where did you come from, tell me? Who are you?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τουτὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα ποδαπόν; εἰπέ μοι τίς εἶ;

[¶16] Poet:
I am he whose language is sweeter than honey, the zealous slave of the Muses,
as Homer has it.

> Greek: Ποιητής:
ἐγὼ μελιγλώσσων ἐπέων ἱεὶς ἀοιδὰν
Μουσάων θεράπων ὀτρηρός,
κατὰ τὸν Ὅμηρον.

[¶17] Pisthetaerus:
You a slave! and yet you wear your hair long?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἔπειτα δῆτα δοῦλος ὢν κόμην ἔχεις;

[¶18] Poet:
No, but the fact is all we poets are the assiduous slaves of the Muses, according to Homer.

> Greek: Ποιητής:
οὔκ, ἀλλὰ πάντες ἐσμὲν οἱ διδάσκαλοι
Μουσάων θεράποντες ὀτρηροί,
κατὰ τὸν Ὅμηρον.

[¶19] Pisthetaerus:
In truth your little cloak is quite holy too through zeal! But, poet, what ill wind drove you here?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐκ ἐτὸς ὀτρηρὸν καὶ τὸ ληδάριον ἔχεις.
ἀτὰρ ὦ ποιητὰ κατὰ τί δεῦρʼ ἀνεφθάρης;

[¶20] Poet:
I have composed verses in honor of your Nephelococcygia, a host of splendid dithyrambs and parthenia worthy of Simonides himself.

> Greek: Ποιητής:
μέλη πεποίηκʼ ἐς τὰς Νεφελοκοκκυγίας
τὰς ὑμετέρας κύκλιά τε πολλὰ καὶ καλὰ
καὶ παρθένεια καὶ κατὰ τὰ Σιμωνίδου.

[¶21] Pisthetaerus:
And when did you compose them? How long since?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ταυτὶ σὺ πότʼ ἐποίησας; ἀπὸ ποίου χρόνου;

[¶22] Poet:
Oh! 'tis long, aye, very long, that I have sung in honor of this city.

> Greek: Ποιητής:
πάλαι πάλαι δὴ τήνδʼ ἐγὼ κλῄζω πόλιν.

[¶23] Pisthetaerus:
But I am only celebrating its foundation with this sacrifice; I have only just named it, as is done with little babies.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐκ ἄρτι θύω τὴν δεκάτην ταύτης ἐγώ,
καὶ τοὔνομʼ ὥσπερ παιδίῳ νῦν δὴ ʼθέμην;

[¶24] Poet:
“Just as the chargers fly with the speed of the wind, so does the voice of the Muses take its flight. Oh! thou noble founder of the town of Aetna thou, whose name recalls the holy sacrifices,”
“make us such gift as thy generous heart shall suggest.” He puts out his hand.

> Greek: Ποιητής:
ἀλλά τις ὠκεῖα Μουσάων φάτις
οἷάπερ ἵππων ἀμαρυγά.
σὺ δὲ πάτερ κτίστορ Αἴτνας,
ζαθέων ἱερῶν ὁμώνυμε,
δὸς ἐμὶν ὅ τι περ
τεᾷ κεφαλᾷ θέλῃς
πρόφρων δόμεν ἐμὶν τείν.

[¶25] Pisthetaerus:
He will drive us silly if we do not get rid of him by some present. To the Priest's acolyte. Here! you, who have a fur as well as your tunic, take it off and give it to this clever poet. Come,
take this fur; you look to me to be shivering with cold.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τουτὶ παρέξει τὸ κακὸν ἡμῖν πράγματα,
εἰ μή τι τούτῳ δόντες ἀποφευξούμεθα.
οὗτος, σὺ μέντοι σπολάδα καὶ χιτῶνʼ ἔχεις,
ἀπόδυθι καὶ δὸς τῷ ποιητῇ τῷ σοφῷ.
ἔχε τὴν σπολάδα· πάντως δέ μοι ῥιγῶν δοκεῖς.

[¶26] Poet:
My Muse will gladly accept this gift; but engrave these verses of Pindar's on your mind.

> Greek: Ποιητής:
τόδε μὲν οὐκ ἀέκουσα φίλα
Μοῦσα δῶρον δέχεται·
τὺ δὲ τεᾷ φρενὶ μάθε Πινδάρειον ἔπος —

[¶27] Pisthetaerus:
Oh! what a pest! It's impossible then to get rid of him!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἅνθρωπος ἡμῶν οὐκ ἀπαλλαχθήσεται.

[¶28] Poet:
“Straton wanders among the Scythian nomads, but has no linen garment. He is sad at only wearing an animal's pelt and no tunic.”
Do you get what I mean?

> Greek: Ποιητής:
νομάδεσσι γὰρ ἐν Σκύθαις
ἀλᾶται Στράτων,
ὃς ὑφαντοδόνατον ἔσθος οὐ πέπαται·
ἀκλεὴς δʼ ἔβα σπολὰς ἄνευ χιτῶνος.
ξύνες ὅ τοι λέγω.

[¶29] Pisthetaerus:
I understand that you want me to offer you a tunic. Hi! you To the acolyte. take off yours; we must help the poet.... Come, you, take it and get out.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ξυνῆχʼ ὅτι βούλει τὸν χιτωνίσκον λαβεῖν.
ἀπόδυθι· δεῖ γὰρ τὸν ποιητὴν ὠφελεῖν.
ἄπελθε τουτονὶ λαβών.

[¶30] Poet:
I am going, and these are the verses that I address to this city:
“Phoebus of the golden throne, celebrate this shivery, freezing city; I have travelled through fruitful and snow-covered plains. Tralala! Tralala!” He departs.

> Greek: Ποιητής:
ἀπέρχομαι,
κἀς τὴν πόλιν γʼ ἐλθὼν ποιήσω τοιαδί·
κλῇσον ὦ χρυσόθρονε τὰν τρομερὰν κρυεράν·
νιφόβολα πεδία πολύπορά τʼ ἤλυθον ἀλαλάν.

[¶31] Pisthetaerus:
What are you chanting us
about frosts? Thanks to the tunic, you no longer fear them. Ah! by Zeus! I could not have believed this cursed fellow could so soon have learnt the way to our city. To a slave. Come, take the lustral water and circle the altar. Let all keep silence!
An Oracle-Monger enters.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
νὴ τὸν Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ἤδη πέφευγας ταυταγὶ
τὰ κρυερὰ τονδὶ τὸν χιτωνίσκον λαβών.
τουτὶ μὰ Δίʼ ἐγὼ τὸ κακὸν οὐδέποτʼ ἤλπισα,
οὕτω ταχέως τοῦτον πεπύσθαι τὴν πόλιν.
αὖθις σὺ περιχώρει λαβὼν τὴν χέρνιβα.
εὐφημία ʼστω.

[¶32] Oracle-Monger:
Let not the goat be sacrificed.

> Greek: Χρησμολόγος:
μὴ κατάρξῃ τοῦ τράγου.

[¶33] Pisthetaerus:
Who are you?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
σὺ δʼ εἶ τίς;

[¶34] Oracle-Monger:
Who am I? An oracle-monger.

> Greek: Χρησμολόγος:
ὅστις; χρησμολόγος.

[¶35] Pisthetaerus:
Get out!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οἴμωζέ νυν.

[¶36] Oracle-Monger:
Wretched man, insult not sacred things. For there is an oracle of Bacis, which exactly applies to Nephelococcygia.

> Greek: Χρησμολόγος:
ὦ δαιμόνιε τὰ θεῖα μὴ φαύλως φέρε·
ὡς ἔστι Βάκιδος χρησμὸς ἄντικρυς λέγων
ἐς τὰς Νεφελοκοκκυγίας.

[¶37] Pisthetaerus:
Why did you not reveal it to me before
I founded my city?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
κὔπειτα πῶς
ταῦτʼ οὐκ ἐχρησμολόγεις σὺ πρὶν ἐμὲ τὴν πόλιν
τήνδʼ οἰκίσαι;

[¶38] Oracle-Monger:
The divine spirit was against it.

> Greek: Χρησμολόγος:
τὸ θεῖον ἐνεπόδιζέ με.

[¶39] Pisthetaerus:
Well, I suppose there's nothing to do but hear the terms of the oracle.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν οἷόν ἐστʼ ἀκοῦσαι τῶν ἐπῶν.

[¶40] Oracle-Monger:
“But when the wolves and the white crows shall dwell together between Corinth and Sicyon...”

> Greek: Χρησμολόγος:
ἀλλʼ ὅταν οἰκήσωσι λύκοι πολιαί τε κορῶναι
ἐν ταὐτῷ τὸ μεταξὺ Κορίνθου καὶ Σικυῶνος, —

[¶41] Pisthetaerus:
But how do the Corinthians concern me?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τί οὖν προσήκει δῆτʼ ἐμοὶ Κορινθίων;

[¶42] Oracle-Monger:
It is the regions of the air that Bacis indicates in this manner. “They must first sacrifice a white-fleeced goat to Pandora, and give the prophet who first reveals my words a good cloak and new sandals.”

> Greek: Χρησμολόγος:
ᾐνίξαθʼ ὁ Βάκις τοῦτο πρὸς τὸν ἀέρα.
πρῶτον Πανδώρᾳ θῦσαι λευκότριχα κριόν·
ὃς δέ κʼ ἐμῶν ἐπέων ἔλθῃ πρώτιστα προφήτης,
τῷ δόμεν ἱμάτιον καθαρὸν καὶ καινὰ πέδιλα —

[¶43] Pisthetaerus:
Does it say sandals there?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἔνεστι καὶ τὰ πέδιλα;

[¶44] Oracle-Monger:
Look at the book.
“And besides this a goblet of wine and a good share of the entrails of the victim.”

> Greek: Χρησμολόγος:
λαβὲ τὸ βιβλίον.
καὶ φιάλην δοῦναι, καὶ σπλάγχνων χεῖρʼ ἐπιπλῆσαι.

[¶45] Pisthetaerus:
Of the entrails —does it say that?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
καὶ σπλάγχνα διδόνʼ ἔνεστι;

[¶46] Oracle-Monger:
Look at the book. “If you do as I command, divine youth, you shall be an eagle among the clouds; if not, you shall be neither turtle-dove, nor eagle, nor woodpecker.”

> Greek: Χρησμολόγος:
λαβὲ τὸ βιβλίον.
κἂν μὲν θέσπιε κοῦρε ποιῇς ταῦθʼ ὡς ἐπιτέλλω,
αἰετὸς ἐν νεφέλῃσι γενήσεαι· αιʼ δέ κε μὴ δῷς,
οὐκ ἔσει οὐ τρυγὼν οὐδʼ αἰετὸς οὐ δρυκολάπτης.

[¶47] Pisthetaerus:
Does it say all that?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
καὶ ταῦτʼ ἔνεστʼ ἐνταῦθα;

[¶48] Oracle-Monger:
Look at the book.

> Greek: Χρησμολόγος:
λαβὲ τὸ βιβλίον.

[¶49] Pisthetaerus:
This oracle in no sort of way resembles the one Apollo dictated to me: “If an impostor comes without invitation to annoy you during the sacrifice and to demand a share of the victim,”
“apply a stout stick to his ribs.”

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐδὲν ἄρʼ ὅμοιός ἐσθʼ ὁ χρησμὸς τουτῳί,
ὃν ἐγὼ παρὰ τἀπόλλωνος ἐξεγραψάμην·
αὐτὰρ ἐπὴν ἄκλητος ἰὼν ἄνθρωπος ἀλαζὼν
λυπῇ θύοντας καὶ σπλαγχνεύειν ἐπιθυμῇ,
δὴ τότε χρὴ τύπτειν αὐτὸν πλευρῶν τὸ μεταξὺ —

[¶50] Oracle-Monger:
You are drivelling.

> Greek: Χρησμολόγος:
οὐδὲν λέγειν οἶμαί σε.

[¶51] Pisthetaerus:
Look at the book. “And don't spare him, were he an eagle from out of the clouds, were it Lampon himself or the great Diopithes.”

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
λαβὲ τὸ βιβλίον.
καὶ φείδου μηδὲν μηδʼ αἰετοῦ ἐν νεφέλῃσιν,
μήτʼ ἢν Λάμπων ᾖ μήτʼ ἢν ὁ μέγας Διοπείθης.

[¶52] Oracle-Monger:
Does it say that?

> Greek: Χρησμολόγος:
καὶ ταῦτʼ ἔνεστʼ ἐνταῦθα;

[¶53] Pisthetaerus:
Look at the book
and go and hang yourself.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
λαβὲ τὸ βιβλίον.
οὐκ εἶ θύραζʼ; ἐς κόρακας.

[¶54] Oracle-Monger:
Oh! unfortunate wretch that I am. He departs.

> Greek: Χρησμολόγος:
οἴμοι δείλαιος.

[¶55] Pisthetaerus:
Away with you, and take your prophecies elsewhere.
Enter Meton, with surveying instruments.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὔκουν ἑτέρωσε χρησμολογήσεις ἐκτρέχων;

[¶56] Meton:
I have come to you...

> Greek: Μέτων:
ἥκω παρʼ ὑμᾶς —

[¶57] Pisthetaerus: Interrupting.
Yet another pest! What have you come to do? What's your plan? What's the purpose of your journey? Why these splendid buskins?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἕτερον αὖ τουτὶ κακόν.
τί δʼ αὖ σὺ δράσων; τίς δʼ ἰδέα βουλεύματος;
τίς ἡ ʼπίνοια, τίς ὁ κόθορνος τῆς ὁδοῦ;

[¶58] Meton:
I want to survey the plains of the air for you and to parcel them into lots.

> Greek: Μέτων:
γεωμετρῆσαι βούλομαι τὸν ἀέρα
ὑμῖν διελεῖν τε κατὰ γύας.

[¶59] Pisthetaerus:
In the name of the gods, who are you?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
πρὸς τῶν θεῶν
σὺ δʼ εἶ τίς ἀνδρῶν;

[¶60] Meton:
Who am I? Meton, known throughout Greece and at Colonus.

> Greek: Μέτων:
ὅστις εἴμʼ ἐγώ; Μέτων,
ὃν οἶδεν Ἑλλὰς χὠ Κολωνός.

[¶61] Pisthetaerus:
What are these things?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
εἰπέ μοι,
ταυτὶ δέ σοι τί ἔστι;

[¶62] Meton:
Tools for measuring the air.
In truth, the spaces in the air have precisely the form of a furnace. With this bent ruler I draw a line from top to bottom; from one of its points I describe a circle with the compass. Do you understand?

> Greek: Μέτων:
κανόνες ἀέρος.
αὐτίκα γὰρ ἀήρ ἐστι τὴν ἰδέαν ὅλος
κατὰ πνιγέα μάλιστα. προσθεὶς οὖν ἐγὼ
τὸν κανόνʼ, ἄνωθεν τουτονὶ τὸν καμπύλον
ἐνθεὶς διαβήτην — μανθάνεις;

[¶63] Pisthetaerus:
Not in the least.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐ μανθάνω.

[¶64] Meton:
With the straight ruler I set to work to inscribe
a square within this circle; in its center will be the market-place, into which all the straight streets will lead, converging to this center like a star, which, although only orbicular, sends forth its rays in a straight line from all sides.

> Greek: Μέτων:
ὀρθῷ μετρήσω κανόνι προστιθείς, ἵνα
ὁ κύκλος γένηται σοι τετράγωνος κἀν μέσῳ
ἀγορά, φέρουσαι δʼ ὦσιν εἰς αὐτὴν ὁδοὶ
ὀρθαὶ πρὸς αὐτὸ τὸ μέσον, ὥσπερ δʼ ἀστέρος
αὐτοῦ κυκλοτεροῦς ὄντος ὀρθαὶ πανταχῇ
ἀκτῖνες ἀπολάμπωσιν.

[¶65] Pisthetaerus:
A regular Thales!
Meton...

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἅνθρωπος Θαλῆς.
Μέτων —

[¶66] Meton:
What d'you want with me?

> Greek: Μέτων:
τί ἔστιν;

[¶67] Pisthetaerus:
I want to give you a proof of my friendship. Use your legs.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οἶσθʼ ὁτιὴ φιλῶ σʼ ἐγώ,
κἀμοὶ πιθόμενος ὑπαποκίνει τῆς ὁδοῦ.

[¶68] Meton:
Why, what have I to fear?

> Greek: Μέτων:
τί δʼ ἐστὶ δεινόν;

[¶69] Pisthetaerus:
It's the same here as in Sparta. Strangers are driven away, and blows rain down as thick as hail.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὥσπερ ἐν Λακεδαίμονι
ξενηλατοῦνται καὶ κεκίνηνταί τινες·
πληγαὶ συχναὶ κατʼ ἄστυ.

[¶70] Meton:
Is there sedition in your city?

> Greek: Μέτων:
μῶν στασιάζετε;

[¶71] Pisthetaerus:
No, certainly not.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
μὰ τὸν Δίʼ οὐ δῆτʼ.

[¶72] Meton:
What's wrong then?

> Greek: Μέτων:
ἀλλὰ πῶς;

[¶73] Pisthetaerus:
We are agreed to sweep all quacks and impostors far from our borders.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὁμοθυμαδὸν
σποδεῖν ἅπαντας τοὺς ἀλαζόνας δοκεῖ.

[¶74] Meton:
Then I'll be going.

> Greek: Μέτων:
ὑπάγοιμί τἄρʼ ἄν.

[¶75] Pisthetaerus:
I'm afraid it's too late. The thunder growls already.
He beats him.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
νὴ Δίʼ ὡς οὐκ οἶδʼ ἂν εἰ
φθαίης ἄν· ἐπίκεινται γὰρ ἐγγὺς αὑταιί.

[¶76] Meton:
Oh, woe! oh, woe!

> Greek: Μέτων:
οἴμοι κακοδαίμων.

[¶77] Pisthetaerus:
I warned you.
Now, be off, and do your surveying somewhere else.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐκ ἔλεγον ἐγὼ πάλαι;
οὐκ ἀναμετρήσεις σαυτὸν ἀπιὼν ἀλλαχῇ;

[¶78] Meton takes to his heels. He is no sooner gone than an Inspector arrives.
Inspector:
Where are the Proxeni?

> Greek: Ἐπίσκοπος:
ποῦ πρόξενοι;

[¶79] Pisthetaerus:
Who is this Sardanapalus?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τίς ὁ Σαρδανάπαλλος οὑτοσί;

[¶80] Inspector:
I have been appointed by lot to come to Nephelococcygia as inspector.

> Greek: Ἐπίσκοπος:
ἐπίσκοπος ἥκω δεῦρο τῷ κυάμῳ λαχὼν
ἐς τὰς Νεφελοκοκκυγίας.

[¶81] Pisthetaerus:
An inspector! and who sends you here, you rascal?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἐπίσκοπος;
ἔπεμψε δὲ τίς σε δεῦρο;

[¶82] Inspector:
A decree of Teleas.

> Greek: Ἐπίσκοπος:
φαῦλον βιβλίον
Τελέου.

[¶83] Pisthetaerus:
Will you just pocket your salary, do nothing, and get out?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τί; βούλει δῆτα τὸν μισθὸν λαβὼν
μὴ πράγματʼ ἔχειν ἀλλʼ ἀπιέναι;

[¶84] Inspector:
Indeed I will; I am urgently needed to be at Athens to attend the Assembly; for I am charged with the interests of Pharnaces.

> Greek: Ἐπίσκοπος:
νὴ τοὺς θεούς.
ἐκκλησιάσαι δʼ οὖν ἐδεόμην οἴκοι μένων.
ἔστιν γὰρ ἃ διʼ ἐμοῦ πέπρακται Φαρνάκῃ.

[¶85] Pisthetaerus:
Take it then, and get on your way. This is your salary. He beats him.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἄπιθι λαβών· ἔστιν δʼ ὁ μισθὸς οὑτοσί.

[¶86] Inspector:
What does this mean?

> Greek: Ἐπίσκοπος:
τουτὶ τί ἦν;

[¶87] Pisthetaerus:
This is the assembly where you have to defend Pharnaces.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἐκκλησία περὶ Φαρνάκου.

[¶88] Inspector:
You shall testify that they dare to strike me, the inspector.

> Greek: Ἐπίσκοπος:
μαρτύρομαι τυπτόμενος ὢν ἐπίσκοπος.

[¶89] Pisthetaerus:
Are you not going to get out with your urns? It's not to be believed; they send us inspectors before we have so much as paid sacrifice to the gods.
The Inspector goes into hiding. A Dealer in Decrees arrives.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐκ ἀποσοβήσεις; οὐκ ἀποίσεις τὼ κάδω;
οὐ δεινά; καὶ πέμπουσιν ἤδη ʼπισκόπους
ἐς τὴν πόλιν, πρὶν καὶ τεθύσθαι τοῖς θεοῖς;

[¶90] Dealer in Decrees: Reading.
“If the Nephelococcygian does wrong to the Athenian...”

> Greek: Ψηφισματοπώλης:
ἐὰν δʼ ὁ Νεφελοκοκκυγιεὺς τὸν Ἀθηναῖον ἀδικῇ —

[¶91] Pisthetaerus:
What trouble now? What book is that?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τουτὶ τί ἔστιν αὖ κακὸν τὸ βιβλίον;

[¶92] Dealer in Decrees:
I am a dealer in decrees, and I have come here to sell you the new laws.

> Greek: Ψηφισματοπώλης:
ψηφισματοπώλης εἰμὶ καὶ νόμους νέους
ἥκω παρʼ ὑμᾶς δεῦρο πωλήσων.

[¶93] Pisthetaerus:
Which?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τὸ τί;

[¶94] Dealer in Decrees:
“The Nephelococcygians shall adopt the same weights, measures and decrees as the Olophyxians.”

> Greek: Ψηφισματοπώλης:
χρῆσθαι Νεφελοκοκκυγιᾶς τοῖσδε τοῖς μέτροισι καὶ
σταθμοῖσι καὶ ψηφίσμασι καθάπερ Ὀλοφύξιοι.

[¶95] Pisthetaerus:
And you shall soon be imitating the Ototyxians.
He beats him.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
σὺ δέ γʼ οἷσπερ ὡτοτύξιοι χρήσει τάχα.

[¶96] Dealer in Decrees:
Ow! what are you doing?

> Greek: Ψηφισματοπώλης:
οὗτος τί πάσχεις;

[¶97] Pisthetaerus:
Now will you get out of here with your decrees? For I am going to let you see some severe ones.
The Dealer in Decrees departs; the Inspector comes out of hiding.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐκ ἀποίσεις τοὺς νόμους;
πικροὺς ἐγώ σοι τήμερον δείξω νόμους.

[¶98] Inspector: Returning.
I summon Pisthetaerus for outrage for the month of Munychion.

> Greek: Ἐπίσκοπος:
καλοῦμαι Πισθέταιρον ὕβρεως ἐς τὸν Μουνιχιῶνα μῆνα.

[¶99] Pisthetaerus:
Ha! my friend! are you still here?
The Dealer in Decrees also returns.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἄληθες οὗτος; ἔτι γὰρ ἐνταῦθʼ ἦσθα σύ;

[¶100] Dealer in Decrees:
“Should anyone drive away the magistrates and not receive them, according to the decree duly posted...”

> Greek: Ψηφισματοπώλης:
ἐὰν δέ τις ἐξελαύνῃ τοὺς ἄρχοντας καὶ μὴ δέχηται
κατὰ τὴν στήλην —

[¶101] Pisthetaerus:
What! rascal! you are back too?
He rushes at him.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οἴμοι κακοδαίμων, καὶ σὺ γὰρ ἐνταῦθʼ ἦσθʼ ἔτι;

[¶102] Inspector:
Woe to you! I'll have you condemned to a fine of ten thousand drachmae.

> Greek: Ἐπίσκοπος:
ἀπολῶ σε καὶ γράφω σε μυρίας δραχμάς.

[¶103] Pisthetaerus:
And I'll smash your urns.
Inspector:
Do you recall that evening when you crapped on the column where the decrees are posted?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἐγὼ δὲ σοῦ γε τὼ κάδω διασκεδῶ.
Ψηφισματοπώλης:
μέμνησʼ ὅτε τῆς στήλης κατετίλας ἑσπέρας;

[¶104] Pisthetaerus:
Here! here! let him be seized. The Inspector runs off. Why, don't you want to stay any longer? But let us get indoors as quick as possible; we will sacrifice the goat inside.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
αἰβοῖ· λαβέτω τις αὐτόν. οὗτος οὐ μενεῖς;
ἀπίωμεν ἡμεῖς ὡς τάχιστʼ ἐντευθενὶ
θύσοντες εἴσω τοῖς θεοῖσι τὸν τράγον.

[¶105] First Semi-Chorus: Singing.
Henceforth it is to me that mortals must address
their sacrifices and their prayers. Nothing escapes my sight nor my might. My glance embraces the universe, I preserve the fruit in the flower by destroying the thousand kinds of voracious insects the soil produces, which attack the trees
and feed on the germ when it has scarcely formed in the calyx; I destroy those who ravage the balmy terrace gardens like a deadly plague;
all these gnawing crawling creatures perish beneath the lash of my wing.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἤδη ʼμοὶ τῷ παντόπτᾳ
καὶ παντάρχᾳ θνητοὶ πάντες
θύσουσʼ εὐκταίαις εὐχαῖς.
πᾶσαν μὲν γὰρ γᾶν ὀπτεύω,
σῴζω δʼ εὐθαλεῖς καρποὺς
κτείνων παμφύλων γένναν
θηρῶν, ἂ πάντʼ ἐν γαίᾳ
ἐκ κάλυκος αὐξανόμενον γένυσι παμφάγοις
δένδρεσί τʼ ἐφημένα καρπὸν ἀποβόσκεται·
κτείνω δʼ οἳ κήπους εὐώδεις
φθείρουσιν λύμαις ἐχθίσταις,
ἑρπετά τε καὶ δάκετα ⟨πάνθʼ⟩ ὅσαπερ
ἔστιν ὑπʼ ἐμᾶς πτέρυγος ἐν φοναῖς ὄλλυται.

[¶106] Leader of First Semi-Chorus:
I hear it proclaimed: “A talent for him who shall kill Diagoras of Melos,”
“and a talent for him who destroys one of the dead tyrants.” We likewise wish to make our proclamation: “A talent to him among you who shall kill Philocrates, the Struthian; four, if he brings him to us alive. For this Philocrates skewers the finches together and sells them at the rate of an obolus for seven.”
“He tortures the thrushes by blowing them out, so that they may look bigger, sticks their own feathers into the nostrils of blackbirds, and collects pigeons, which he shuts up and forces them, fastened in a net, to decoy others.” That is what we wish to proclaim. And if anyone is keeping birds
shut up in his yard, let him hasten to let them loose; those who disobey shall be seized by the birds and we shall put them in chains, so that in their turn they may decoy other men.

> Greek: Χορός:
τῇδε μέντοι θἠμέρᾳ μάλιστʼ ἐπαναγορεύεται,
ἢν ἀποκτείνῃ τις ὑμῶν Διαγόραν τὸν Μήλιον,
λαμβάνειν τάλαντον, ἤν τε τῶν τυράννων τίς τινα
τῶν τεθνηκότων ἀποκτείνῃ, τάλαντον λαμβάνειν.
βουλόμεσθʼ οὖν νυν ἀνειπεῖν ταὐτὰ χἠμεῖς ἐνθάδε.
ἢν ἀποκτείνῃ τις ὑμῶν Φιλοκράτη τὸν Στρούθιον,
λήψεται τάλαντον, ἢν δὲ ζῶντά ⟨γʼ⟩ ἀγάγῃ, τέτταρα,
ὅτι συνείρων τοὺς σπίνους πωλεῖ καθʼ ἑπτὰ τοὐβολοῦ,
εἶτα φυσῶν τὰς κίχλας δείκνυσι καὶ λυμαίνεται,
τοῖς τε κοψίχοισιν ἐς τὰς ῥῖνας ἐγχεῖ τὰ πτερά,
τὰς περιστεράς θʼ ὁμοίως ξυλλαβὼν εἵρξας ἔχει,
κἀπαναγκάζει παλεύειν δεδεμένας ἐν δικτύῳ.
ταῦτα βουλόμεσθʼ ἀνειπεῖν· κεἴ τις ὄρνιθας τρέφει
εἱργμένους ὑμῶν ἐν αὐλῇ, φράζομεν μεθιέναι.
ἢν δὲ μὴ πίθησθε, συλληφθέντες ὑπὸ τῶν ὀρνέων
αὖθις ὑμεῖς αὖ παρʼ ἡμῖν δεδεμένοι παλεύσετε.

[¶107] Second Semi-Chorus: Singing.
Happy indeed is the race of winged birds who
need no cloak in winter! Neither do I fear the relentless rays of the fiery dog-days;
when the divine grasshopper, intoxicated with the sunlight, as noon is burning the ground, is breaking out into shrill melody; my home is beneath the foliage in the flowery meadows. I winter in deep caverns, where I frolic with the mountain nymphs, while in spring I despoil
the gardens of the Graces and gather the white, virgin berry on the myrtle bushes.

> Greek: Χορός:
εὔδαιμον φῦλον πτηνῶν
οἰωνῶν, οἳ χειμῶνος μὲν
χλαίνας οὐκ ἀμπισχνοῦνται·
οὐδʼ αὖ θερμὴ πνίγους ἡμᾶς
ἀκτὶς τηλαυγὴς θάλπει·
ἀλλʼ ἀνθηρῶν λειμώνων
φύλλων ⟨τʼ⟩ ἐν κόλποις ναίω,
ἡνίκʼ ἂν ὁ θεσπέσιος ὀξὺ μέλος ἀχέτας
θάλπεσι μεσημβρινοῖς ἡλιομανὴς βοᾷ.
χειμάζω δʼ ἐν κοίλοις ἄντροις
νύμφαοις οὐρείαις ξυμπαίζων·
ἠρινά τε βοσκόμεθα παρθένια
λευκότροφα μύρτα Χαρίτων τε κηπεύματα.

[¶108] Leader of Second Semi-Chorus:
I want now to speak to the judges about the prize they are going to award; if they are favourable to us, we will load them with benefits far greater than those Paris received.
Firstly, the owls of Laurium, which every judge desires above all things, shall never be wanting to you; you shall see them homing with you, building their nests in your money-bags and laying coins. Besides, you shall be housed like the gods,
for we shall erect gables over your dwellings; if you hold some public post and want to do a little pilfering, we will give you the sharp claws of a hawk. Are you dining in town, we will provide you with stomachs as capacious as a bird's crop. But, if your award is against us, don't fail to have metal covers fashioned for yourselves,
like those they place over statues; else, look out! for the day you wear a white tunic all the birds will soil it with their droppings.

> Greek: Χορός:
τοῖς κριταῖς εἰπεῖν τι βουλόμεσθα τῆς νίκης πέρι,
ὅσʼ ἀγάθʼ, ἢν κρίνωσιν ἡμᾶς, πᾶσιν αὐτοῖς δώσομεν,
ὥστε κρείττω δῶρα πολλῷ τῶν Ἀλεξάνδρου λαβεῖν.
πρῶτα μὲν γὰρ οὗ μάλιστα πᾶς κριτὴς ἐφίεται,
γλαῦκες ὑμᾶς οὔποτʼ ἐπιλείψουσι Λαυρειωτικαί·
ἀλλʼ ἐνοικήσουσιν ἔνδον, ἔν τε τοῖς βαλλαντίοις
ἐννεοττεύσουσι κἀκλέψουσι μικρὰ κέρματα.
εἶτα πρὸς τούτοισιν ὥσπερ ἐν ἱεροῖς οἰκήσετε·
τὰς γὰρ ὑμῶν οἰκίας ἐρέψομεν πρὸς αἰετόν·
κἂν λαχόντες ἀρχίδιον εἶθʼ ἁρπάσαι βούλησθέ τι,
ὀξὺν ἱερακίσκον ἐς τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῖν δώσομεν.
ἢν δέ που δειπνῆτε, πρηγορεῶνας ὑμῖν πέμψομεν.
ἢν δὲ μὴ κρίνητε, χαλκεύεσθε μηνίσκους φορεῖν
ὥσπερ ἀνδριάντες· ὡς ὑμῶν ὃς ἂν μὴ μῆνʼ ἔχῃ,
ὅταν ἔχητε χλανίδα λευκήν, τότε μάλισθʼ οὕτω δίκην
δώσεθʼ ἡμῖν, πᾶσι τοῖς ὄρνισι κατατιλώμενοι.

[¶109] Pisthetaerus:
Birds! the sacrifice is propitious. But I see
no messenger coming from the wall to tell us what is happening. Ah! here comes one running himself out of breath as though he were in the Olympic stadium.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τὰ μὲν ἱέρʼ ἡμῖν ἐστιν ὦρνιθες καλά·
ἀλλʼ ὡς ἀπὸ τοῦ τείχους πάρεστιν ἄγγελος
οὐδείς, ὅτου πευσόμεθα τἀκεῖ πράγματα.
ἀλλʼ οὑτοσὶ τρέχει τις Ἀλφειὸν πνέων.

[¶110] Messenger: Running back and forth.
Where, where, where is he? Where, where, where is he? Where, where, where is he? Where is Pisthetaerus, our leader?

> Greek: Ἄγγελος Α:
ποῦ ποῦ ʼστι, ποῦ ποῦ ποῦ ʼστι, ποῦ ποῦ ποῦ ʼστι ποῦ,
ποῦ Πισθέταιρός ἐστιν ἅρχων;

[¶111] Pisthetaerus:
Here am I.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὑτοσί.

[¶112] Messenger:
The wall is finished.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος Α:
ἐξῳκοδόμηταί σοι τὸ τεῖχος.

[¶113] Pisthetaerus:
That's good news.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
εὖ λέγεις.

[¶114] Messenger:
It's a most beautiful, a most magnificent work of art. The wall is so broad that Proxenides, the Braggartian, and Theogenes could pass each other in their chariots, even if they were drawn by steeds as big as the Trojan horse.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος Α:
κάλλιστον ἔργον καὶ μεγαλοπρεπέστατον·
ὥστʼ ἂν ἐπάνω μὲν Προξενίδης ὁ Κομπασεὺς
καὶ Θεογένης ἐναντίω δύʼ ἅρματε,
ἵππων ὑπόντων μέγεθος ὅσον ὁ δούριος,
ὑπὸ τοῦ πλάτους ἂν παρελασαίτην.

[¶115] Pisthetaerus:
That's fine!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
Ἡράκλεις.

[¶116] Messenger:
Its length is one hundred stadia; I measured it myself.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος Α:
τὸ δὲ μῆκός ἐστι, καὶ γὰρ ἐμέτρησʼ αὔτʼ ἐγώ,
ἑκατοντορόγυιον.

[¶117] Pisthetaerus:
A decent length, by Poseidon! And who built such a wall?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὦ Πόσειδον τοῦ μάκρους.
τίνες ᾠκοδόμησαν αὐτὸ τηλικουτονί;

[¶118] Messenger:
Birds —birds only; they had neither Egyptian brickmaker, nor stonemason, nor carpenter;
the birds did it all themselves; I could hardly believe my eyes. Thirty thousand cranes came from Libya with a supply of stones, intended for the foundations. The water-rails chiselled them with their beaks. Ten thousand storks were busy making bricks;
plovers and other water fowl carried water into the air.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος Α:
ὄρνιθες, οὐδεὶς ἄλλος, οὐκ Αἰγύπτιος
πλινθοφόρος, οὐ λιθουργός, οὐ τέκτων παρῆν,
ἀλλʼ αὐτόχειρες, ὥστε θαυμάζειν ἐμέ.
ἐκ μέν γε Λιβύης ἧκον ὡς τρισμύριαι
γέρανοι θεμελίους καταπεπωκυῖαι λίθους.
τούτους δʼ ἐτύκιζον αἱ κρέκες τοῖς ῥύγχεσιν.
ἕτεροι δʼ ἐπλινθοφόρουν πελαργοὶ μύριοι·
ὕδωρ δʼ ἐφόρουν κάτωθεν ἐς τὸν ἀέρα
οἱ χαραδριοὶ καὶ τἄλλα ποτόμιʼ ὄρνεα.

[¶119] Pisthetaerus:
And who carried the mortar?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἐπηλοφόρουν δʼ αὐτοῖσι τίνες;

[¶120] Messenger:
Herons, in hods.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος Α:
ἐρωδιοὶ
λεκάναισι.

[¶121] Pisthetaerus:
But how could they put the mortar into the hods?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τὸν δὲ πηλὸν ἐνεβάλλοντο πῶς;

[¶122] Messenger:
Oh! it was a truly clever invention;
the geese used their feet like spades; they buried them in the pile of mortar and then emptied them into the hods.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος Α:
τοῦτʼ ὦγάθʼ ἐξηύρητο καὶ σοφώτατα·
οἱ χῆνες ὑποτύπτοντες ὥσπερ ταῖς ἄμαις
ἐς τὰς λεκάνας ἐνέβαλλον αὐτοῖς τοῖν ποδοῖν.

[¶123] Pisthetaerus:
Ah! to what use cannot feet be put?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τί δῆτα πόδες ἂν οὐκ ἂν ἐργασαίατο;

[¶124] Messenger:
You should have seen how eagerly the ducks carried bricks. To complete the tale,
the swallows came flying to the work, their beaks full of mortar and their trowels on their backs, just the way little children are carried.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος Α:
καὶ νὴ Δίʼ αἱ νῆτταί γε περιεζωσμέναι
ἐπλινθοφόρουν· ἄνω δὲ τὸν ὑπαγωγέα
ἐπέτοντʼ ἔχουσαι κατόπιν †ὥσπερ παιδία
τὸν πηλὸν ἐν τοῖς στόμασιν† αἱ χελιδόνες.

[¶125] Pisthetaerus:
Who would want paid servants after this? But tell me, who did the woodwork?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τί δῆτα μισθωτοὺς ἂν ἔτι μισθοῖτό τις;
φέρʼ ἴδω, τί δαί; τὰ ξύλινα τοῦ τείχους τίνες
ἀπηργάσαντʼ;

[¶126] Messenger:
Birds again,
and clever carpenters too, the pelicans, for they squared up the gates with their beaks in such a fashion that one would have thought they were using axes; the noise was just like a dockyard. Now the whole wall is tight everywhere, securely bolted and well guarded;
it is patrolled, bell in hand; the sentinels stand everywhere and beacons burn on the towers. But I must run off to clean myself; the rest is your business.
He departs.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος Α:
ὄρνιθες ἦσαν τέκτονες
σοφώτατοι πελεκᾶντες, οἳ τοῖς ῥύγχεσιν
ἀπεπελέκησαν τὰς πύλας· ἦν δʼ ὁ κτύπος
αὐτῶν πελεκώντων ὥσπερ ἐν ναυπηγίῳ.
καὶ νῦν ἅπαντʼ ἐκεῖνα πεπύλωται πύλαις
καὶ βεβαλάνωται καὶ φυλάττεται κύκλῳ,
ἐφοδεύεται, κωδωνοφορεῖται, πανταχῇ,
φυλακαὶ καθεστήκασι καὶ φρυκτωρίαι
ἐν τοῖσι πύργοις. ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ μὲν ἀποτρέχων
ἀπονίψομαι· σὺ δʼ αὐτὸς ἤδη τἄλλα δρᾶ.

[¶127] Leader of the Chorus: To Pisthetaerus.
Well! what do you say to it? Are you not astonished
at the wall being completed so quickly?

> Greek: Χορός:
οὗτος τί ποιεῖς; ἆρα θαυμάζεις ὅτι
οὕτω τὸ τεῖχος ἐκτετείχισται ταχύ;

[¶128] Pisthetaerus:
By the gods, yes, and with good reason. It's really not to be believed. But here comes another messenger from the wall to bring us some further news! What a fighting look he has!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς ἔγωγε· καὶ γὰρ ἄξιον·
ἴσα γὰρ ἀληθῶς φαίνεταί μοι ψεύδεσιν.
ἀλλʼ ὅδε φύλαξ γὰρ τῶν ἐκεῖθεν ἄγγελος
ἐσθεῖ πρὸς ἡμᾶς δεῦρο πυρρίχην βλέπων.

[¶129] Second Messenger: Rushing in.
Alas! alas! alas! alas! alas! alas!

> Greek: Ἄγγελος Β:
ἰοὺ ἰού, ἰοὺ ἰού, ἰοὺ ἰού.

[¶130] Pisthetaerus:
What's the matter?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τί τὸ πρᾶγμα τουτί;

[¶131] Second Messenger:
A horrible outrage has occurred; a god sent by Zeus has passed through our gates and has penetrated the realms of the air without the knowledge of the jays, who are on guard in the daytime.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος Β:
δεινότατα πεπόνθαμεν.
τῶν γὰρ θεῶν τις ἄρτι τῶν παρὰ τοῦ Διὸς
διὰ τῶν πυλῶν εἰσέπτετʼ ἐς τὸν ἀέρα,
λαθὼν κολοιοὺς φύλακας ἡμεροσκόπους.

[¶132] Pisthetaerus:
It's a terrible and criminal deed. What god was it?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὦ δεινὸν ἔργον καὶ σχέτλιον εἰργασμένος.
τίς τῶν θεῶν;

[¶133] Second Messenger:
We don't know that. All we know is, that he has got wings.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος Β:
οὐκ ἴσμεν· ὅτι δʼ εἶχε πτερά,
τοῦτʼ ἴσμεν.

[¶134] Pisthetaerus:
Why were not patrolmen sent against him at once?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὔκουν δῆτα περιπόλους ἐχρῆν
πέμψαι κατʼ αὐτὸν εὐθύς;

[¶135] Second Messenger:
We have despatched thirty thousand hawks of the legion of Mounted Archers.
All the hook-clawed birds are moving against him, the kestrel, the buzzard, the vulture, the great-horned owl; they cleave the air so that it resounds with the flapping of their wings; they are looking everywhere for the god, who cannot be far away; indeed, if I mistake not,
he is coming from yonder side.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος Β:
ἀλλʼ ἐπέμψαμεν
τρισμυρίους ἱέρακας ἱπποτοξότας,
χωρεῖ δὲ πᾶς τις ὄνυχας ἠγκυλωμένος,
κερχνῂς τριόρχης γὺψ κύμινδις αἰετός·
ῥύμῃ τε καὶ πτεροῖσι καὶ ῥοιζήμασιν
αἰθὴρ δονεῖται τοῦ θεοῦ ζητουμένου·
κἄστʼ οὐ μακρὰν ἄπωθεν, ἀλλʼ ἐνταῦθά που
ἤδη ʼστίν.

[¶136] Pisthetaerus:
To arms, all, with slings and bows! This way, all our soldiers; shoot and strike! Some one give me a sling!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὔκουν σφενδόνας δεῖ λαμβάνειν
καὶ τόξα; χώρει δεῦρο πᾶς ὑπηρέτης·
τόξευε παῖε, σφενδόνην τίς μοι δότω.

[¶137] Chorus: Singing.
War, a terrible war is breaking out
between us and the gods! Come, let each one guard Air, the son of Erebus, in which the clouds float.
Take care no immortal enters it without your knowledge.

> Greek: Χορός:
πόλεμος αἴρεται, πόλεμος οὐ φατὸς
πρὸς ἐμὲ καὶ θεούς. ἀλλὰ φύλαττε πᾶς
ἀέρα περινέφελον, ὃν ἔρεβος ἐτέκετο,
μή σε λάθῃ θεῶν τις ταύτῃ περῶν·

[¶138] Leader of the Chorus:
Scan all sides with your glance. Hark! methinks I can hear the rustle of the swift wings of a god from heaven.
The Machine brings in Iris, in the form of a young girl.

> Greek: Χορός:
… ἄθρει δὲ πᾶς κύκλῳ σκοπῶν,
ὡς ἐγγὺς ἤδη δαίμονος πεδαρσίου
δίνης πτερωτὸς φθόγγος ἐξακούεται.

[¶139] Pisthetaerus:
Hi! you woman! where, where, where are you flying to? Halt, don't stir!
keep motionless! not a beat of your wing! She pauses in her flight. Who are you and from what country? You must say whence you come.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
αὕτη σύ, ποῖ ποῖ ποῖ πέτει; μένʼ ἥσυχος,
ἔχʼ ἀτρέμας· αὐτοῦ στῆθʼ· ἐπίσχες τοῦ δρόμου.
τίς εἶ; ποδαπή; λέγειν ἐχρῆν ὁπόθεν πότʼ εἶ.

[¶140] Iris:
I come from the abode of the Olympian gods.

> Greek: Ἶρις:
παρὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔγωγε τῶν Ὀλυμπίων.

[¶141] Pisthetaerus:
What's your name, ship or head-dress?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὄνομα δέ σο. τί ἐστι; πλοῖον ἢ κυνῆ;

[¶142] Iris:
I am swift Iris.

> Greek: Ἶρις:
Ἶρις ταχεῖα.

[¶143] Pisthetaerus:
Paralus or Salaminia?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
Πάραλος ἢ Σαλαμινία;

[¶144] Iris:
What do you mean?

> Greek: Ἶρις:
τί δὲ τοῦτο;

[¶145] Pisthetaerus:
Let a buzzard rush at her and seize her.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ταυτηνί τις οὐ συλλήψεται
ἀναπτόμενος τρίορχος;

[¶146] Iris:
Seize me? But what do all these insults mean?

> Greek: Ἶρις:
ἐμὲ συλλήψεται;
τί ποτʼ ἐστὶ τουτὶ τὸ κακόν;

[¶147] Pisthetaerus:
Woe to you!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οἰμώξει μακρά.

[¶148] Iris:
I do not understand it.

> Greek: Ἶρις:
ἄτοπόν γε τουτὶ πρᾶγμα.

[¶149] Pisthetaerus:
By which gate did you pass through the wall, wretched woman?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
κατὰ ποίας πύλας
εἰσῆλθες ἐς τὸ τεῖχος ὦ μιαρωτάτη;

[¶150] Iris:
By which gate? Why, great gods, I don't know.

> Greek: Ἶρις:
οὐκ οἶδα μὰ Δίʼ ἔγωγε κατὰ ποίας πύλας.

[¶151] Pisthetaerus:
You hear how she holds us in derision. Did you present yourself to the officers in command of the jays? You don't answer. Have you a permit, bearing the seal of the storks?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἤκουσας αὐτῆς οἷον εἰρωνεύεται;
πρὸς τοὺς κολοιάρχας προσῆλθες; οὐ λέγεις;
σφραγῖδʼ ἔχεις παρὰ τῶν πελαργῶν;

[¶152] Iris:
Am I dreaming?

> Greek: Ἶρις:
τί τὸ κακόν.

[¶153] Pisthetaerus:
Did you get one?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐκ ἔλαβες;

[¶154] Iris:
Are you mad?

> Greek: Ἶρις:
ὑγιαίνεις μέν;

[¶155] Pisthetaerus:
No
head-bird gave you a safe-conduct?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐδὲ σύμβολον
ἐπέβαλεν ὀρνίθαρχος οὐδείς σοι παρών;

[¶156] Iris:
A safe-conduct to me. You poor fool!

> Greek: Ἶρις:
μὰ Δίʼ οὐκ ἔμοιγʼ ἐπέβαλεν οὐδεὶς ὦ μέλε.

[¶157] Pisthetaerus:
Ah! and so you slipped into this city on the sly and into these realms of air-land that don't belong to you.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
κἄπειτα δῆθʼ οὕτω σιωπῇ διαπέτει
διὰ τῆς πόλεως τῆς ἀλλοτρίας καὶ τοῦ χάους;

[¶158] Iris:
And what other roads can the gods travel?

> Greek: Ἶρις:
ποίᾳ γὰρ ἄλλῃ χρὴ πέτεσθαι τοὺς θεούς;

[¶159] Pisthetaerus:
By Zeus! I know nothing about that, not I. But they won't pass this way. And you still dare to complain? Why, if you were treated according to your deserts, no Iris would ever have more justly suffered death.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐκ οἶδα μὰ Δίʼ ἔγωγε· τῇδε μὲν γὰρ οὔ.
ἀδικεῖς δὲ καὶ νῦν. ἆρά γʼ οἶσθα τοῦθʼ ὅτι
δικαιότατʼ ἂν ληφθεῖσα πασῶν Ἰρίδων
ἀπέθανες, εἰ τῆς ἀξίας ἐτύγχανες;

[¶160] Iris:
I am immortal.

> Greek: Ἶρις:
ἀλλʼ ἀθάνατός εἰμʼ.

[¶161] Pisthetaerus:
You would have died nevertheless. —
Oh! that would be truly intolerable! What! should the universe obey us and the gods alone continue their insolence and not understand that they must submit to the law of the strongest in their due turn? But tell me, where are you flying to?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἀλλʼ ὅμως ἂν ἀπέθανες.
δεινότατα γάρ τοι πεισόμεσθʼ, ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ,
εἰ τῶν μὲν ἄλλων ἄρχομεν, ὑμεῖς δʼ οἱ θεοὶ
ἀκολαστανεῖτε, κοὐδέπω γνώσεσθʼ ὅτι
ἀκροατέον ὑμῖν ἐν μέρει τῶν κρειττόνων.
φράσον δέ τοί μοι τὼ πτέρυγε ποῖ ναυστολεῖς;

[¶162] Iris:
I? The messenger of Zeus to mankind, I am going to tell them to sacrifice sheep and oxen on the altars and to fill their streets with the rich smoke of burning fat.

> Greek: Ἶρις:
ἐγώ; πρὸς ἀνθρώπους πέτομαι παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς
φράσουσα θύειν τοῖς Ὀλυμπίοις θεοῖς
μηλοσφαγεῖν τε βουθύτοις ἐπʼ ἐσχάραις
κνισᾶν τʼ ἀγυιάς.

[¶163] Pisthetaerus:
Of which gods are you speaking?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τί σὺ λέγεις; ποίοις θεοῖς;

[¶164] Iris:
Of which? Why, of ourselves, the gods of heaven.

> Greek: Ἶρις:
ποίοισιν; ἡμῖν τοῖς ἐν οὐρανῷ θεοῖς.

[¶165] Pisthetaerus:
You, gods?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
θεοὶ γὰρ ὑμεῖς;

[¶166] Iris:
Are there others then?

> Greek: Ἶρις:
τίς γάρ ἐστʼ ἄλλος θεός;

[¶167] Pisthetaerus:
Men now adore the birds as gods, and it's to them, by Zeus, that they must offer sacrifices, and not to Zeus at all!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὄρνιθες ἀνθρώποισι νῦν εἰσιν θεοί,
οἷς θυτέον αὐτούς, ἀλλὰ μὰ Δίʼ οὐ τῷ Διί.

[¶168] Iris: In tragic style.
Oh! fool! fool! Rouse not
the wrath of the gods, for it is terrible indeed. Armed with the brand of Zeus, Justice would annihilate your race; the lightning would strike you as it did Licymnius and consume both your body and the porticos of your palace.

> Greek: Ἶρις:
ὦ μῶρε μῶρε μὴ θεῶν κίνει φρένας
δεινάς, ὅπως μή σου γένος πανώλεθρον
Διὸς μακέλλῃ πᾶν ἀναστρέψῃ Δίκη,
λιγνὺς δὲ σῶμα καὶ δόμων περιπτυχὰς
καταιθαλώσῃ σου Λικυμνίαις βολαῖς.

[¶169] Pisthetaerus:
Here! that's enough tall talk. Just you listen and keep quiet! Do you take me for a Lydian or a Phrygian
and think to frighten me with your big words? Know, that if Zeus worries me again, I shall go at the head of my eagles, who are armed with lightning, and reduce his dwelling and that of Amphion to cinders. I shall send more than six hundred porphyrions
clothed in leopards' skins up to heaven against him; and formerly a single Porphyrion gave him enough to do. As for you, his messenger, if you annoy me, I shall begin by getting between your thighs,
and even though you are Iris, you will be surprised at the erection the old man can produce; it's three times as good as the ram on a ship's prow!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἄκουσον αὕτη· παῦε τῶν παφλασμάτων·
ἔχʼ ἀτρέμα. φέρʼ ἴδω, πότερα Λυδὸν ἢ Φρύγα
ταυτὶ λέγουσα μορμολύττεσθαι δοκεῖς;
ἆρʼ οἶσθʼ ὅτι Ζεὺς εἴ με λυπήσει πέρα,
μέλαθρα μὲν αὐτοῦ καὶ δόμους Ἀμφίονος
καταιθαλώσω πυρφόροισιν αἰετοῖς;
πέμψω δὲ πορφυρίωνας ἐς τὸν οὐρανὸν
ὄρνις ἐπʼ αὐτὸν παρδαλᾶς ἐνημμένους
πλεῖν ἑξακοσίους τὸν ἀριθμόν. καὶ δή ποτε
εἷς Πορφυρίων αὐτῷ παρέσχε πράγματα.
σὺ δʼ εἴ με λυπήσεις τι, τῆς διακόνου
πρώτης ἀνατείνας τὼ σκέλει διαμηριῶ
τὴν Ἶριν αὐτήν, ὥστε θαυμάζειν ὅπως
οὕτω γέρων ὢν στύομαι τριέμβολον.

[¶170] Iris:
May you perish, you wretch, you and your infamous words!

> Greek: Ἶρις:
διαρραγείης ὦ μέλʼ αὐτοῖς ῥήμασιν.

[¶171] Pisthetaerus:
Won't you get out of here quickly? Come, stretch your wings or look out for squalls!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐκ ἀποσοβήσεις; οὐ ταχέως; εὐρὰξ πατάξ.

[¶172] Iris:
If my father does not punish you for your insults...
The Machine takes Iris away.

> Greek: Ἶρις:
ἦ μήν σε παύσει τῆς ὕβρεως οὑμὸς πατήρ.

[¶173] Pisthetaerus:
Ha!... but just you be off elsewhere to roast younger folk than us with your lightning.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οἴμοι τάλας. οὔκουν ἑτέρωσε πετομένη
καταιθαλώσεις τῶν νεωτέρων τινά;

[¶174] Chorus: Singing.
We forbid the gods, the sons of Zeus, to pass through our city
and the mortals to send them the smoke of their sacrifices by this road.
Pisthetaerus:
It's odd that the messenger
we sent to the mortals has never returned.
The Herald enters, wearing a golden garland on his head.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀποκεκλῄκαμεν διογενεῖς θεοὺς
μηκέτι τὴν ἐμὴν διαπερᾶν πόλιν,
μηδέ ⟨γέ⟩ τινʼ ἱερόθυτον ἀνὰ δάπεδον ἔτι
τῇδε βροτῶν θεοῖσι πέμπειν καπνόν.
Πισθέταιρος:
δεινόν γε τὸν κήρυκα τὸν παρὰ τοὺς βροτοὺς
οἰχόμενον, εἰ μηδέποτε νοστήσει πάλιν.

[¶175] Herald:
Oh! blessed Pisthetaerus, very wise, very illustrious, very gracious, thrice happy, very... Come, prompt me, somebody, do

> Greek: Κῆρυξ:
ὦ Πισθέταιρʼ ὦ μακάριʼ ὦ σοφώτατε,
ὦ κλεινότατʼ ὦ σοφώτατʼ ὦ γλαφυρώτατε,
ὦ τρισμακάριʼ ὦ κατακέλευσον.

[¶176] Pisthetaerus:
Get to your story!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τί σὺ λέγεις;

[¶177] Herald:
All peoples are filled with admiration for your wisdom, and they award you this golden crown.

> Greek: Κῆρυξ:
στεφάνῳ σε χρυσῷ τῷδε σοφίας οὕνεκα
στεφανοῦσι καὶ τιμῶσιν οἱ πάντες λεῴ.

[¶178] Pisthetaerus:
I accept it. But tell me, why do the people admire me?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
δέχομαι. τί δʼ οὕτως οἱ λεῲ τιμῶσί με;

[¶179] Herald:
Oh you, who have founded so illustrious a city in the air, you know not in what esteem men hold you and how many there are who burn with desire to dwell in it.
Before your city was built, all men had a mania for Sparta; long hair and fasting were held in honor, men went dirty like Socrates and carried staves. Now all is changed.
Firstly, as soon as it's dawn, they all spring out of bed together to go and seek their food, the same as you do; then they fly off towards the notices and finally devour the decrees.
The bird-madness is so clear that many actually bear the names of birds. There is a halting victualler, who styles himself the partridge; Menippus calls himself the swallow; Opuntius the one-eyed crow;
Philocles the lark; Theogenes the fox-goose; Lycurgus the ibis; Chaerephon the bat; Syracosius the magpie; Midias the quail; indeed he looks like a quail that has been hit hard on the head.
Out of love for the birds they repeat all the songs which concern the swallow, the teal, the goose or the pigeon; in each verse you see wings, or at all events a few feathers. This is what is happening down there.
Finally, there are more than ten thousand folk who are coming here from earth to ask you for feathers and hooked claws; so, mind you supply yourself with wings for the immigrants.

> Greek: Κῆρυξ:
ὦ κλεινοτάτην αἰθέριον οἰκίσας πόλιν,
οὐκ οἷσθʼ ὅσην τιμὴν παρʼ ἀνθρώποις φέρει,
ὅσους τʼ ἐραστὰς τῆσδε τῆς χώρας ἔχεις.
πρὶν μὲν γὰρ οἰκίσαι σε τήνδε τὴν πόλιν,
ἐλακωνομάνουν ἅπαντες ἄνθρωποι τότε,
ἐκόμων ἐπείνων ἐρρύπων ἐσωκράτουν
σκυτάλιʼ ἐφόρουν, νυνὶ δʼ ὑποστρέψαντες αὖ
ὀρνιθομανοῦσι, πάντα δʼ ὑπὸ τῆς ἡδονῆς
ποιοῦσιν ἅπερ ὄρνιθες ἐκμιμούμενοι·
πρῶτον μὲν εὐθὺς πάντες ἐξ εὐνῆς ἅμα
ἐπέτονθʼ ἕωθεν ὥσπερ ἡμεῖς ἐπὶ νομόν·
κἄπειτʼ ἂν ἅμα κατῆραν ἐς τὰ βιβλία·
εἶτʼ ἀπενέμοντʼ ἐνταῦθα τὰ ψηφίσματα.
ὠρνιθομάνουν δʼ οὕτω περιφανῶς ὥστε καὶ
πολλοῖσιν ὀρνίθων ὀνόματʼ ἦν κείμενα.
πέρδιξ μὲν εἷς κάπηλος ὠνομάζετο
χωλός, Μενίππῳ δʼ ἦν χελιδὼν τοὔνομα,
Ὀπουντίῳ δʼ ὀφθαλμὸν οὐκ ἔχων κόραξ,
κορυδὸς Φιλοκλέει, χηναλώπηξ Θεογένει,
ἶβις Λυκούργῳ, Χαιρεφῶντι νυκτερίς,
Συρακοσίῳ δὲ κίττα· Μειδίας δʼ ἐκεῖ
ὄρτυξ ἐκαλεῖτο· καὶ γὰρ ᾔκειν ὄρτυγι
ὑπὸ στυφοκόπου τὴν κεφαλὴν πεπληγμένῳ.
ᾖδον δʼ ὑπὸ φιλορνιθίας πάντες μέλη,
ὅπου χελιδὼν ἦν τις ἐμπεποιημένη
ἢ πηνέλοψ ἢ χήν τις ἢ περιστερὰ
ἢ πτέρυγες, ἢ πτεροῦ τι καὶ σμικρὸν προσῆν.
τοιαῦτα μὲν τἀκεῖθεν. ἓν δέ σοι λέγω·
ἥξουσʼ ἐκεῖθεν δεῦρο πλεῖν ἢ μύριοι
πτερῶν δεόμενοι καὶ τρόπων γαμψωνύχων·
ὥστε πτερῶν σοι τοῖς ἐποίκοις δεῖ ποθέν.

## 4. Lines 1263–1765

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-birds/4/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/aristophanes-birds/4/#p-N

[¶0] Pisthetaerus:
Ah! by Zeus, there's no time for idling. To some slaves. Go as quick as possible and fill every hamper,
every basket you can find with wings. Manes will bring them to me outside the walls, where I will welcome those who present themselves.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐκ ἆρα μὰ Δίʼ ἡμῖν ἔτʼ ἔργον ἑστάναι.
ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστα σὺ μὲν ἰὼν τὰς ἀρρίχους
καὶ τοὺς κοφίνους ἅπαντας ἐμπίμπλη πτερῶν·
Μανῆς δὲ φερέτω μοι θύραζε τὰ πτερά·
ἐγὼ δʼ ἐκείνων τοὺς προσιόντας δέξομαι.

[¶1] Chorus: Singing.
This town will soon be inhabited by a crowd of men.
Fortune favours us alone
and thus they have fallen in love with our city.
Pisthetaerus: To the slave Manes, who brings in a basket full of wings.
Come, hurry up and bring them along.
Chorus:
Will not man find here everything that can please him —
wisdom, love, the divine Graces, the sweet face of gentle peace?
Pisthetaerus: As Manes comes in with another basket.
Oh! you lazy servant! won't you hurry yourself?

> Greek: Χορός:
ταχὺ δὴ πολυάνορα τάνδε πόλιν
καλεῖ τις ἀνθρώπων.
Πισθέταιρος:
τύχη μόνον προσείη.
Χορός:
κατέχουσι δʼ ἔρωτες ἐμᾶς πόλεως.
Πισθέταιρος:
θάττον φέρειν κελεύω.
Χορός:
τί γὰρ οὐκ ἔνι ταύτῃ
καλὸν ἀνδρὶ μετοικεῖν;
Σοφία Πόθος Ἀμβροσία Χάριτες
τό τε τῆς ἀγανόφρονος Ἡσυχίας
εὐήμερον πρόσωπον.
Πισθέταιρος:
ὡς βλακικῶς διακονεῖς·
οὐ θᾶττον ἐγκονήσεις;

[¶2] Chorus: Singing.
Let a basket of wings be brought speedily.
Come, beat him as I do, and put some life into him;
he is as lazy as an ass.
Pisthetaerus:
Aye, Manes is a great craven.
Chorus:
Begin by putting this heap of wings in order; divide them in three parts according to the birds from whom they came; the singing, the prophetic and the aquatic birds; then you must take care to distribute them to the men according to their character.
Pisthetaerus: To Manes, who is bringing in another basket.
Oh! by the kestrels! I can keep my hands off you no longer; you are too slow and lazy altogether.

> Greek: Χορός:
φερέτω κάλαθον ταχύ τις πτερύγων,
σὺ δʼ αὖθις ἐξόρμα —
Πισθέταιρος:
τύπτων γε τοῦτον ὡδί.
Χορός:
πάνυ γὰρ βραδύς ἐστί τις ὥσπερ ὄνος.
Πισθέταιρος:
Μανῆς γάρ ἐστι δειλός.
Χορός:
σὺ δὲ τὰ πτερὰ πρῶτον
διάθες τάδε κόσμῳ,
τά τε μουσίχʼ ὁμοῦ τά τε μαντικὰ καὶ
τὰ θαλάττιʼ. ἔπειτα δʼ ὅπως φρονίμως
πρὸς ἄνδρʼ ὁρῶν πτερώσεις.
Πισθέταιρος:
οὔ τοι μὰ τὰς κερχνῇδας ἔτι σοῦ σχήσομαι,
οὕτως ὁρῶν σε δειλὸν ὄντα καὶ βραδύν.

[¶3] He hits Manes, who runs away. A young Parricide enters.
Parricide: Singing.
Oh! might I but become an eagle, who soars in the skies! Oh! might I fly above the azure waves of the barren sea!

> Greek: Πατραλοίας:
γενοίμαν αἰετὸς ὑψιπέτας,
ὡς ἀμποταθείην ὑπὲρ ἀτρυγέτου
γλαυκᾶς ἐπʼ οἶδμα λίμνας.

[¶4] Pisthetaerus:
Ha! it would seem the news was true; I hear someone coming who talks of wings.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἔοικεν οὐ ψευδαγγελήσειν ἅγγελος.
ᾄδων γὰρ ὅδε τις αἰετοὺς προσέρχεται.

[¶5] Parricide:
Nothing is more charming than to fly; I am bird-mad and fly towards you, for I want
to live with you and to obey your laws.

> Greek: Πατραλοίας:
αἰβοῖ·
οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδὲν τοῦ πέτεσθαι γλυκύτερον·
ὀρνιθομανῶ γὰρ καὶ πέτομαι καὶ βούλομαι
οἰκεῖν μεθʼ ὑμῶν κἀπιθυμῶ τῶν νόμων.

[¶6] Pisthetaerus:
Which laws? The birds have many laws.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ποίων νόμων; πολλοὶ γὰρ ὀρνίθων νόμοι.

[¶7] Parricide:
All of them; but the one that pleases me most is that among the birds it is considered a fine thing to peck and strangle one's father.

> Greek: Πατραλοίας:
πάντων· μάλιστα δʼ ὅτι καλὸν νομίζεται
τὸν πατέρα τοῖς ὄρνισιν ἄγχειν καὶ δάκνειν.

[¶8] Pisthetaerus:
Yes, by Zeus! according to us,
he who dares to strike his father, while still a chick, is a brave fellow.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
καὶ νὴ Δίʼ ἀνδρεῖόν γε πάνυ νομιζομεν,
ὃς ἂν πεπλήγῃ τὸν πατέρα νεοττὸς ὤν.

[¶9] Parricide:
And therefore I want to dwell here, for I want to strangle my father and inherit his wealth.

> Greek: Πατραλοίας:
διὰ ταῦτα μέντοι δεῦρʼ ἀνοικισθεὶς ἐγὼ
ἄγχειν ἐπιθυμῶ τὸν πατέρα καὶ πάντʼ ἔχειν.

[¶10] Pisthetaerus:
But we have also an ancient law written in the code of the storks, which runs thus,
“When the stork father has reared his young and has taught them to fly, the young must in their turn support the father.”

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ἡμῖν τοῖσιν ὄρνισιν νόμος
παλαιὸς ἐν ταῖς τῶν πελαργῶν κύρβεσιν·
ἐπὴν ὁ πατὴρ ὁ πελαργὸς ἐκπετησίμους
πάντας ποιήσῃ τοὺς πελαργιδέας τρέφων,
δεῖ τοὺς νεοττοὺς τὸν πατέρα πάλιν τρέφειν.

[¶11] Parricide: Petulantly.
It's hardly worth while coming all this distance to be compelled to keep my father!

> Greek: Πατραλοίας:
ἀπέλαυσά τἄρα νὴ Δίʼ ἐλθὼν ἐνθαδί,
εἴπερ γέ μοι καὶ τὸν πατέρα βοσκητέον.

[¶12] Pisthetaerus:
No, no, young friend, since you have come to us with such willingness, I am going to give you these black wings, as though you were an orphan bird; furthermore, some good advice, that I received myself in infancy. Don't strike your father, but take
these wings in one hand and these spurs in the other; imagine you have a cock's crest on your head and go and mount guard and fight; live on your pay and respect your father's life. You're a gallant fellow! Very well, then! Fly to Thrace and fight.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐδέν γʼ. ἐπειδήπερ γὰρ ἦλθες ὦ μέλε
εὔνους, πτερώσω σʼ ὥσπερ ὄρνιν ὀρφανόν.
σοὶ δʼ ὦ νεανίσκʼ οὐ κακῶς ὑποθήσομαι,
ἀλλʼ οἷάπερ αὐτὸς ἔμαθον ὅτε παῖς ἦ. σὺ γὰρ
τὸν μὲν πατέρα μὴ τύπτε· ταυτηνδὶ λαβὼν
τὴν πτέρυγα καὶ τουτὶ τὸ πλῆκτρον θἀτέρᾳ,
νομίσας ἀλεκτρυόνος ἔχειν τονδὶ λόφον,
φρούρει στρατεύου μισθοφορῶν σαυτὸν τρέφε,
τὸν πατέρ ἔα ζῆν· ἀλλʼ ἐπειδὴ μάχιμος εἶ,
ἐς τἀπὶ Θρᾴκης ἀποπέτου κἀκεῖ μάχου.

[¶13] Parricide:
By Bacchus! You're right; I will follow your counsel.

> Greek: Πατραλοίας:
νὴ τὸν Διόνυσον εὖ γέ μοι δοκεῖς λέγειν,
καὶ πείσομαί σοι.

[¶14] Pisthetaerus:
It's acting wisely, by Zeus..

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
νοῦν ἄρʼ ἔξεις νὴ Δία.

[¶15] The Parricide departs, and the dithyrambic poet Cinesias arrives.
Cinesias: Singing.
“On my light pinions I soar off to Olympus; in its capricious flight my Muse flutters along the thousand paths of poetry in turn...”
Pisthetaerus:
This is a fellow will need a whole shipload of wings.
Cinesias: Singing.
“... and being fearless and vigorous, it is seeking fresh outlet.”
Pisthetaerus:
Welcome, Cinesias, you lime-wood man! Why have you come here twisting your game leg in circles?
Cinesias: Singing.
“I want to become a bird, a tuneful nightingale.”
Pisthetaerus:
Enough of that sort of ditty. Tell me what you want.
Cinesias:
Give me wings and I will fly into the topmost airs to gather fresh songs in the clouds,
in the midst of the vapors and the fleecy snow.
Pisthetaerus:
Gather songs in the clouds?
Cinesias:
'Tis on them the whole of our latter-day art depends. The most brilliant dithyrambs are those that flap their wings in empty space and are clothed in mist and dense obscurity.
To appreciate this, just listen.
Pisthetaerus:
Oh! no, no, no!
Cinesias:
By Hermes! but indeed you shall.
Cinesias: He sings.
“I shall travel through thine ethereal empire”
“like a winged bird, who cleaveth space with his long neck...”
Pisthetaerus:
Stop! Way enough!
Cinesias:
“... as I soar over the seas, carried by the breath of the winds...”
Pisthetaerus:
By Zeus! I'll cut your breath short. He picks up a pair of wings and begins trying to stop Cinesias' mouth with them.
Cinesias: Running away.
“... now rushing along the tracks of Notus, now nearing Boreas”
“across the infinite wastes of the ether.”
Ah! old man, that's a pretty and clever idea truly!
Pisthetaerus:
What! are you not delighted to be cleaving the air?
Cinesias:
To treat a dithyrambic poet, for whom the tribes dispute with each other, in this style!
Pisthetaerus:
Will you stay with us and form a chorus of winged birds as slender as Leotrophides for the Cecropid tribe?
Cinesias:
You are making game of me, that's clear; but know that I shall never leave you in peace if I do not have wings wherewith to traverse the air.

> Greek: Κινησίας:
ἀναπέτομαι δὴ πρὸς Ὄλυμπον πτερύγεσσι κούφαις·
πέτομαι δʼ ὁδὸν ἄλλοτʼ ἐπʼ ἄλλαν μελέων —
Πισθέταιρος:
τουτὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα φορτίου δεῖται πτερῶν.
Κινησίας:
ἀφόβῳ φρενὶ σώματί τε νέαν ἐφέπων —
Πισθέταιρος:
ἀσπαζόμεσθα φιλύρινον Κινησίαν.
τί δεῦρο πόδα σὺ κυλλὸν ἀνὰ κύκλον κυκλεῖς;
Κινησίας:
ὄρνις γενέσθαι βούλομαι λιγύφθογγος ἀηδών.
Πισθέταιρος:
παῦσαι μελῳδῶν, ἀλλʼ ὅ τι λέγεις εἰπέ μοι.
Κινησίας:
ὑπὸ σοῦ πτερωθεὶς βούλομαι μετάρσιος
ἀναπτόμενος ἐκ τῶν νεφελῶν καινὰς λαβεῖν
ἀεροδονήτους καὶ νιφοβόλους ἀναβολάς.
Πισθέταιρος:
ἐκ τῶν νεφελῶν γὰρ ἄν τις ἀναβολὰς λάβοι;
Κινησίας:
κρέμαται μὲν οὖν ἐντεῦθεν ἡμῶν ἡ τέχνη.
τῶν διθυράμβων γὰρ τὰ λαμπρὰ γίγνεται
ἀέρια καὶ σκότιά γε καὶ κυαναυγέα
καὶ πτεροδόνητα· σὺ δὲ κλύων εἴσει τάχα.
Πισθέταιρος:
οὐ δῆτʼ ἔγωγε.
Κινησίας:
νὴ τὸν Ἡρακλέα σύ γε.
ἅπαντα γὰρ δίειμί σοι τὸν ἀέρα.
Κινησίας:
εἴδωλα πετεινῶν
αἰθεροδρόμων
οἰωνῶν ταναοδείρων —
Πισθέταιρος:
ὠόπ.
Κινησίας:
τὸν ἁλάδρομον ἁλάμενος
ἅμʼ ἀνεμων πνοαῖσι βαίην.
Πισθέταιρος:
νὴ τὸν Δίʼ ἦ ʼγώ σου καταπαύσω τὰς πνοάς.
Κινησίας:
τοτὲ μὲν νοτίαν στείχων πρὸς ὁδόν,
τοτὲ δʼ αὖ βορέᾳ σῶμα πελάζων
ἀλίμενον αἰθέρος αὔλακα τέμνων.
Κινησίας:
χαρίεντά γʼ ὦ πρεσβῦτʼ ἐσοφίσω καὶ σοφά.
Πισθέταιρος:
οὐ γὰρ σὺ χαίρεις πτεροδόνητος γενόμενος;
Κινησίας:
ταυτὶ πεποίηκας τὸν κυκλιοδιδάσκαλον,
ὂς ταῖσι φυλαῖς περιμάχητός εἰμʼ ἀεί;
Πισθέταιρος:
βούλει διδάσκειν καὶ παρʼ ἡμῖν οὖν μένων
Λεωτροφίδῃ χορὸν πετομένων ὀρνέων
Κεκροπίδα φυλήν;
Κινησίας:
καταγελᾷς μου, δῆλος εἶ.
ἀλλʼ οὖν ἔγωγʼ οὐ παύσομαι, τοῦτʼ ἴσθʼ ὅτι,
πρὶν ἂν πτερωθεὶς διαδράμω τὸν ἀέρα.

[¶16] Cinesias departs and an Informer arrives.
Informer:
What are these birds with downy feathers, who look so pitiable to me? Tell me, oh swallow with the long dappled wings.

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
ὄρνιθες τίνες οὐδὲν ἔχοντες πτεροποίκιλοι,
τανυσίπτερε ποικίλα χελιδοῖ;

[¶17] Pisthetaerus:
Oh! it's a regular invasion that threatens us. Here comes another one, humming along.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τουτὶ τὸ κακὸν οὐ φαῦλον ἐξεγρήγορεν.
ὅδʼ αὖ μινυρίζων δεῦρό τις προσέρχεται.

[¶18] Informer:
Swallow with the long dappled wings, once more I summon you.

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
τανυσίπτερε ποικίλα μάλʼ αὖθις.

[¶19] Pisthetaerus:
It's his cloak I believe he's addressing; it stands in great need of the swallows' return.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἐς θοἰμάτιον τὸ σκόλιον ᾄδειν μοι δοκεῖ,
δεῖσθαι δʼ ἔοικεν οὐκ ὀλίγων χελιδόνων.

[¶20] Informer:
Where is he who gives out wings to all comers?

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
τίς ὁ πτερῶν δεῦρʼ ἐστὶ τοὺς ἀφικνουμένους;

[¶21] Pisthetaerus:
Here I am, but you must tell me for what purpose you want them.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὁδὶ πάρεστιν· ἀλλʼ ὅτου δεῖ χρὴ λέγειν.

[¶22] Informer:
Ask no questions. I want wings, and wings I must have.

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
πτερῶν πτερῶν δεῖ· μὴ πύθῃ τὸ δεύτερον.

[¶23] Pisthetaerus:
Do you want to fly straight to Pellene?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
μῶν εὐθὺ Πελλήνης πέτεσθαι διανοεῖ;

[¶24] Informer:
I? Why, I am an accuser of the islands, an informer...

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλὰ κλητήρ εἰμι νησιωτικὸς
καὶ συκοφάντης —

[¶25] Pisthetaerus:
A fine trade, truly!
Informer:... a hatcher of lawsuits. Hence I have great need of wings
to prowl round the cities and drag them before justice.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὦ μακάριε τῆς τέχνης.
Συκοφάντης:
καὶ πραγματοδίφης. εἶτα δέομαι πτερὰ λαβὼν
κύκλῳ περισοβεῖν τὰς πόλεις καλούμενος.

[¶26] Pisthetaerus:
Would you do this better if you had wings?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὑπὸ πτερύγων τι προσκαλεῖ σοφώτερον;

[¶27] Informer:
No, but I should no longer fear the pirates; I should return with the cranes, loaded with a supply of lawsuits by way of ballast.

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ἵνʼ οἱ λῃσταί τε μὴ λυπῶσί με,
μετὰ τῶν γεράνων τʼ ἐκεῖθεν ἀναχωρῶ πάλιν,
ἀνθʼ ἕρματος πολλὰς καταπεπωκὼς δίκας.

[¶28] Pisthetaerus:
So it seems, despite all your youthful vigor, you make it your trade to denounce strangers?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τουτὶ γὰρ ἐργάζει σὺ τοὔργον; εἰπέ μοι,
νεανίας ὢν συκοφαντεῖς τοὺς ξένους;

[¶29] Informer:
Well, and why not? I don't know how to dig.

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
τί γὰρ πάθω; σκάπτειν γὰρ οὐκ ἐπίσταμαι.

[¶30] Pisthetaerus:
But, by Zeus! there are
honest ways of gaining a living at your age without all this infamous trickery.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ἕτερα νὴ Δίʼ ἔργα σώφρονα,
ἀφʼ ὧν διαζῆν ἄνδρα χρῆν τοσουτονὶ
ἐκ τοῦ δικαίου μᾶλλον ἢ δικορραφεῖν.

[¶31] Informer:
My friend, I am asking you for wings, not for words.

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
ὦ δαιμόνιε μὴ νουθέτει μʼ ἀλλὰ πτέρου.

[¶32] Pisthetaerus:
It's just my words that gives you wings.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
νῦν τοι λέγων πτερῶ σε.

[¶33] Informer:
And how can you give a man wings with your words?

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
καὶ πῶς ἂν λόγοις
ἄνδρα πτερώσειας σύ;

[¶34] Pisthetaerus:
They all start this way.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
πάντες τοῖς λόγοις
ἀναπτεροῦνται.

[¶35] Informer:
How?

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
πάντες;

[¶36] Pisthetaerus:
Have you not often heard
the father say to young men in the barbers' shops, “It's astonishing how Diitrephes' advice has made my son fly to horse-riding.” —“Mine,” says another, “has”
“flown towards tragic poetry on the wings of his imagination.”

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐκ ἀκήκοας,
ὅταν λέγωσιν οἱ πατέρες ἑκάστοτε
τοῖς μειρακίοις ἐν τοῖσι κουρείοις ταδί;
δεινῶς γέ μου τὸ μειράκιον Διειτρέφης
λέγων ἀνεπτέρωκεν ὥσθʼ ἱππηλατεῖν.
ὁ δέ τις τὸν αὑτοῦ φησιν ἐπὶ τραγῳδίᾳ
ἀνεπτερῶσθαι καὶ πεποτῆσθαι τὰς φρένας.

[¶37] Informer:
So that words give wings?

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
λόγοισί τἄρα καὶ πτεροῦνται;

[¶38] Pisthetaerus:
Undoubtedly; words give wings to the mind and make a man soar to heaven. Thus I hope that my wise words will give you wings
to fly to some less degrading trade.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
φήμʼ ἐγώ.
ὑπὸ γὰρ λόγων ὁ νοῦς τε μετεωρίζεται
ἐπαίρεταί τʼ ἄνθρωπος. οὕτω καί σʼ ἐγὼ
ἀναπτερώσας βούλομαι χρηστοῖς λόγοις
τρέψαι πρὸς ἔργον νόμιμον.

[¶39] Informer:
But I do not want to.

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
ἀλλʼ οὐ βούλομαι.

[¶40] Pisthetaerus:
What do you reckon on doing then?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τί δαὶ ποιήσεις;

[¶41] Informer:
I won't belie my breeding; from generation to generation we have lived by informing. Quick, therefore, give me quickly some light, swift hawk or kestrel wings,
so that I may summon the islanders, sustain the accusation here, and haste back there again on flying pinions.

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
τὸ γένος οὐ καταισχυνῶ.
παππῷος ὁ βίος συκοφαντεῖν ἐστί μοι.
ἀλλὰ πτέρου με ταχέσι καὶ κούφοις πτεροῖς
ἱέρακος ἢ κερχνῇδος, ὡς ἂν τοὺς ξένους
καλεσάμενος κᾆτʼ ἐγκεκληκὼς ἐνθαδὶ
κατʼ αὖ πέτωμαι πάλιν ἐκεῖσε.

[¶42] Pisthetaerus:
I see. In this way the stranger will be condemned even before he appears.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
μανθάνω.
ὡδὶ λέγεις· ὅπως ἂν ὠφλήκῃ δίκην
ἐνθάδε πρὶν ἥκειν ὁ ξένος.

[¶43] Informer:
That's just it.

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
πάνυ μανθάνεις.

[¶44] Pisthetaerus:
And while he is on his way here by sea, you will be flying to the islands
to despoil him of his property.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
κἄπειθʼ ὁ μὲν πλεῖ δεῦρο, σὺ δʼ ἐκεῖσʼ αὖ πέτει
ἁρπασόμενος τὰ χρήματʼ αὐτοῦ.

[¶45] Informer:
You've hit it, precisely; I must whirl hither and thither like a perfect humming-top.

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
πάντʼ ἔχεις.
βέμβικος οὐδὲν διαφέρειν δεῖ.

[¶46] Pisthetaerus:
I catch the idea. Wait, I've got some fine Corcyraean wings. How do you like them?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
μανθάνω
βέμβικα· καὶ μὴν ἔστι μοι νὴ τὸν Δία
κάλλιστα Κορκυραῖα τοιαυτὶ πτερά.

[¶47] Informer:
Oh! woe is me! Why, it's a whip!

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
οἴμοι τάλας μάστιγʼ ἔχεις.

[¶48] Pisthetaerus:
No, no; these are the wings,
I tell you, that make the top spin.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
πτερὼ μὲν οὖν,
οἷσί σε ποιήσω τήμερον βεμβικιᾶν.

[¶49] Informer: As Pisthetaerus lashes him.
Oh! oh! oh!

> Greek: Συκοφάντης:
οἴμοι τάλας.

[¶50] Pisthetaerus:
Take your flight, clear off, you miserable cur, or you will soon see what comes of quibbling and lying. The Informer flees. To his slaves. Come, let us gather up our wings and withdraw.
The baskets are taken away.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐ πτερυγιεῖς ἐντευθενί;
οὐκ ἀπολιβάξεις ὦ κάκιστʼ ἀπολούμενος;
πικρὰν τάχʼ ὄψει στρεψοδικοπανουργίαν.
ἀπίωμεν ἡμεῖς ξυλλαβόντες τὰ πτερά.

[¶51] Chorus: Singing.
In my ethereal flights I have seen many things new and strange and wondrous beyond belief.
There is a tree called Cleonymus belonging to an unknown species; it has no heart, is good for nothing and is as tall as it is cowardly. In springtime it shoots forth calumnies instead of buds and
in autumn it strews the ground with bucklers in place of leaves.

> Greek: Χορός:
πολλὰ δὴ καὶ καινὰ καὶ θαυμάστʼ
ἐπεπτόμεσθα καὶ
δεινὰ πράγματʼ εἴδομεν.
ἔστι γὰρ δένδρον πεφυκὸς
ἔκτοπόν τι Καρδίας ἀ-
πωτέρω Κλεώνυμος,
χρήσιμον μὲν οὐδέν, ἄλλως
δὲ δειλὸν καὶ μέγα.
τοῦτο ⟨τοῦ⟩ μὲν ἦρος ἀεὶ
βλαστάνει καὶ συκοφαντεῖ,
τοῦ δὲ χειμῶνος πάλιν τὰς
ἀσπίδας φυλλορροεῖ.

[¶52] Chorus:
Far away in the regions of darkness, where no ray of light ever enters, there is a country,
where men sit at the table of the heroes and dwell with them always —except in the evening.
Should any mortal meet the hero Orestes at night, he would soon be stripped and covered with blows from head to foot.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔστι δʼ αὗ χώρα πρὸς αὐτῷ
τῷ σκότῳ πόρρω τις ἐν
τῇ λύχνων ἐρημίᾳ,
ἔνθα τοῖς ἥρωσιν ἄνθρωποι
ξυναριστῶσι καὶ ξύν-
εισι πλὴν τῆς ἑσπέρας.
τηνικαῦτα δʼ οὐκέτʼ ἦν
ἀσφαλὲς ξυντυγχάνειν.
εἰ γὰρ ἐντύχοι τις ἥρῳ
τῶν βροτῶν νύκτωρ Ὀρέστῃ,
γυμνὸς ἦν πληγεὶς ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ
πάντα τἀπιδέξια.

[¶53] Prometheus enters, masked to conceal his identify.
Prometheus:
Ah! by the gods! if only Zeus does not see me!
Where is Pisthetaerus?

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
οἴμοι τάλας, ὁ Ζεὺς ὅπως μή μʼ ὄψεται.
ποῦ Πισθέταιρός ἐστʼ;

[¶54] Pisthetaerus:
Ha! what is this? A masked man!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἔα τουτὶ τί ἦν;
τίς ὁ συγκαλυμμός;

[¶55] Prometheus:
Can you see any god behind me?

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
τῶν θεῶν ὁρᾷς τινα
ἐμοῦ κατόπιν ἐνταῦθα;

[¶56] Pisthetaerus:
No, none. But who are you, pray?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
μὰ Δίʼ ἐγὼ μὲν οὔ.
τίς δʼ εἶ σύ;

[¶57] Prometheus:
What's the time, please?

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
πηνίκʼ ἐστὶν ἄρα τῆς ἡμέρας;

[¶58] Pisthetaerus:
The time? Why, it's past noon.
Who are you?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὁπηνίκα; σμικρόν τι μετὰ μεσημβρίαν.
ἀλλὰ σὺ τίς εἶ;

[¶59] Prometheus:
Is it the fall of day? Is it no later than that?

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
βουλυτὸς ἢ περαιτέρω;

[¶60] Pisthetaerus:
This is getting dull!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οἴμʼ ὡς βδελύττομαί σε.

[¶61] Prometheus:
What is Zeus doing? Is he dispersing the clouds or gathering them?

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
τί γὰρ ὁ Ζεὺς ποιεῖ;
ἀπαιθριάζει τὰς νεφέλας ἢ ξυννέφει;

[¶62] Pisthetaerus:
Watch out for yourself!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οἴμωζε μεγάλʼ.

[¶63] Prometheus:
Come, I will raise my mask.

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
οὕτω μὲν ἐκκεκαλύψομαι.

[¶64] Pisthetaerus:
Ah! my dear Prometheus!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὦ φίλε Προμηθεῦ.

[¶65] Prometheus:
Sh! Sh! speak lower!

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
παῦε παῦε, μὴ βόα.

[¶66] Pisthetaerus:
Why, what's the matter, Prometheus?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τί γὰρ ἔστι;

[¶67] Prometheus:
Sh! sh! Don't call me by my name; you will be my ruin, if Zeus should see me here. But, if you want me to tell you how things are going in heaven, take this umbrella and shield me, so that the gods don't see me.

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
σίγα, μὴ κάλει μου τοὔνομα·
ἀπὸ γάρ μʼ ὀλεῖς, εἴ μʼ ἐνθάδʼ ὁ Ζεὺς ὄψεται.
ἀλλʼ ἵνα φράσω σοι πάντα τἄνω πράγματα,
τουτὶ λαβών μου τὸ σκιάδειον ὑπέρεχε
ἄνωθεν, ὡς ἂν μή μʼ ὁρῶσιν οἱ θεοί.

[¶68] Pisthetaerus:
I can recognize Prometheus in this cunning trick. Come, quick then, and fear nothing; speak on.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἰοὺ ἰού·
εὖ γʼ ἐπενόησας αὐτὸ καὶ προμηθικῶς.
ὑπόδυθι ταχὺ δὴ κᾆτα θαρρήσας λέγε.

[¶69] Prometheus:
Then listen.

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
ἄκουε δή νυν.

[¶70] Pisthetaerus:
I am listening, proceed!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὡς ἀκούοντος λέγε.

[¶71] Prometheus:
Zeus is done for.

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
ἀπόλωλεν ὁ Ζεύς.

[¶72] Pisthetaerus:
Ah! and since when, pray?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
πηνίκʼ ἄττʼ ἀπώλετο;

[¶73] Prometheus:
Since you founded this city in the air. There is not a man who now sacrifices to the gods; the smoke of the victims no longer reaches us. Not the smallest offering comes! We fast as though it were the festival of Demeter.
The barbarian gods, who are dying of hunger, are bawling like Illyrians and threaten to make an armed descent upon Zeus, if he does not open markets where joints of the victims are sold.

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
ἐξ οὗπερ ὑμεῖς ᾠκίσατε τὸν ἀέρα.
θύει γὰρ οὐδεὶς οὐδὲν ἀνθρώπων ἔτι
θεοῖσιν, οὐδὲ κνῖσα μηρίων ἄπο
ἀνῆλθεν ὡς ἡμᾶς ἀπʼ ἐκείνου τοῦ χρόνου,
ἀλλʼ ὡσπερεὶ Θεσμοφορίοις νηστεύομεν
ἄνευ θυηλῶν· οἱ δὲ βάρβαροι θεοὶ
πεινῶντες ὥσπερ Ἰλλυριοὶ κεκριγότες
ἐπιστρατεύσειν φάσʼ ἄνωθεν τῷ Διί,
εἰ μὴ παρέξει τἀμπόριʼ ἀνεῳγμένα,
ἵνʼ εἰσάγοιτο σπλάγχνα κατατετμημένα.

[¶74] Pisthetaerus:
What! there are other gods besides you, barbarian gods who dwell above Olympus?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
εἰσὶν γὰρ ἕτεροι βάρβαροι θεοί τινες
ἄνωθεν ὑμῶν;

[¶75] Prometheus:
If there were no barbarian gods, who would be the patron of Execestides?

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
οὐ γάρ εἰσι βάρβαροι,
ὅθεν ὁ πατρῷός ἐστιν Ἐξηκεστίδῃ;

[¶76] Pisthetaerus:
And what is the name of these gods?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὄνομα δὲ τούτοις τοῖς θεοῖς τοῖς βαρβάροις
τί ἔστιν;

[¶77] Prometheus:
Their name? Why, the Triballi.

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
ὅ τι ἔστιν; Τριβαλλοί.

[¶78] Pisthetaerus:
Ah, indeed!
'tis from that no doubt that we derive the word ‘tribulation.'

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
μανθάνω.
ἐντεῦθεν ἆρα τοὐπιτριβείης ἐγένετο;

[¶79] Prometheus:
Most likely. But one thing I can tell you for certain, namely, that Zeus and the celestial Triballi are going to send deputies here to sue for peace. Now don't you treat with them, unless
Zeus restores the scepter to the birds and gives you Basileia in marriage.

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
μάλιστα πάντων. ἓν δέ σοι λέγω σαφές·
ἥξουσι πρέσβεις δεῦρο περὶ διαλλαγῶν
παρὰ τοῦ Διὸς καὶ τῶν Τριβαλλῶν τῶν ἄνω·
ὑμεῖς δὲ μὴ σπένδεσθʼ, ἐὰν μὴ παραδιδῷ
τὸ σκῆπτρον ὁ Ζεὺς τοῖσιν ὄρνισιν πάλιν,
καὶ τὴν Βασίλειάν σοι γυναῖκʼ ἔχειν διδῷ.

[¶80] Pisthetaerus:
Who is this Basileia?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τίς ἐστιν ἡ Βασίλεια;

[¶81] Prometheus:
A very fine young damsel, who makes the lightning for Zeus; all things come from her,
wisdom, good laws, virtue, the fleet, calumnies, the public paymaster and the triobolus.

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
καλλίστη κόρη,
ἥπερ ταμιεύει τὸν κεραυνὸν τοῦ Διὸς
καὶ τἄλλʼ ἁπαξάπαντα, τὴν εὐβουλίαν
τὴν εὐνομίαν τὴν σωφροσύνην τὰ νεώρια,
τὴν λοιδορίαν τὸν κωλακρέτην τὰ τριώβολα.

[¶82] Pisthetaerus:
Ah! then she is a sort of general manageress to the god.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἅπαντά γʼ ἆρʼ αὐτῷ ταμιεύει;

[¶83] Prometheus:
Yes, precisely. If he gives you her for your wife, yours will be the almighty power. That is what I have come to tell you;
for you know my constant and habitual goodwill towards men.

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
φήμʼ ἐγώ.
ἥν γʼ ἢν σὺ παρʼ ἐκείνου παραλάβῃς, πάντʼ ἔχεις.
τούτων ἕνεκα δεῦρʼ ἦλθον, ἵνα φράσαιμί σοι.
ἀεί ποτʼ ἀνθρώποις γὰρ εὔνους εἴμʼ ἐγώ.

[¶84] Pisthetaerus:
Oh, yes! it's thanks to you that we roast our meat.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
μόνον θεῶν γὰρ διὰ σʼ ἀπανθρακίζομεν.

[¶85] Prometheus:
I hate the gods, as you know.

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
μισῶ δʼ ἅπαντας τοὺς θεούς, ὡς οἶσθα σύ.

[¶86] Pisthetaerus:
Aye, by Zeus, you have always detested them.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
νὴ τὸν Δίʼ ἀεὶ δῆτα θεομισὴς ἔφυς.

[¶87] Prometheus:
Towards them I am a veritable Timon; but I must return in all haste,
so give me the umbrella; if Zeus should see me from up there, he would think I was escorting one of the Canephori.

> Greek: Προμηθεύς:
Τίμων καθαρός. ἀλλʼ ὡς ἂν ἀποτρέχω πάλιν,
φέρε τὸ σκιάδειον, ἵνα με κἂν ὁ Ζεὺς ἴδῃ
ἄνωθεν, ἀκολουθεῖν δοκῶ κανηφόρῳ.

[¶88] Pisthetaerus:
Wait, take this stool as well. Prometheus leaves. Pisthetaerus goes into the thicket.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
καὶ τὸν δίφρον γε διφροφόρει τονδὶ λαβών.

[¶89] Chorus: Singing.
Near by the land of the Sciapodes there is a marsh, from the borders whereof the unwashed
Socrates evokes the souls of men. Pisander came one day to see his soul, which he had left there when still alive. He offered
a little victim, a camel, slit his throat and, following the example of Odysseus, stepped one pace backwards. Then that bat of a Chaerephon came up from hell to drink the camel's blood.
Poseidon enters, accompanied by Heracles and Triballus.

> Greek: Χορός:
πρὸς δὲ τοῖς Σκιάποσιν λίμνη
τις ἔστʼ ἄλουτος οὗ
ψυχαγωγεῖ Σωκράτης·
ἔνθα καὶ Πείσανδρος ἦλθε
δεόμενος ψυχὴν ἰδεῖν ἣ
ζῶντʼ ἐκεῖνον προὔλιπε,
σφάγιʼ ἔχων κάμηλον ἀμνόν
τινʼ, ἧς λαιμοὺς τεμὼν ὥσπερ
⟨ποθʼ⟩ οὑδυσσεὺς ἀπῆλθε,
κᾆτʼ ἀνῆλθʼ αὐτῷ κάτωθεν
πρὸς τὸ λαῖτμα τῆς καμήλου
Χαιρεφῶν ἡ νυκτερίς.

[¶90] Poseidon:
This is the city of Nephelococcygia, to which we come as ambassadors. To Triballus. Hi! what are you up to? you are throwing your cloak over the left shoulder. Come, fling it quick over the right! And why, pray, does it draggle in this fashion? Have you ulcers to hide like Lespodias?
Oh! democracy! whither, oh! whither are you leading us? Is it possible that the gods have chosen such an envoy?
You are undisturbed?
Ugh! you cursed savage! you are by far the most barbarous of all the gods. —
Tell me, Heracles, what are we going to do?

> Greek: Ποσειδῶν:
τὸ μὲν πόλισμα τῆς Νεφελοκοκκυγίας
ὁρᾶν τοδὶ πάρεστιν, οἷ πρεσβεύομεν.
οὗτος τί δρᾷς; ἐπʼ ἀριστέρʼ οὕτως ἀμπέχει;
οὐ μεταβαλεῖς θοἰμάτιον ὧδʼ ἐπιδέξια;
τί ὦ κακόδαιμον; Λαισποδίας εἶ τὴν φύσιν;
ὦ δημοκρατία ποῖ προβιβᾷς ἡμᾶς ποτε,
εἰ τουτονί γʼ ἐχειροτόνησαν οἱ θεοί;
Τριβαλλός:
ἕξεις ἀτρέμας;
Ποσειδῶν:
οἴμωζε· πολὺ γὰρ δή σʼ ἐγὼ
ἑόρακα πάντων βαρβαρώτατον θεῶν.
ἄγε δὴ τί δρῶμεν Ἡράκλεις;

[¶91] Heracles:
I have already told you
that I want to strangle the fellow who dared to wall us out.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἀκήκοας
ἐμοῦ γʼ ὅτι τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἄγχειν βούλομαι,
ὅστις ποτʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ τοὺς θεοὺς ἀποτειχίσας.

[¶92] Poseidon:
But, my friend, we are envoys of peace.

> Greek: Ποσειδῶν:
ἀλλʼ ὦγάθʼ ᾑρήμεσθα περὶ διαλλαγῶν
πρέσβεις.

[¶93] Heracles:
All the more reason why I wish to strangle him.
Pisthetaerus comes out of the thicket, followed by slaves, who are carrying various kitchen utensils; one of them sets up a table on which he places poultry dressed for roasting.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
διπλασίως μᾶλλον ἄγχειν μοι δοκεῖ.

[¶94] Pisthetaerus:
Hand me the cheese-grater; bring me the silphium for sauce;
pass me the cheese and watch the coals.
Heracles:
Mortal! we who greet you are three gods.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τὴν τυρόκνηστίν τις δότω· φέρε σίλφιον·
τυρὸν φερέτω τις· πυρπόλει τοὺς ἄνθρακας.
Ποσειδῶν:
τὸν ἄνδρα χαίρειν οἱ θεοὶ κελεύομεν
τρεῖς ὄντες ἡμεῖς.

[¶95] Pisthetaerus:
Wait a bit till I have prepared my silphium pickle.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἀλλʼ ἐπικνῶ τὸ σίλφιον.

[¶96] Heracles:
What are these meats?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
τὰ δὲ κρέα τοῦ ταῦτʼ ἐστίν;

[¶97] Pisthetaerus:
These are birds that have been punished with death
for attacking the people's friends.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὄρνιθές τινες
ἐπανιστάμενοι τοῖς δημοτικοῖσιν ὀρνέοις
ἔδοξαν ἀδικεῖν.

[¶98] Heracles:
And you are going to season them before answering us?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
εἶτα δῆτα σίλφιον
εἴπικνῇς πρότερον αὐτοῖσιν;

[¶99] Pisthetaerus: Looking up from his work for the first time.
Ah! Heracles! welcome, welcome! What's the matter?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὦ χαῖρʼ Ἡράκλεις.
τί ἔστι;

[¶100] Poseidon:
The gods have sent us here as ambassadors to treat for peace.

> Greek: Ποσειδῶν:
πρεσβεύοντες ἡμεῖς ἥκομεν
παρὰ τῶν θεῶν περὶ πολέμου καταλλαγῆς.

[¶101] Pisthetaerus: Ignoring this.
There's no more oil in the flask.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἔλαιον οὐκ ἔνεστιν ἐν τῇ ληκύθῳ.

[¶102] Heracles:
And yet the birds must be thoroughly basted with it.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
καὶ μὴν τά γʼ ὀρνίθεια λιπάρʼ εἶναι πρέπει.

[¶103] Poseidon:
We have no interest to serve in fighting you; as for you, be friends and we promise that you shall always have rain-water in your pools and the warmest of warm weather.
So far as these points go we are plenipotentiaries.

> Greek: Ποσειδῶν:
ἡμεῖς τε γὰρ πολεμοῦντες οὐ κερδαίνομεν,
ὑμεῖς τʼ ἂν ἡμῖν τοῖς θεοῖς ὄντες φίλοι
ὄμβριον ὕδωρ ἂν εἴχετʼ ἐν τοῖς τέλμασιν,
ἀλκυονίδας τʼ ἂν ἤγεθʼ ἡμέρας ἀεί.
τούτων περὶ πάντων αὐτοκράτορες ἥκομεν.

[¶104] Pisthetaerus:
We have never been the aggressors, and even now we are as well disposed for peace as yourselves, provided you agree to one equitable condition, namely,
that Zeus yield his scepter to the birds. If only this is agreed to, I invite the ambassadors to dinner.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἀλλʼ οὔτε πρότερον πώποθʼ ἡμεῖς ἤρξαμεν
πολέμου πρὸς ὑμᾶς, νῦν τʼ ἐθέλομεν, εἰ δοκεῖ,
ἐάν τι δίκαιον ἀλλὰ νῦν ἐθέλητε δρᾶν,
σπονδὰς ποιεῖσθαι. τὰ δὲ δίκαιʼ ἐστὶν ταδί,
τὸ σκῆπτρον ἡμῖν τοῖσιν ὄρνισιν πάλιν
τὸν Δίʼ ἀποδοῦναι· κἂν διαλλαττώμεθα
ἐπὶ τοῖσδε, τοὺς πρέσβεις ἐπʼ ἄριστον καλῶ.

[¶105] Heracles:
That's good enough for me. I vote for peace.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἐμοὶ μὲν ἀπόχρη ταῦτα καὶ ψηφίζομαι.

[¶106] Poseidon:
You wretch! you are nothing but a fool and a glutton.
Do you want to dethrone your own father?

> Greek: Ποσειδῶν:
τί ὦ κακόδαιμον; ἠλίθιος καὶ γάστρις εἶ.
ἀποστερεῖς τὸν πατέρα τῆς τυραννίδος;

[¶107] Pisthetaerus:
What an error. Why, the gods will be much more powerful if the birds govern the earth. At present the mortals are hidden beneath the clouds, escape your observation, and commit perjury in your name;
but if you had the birds for your allies, and a man, after having sworn by the crow and Zeus, should fail to keep his oath, the crow would dive down upon him unawares and pluck out his eye.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἄληθες; οὐ γὰρ μεῖζον ὑμεῖς οἱ θεοὶ
ἰσχύσετʼ, ἢν ὄρνιθες ἄρξωσιν κάτω;
νῦν μέν γʼ ὑπὸ ταῖς νεφέλαισιν ἐγκεκρυμμένοι
κύψαντες ἐπιορκοῦσιν ὑμᾶς οἱ βροτοί·
ἐὰν δὲ τοὺς ὄρνις ἔχητε συμμάχους,
ὅταν ὀμνύῃ τις τὸν κόρακα καὶ τὸν Δία,
ὁ κόραξ παρελθὼν τοὐπιορκοῦντος λάθρᾳ
προσπτόμενος ἐκκόψει τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν θενών.

[¶108] Poseidon:
Well thought of, by Poseidon!

> Greek: Ποσειδῶν:
νὴ τὸν Ποσειδῶ ταῦτά γέ τοι καλῶς λέγεις.

[¶109] Heracles:
My notion too.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
κἀμοὶ δοκεῖ.

[¶110] Pisthetaerus: To Triballus.
And you, what's your opinion?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τί δαὶ σὺ φῄς;

[¶111] Triballus:
Nabasatreu.

> Greek: Τριβαλλός:
ναβαισατρεῦ.

[¶112] Pisthetaerus:
D'you see? he also approves. But listen, here is another thing in which we can serve you. If a man vows to offer a sacrifice to some god, and then procrastinates,
pretending that the gods can wait, and thus does not keep his word, we shall punish his stinginess.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὁρᾷς; ἐπαινεῖ χοὖτος. ἕτερόν νυν ἔτι
ἀκούσαθʼ ὅσον ὑμᾶς ἀγαθὸν ποιήσομεν.
ἐάν τις ἀνθρώπων ἱερεῖόν τῳ θεῶν
εὐξάμενος εἶτα διασοφίζηται λέγων,
μενετοὶ θεοί, καὶ μἀποδιδῷ μισητίᾳ,
ἀναπράξομεν καὶ ταῦτα.

[¶113] Poseidon:
Ah! and how?

> Greek: Ποσειδῶν:
φέρʼ ἴδω τῷ τρόπῳ;

[¶114] Pisthetaerus:
While he is counting his money or is in the bath, a kite will relieve him, before he knows it, either in coin or in clothes,
of the value of a couple of sheep, and carry it to the god.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὅταν διαριθμῶν ἀργυρίδιον τύχῃ
ἅνθρωπος οὗτος, ἢ καθῆται λούμενος,
καταπτόμενος ἰκτῖνος ἁρπάσας λάθρᾳ
προβάτοιν δυοῖν τιμὴν ἀνοίσει τῷ θεῷ.

[¶115] Heracles:
I vote for restoring them the scepter.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
τὸ σκῆπτρον ἀποδοῦναι πάλιν ψηφίζομαι
τούτοις ἐγώ.

[¶116] Poseidon:
Ask Triballus.

> Greek: Ποσειδῶν:
καὶ τὸν Τριβαλλόν νυν ἐροῦ.

[¶117] Heracles:
Hi! Triballus, do you want a thrashing?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ὁ Τριβαλλός, οἰμώζειν δοκεῖ σοι;

[¶118] Triballus:
Sure, bashum head withum stick.

> Greek: Τριβαλλός:
σαυνάκα
βακταρικροῦσα.

[¶119] Heracles:
He says, “Right willingly.”

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
φησί μʼ εὖ λέγειν πάνυ.

[¶120] Poseidon:
If that be the opinion of both of you, why, I consent too.

> Greek: Ποσειδῶν:
εἴ τοι δοκεῖ σφῷν ταῦτα, κἀμοὶ συνδοκεῖ.

[¶121] Heracles:
Very well! we accord you the scepter.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οὗτος, δοκεῖ δρᾶν ταῦτα τοῦ σκήπτρου πέρι.

[¶122] Pisthetaerus:
Ah! I was nearly forgetting another condition. I will leave Here to Zeus, but only if the young Basileia
is given me in marriage.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
καὶ νὴ Δίʼ ἕτερόν γʼ ἐστὶν οὗ ʼμνήσθην ἐγώ.
τὴν μὲν γὰρ Ἥραν παραδίδωμι τῷ Διί,
τὴν δὲ Βασίλειαν τὴν κόρην γυναῖκʼ ἐμοὶ
ἐκδοτέον ἐστίν.

[¶123] Poseidon:
Then you don't want peace. Let us withdraw.

> Greek: Ποσειδῶν:
οὐ διαλλαγῶν ἐρᾷς.
ἀπίωμεν οἴκαδʼ αὖθις.

[¶124] Pisthetaerus:
It matters mighty little to me. Cook, look to the gravy.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὀλίγον μοι μέλει.
μάγειρε τὸ κατάχυσμα χρὴ ποιεῖν γλυκύ.

[¶125] Heracles:
What an odd fellow this Poseidon is! Where are you off to? Are we going to war about a woman?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ὦ δαιμόνιʼ ἀνθρώπων Πόσειδον ποῖ φέρει;
ἡμεῖς περὶ γυναικὸς μιᾶς πολεμήσομεν;

[¶126] Poseidon:
What else is there to do?

> Greek: Ποσειδῶν:
τί δαὶ ποιῶμεν;

[¶127] Heracles:
What else? Why, conclude peace.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ὅ τι; διαλλαττώμεθα.

[¶128] Poseidon:
Oh! you blockhead! do you always want to be fooled? Why, you are seeking your own downfall. If Zeus were to die, after having yielded them the sovereignty, you would be ruined, for you are the heir of
all the wealth he will leave behind.

> Greek: Ποσειδῶν:
τί δʼ ᾠζύρʼ; οὐκ οἶσθʼ ἐξαπατώμενος πάλαι;
βλάπτεις δέ τοι σὺ σαυτόν. ἢν γὰρ ἀποθάνῃ
ὁ Ζεὺς παραδοὺς τούτοισι τὴν τυραννίδα,
πένης ἔσει σύ. σοῦ γὰρ ἅπαντα γίγνεται
τὰ χρήμαθʼ, ὅσʼ ἂν ὁ Ζεὺς ἀποθνῄσκων καταλίπῃ.

[¶129] Pisthetaerus:
Oh! by the gods! how he is cajoling you. Step aside, that I may have a word with you. Your uncle is getting the better of you, my poor friend.
The law will not allow you an obolus of the paternal property, for you are a bastard and not a legitimate child.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οἴμοι τάλας οἷόν σε περισοφίζεται.
δεῦρʼ ὡς ἔμʼ ἀποχώρησον, ἵνα τί σοι φράσω.
διαβάλλεταί σʼ ὁ θεῖος ὦ πόνηρε σύ.
τῶν γὰρ πατρῴων οὐδʼ ἀκαρῆ μέτεστί σοι
κατὰ τοὺς νόμους· νόθος γὰρ εἶ κοὐ γνήσιος.

[¶130] Heracles:
I a bastard! What's that you tell me?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἐγὼ νόθος; τί λέγεις;

[¶131] Pisthetaerus:
Why, certainly; are you not born of a stranger woman? Besides, is not Athena recognized as Zeus' sole heiress? And no daughter would be that, if she had a legitimate brother.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
σὺ μέντοι νὴ Δία
ὤν γε ξένης γυναικός. ἢ πῶς ἄν ποτε
ἐπίκληρον εἶναι τὴν Ἀθηναίαν δοκεῖς,
οὖσαν θυγατέρʼ, ὄντων ἀδελφῶν γνησίων;

[¶132] Heracles:
But what if my father wished to give me his property on his death-bed, even though I be a bastard?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
τί δʼ ἢν ὁ πατὴρ ἐμοὶ διδῷ τὰ χρήματα
νοθεἶ ἀποθνῄσκων;

[¶133] Pisthetaerus:
The law forbids it, and this same Poseidon would be the first to lay claim to his wealth, in virtue of being his legitimate brother. Listen;
thus runs Solon's law: “A bastard shall not inherit, if there are”
“legitimate children; and if there are no legitimate children, the property shall pass to the nearest kin.”

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ὁ νόμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἐᾷ.
οὗτος ὁ Ποσειδῶν πρῶτος, ὃς ἐπαίρει σε νῦν,
ἀνθέξεταί σου τῶν πατρῴων χρημάτων
φάσκων ἀδελφὸς αὐτὸς εἶναι γνήσιος.
ἐρῶ δὲ δὴ καὶ τὸν Σόλωνός σοι νόμον·
νόθῳ δὲ μὴ εἶναι ἀγχιστείαν παίδων ὄντων
γνησίων. ἐὰν δὲ παῖδες μὴ ὦσι γνήσιοι, τοῖς
ἐγγυτάτω γένους μετεῖναι τῶν χρημάτων.

[¶134] Heracles:
And I get nothing whatever of the paternal property?

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἐμοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ οὐδὲν τῶν πατρῴων χρημάτων
μέτεστιν;

[¶135] Pisthetaerus:
Absolutely nothing. But tell me, has your father had you entered on the registers of his phratry?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐ μέντοι μὰ Δία. λέξον δέ μοι,
ἤδη σʼ ὁ πατὴρ εἰσήγαγʼ ἐς τοὺς φράτερας;

[¶136] Heracles:
No, and I have long been surprised at the omission.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
οὐ δῆτʼ ἐμέ γε. καὶ δῆτʼ ἐθαύμαζον πάλαι.

[¶137] Pisthetaerus:
Why do you shake your fist at heaven? Do you want to fight? Why, be on my side, I will make you a king and will feed you on bird's milk and honey.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
τί δῆτʼ ἄνω κέχηνας αἴκειαν βλέπων;
ἀλλʼ ἢν μεθʼ ἡμῶν ᾖς, καταστήσας σʼ ἐγὼ
τύραννον ὀρνίθων παρέξω σοι γάλα.

[¶138] Heracles:
Your further condition seems fair to me.
I cede you the young damsel.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
δίκαιʼ ἔμοιγε καὶ πάλαι δοκεῖς λέγειν
περὶ τῆς κόρης, κἄγωγε παραδίδωμί σοι.
Πισθέταιρος:
τί δαὶ σὺ φῄς;

[¶139] Poseidon:
But I, I vote against this opinion.

> Greek: Ποσειδῶν:
τἀναντία ψηφίζομαι.

[¶140] Pisthetaerus:
Then it all depends on the Triballus. To the Triballus. What do you say?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἐν τῷ Τριβαλλῷ πᾶν τὸ πρᾶγμα. τί σὺ λέγεις;

[¶141] Triballus:
Givum bird pretty gel bigum queen.

> Greek: Τριβαλλός:
καλάνι κόραυνα καὶ μεγάλα βασιλιναῦ
ὄρνιτο παραδίδωμι.

[¶142] Heracles:
He says give her.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
παραδοῦναι λέγει.

[¶143] Poseidon:
Why no, he does not say anything of the sort, or else, like the swallows he does not know how to walk.

> Greek: Ποσειδῶν:
μὰ τὸν Δίʼ οὐχ οὗτός γε παραδοῦναι λέγει,
εἰ μὴ † βαδίζειν † ωἅσπερ αἱ χελιδόσιν λέγει.

[¶144] Pisthetaerus:
Exactly so. Does he not say she must be given to the swallows?

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
οὐκοῦν παραδοῦναι ταῖς χελιδόσιν λέγει.

[¶145] Poseidon: Resignedly.
All right, you two arrange the matter; make peace, since you wish it so; I'll hold my tongue.

> Greek: Ποσειδῶν:
σφὼ νῦν διαλλάττεσθε καὶ ξυμβαίνετε·
ἐγὼ δʼ, ἐπειδὴ σφῷν δοκεῖ, σιγήσομαι.

[¶146] Heracles:
We are of a mind to grant you all that you ask. But come up there with us to receive Basileia and the celestial bounty.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
ἡμῖν ἃ λέγεις σὺ πάντα συγχωρεῖν δοκεῖ.
ἀλλʼ ἴθι μεθʼ ἡμῶν αὐτὸς ἐς τὸν οὐρανόν,
ἵνα τὴν Βασίλειαν καὶ τὰ πάντʼ ἐκεῖ λάβῃς.

[¶147] Pisthetaerus:
Here are birds already dressed, and very suitable for a nuptial feast.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἐς καιρὸν ἆρα κατεκόπησαν οὑτοιὶ
ἐς τοὺς γάμους.

[¶148] Heracles:
You go and, if you like, I will stay here to roast them.
Pisthetaerus:
You to roast them? you are too much the glutton; come along with us.

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
βούλεσθε δῆτʼ ἐγὼ τέως
ὀπτῶ τὰ κρέα ταυτὶ μένων; ὑμεῖς δʼ ἴτε.
Ποσειδῶν:
ὀπτᾷς τὰ κρέα; πολλήν γε τενθείαν λέγεις.
οὐκ εἶ μεθʼ ἡμῶν;

[¶149] Heracles:
Ah! how well I would have treated myself!

> Greek: Ἡρακλῆς:
εὖ γε μέντἂν διετέθην.

[¶150] Pisthetaerus:
Let some one bring me a beautiful and magnificent tunic for the wedding.
The tunic is brought. Pisthetaerus and the three gods depart.

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἀλλὰ γαμικὴν χλανίδα δότω τις δεῦρό μοι.

[¶151] Chorus: Singing.
At Phanae, near the
Clepsydra, there dwells a people who have neither faith nor law, the Englottogastors, who reap, sow, pluck the vines and the figs with their tongues;
they belong to a barbaric race, and among them the Philippi and the Gorgiases are to be found; 'tis these Englottogastorian Philippi who introduced the custom all over Attica
of cutting out the tongue separately at sacrifices.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔστι δʼ ἐν Φαναῖσι πρὸς τῇ
Κλεψύδρᾳ πανοῦργον ἐγ-
γλωττογαστόρων γένος,
οἳ θερίζουσίν τε καὶ σπείρουσι
καὶ τρυγῶσι ταῖς γλώτταισι
συκάζουσί τε·
βάρβαροι δʼ εἰσὶν γένος,
Γοργίαι τε καὶ Φίλιπποι.
κἀπὸ τῶν ἐγγλωττογαστόρων
ἐκείνων τῶν Φιλίππων
πανταχοῦ τῆς Ἀττικῆς ἡ
γλῶττα χωρὶς τέμνεται.

[¶152] A Messenger enters.
Messenger: In tragic style.
Oh, you, whose unbounded happiness I cannot express in words, thrice happy race of airy birds, receive your king in your fortunate dwellings. More brilliant than the brightest
star that illumes the earth, he is approaching his glittering golden palace; the sun itself does not shine with more dazzling glory. He is entering with his bride at his side, whose beauty no human tongue can express; in his hand he brandishes the lightning, the winged shaft of Zeus;
perfumes of unspeakable sweetness pervade the ethereal realms. 'Tis a glorious spectacle to see the clouds of incense wafting in light whirlwinds before the breath of the zephyr! But here he is himself. Divine Muse! let thy sacred lips begin with songs of happy omen.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ὦ πάντʼ ἀγαθὰ πράττοντες, ὦ μείζω λόγου,
ὦ τρισμακάριον πτηνὸν ὀρνίθων γένος,
δέχεσθε τὸν τύραννον ὀλβίοις δόμοις.
προσέρχεται γὰρ οἷς οὔτε παμφαὴς
ἀστὴρ ἰδεῖν ἔλαμψε χρυσαυγεῖ δόμῳ,
οὔθʼ ἡλίου τηλαυγὲς ἀκτίνων σέλας
τοιοῦτον ἐξέλαμψεν, οἶον ἔρχεται
ἔχων γυναικὸς κάλλος οὐ φατὸν λέγειν,
πάλλων κεραυνόν, πτεροφόρον Διὸς βέλος·
ὀσμὴ δʼ ἀνωνόμαστος ἐς βάθος κύκλου
χωρεῖ, καλὸν θέαμα· θυμιαμάτων δʼ
αὖραι διαψαίρουσι πλεκτάνην καπνοῦ.
ὁδὶ δὲ καὐτός ἐστιν. ἀλλὰ χρὴ θεᾶς
Μούσης ἀνοίγειν ἱερὸν εὔφημον στόμα.

[¶153] Pisthetaerus enters, with a crown on his head; he is accompanied by Basileia.
Chorus: Singing.
Fall back! to the right! to the left! advance! Fly around this happy mortal, whom Fortune loads with her blessings. Oh! oh! what grace! what beauty!
Oh, marriage so auspicious for our city!
Chorus:
All honor to this man! 'tis through him that the birds are called to such glorious destinies. Let your nuptial hymns, your nuptial songs, greet
him and his Basileia!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄναγε δίεχε πάραγε πάρεχε.
περιπέτεσθε
τὸν μάκαρα μάκαρι σὺν τύχᾳ.
ὦ φεῦ φεῦ τῆς ὥρας τοῦ κάλλους.
ὦ μακαριστὸν σὺ γάμον τῇδε πόλει γημας.
Χορός:
μεγάλαι μεγάλαι κατέχουσι τύχαι
γένος ὀρνίθων
διὰ τόνδε τὸν ἄνδρʼ. ἀλλʼ ὑμεναίοις
καὶ νυμφιδίοισι δέχεσθʼ ᾠδαῖς
αὐτὸν καὶ τὴν Βασίλειαν.

[¶154] Chorus:
'Twas that the Fates formerly united Olympian Hera to the King who governs the gods from the summit of his inaccessible throne
in the midst of such festivities. Oh! Hymen! oh! Hymenaeus!

> Greek: Χορός:
Ἥρᾳ ποτʼ Ὀλυμπίᾳ
τῶν ἠλιβάτων θρόνων
ἄρχοντα θεοῖς μέγαν
Μοῖραι ξυνεκοίμισαν
ἐν τοιῷδʼ ὑμεναίῳ.
Ὑμὴν ὦ Ὑμέναιʼ ὦ,
⟨Ὑμὴν ὦ Ὑμέναιʼ ὦ.⟩

[¶155] Chorus:
Rosy Eros with the golden wings held the reins and guided the chariot; 'twas he, who presided over
the union of Zeus and the fortunate Hera. Oh! Hymen! oh! Hymenaeus!

> Greek: Χορός:
ὁ δʼ ἀμφιθαλὴς Ἔρως
χρυσόπτερος ἡνίας
ηὔθυνε παλιντόνους,
Ζηνὸς πάροχος γάμων
τῆς τʼ εὐδαίμονος Ἥρας.
Ὑμὴν ὦ Ὑμέναιʼ ὦ,
Ὑμὴν ὦ Ὑμέναιʼ ὦ.

[¶156] Pisthetaerus:
I am delighted with your songs, I applaud your verses. Now celebrate
the thunder that shakes the earth, the flaming lightning of Zeus and the terrible flashing thunderbolt.
Chorus: Singing.
Oh, thou golden flash of the lightning! oh, ye divine shafts of flame, that Zeus has hitherto shot forth!
Oh, ye rolling thunders, that bring down the rain! 'Tis by the order of our king that ye shall now stagger the earth! Oh, Hymen! 'tis through thee that he commands the universe and that he makes Basileia, whom he has robbed from Zeus, take her seat at his side. Oh! Hymen! oh! Hymenaeus!
Pisthetaerus: Singing.
Let all the winged tribes of our fellow-citizens follow the bridal couple to the palace of Zeus and to the nuptial couch! Stretch forth your
hands, my dear wife! Take hold of me by my wings and let us dance; I am going to lift you up and carry you through the air.
Pisthetaerus and Basileia leave dancing; the Chorus follows them.
Chorus: Singing
Alalalai ie Paian! Tenella kallinikos!
Loftiest art thou of gods!

> Greek: Πισθέταιρος:
ἐχάρην ὕμνοις, ἐχάρην ᾠδαῖς·
ἄγαμαι δὲ λόγων. ἄγε νυν αὐτοῦ
καὶ τὰς χθονίας κλῄσατε βροντὰς
τάς τε πυρώδεις Διὸς ἀστεροπὰς
δεινόν τʼ ἀργῆτα κεραυνόν.
Χορός:
ὦ μέγα χρύσεον ἀστεροπῆς φάος,
ὦ Διὸς ἄμβροτον ἔγχος πυρφόρον,
ὦ χθόνιαι βαρυαχέες
ὀμβροφόροι θʼ ἅμα βρονταί,
αἷς ὅδε νῦν χθόνα σείει.
διὰ σὲ τὰ πάντα κρατήσας
καὶ πάρεδρον Βασίλειαν ἔχει Διός.
Ὑμὴν ὦ Ὑμέναιʼ ὦ.
Πισθέταιρος:
ἔπεσθε νῦν γάμοισιν ὦ
φῦλα πάντα συννόμων
πτεροφόρʼ ἐπὶ δάπεδον Διὸς
καὶ λέχος γαμήλιον.
ὄρεξον ὦ μάκαιρα σὴν
χεῖρα καὶ πτερῶν ἐμῶν
λαβοῦσα συγχόρευσον· αἴρων
δὲ κουφιῶ σʼ ἐγώ.
Χορός:
ἀλαλαλαὶ ἰὴ παιών,
τήνελλα καλλίνικος, ὦ
δαιμόνων ὑπέρτατε.