Aristophanes, Birds, ed. Eugene O'Neill, Jr., 1494

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Prometheus enters, masked to conceal his identify.

Prometheus

Ah! by the gods! if only Zeus does not see me! 1495 Where is Pisthetaerus?

Pisthetaerus

Ha! what is this? A masked man!

Prometheus

Can you see any god behind me?

Pisthetaerus

No, none. But who are you, pray?

Prometheus

What's the time, please?

Pisthetaerus

The time? Why, it's past noon. 1500 Who are you?

Prometheus

Is it the fall of day? Is it no later than that?

Pisthetaerus

This is getting dull!

Prometheus

What is Zeus doing? Is he dispersing the clouds or gathering them?

Pisthetaerus

Watch out for yourself!

Prometheus

Come, I will raise my mask.

Pisthetaerus

Ah! my dear Prometheus!

Prometheus

Sh! Sh! speak lower!

Pisthetaerus

Why, what's the matter, Prometheus?

Prometheus

1505 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.

Pisthetaerus

1510 I can recognize Prometheus in this cunning trick. Come, quick then, and fear nothing; speak on.

Prometheus

Then listen.

Pisthetaerus

I am listening, proceed!

Prometheus

Zeus is done for.

Pisthetaerus

Ah! and since when, pray?

Prometheus

1515 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. 1520 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.

Birds. Aristophanes. ed. Eugene O'Neill, Jr.. New York. 1938.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Current edition Experimental

Birds (OCR draft) (English) (Anonymous translation, 1938 compilation; legacy Perseus source migration. Preserved separately from the revised canonical perseus-eng2 at the project owner's request.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Ὄρνιθες Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 1. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906.) — 1494 focus

Προμηθεύς

οἴμοι τάλας, ὁ Ζεὺς ὅπως μή μʼ ὄψεται.

ποῦ Πισθέταιρός ἐστʼ;
1495

Πισθέταιρος

ἔα τουτὶ τί ἦν;

τίς ὁ συγκαλυμμός;

Προμηθεύς

τῶν θεῶν ὁρᾷς τινα

ἐμοῦ κατόπιν ἐνταῦθα;

Πισθέταιρος

μὰ Δίʼ ἐγὼ μὲν οὔ.

τίς δʼ εἶ σύ;

Προμηθεύς

πηνίκʼ ἐστὶν ἄρα τῆς ἡμέρας;

Πισθέταιρος

ὁπηνίκα; σμικρόν τι μετὰ μεσημβρίαν.

ἀλλὰ σὺ τίς εἶ;
1500

Προμηθεύς

βουλυτὸς ἢ περαιτέρω;

Πισθέταιρος

οἴμʼ ὡς βδελύττομαί σε.

Προμηθεύς

τί γὰρ ὁ Ζεὺς ποιεῖ;

ἀπαιθριάζει τὰς νεφέλας ἢ ξυννέφει;

Πισθέταιρος

οἴμωζε μεγάλʼ.

Προμηθεύς

οὕτω μὲν ἐκκεκαλύψομαι.

Πισθέταιρος

ὦ φίλε Προμηθεῦ.

Προμηθεύς

παῦε παῦε, μὴ βόα.

Πισθέταιρος

τί γὰρ ἔστι;
1505

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.

Πισθέταιρος

ἰοὺ ἰού·
1510

εὖ γʼ ἐπενόησας αὐτὸ καὶ προμηθικῶς.

ὑπόδυθι ταχὺ δὴ κᾆτα θαρρήσας λέγε.

Προμηθεύς

ἄκουε δή νυν.

Πισθέταιρος

ὡς ἀκούοντος λέγε.

Προμηθεύς

ἀπόλωλεν ὁ Ζεύς.

Πισθέταιρος

πηνίκʼ ἄττʼ ἀπώλετο;

Προμηθεύς

ἐξ οὗπερ ὑμεῖς ᾠκίσατε τὸν ἀέρα.
1515

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
1520

πεινῶντες ὥσπερ Ἰλλυριοὶ κεκριγότες

ἐπιστρατεύσειν φάσʼ ἄνωθεν τῷ Διί,

εἰ μὴ παρέξει τἀμπόριʼ ἀνεῳγμένα,

ἵνʼ εἰσάγοιτο σπλάγχνα κατατετμημένα.

Translations (2)

Birds Perseus (Aristophanes. The Complete Greek Drama, Vol. 2. Anonymous, translator. O'Neill, Eugene; Oates, Whitney Jennings, editors. New York: Random House, 1938 (printing).)

No corresponding passage available

English (Sanjaya, generated; selected passages) (OCR draft) Experimental (Source: pnadelofficial/aristophanes-sanjaya, commit c319590c139e5603e71f0699caa0663d823af8ad. Machine-generated source annotations retained; see Sanjaya import audit for coverage and limitations.) — 1494 focus

Prometheus: Alas, wretch, may Zeus not see me.

Prometheus: Where is Pithetaerus?

1495

Pisthetairos: Leave this; what was it?

Pisthetaerus: Who is the hooded one?

Prometheus: do you see any of the gods?

Prometheus: After me, here?

Pisthetaerus: By Zeus, I certainly not.

Pisthetairos: Who are you?

Prometheus: What time of day is it, then?

Pisthetaerus: When? A little after noon.

Pisthetaerus: But who are you?

1500

Prometheus: 'Is it a cul-de-sac or further on?'

Pisthetaerus: Oh, how I loathe you.

Prometheus: For what is Zeus doing?

Prometheus: Is he clearing away the clouds or is he gathering them together?

Pisthetaerus: Wail aloud!

Prometheus: Thus I shall be fully unveiled.

Pisthetaerus: O friend Prometheus.

Prometheus: Stop, stop, do not shout.

Pisthetairos: For what is it?

1505

Prometheus: Be quiet, do not call my name.

Prometheus: For you will destroy me, if Zeus sees me here.

Prometheus: But in order that I may tell you all the matters above,

Prometheus: Taking this, hold up my umbrella.

Prometheus: Upwards, so that the gods do not see me.

Pisthetaerus: Io! Io!

1510

Pisthetaerus: You have indeed thought it up well and with foresight.

Pisthetaerus: Put on your disguise quickly and then, taking courage, speak.

Prometheus: Now then, listen.

Pisthetaerus: Speak, as he is listening.

Prometheus: Zeus is lost.

Pisthetaerus: At what time has it all been lost?

Prometheus: From the time when you settled the air.

1515

Prometheus: for no one of men is sacrificing anything anymore.

Prometheus: to the gods, nor even the sizzle of thighs

Prometheus: He has ascended since that time, as he did us,

Prometheus: But just as we fast at the Thesmophoria

Prometheus: without animal sacrifices; but the barbarian gods

1520

Prometheus: hungry like Illyrians, shrieking.

Prometheus: he said to march against Zeus from above,

Prometheus: if he does not provide the trade open,

Prometheus: so that the entrails might be brought in cut up.

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Prometheus enters, masked to conceal his identify.

Prometheus Ah! by the gods! if only Zeus does not see me! 1495 Where is Pisthetaerus?

Pisthetaerus Ha! what is this? A masked man!

Prometheus Can you see any god behind me?

Pisthetaerus No, none. But who are you, pray?

Prometheus What's the time, please?

Pisthetaerus The time? Why, it's past noon. 1500 Who are you?

Prometheus Is it the fall of day? Is it no later than that?

Pisthetaerus This is getting dull!

Prometheus What is Zeus doing? Is he dispersing the clouds or gathering them?

Pisthetaerus Watch out for yourself!

Prometheus Come, I will raise my mask.

Pisthetaerus Ah! my dear Prometheus!

Prometheus Sh! Sh! speak lower!

Pisthetaerus Why, what's the matter, Prometheus?

Prometheus 1505 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.

Pisthetaerus 1510 I can recognize Prometheus in this cunning trick. Come, quick then, and fear nothing; speak on.

Prometheus Then listen.

Pisthetaerus I am listening, proceed!

Prometheus Zeus is done for.

Pisthetaerus Ah! and since when, pray?

Current edition Experimental

Προμηθεύς οἴμοι τάλας, ὁ Ζεὺς ὅπως μή μʼ ὄψεται. ποῦ Πισθέταιρός ἐστʼ; 1495

Πισθέταιρος ἔα τουτὶ τί ἦν; τίς ὁ συγκαλυμμός;

Προμηθεύς τῶν θεῶν ὁρᾷς τινα ἐμοῦ κατόπιν ἐνταῦθα;

Πισθέταιρος μὰ Δίʼ ἐγὼ μὲν οὔ. τίς δʼ εἶ σύ;

Προμηθεύς πηνίκʼ ἐστὶν ἄρα τῆς ἡμέρας;

Πισθέταιρος ὁπηνίκα; σμικρόν τι μετὰ μεσημβρίαν. ἀλλὰ σὺ τίς εἶ; 1500

Προμηθεύς βουλυτὸς ἢ περαιτέρω;

Πισθέταιρος οἴμʼ ὡς βδελύττομαί σε.

Προμηθεύς τί γὰρ ὁ Ζεὺς ποιεῖ; ἀπαιθριάζει τὰς νεφέλας ἢ ξυννέφει;

Πισθέταιρος οἴμωζε μεγάλʼ.

Προμηθεύς οὕτω μὲν ἐκκεκαλύψομαι.

Πισθέταιρος ὦ φίλε Προμηθεῦ.

Προμηθεύς παῦε παῦε, μὴ βόα.

Πισθέταιρος τί γὰρ ἔστι; 1505

Πισθέταιρος ἰοὺ ἰού· 1510 εὖ γʼ ἐπενόησας αὐτὸ καὶ προμηθικῶς. ὑπόδυθι ταχὺ δὴ κᾆτα θαρρήσας λέγε.

Προμηθεύς ἄκουε δή νυν.

Πισθέταιρος ὡς ἀκούοντος λέγε.

Προμηθεύς ἀπόλωλεν ὁ Ζεύς.

Πισθέταιρος πηνίκʼ ἄττʼ ἀπώλετο;

Stable identifiers

Prometheus

Ah! by the gods! if only Zeus does not see me! 1495 Where is Pisthetaerus?

Pisthetaerus

Ha! what is this? A masked man!

Prometheus

Can you see any god behind me?

Pisthetaerus

No, none. But who are you, pray?

Prometheus

What's the time, please?

Pisthetaerus

The time? Why, it's past noon. 1500 Who are you?

Prometheus

Is it the fall of day? Is it no later than that?

Pisthetaerus

This is getting dull!

Prometheus

What is Zeus doing? Is he dispersing the clouds or gathering them?

Pisthetaerus

Watch out for yourself!

Prometheus

Come, I will raise my mask.

Pisthetaerus

Ah! my dear Prometheus!

Prometheus

Sh! Sh! speak lower!

Pisthetaerus

Why, what's the matter, Prometheus?

Prometheus

1505 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.

Pisthetaerus

1510 I can recognize Prometheus in this cunning trick. Come, quick then, and fear nothing; speak on.

Prometheus

Then listen.

Pisthetaerus

I am listening, proceed!

Prometheus

Zeus is done for.

Pisthetaerus

Ah! and since when, pray?

Προμηθεύς

οἴμοι τάλας, ὁ Ζεὺς ὅπως μή μʼ ὄψεται.

ποῦ Πισθέταιρός ἐστʼ;
1495

Πισθέταιρος

ἔα τουτὶ τί ἦν;

τίς ὁ συγκαλυμμός;

Προμηθεύς

τῶν θεῶν ὁρᾷς τινα

ἐμοῦ κατόπιν ἐνταῦθα;

Πισθέταιρος

μὰ Δίʼ ἐγὼ μὲν οὔ.

τίς δʼ εἶ σύ;

Προμηθεύς

πηνίκʼ ἐστὶν ἄρα τῆς ἡμέρας;

Πισθέταιρος

ὁπηνίκα; σμικρόν τι μετὰ μεσημβρίαν.

ἀλλὰ σὺ τίς εἶ;
1500

Προμηθεύς

βουλυτὸς ἢ περαιτέρω;

Πισθέταιρος

οἴμʼ ὡς βδελύττομαί σε.

Προμηθεύς

τί γὰρ ὁ Ζεὺς ποιεῖ;

ἀπαιθριάζει τὰς νεφέλας ἢ ξυννέφει;

Πισθέταιρος

οἴμωζε μεγάλʼ.

Προμηθεύς

οὕτω μὲν ἐκκεκαλύψομαι.

Πισθέταιρος

ὦ φίλε Προμηθεῦ.

Προμηθεύς

παῦε παῦε, μὴ βόα.

Πισθέταιρος

τί γὰρ ἔστι;
1505

Πισθέταιρος

ἰοὺ ἰού·
1510

εὖ γʼ ἐπενόησας αὐτὸ καὶ προμηθικῶς.

ὑπόδυθι ταχὺ δὴ κᾆτα θαρρήσας λέγε.

Προμηθεύς

ἄκουε δή νυν.

Πισθέταιρος

ὡς ἀκούοντος λέγε.

Προμηθεύς

ἀπόλωλεν ὁ Ζεύς.

Πισθέταιρος

πηνίκʼ ἄττʼ ἀπώλετο;