Chorus
Singing.
Let a basket of wings
1325
be brought speedily. Come, beat him as I do, and put some life into him; he is as lazy as an ass.
Let a basket of wings
1325
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.
Aye, Manes is a great craven.
Chorus
1330
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.
1330
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.
1335
Oh! by the kestrels! I can keep my hands off you no longer; you are too slow and lazy altogether.
1335
Oh! by the kestrels! I can keep my hands off you no longer; you are too slow and lazy altogether.
Birds. Aristophanes. ed. Eugene O'Neill, Jr.. New York. 1938.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.