Pisthetaerus
90
Not at all.
90
Not at all.
Euelpides
Where is it, then?
Where is it, then?
Pisthetaerus
It flew away.
It flew away.
Euelpides
And you did not let it go? Oh! you brave fellow!
And you did not let it go? Oh! you brave fellow!
Epops
From within. Open the thicket, that I may go out!
He comes out of the thicket.
From within. Open the thicket, that I may go out!
Euelpides
By Heracles! what a creature! what plumage! What means this triple crest?
By Heracles! what a creature! what plumage! What means this triple crest?
Epops
95
Who wants me?
95
Who wants me?
Euelpides
Banteringly. The twelve great gods have used you ill, it seems.
Banteringly. The twelve great gods have used you ill, it seems.
Epops
Are you twitting me about my feathers? I have been a man, strangers.
Are you twitting me about my feathers? I have been a man, strangers.
Euelpides
It's not you we are jeering at.
It's not you we are jeering at.
Epops
At what, then?
At what, then?
Euelpides
Why, it's your beak that looks so ridiculous to us.
Why, it's your beak that looks so ridiculous to us.
Epops
100
This is how Sophocles outrages me in his tragedies. Know, I once was Tereus.
100
This is how Sophocles outrages me in his tragedies. Know, I once was Tereus.
Euelpides
You were Tereus, and what are you now? a bird or a peacock?
You were Tereus, and what are you now? a bird or a peacock?
Epops
I am a bird.
I am a bird.
Euelpides
Then where are your feathers? I don't see any.
Then where are your feathers? I don't see any.
Epops
They have fallen off.
They have fallen off.
Euelpides
Through illness?
Through illness?
Epops
105
No. All birds moult their feathers, you know, every winter, and others grow in their place. But tell me, who are you?
105
No. All birds moult their feathers, you know, every winter, and others grow in their place. But tell me, who are you?
Euelpides
We? We are mortals.
We? We are mortals.
Epops
From what country?
From what country?
Euelpides
From the land of the beautiful galleys.
From the land of the beautiful galleys.
Epops
Are you dicasts?
Are you dicasts?
Euelpides
No, if anything,
110
we are anti-dicasts.
No, if anything,
110
we are anti-dicasts.
Epops
Is that kind of seed sown among you?
Is that kind of seed sown among you?
Euelpides
You have to look hard to find even a little in our fields.
You have to look hard to find even a little in our fields.
Epops
What brings you here?
What brings you here?
Euelpides
We wish to pay you a visit.
We wish to pay you a visit.
Epops
What for?
What for?
Euelpides
Because you formerly were a man, like we are,
115
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.
120
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.
Because you formerly were a man, like we are,
115
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.
120
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.
Epops
And are you looking for a greater city than
Athens
?
And are you looking for a greater city than
Athens
?
Euelpides
No, not a greater, but one more pleasant to live in.
No, not a greater, but one more pleasant to live in.
Birds. Aristophanes. ed. Eugene O'Neill, Jr.. New York. 1938.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.