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?
Πισθέταιρος:μὰ τὸν Ἀπόλλω ʼγὼ μὲν οὔ,ἢν μὴ διάθωνταί γʼ οἵδε διαθήκην ἐμοὶἥνπερ ὁ πίθηκος τῇ γυναικὶ διέθετο,ὁ μαχαιροποιός, μήτε δάκνειν τούτους ἐμὲμήτʼ ὀρχίπεδʼ ἕλκειν μήτʼ ὀρύττειν —Χορός:οὔτι πουτόν —; οὐδαμῶς.
Pisthetaerus:No, I mean my eyes.
Πισθέταιρος:οὔκ, ἀλλὰ τὠφθαλμὼ λέγω.
Leader of the Chorus:Agreed.
Χορός:διατίθεμαι ʼγώ.
Pisthetaerus:Swear it.
Πισθέταιρος:κατόμοσόν νυν ταῦτά μοι.
Leader of the Chorus:I swear it and, if I keep my promise, let judges and spectators give me the victory unanimously.
Χορός:ὄμνυμʼ ἐπὶ τούτοις, πᾶσι νικᾶν τοῖς κριταῖςκαὶ τοῖς θεαταῖς πᾶσιν.
Pisthetaerus:It is a bargain.
Πισθέταιρος:ἔσται ταυταγί.
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.
Χορός:εἰ δὲ παραβαίην, ἑνὶ κριτῇ νικᾶν μόνον.Κῆρυξ:ἀκούετε λεῴ· τοὺς ὁπλίτας νυνμενὶἀνελομένους θὤπλʼ ἀπιέναι πάλιν οἴκαδε,σκοπεῖν δʼ ὅ τι ἂν προγράφωμεν ἐν τοῖς πινακίοις.
Chorus: Singing.Man is a truly cunning creature, but nevertheless explain. Perhaps you are going to show me some good wayto 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.
Χορός:δολερὸν μὲν ἀεὶ κατὰ πάντα δὴ τρόπονπέφυκεν ἄνθρωπος· σὺ δʼ ὅμως λέγε μοι.τάχα γὰρ τύχοις ἂνχρηστὸν ἐξειπὼν ὅ τι μοι παρορᾷς, ἢδύναμίν τινα μείζωπαραλειπομένην ὑπʼ ἐμῆς φρενὸς ἀξυνέτου·σὺ δὲ τοῦθʼ οὑρᾷς λέγʼ ἐς κοινόν.ὃ γὰρ ἂν σὺ τύχῃς μοιἀγαθὸν πορίσας, τοῦτο κοινὸν ἔσται.
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.
Χορός:ἀλλʼ ἐφʼ ὅτῳπερ πράγματι τὴν σὴν ἥκεις γνώμην ἀναπείσας,λέγε θαρρήσας· ὡς τὰς σπονδὰς οὐ μὴ πρότεροι παραβῶμεν.
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!
Πισθέταιρος:καὶ μὴν ὀργῶ νὴ τὸν Δία καὶ προπεφύραται λόγος εἷς μοι,ὃν διαμάττειν οὐ κωλύει· φέρε παῖ στέφανον· καταχεῖσθαικατὰ χειρὸς ὕδωρ φερέτω ταχύ τις.
Euelpides:Is it a question of feasting? What does it all mean?
Ἐυελπίδης:δειπνήσειν μέλλομεν; ἢ τί;
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...
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 —
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.
Χορός:ἡμεῖς βασιλῆς; τίνος;Πισθέταιρος:ὑμεῖςπάντων ὁπόσʼ ἔστιν, ἐμοῦ πρῶτον, τουδί, καὶ τοῦ Διὸς αὐτοῦ,ἀρχαιότεροι πρότεροί τε Κρόνου καὶ Τιτάνων ἐγένεσθε,καὶ γῆς.
Leader of the Chorus:What, older than the Earth!
Χορός:καὶ γῆς;
Pisthetaerus:By Phoebus, yes.
Πισθέταιρος:νὴ τὸν Ἀπόλλω.
Leader of the Chorus:By Zeus, but I never knew that before!
Χορός:τουτὶ μὰ Δίʼ οὐκ ἐπεπύσμην.
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.
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 ἀποροῦσανὑπʼ ἀμηχανίας τὸν πατέρʼ αὑτῆς ἐν τῇ κεφαλῇ κατορύξαι.
Euelpides:So that the lark's father is buried at Cephalae.
Ἐυελπίδης:ὁ πατὴρ ἄρα τῆς κορυδοῦ νυνὶ κεῖται τεθνεὼς Κεφαλῆσιν.
Pisthetaerus:Hence, if they existed before the Earth, before the gods, the kingship belongs to them by right of priority.
Πισθέταιρος:οὔκουν δῆτʼ εἰ πρότεροι μὲν γῆς πρότεροι δὲ θεῶν ἐγένοντο,ὡς πρεσβυτάτων αὐτῶν ὄντῶν ὀρθῶς ἐσθʼ ἡ βασιλεία;
Euelpides:Undoubtedly, but sharpen your beak well;Zeus won't be in a hurry to hand over his scepter to the woodpecker.
Ἐυελπίδης:νὴ τὸν Ἀπόλλω· πάνυ τοίνυν χρὴ ῥύγχος βόσκειν σε τὸ λοιπόν·οὐκ ἀποδώσει ταχέως ὁ Ζεὺς τὸ σκῆπτρον τῷ δρυκολάπτῃ.
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.
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 ἐτυράννειἦρχέ τε Περσῶν πρῶτον πάντων Δαρείου καὶ Μεγαβάζου,ὥστε καλεῖται Περσικὸς ὄρνις ἀπὸ τῆς ἀρχῆς ἔτʼ ἐκείνης.
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.
Ἐυελπίδης:διὰ ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἔχων καὶ νῦν ὥσπερ βασιλεὺς ὁ μέγας διαβάσκειἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς τὴν κυρβασίαν τῶν ὀρνίθων μόνος ὀρθήν.
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.
Πισθέταιρος:οὕτω δʼ ἴσχυσέ τε καὶ μέγας ἦν τότε καὶ πολύς, ὥστʼ ἔτι καὶ νῦνὑπὸ τῆς ῥώμης τῆς τότʼ ἐκείνης, ὁπόταν μόνον ὄρθριον ᾄσῃ,ἀναπηδῶσιν πάντες ἐπʼ ἔργον χαλκῆς κεραμῆς σκυλοδέψαισκυτῆς βαλανῆς ἀλφιταμοιβοὶ τορνευτολυρασπιδοπηγοί·οἱ δὲ βαδίζουσʼ ὑποδησάμενοι νύκτωρ.
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 freelyand 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.
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 προκύπτωἔξω τείχους καὶ λωποδύτης παίει ῥοπάλῳ με τὸ νῶτον·κἀγὼ πίπτω μέλλω τε βοᾶν, ὁ δʼ ἀπέβλισε θοἰμάτιόν μου.
Pisthetaerus:Formerly also the kite was ruler and king over the Greeks.
Πισθέταιρος:ἰκτῖνος δʼ οὖν τῶν Ἑλλήνων ἦρχεν τότε κἀβασίλευεν.
Leader of the Chorus:The Greeks?
Χορός:τῶν Ἑλλήνων;
Pisthetaerus:And when he was king, he was the one who first taught them to fall on their knees before the kites.
Πισθέταιρος:καὶ κατέδειξέν γʼ οὗτος πρῶτος βασιλεύωνπροκυλινδεῖσθαι τοῖς ἰκτίνοις.
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.
Ἐυελπίδης:νὴ τὸν Διόνυσον, ἐγὼ γοῦνἐκυλινδούμην ἰκτῖνον ἰδών· κᾆθʼ ὕπτιος ὢν ἀναχάσκωνὀβολὸν κατεβρόχθισα· κᾆτα κενὸν τὸν θύλακον οἴκαδʼ ἀφεῖλκον.
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.
Πισθέταιρος:Αἰγύπτου δʼ αὖ καὶ Φοινίκης πάσης κόκκυξ βασιλεὺς ἦν·χὠπόθʼ ὁ κόκκυξ εἴποι κόκκυ, τότʼ ἂν οἱ Φοίνικες ἅπαντεςτοὺς πυροὺς ἂν καὶ τὰς κριθὰς ἐν τοῖς πεδίοις ἐθέριζον.
Euelpides:Hence no doubt the proverb, “Cuckoo! cuckoo! go to the fields, ye circumcised.”
Ἐυελπίδης:τοῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἐκεῖνʼ ἦν τοὔπος ἀληθῶς· κόκκυψωλοὶ πεδίονδε.
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.
Πισθέταιρος:ἦρχον δʼ οὕτω σφόδρα τὴν ἀρχήν, ὥστʼ εἴ τις καὶ βασιλεύοιἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν τῶν Ἑλλήνων Ἀγαμέμνων ἢ Μενέλαος,ἐπὶ τῶν σκήπτρων ἐκάθητʼ ὄρνις μετέχων ὅ τι δωροδοκοίη.
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.
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.
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.
Πισθέταιρος:ὃ δὲ δεινότατόν γʼ ἐστὶν ἁπάντων, ὁ Ζεὺς γὰρ ὁ νῦν βασιλεύωναἰετὸν ὄρνιν ἕστηκεν ἔχων ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς βασιλεὺς ὤν,ἡ δʼ αὖ θυγάτηρ γλαῦχʼ, ὁ δʼ Ἀπόλλων ὥσπερ θεράπων ἱέρακα.
Euelpides:By Demeter, the point is well taken. But what are all these birds doing in heaven?
Ἐυελπίδης:νὴ τὴν Δήμητρʼ εὖ ταῦτα λέγεις. τίνος οὕνεκα ταῦτʼ ἄρʼ ἔχουσιν;
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,
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,
Pisthetaerus:but now you are looked upon as slaves, as fools, as Maneses; stonesare 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 heapsand 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.
Πισθέταιρος:νῦν δʼ ἀνδράποδʼ ἠλιθίους Μανᾶς·ὥσπερ δʼ ἤδη τοὺς μαινομένουςβάλλουσʼ ὑμᾶς, κἀν τοῖς ἱεροῖςπᾶς τις ἐφʼ ὑμῖν ὀρνιθευτὴςἵστησι βρόχους παγίδας ῥάβδουςἕρκη νεφέλας δίκτυα πηκτάς·εἶτα λαβόντες πωλοῦσʼ ἁθρόους·οἱ δʼ ὠνοῦνται βλιμάζοντες·κοὐδʼ οὖν, εἴπερ ταῦτα δοκεῖ δρᾶν,ὀπτησάμενοι παρέθενθʼ ὑμᾶς,ἀλλʼ ἐπικνῶσιν τυρὸν ἔλαιονσίλφιον ὄξος καὶ τρίψαντεςκατάχυσμʼ ἕτερον γλυκὺ καὶ λιπαρόν,κἄπειτα κατεσκέδασαν θερμὸντοῦτο καθʼ ὑμῶναὐτῶν ὥσπερ κενεβρείων.
Chorus: Singing.Man, your words havemade 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.
Χορός:πολὺ δὴ πολὺ δὴ χαλεπωτάτους λόγουςἤνεγκας ἄνθρωφʼ. ὡς ἐδάκρυσά γʼ ἐμῶνπατέρων κάκην, οἳτάσδε τὰς τιμὰς προγόνων παραδόντωνἐπʼ ἐμοῦ κατέλυσαν.σὺ δέ μοι κατὰ δαίμονα καί ⟨τινα⟩ συντυχίανἀγαθὴν ἥκεις ἐμοὶ σωτήρ.ἀναθεὶς γὰρ ἐγώ σοιτὰ νεοττία κἀμαυτὸν οἰκήσω.
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.
Χορός:ἀλλʼ ὅ τι χρὴ δρᾶν, σὺ δίδασκε παρών· ὡς ζῆν οὐκ ἄξιον ἡμῖν,εἰ μὴ κομιούμεθα παντὶ τρόπῳ τὴν ἡμετέραν βασιλείαν.
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.
Πισθέταιρος:καὶ δὴ τοίνυν πρῶτα διδάσκω μίαν ὀρνίθων πόλιν εἶναι,κἄπειτα τὸν ἀέρα πάντα κύκλῳ καὶ πᾶν τουτὶ τὸ μεταξὺπεριτειχίζειν μεγάλαις πλίνθοις ὀπταῖς ὥσπερ Βαβυλῶνα.
Epops:Oh, Cebriones! oh, Porphyrion! what a terribly strong place!
Ἔποψ:ὦ Κεβριόνη καὶ Πορφυρίων ὡς σμερδαλέον τὸ πόλισμα.
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.
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 ἀπειπεῖνδιὰ τῆς χώρας τῆς ὑμετέρας ἐστυκόσι μὴ διαφοιτᾶν,ὥσπερ πρότερον μοιχεύσοντες τὰς Ἀλκμήνας κατέβαινονκαὶ τὰς Ἀλόπας καὶ τὰς Σεμέλας· ἤνπερ δʼ ἐπίωσʼ, ἐπιβάλλεινσφραγῖδʼ 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 πρεπόντωςτοῖσι 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.
Euelpides:This notion of an immolated gnat delights me! And now let the great Zeus thunder!
Ἐυελπίδης:ἥσθην σέρφῳ σφαγιαζομένῳ. βροντάτω νῦν ὁ μέγας Ζάν.
Leader of the Chorus:But how will mankind recognize us as gods and not as jays? Us, who have wings and fly?
Χορός:καὶ πῶς ἡμᾶς νομιοῦσι θεοὺς ἄνθρωποι κοὐχὶ κολοιούς,οἳ πετόμεσθα πτέρυγάς τʼ ἔχομεν;
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.
Πισθέταιρος:ληρεῖς· καὶ νὴ Δίʼ ὅ γʼ Ἑρμῆςπέτεται 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.
Euelpides:But will not Zeus thunder and send his winged bolts against us?
Ἐυελπίδης:ὁ Ζεὺς δʼ ἡμῖν οὐ βροντήσας πέμψει πτερόεντα κεραυνόν;
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.
Πισθέταιρος:ἢν δʼ οὖν ὑμᾶς μὲν ὑπʼ ἀγνοίας εἶναι νομίσωσι τὸ μηδέν,τούτους δὲ θεοὺς τοὺς ἐν Ὀλύμπῳ τότε χρὴ στρούθων νέφος ἀρθὲνκαὶ σπερμολόγων ἐκ τῶν ἀγρῶν τὸ σπέρμʼ αὐτῶν ἀνακάψαι·κἄπειτʼ αὐτοῖς ἡ Δημήτηρ πυροὺς πεινῶσι μετρείτω.
Euelpides:By Zeus, she'll take good care she does not, and you will see her inventing a thousand excuses.
Ἐυελπίδης:οὐκ ἐθελήσει μὰ Δίʼ, ἀλλʼ ὄψει προφάσεις αὐτὴν παρέχουσαν.
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.
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.
Euelpides:Oh! don't do that! Wait first until I have sold my two young bullocks.
Ἐυελπίδης:μὴ πρίν γʼ ἂν ἐγὼ τὼ βοιδαρίω τὠμὼ πρώτιστʼ ἀποδῶμαι.
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.
Πισθέταιρος:ἢν δʼ ἡγῶνται σὲ θεὸν σὲ βίον σὲ δὲ γῆν σὲ Κρόνον σὲ Ποσειδῶ,ἀγάθʼ αὐτοῖσιν πάντα παρέσται.
Epops:Name me one of these then.
Ἔποψ:λέγε δή μοι τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἕν.
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.
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.
Epops:And how shall we give wealth to mankind? This is their strongest passion.
Ἔποψ:πλουτεῖν δὲ πόθεν δώσομεν αὐτοῖς; καὶ γὰρ τούτου σφόδρʼ ἐρῶσιν.
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.
Πισθέταιρος:τὰ μέταλλʼ αὐτοῖς μαντευομένοις οὗτοι δώσουσι τὰ χρηστά,τάς τʼ ἐμπορίας τὰς κερδαλέας πρὸς τὸν μάντιν κατεροῦσιν,ὥστʼ ἀπολεῖται τῶν ναυκλήρων οὐδείς.
Epops:No more shall perish? How is that?
Ἔποψ:πῶς οὐκ ἀπολεῖται;
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.”
Πισθέταιρος:προερεῖ τις ἀεὶ τῶν ὀρνίθων μαντευομένῳ περὶ τοῦ πλοῦ·νυνὶ μὴ πλεῖ, χειμὼν ἔσται· νυνὶ πλεῖ, κέρδος ἐπέσται.
Euelpides:I shall buy a trading-vessel and go to sea. I will not stay with you.
Ἐυελπίδης:γαῦλον κτῶμαι καὶ ναυκληρῶ, κοὐκ ἂν μείναιμι παρʼ ὑμῖν.
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.”
Πισθέταιρος:τοὺς θησαυρούς τʼ αὐτοῖς δείξουσʼ οὓς οἱ πρότεροι κατέθεντοτῶν ἀργυρίων· οὗτοι γὰρ ἴσασι· λέγουσι δέ τοι τάδε πάντες,οὐδεὶς οἶδεν τὸν θησαυρὸν τὸν ἐμὸν πλὴν εἴ τις ἄρʼ ὄρνις.
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?
Ἐυελπίδης:πωλῶ γαῦλον, κτῶμαι σμινύην, καὶ τὰς ὑδρίας ἀνορύττω.Ἔποψ:πῶς δʼ ὑγιείαν δώσουσʼ αὐτοῖς, οὖσαν παρὰ τοῖσι θεοῖσιν;
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?
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;
Pisthetaerus:Why, the birds, by Zeus,will add three hundred years to their life.Leader of the Chorus:From whom will they take them?
Πισθέταιρος:μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλὰ τριακόσιʼ αὐτοῖςἔτι προσθήσουσʼ ὄρνιθες ἔτη.Ἔποψ:παρὰ τοῦ;
Pisthetaerus:From whom? Why, from themselves. Don't you know the cawing crow lives five times as long as a man?
Πισθέταιρος:παρʼ ὅτου; παρʼ ἑαυτῶν.οὐκ οἶσθʼ ὅτι πέντʼ ἀνδρῶν γενεὰς ζώει λακέρυζα κορώνη;
Euelpides:Ah! ah! these are far better kings for us than Zeus!
Ἐυελπίδης:αἰβοῖ πολλῷ κρείττους οὗτοι τοῦ Διὸς ἡμῖν βασιλεύειν.
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 Ammonto 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 enjoyand shall at once obtain them for a few grains of wheat.
Πισθέταιρος:οὐ γὰρ πολλῷ;πρῶτον μέν ⟨γʼ⟩ οὐχὶ νεὼς ἡμᾶςοἰκοδομεῖν δεῖ λιθίνους αὐτοῖς,οὐδὲ θυρῶσαι χρυσαῖσι θύραις,ἀλλʼ ὑπὸ θάμνοις καὶ πρινιδίοιςοἰκήσουσιν. τοῖς δʼ αὖ σεμνοῖςτῶν ὀρνίθων δένδρον ἐλάαςὁ νεὼς ἔσται· κοὐκ ἐς Δελφοὺςοὐδʼ εἰς Ἄμμωνʼ ἐλθόντες ἐκεῖθύσομεν, ἀλλʼ ἐν ταῖσιν κομάροιςκαὶ τοῖς κοτίνοις στάντες ἔχοντεςκριθὰς πυροὺς εὐξόμεθʼ αὐτοῖςἀνατείνοντες τὼ χεῖρʼ ἀγαθῶνδιδόναι τι μέρος· καὶ ταῦθʼ ἡμῖνπαραχρῆμʼ ἔσταιπυροὺς ὀλίγους προβαλοῦσιν.
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.
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 λόγοιςἐπηπείλησα καὶ κατώμοσα,ἢν σὺ παρʼ ἐμὲ θέμενοςὁμόφρονας λόγους δικαίουςἀδόλους ὁσίουςἐπὶ θεοὺς ἴῃς, ἐμοὶΧορός:φρονῶν ξυνῳδά, μὴ πολὺν χρόνονθεοὺς ἔτι σκῆπτρα τἀμὰ τρίψειν.
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.
Χορός:ἀλλʼ ὅσα μὲν δεῖ ῥώμῃ πράττειν, ἐπὶ ταῦτα τεταξόμεθʼ ἡμεῖς·ὅσα δὲ γνώμῃ δεῖ βουλεύειν, ἐπὶ σοὶ τάδε πάντʼ ἀνάκειται.
Epops:By Zeus! it's no longerthe 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.
Ἔποψ:καὶ μὴν μὰ τὸν Δίʼ οὐχὶ νυστάζειν ἔτιὥρα ʼστὶν ἡμῖν οὐδὲ μελλονικιᾶν,ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστα δεῖ τι δρᾶν· πρῶτον δέ γεεἰσέλθετʼ ἐς νεοττιάν γε τὴν ἐμὴνκαὶ τἀμὰ κάρφη καὶ τὰ παρόντα φρύγανα,καὶ τοὔνομʼ ἡμῖν φράσατον.
Pisthetaerus:That is soon done; my name is Pisthetaerus, and his,Euelpides, of the deme Crioa.
Πισθέταιρος:ἀλλὰ ῥᾴδιον.ἐμοὶ μὲν ὄνομα Πισθέταιρος, τῳδεδὶΕὐελπίδης Κριῶθεν.
Epops:Good! and good luck to you.
Ἔποψ:ἀλλὰ χαίρετονἄμφω.
Pisthetaerus:We accept the omen.
Πισθέταιρος:δεχόμεθα.
Epops:Come in here.
Ἔποψ:δεῦρο τοίνυν εἴσιτον.
Pisthetaerus:Very well, you are the one who must lead us and introduce us.
Πισθέταιρος:ἴωμεν· εἰσηγοῦ σὺ λαβὼν ἡμᾶς.
Epops:Come then.
Ἔποψ:ἴθι.
Pisthetaerus: Pisthetaerus starts to fly away, then stops himself.Oh! my god! do come back here. Hi! tell us howwe are to follow you. You can fly, but we cannot.
Πισθέταιρος:ἀτὰρ τὸ δεῖνα, δεῦρʼ ἐπανάκρουσαι πάλιν.φέρʼ ἴδω, φράσον νῷν, πῶς ἐγώ τε χοὐτοσὶξυνεσόμεθʼ ὑμῖν πετομένοις οὐ πετομένω;
Epops:Well, well.
Ἔποψ:καλῶς.
Pisthetaerus:Remember Aesop's fables. It is told there that the fox fared very badly, because he had made an alliance with the eagle.
Πισθέταιρος:ὅρα νυν, ὡς ἐν Αἰσώπου λόγοιςἐστὶν λεγόμενον δή τι, τὴν ἀλώπεχʼ, ὡςφλαύρως ἐκοινώνησεν αἰετῷ ποτέ.
Epops:Be at ease. You shall eat a certain rootand wings will grow on your shoulders.
Ἔποψ:μηδὲν φοβηθῇς· ἔστι γάρ τι ῥιζίον,ὃ διατραγόντʼ ἔσεσθον ἐπτερωμένω.
Pisthetaerus:Then let us enter. Xanthias and Manodorus, pick up our baggage.
Πισθέταιρος:οὕτω μὲν εἰσίωμεν. ἄγε δὴ Ξανθίακαὶ Μανόδωρε λαμβάνετε τὰ στρώματα.
Leader of the Chorus:Hi! Epops! do you hear me?
Χορός:οὗτος σὲ καλῶ, σὲ λέγω.
Epops:What's the matter?
Ἔποψ:τί καλεῖς;
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.
Χορός:τούτους μὲν ἄγων μετὰ σαυτοῦἀρίστισον εὖ· τὴν δʼ ἡδυμελῆ ξύμφωνον ἀηδόνα Μούσαιςκατάλειφʼ ἡμῖν δεῦρʼ ἐκβιβάσας, ἵνα παίσωμεν μετʼ ἐκείνης.
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.
Πισθέταιρος:ὦ τοῦτο μεντοι νὴ Δίʼ αὐτοῖσιν πιθοῦ·ἐκβίβασον ἐκ τοῦ βουτόμου τοὐρνίθιον.Ἐυελπίδης:ἐκβίβασον αὐτοῦ πρὸς θεῶν αὐτήν, ἵνακαὶ νὼ θεασώμεσθα τὴν ἀηδόνα.
Epops:Let it be as you desire. Come forth, Procne, show yourself to these strangers.Procne appears; she resembles a young flute-girl.
Ἔποψ:ἀλλʼ εἰ δοκεῖ σφῷν, ταῦτα χρὴ δρᾶν. ἡ Πρόκνηἔκβαινε καὶ σαυτὴν ἐπιδείκνυ τοῖς ξένοις.
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?
Πισθέταιρος:ὦ Ζεῦ πολυτίμηθʼ ὡς καλὸν τοὐρνίθιον,ὡς δʼ ἁπαλόν, ὡς δὲ λευκόν.
Euelpides:She is dazzling all over with gold, like a young girl.Oh! how I should like to kiss her!
Ἐυελπίδης:ἆρά γʼ οἶσθʼ ὅτιἐγὼ διαμηρίζοιμʼ ἂν αὐτὴν ἡδέως;
Pisthetaerus:Why, wretched man, she has two little sharp points on her beak!
Πισθέταιρος:ὅσον δʼ ἔχει τὸν χρυσόν, ὥσπερ παρθένος.
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.
Ἐυελπίδης:ἐγὼ μὲν αὐτὴν κἂν φιλῆσαί μοι δοκῶ.Πισθέταιρος:ἀλλʼ ὦ κακόδαιμον ῥύγχος ὀβελίσκοιν ἔχει.Ἐυελπίδης:ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ ᾠὸν νὴ Δίʼ ἀπολέψαντα χρὴἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς τὸ λέμμα κᾆθʼ οὕτω φιλεῖν.
Epops:Let us go in.
Ἔποψ:ἴωμεν.
Pisthetaerus:Lead the way, and may success attend us. Epops goes into the thicket, followed by Pisthetaerus and Euelpides.
Πισθέταιρος:ἡγοῦ δὴ σὺ νῷν τύχἀγαθῇ.
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.
Χορός:ὦ φίλη, ὦ ξουθή,ὦ φίλτατον ὀρνέωνπάντων, ξύννομε τῶν ἐμῶνὕμνων, ξύντροφʼ ἀηδοῖ,ἦλθες ἦλθες ὤφθης,ἡδὺν φθόγγον ἐμοὶ φέρουσʼ.ἀλλʼ ὦ καλλιβόαν κρέκουσʼαὐλὸν φθέγμασιν ἠρινοῖς,ἄρχου τῶν ἀναπαίστων.
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.
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 τεεἰδότες 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 κόλποιςτίκτει 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 εὐρὺνἐνεόττευσεν γένος ἡμέτερον, καὶ πρῶτον ἀνήγαγεν ἐς φῶς.πρότερον δʼ οὐκ ἦν γένος ἀθανάτων, πρὶν Ἔρως ξυνέμειξεν ἅπαντα·ξυμμιγνυμένων δʼ ἑτέρων ἑτέροις γένετʼ οὐρανὸς ὠκεανός τεκαὶ γῆ πάντων τε θεῶν μακάρων γένος ἄφθιτον. ὦδε μέν ἐσμενπολὺ πρεσβύτατοι πάντων μακάρων. ἡμεῖς δʼ ὡς ἐσμὲν Ἔρωτοςπολλοῖς δῆλον· πετόμεσθά τε γὰρ καὶ τοῖσιν ἐρῶσι σύνεσμεν·πολλοὺς δὲ καλοὺς ἀπομωμοκότας παῖδας πρὸς τέρμασιν ὥραςδιὰ τὴν ἰσχὺν τὴν ἡμετέραν διεμήρισαν ἄνδρες ἐρασταί,ὁ μὲν ὄρτυγα δοὺς ὁ δὲ πορφυρίωνʼ ὁ δὲ χῆνʼ ὁ δὲ Περσικὸν ὄρνιν.
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?
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;
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 youand 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.
Χορός:ἢν οὖν ἡμᾶς νομίσητε θεούς,ἕξετε χρῆσθαι μάντεσι Μούσαιςαὔραις ὥραις χειμῶνι θέρειμετρίῳ πνίγει· κοὐκ ἀποδράντεςκαθεδούμεθʼ ἄνω σεμνυνόμενοιπαρὰ ταῖς νεφέλαις ὥσπερ χὠ Ζεύς·ἀλλὰ παρόντες δώσομεν ὑμῖναὐτοῖς, παισίν, παίδων παισίν,πλουθυγιείανεὐδαιμονίαν βίον εἰρήνηννεότητα γέλωτα χοροὺς θαλίαςγάλα τʼ ὀρνίθων. ὥστε παρέσταικοπιᾶν ὑμῖν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀγαθῶν·οὕτω πλουτήσετε πάντες.
First Semi-Chorus: Singing.Oh, rustic Muse of such varied note, tiotiotiotiotiotinx, I sing with youin the groves and on the mountain tops, tiotiotiotinx. I poured forth sacred strains from my golden throatin 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.
Χορός:Μοῦσα λοχμαία,τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιοτίγξ,ποικίλη, μεθʼ ἧς ἐγὼνάπαισι ⟨καὶ⟩ κορυφαῖς ἐν ὀρείαις,τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιοτίγξ,ἱζόμενος μελίας ἐπὶ φυλλοκόμου,τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιοτίγξ,διʼ ἐμῆς γένυος ξουθῆς μελέωνΠανὶ νόμους ἱεροὺς ἀναφαίνωσεμνά τε μητρὶ χορεύματʼ ὀρείᾳ,τοτοτοτοτοτοτοτοτοτίγξ,ἔνθεν ὡστερεὶ μέλιτταΦρύνιχος ἀμβροσίων μελέων ἀπεβόσκετο καρπὸν ἀεὶφέρων γλυκεῖαν ᾠδάν.τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιοτίγξ.
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.
Χορός:εἰ μετʼ ὀρνίθων τις ὑμῶν ὦ θεαταὶ βούλεταιδιαπλέκειν 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 πατρὶπροσδραμὼν 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 πύλαςβούλεται, πέρδιξ γενέσθω, τοῦ πατρὸς νεοττίον·ὡς παρʼ ἡμῖν οὐδὲν αἰσχρόν ἐστιν ἐκπερδικίσαι.
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.
Χορός:τοιάδε κύκνοι,τιὸ τιὸ τιὰ τιὸ τιὸ τιοτίγξ,συμμιγῆ βοὴν ὁμοῦπτεροῖς 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 ΧάριτεςΜοῦσαί τʼ ἐπωλόλυξαν.τιὸ τιὸ τιὸ τιοτίγξ.
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.
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 πτερὰᾑρέθη φύλαρχος, εἶθʼ ἵππαρχος, εἶτʼ ἐξ οὐδενὸςμεγάλα πράττει κἀστὶ νυνὶ ξουθὸς ἱππαλεκτρυών.
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.
Πισθέταιρος:ταυτὶ τοιαυτί· μὰ Δίʼ ἐγὼ μὲν πρᾶγμά πωγελοιότερον οὐκ εἶδον οὐδεπώποτε.
Euelpides:What makes you laugh?
Ἐυελπίδης:ἐπὶ τῷ γελᾷς;
Pisthetaerus:Your little wings. D'you know what you look like?Like a goose painted by some dauber.
Πισθέταιρος:ἐπὶ τοῖσι σοῖς ὠκυπτέροις.οἶσθʼ ᾧ μάλιστʼ ἔοικας ἐπτερωμένος;εἰς εὐτέλειαν χηνὶ συγγεγραμμένῳ.
Euelpides:And you look like a close-shaven blackbird.
Ἐυελπίδης:σὺ δὲ κοψίχῳ γε σκάφιον ἀποτετιλμένῳ.
Pisthetaerus:We ourselves asked for this transformation, and, as Aeschylus has it, “These are no borrowed feathers, but truly our own.”
Πισθέταιρος:ταυτὶ μὲν ᾐκάσμεσθα κατὰ τὸν Αἰσχύλον·τάδʼ οὐχ ὑπʼ ἄλλων ἀλλὰ τοῖς αὑτῶν πτεροῖς.
Epops:Come now, what must be done?
Ἔποψ:ἄγε δὴ τί χρὴ δρᾶν;
Pisthetaerus:First give our citya great and famous name, then sacrifice to the gods.
Πισθέταιρος:πρῶτον ὄνομα τῇ πόλειθέσθαι τι μέγα καὶ κλεινόν, εἶτα τοῖς θεοῖςθῦσαι μετὰ τοῦτο.
Euelpides:I think so too.Leader of the Chorus:Let's see. What shall our city be called?
Ἐυελπίδης:ταῦτα κἀμοὶ συνδοκεῖ.Ἔποψ:φέρʼ ἴδω, τί δʼ ἡμῖν τοὔνομʼ ἔσται τῇ πόλει;Ἐυελπίδης:βούλεσθε τὸ μέγα τοῦτο τοὐκ ΛακεδαίμονοςΣπάρτην ὄνομα καλῶμεν αὐτήν;
Pisthetaerus:Will you have a high-sounding Laconian name? Shall we call it Sparta?
Πισθέταιρος:Ἡράκλεις·Σπάρτην γὰρ ἂν θείμην ἐγὼ τἠμῇ πόλει;οὐδʼ ἂν χαμεύνῃ πάνυ γε κειρίαν γʼ ἔχων.
Euelpides:What!call my town Sparta? Why, I would not use esparto for my bed, even though I had nothing but bands of rushes.
Ἐυελπίδης:τί δῆτʼ ὄνομʼ αὐτῇ θησόμεσθʼ;Ἔποψ:ἐντευθενὶἐκ τῶν νεφελῶν καὶ τῶν μετεώρων χωρίωνχαῦνόν τι πάνυ.
Pisthetaerus:Well then, what name can you suggest?
Πισθέταιρος:βούλει Νεφελοκοκκυγίαν;Ἔποψ:ἰοὺ ἰού·καλόν γʼ ἀτεχνῶς ⟨σὺ⟩ καὶ μέγʼ ηὗρες τοὔνομα.
Euelpides:Some name borrowed from the clouds, from these lofty regions in which we dwell —in short, some well-known name.
Ἐυελπίδης:ἆρʼ ἐστὶν αὑτηγὶ Νεφελοκοκκυγία,ἵνα καὶ τὰ Θεογένους τὰ πολλὰ χρήματατά τʼ Αἰσχίνου γʼ ἅπαντα;
Pisthetaerus:Do you like Nephelococcygia?Leader of the Chorus:Oh! capital!truly that's a brilliant thought!
Πισθέταιρος:καὶ λῷστον μὲν οὖντὸ Φλέγρας πεδίον, ἵνʼ οἱ θεοὶ τοὺς γηγενεῖςἀλαζονευόμενοι καθυπερηκόντισαν.Ἔποψ:λιπαρὸν τὸ χρῆμα τῆς πόλεως. τίς δαὶ θεὸςπολιοῦχος ἔσται; τῷ ξανοῦμεν τὸν πέπλον;
Euelpides:Is it in Nephelococcygia that all the wealth of Theogenes and most of Aeschines' is?
Ἐυελπίδης:τί δʼ οὐκ Ἀθηναίαν ἐῶμεν Πολιάδα;
Pisthetaerus:No, it's rather the plain of Phlegra, where the godswithered 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?
Πισθέταιρος:καὶ πῶς ἂν ἔτι γένοιτʼ ἂν εὔτακτος πόλις,ὅπου θεὸς γυνὴ γεγονυῖα πανοπλίανἕστηκʼ ἔχουσα, Κλεισθένης δὲ κερκίδα;