Epops
Take your advice? In what way?
Take your advice? In what way?
Pisthetaerus
In what way? Well, firstly,
165
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
170
you cannot catch, for it never remains in any one place.”
In what way? Well, firstly,
165
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
170
you cannot catch, for it never remains in any one place.”
Epops
By Zeus himself! your jest hits the mark. What then is to be done?
By Zeus himself! your jest hits the mark. What then is to be done?
Pisthetaerus
Found a city.
Found a city.
Epops
We birds? But what sort of city should we build?
We birds? But what sort of city should we build?
Pisthetaerus
Oh, really, really! you talk like such a fool!
175
Look down.
Oh, really, really! you talk like such a fool!
175
Look down.
Epops
I am looking.
I am looking.
Pisthetaerus
Now look up.
Now look up.
Epops
I am looking.
I am looking.
Pisthetaerus
Turn your head round.
Turn your head round.
Epops
Ah! it will be pleasant for me if I end in twisting my neck off!
Ah! it will be pleasant for me if I end in twisting my neck off!
Pisthetaerus
What have you seen?
What have you seen?
Epops
The clouds and the sky.
The clouds and the sky.
Pisthetaerus
Very well! is not this the pole of the birds then?
Very well! is not this the pole of the birds then?
Epops
180
How their pole?
180
How their pole?
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.
185
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.
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.
185
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.
Epops
How so?
How so?
Pisthetaerus
The air is between earth and heaven. When we want to go to
Delphi
, we ask the Boeotians for leave of passage;
190
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.
The air is between earth and heaven. When we want to go to
Delphi
, we ask the Boeotians for leave of passage;
190
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.
Epops
By earth! by snares! by network! by cages!
195
I never heard of anything more cleverly conceived; and, if the other birds approve, I am going to build the city along with you.
By earth! by snares! by network! by cages!
195
I never heard of anything more cleverly conceived; and, if the other birds approve, I am going to build the city along with you.
Pisthetaerus
Who will explain the matter to them?
Who will explain the matter to them?
Epops
You must yourself. Before I came they were quite ignorant,
200
but since I have lived with them I have taught them to speak.
You must yourself. Before I came they were quite ignorant,
200
but since I have lived with them I have taught them to speak.
Pisthetaerus
But how can they be gathered together?
But how can they be gathered together?
Epops
Easily. I will hasten down to the thicket to waken my dear Procne
205
and as soon as they hear our voices, they will come to us hot wing.
Easily. I will hasten down to the thicket to waken my dear Procne
205
and as soon as they hear our voices, they will come to us hot wing.
Pisthetaerus
My dear bird, lose no time, please! Fly at once into the thicket and awaken Procne.
My dear bird, lose no time, please! Fly at once into the thicket and awaken Procne.
Birds. Aristophanes. ed. Eugene O'Neill, Jr.. New York. 1938.
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