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Pisthetaerus

What! there are other gods besides you, barbarian gods who dwell above Olympus ?
1525

Prometheus

If there were no barbarian gods, who would be the patron of Execestides?

Pisthetaerus

And what is the name of these gods?

Prometheus

Their name? Why, the Triballi.

Pisthetaerus

Ah, indeed!

'tis from that no doubt that we derive the word ‘tribulation.'
1530

Prometheus

Most likely. But one thing I can tell you for certain, namely, that Zeus and the celestial Triballi are going to send deputies here to sue for peace. Now don't you treat with them, unless

Zeus restores the scepter to the birds and gives you Basileia in marriage.
1535

Pisthetaerus

Who is this Basileia?

Prometheus

A very fine young damsel, who makes the lightning for Zeus; all things come from her,

wisdom, good laws, virtue, the fleet, calumnies, the public paymaster and the triobolus.
1540

Pisthetaerus

Ah! then she is a sort of general manageress to the god.

Prometheus

Yes, precisely. If he gives you her for your wife, yours will be the almighty power. That is what I have come to tell you;

for you know my constant and habitual goodwill towards men.
1545

Pisthetaerus

Oh, yes! it's thanks to you that we roast our meat.

Prometheus

I hate the gods, as you know.

Pisthetaerus

Aye, by Zeus, you have always detested them.

Prometheus

Towards them I am a veritable Timon; but I must return in all haste,

so give me the umbrella; if Zeus should see me from up there, he would think I was escorting one of the Canephori.
1550

Pisthetaerus

Wait, take this stool as well. Prometheus leaves. Pisthetaerus goes into the thicket.

Birds. Aristophanes. Anonymous (Translator), ed. Eugene O'Neill, Jr., ed. Whitney J. Oates, ed. Eugene O'Neill, Jr.. New York. 1938.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

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

Editions (1)

Ὄρνιθες Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 1. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906.) — 1525 focus

Πισθέταιρος

εἰσὶν γὰρ ἕτεροι βάρβαροι θεοί τινες
1525

ἄνωθεν ὑμῶν;

Προμηθεύς

οὐ γάρ εἰσι βάρβαροι,

ὅθεν ὁ πατρῷός ἐστιν Ἐξηκεστίδῃ;

Πισθέταιρος

ὄνομα δὲ τούτοις τοῖς θεοῖς τοῖς βαρβάροις

τί ἔστιν;

Προμηθεύς

ὅ τι ἔστιν; Τριβαλλοί.

Πισθέταιρος

μανθάνω.

ἐντεῦθεν ἆρα τοὐπιτριβείης ἐγένετο;
1530

Προμηθεύς

μάλιστα πάντων. ἓν δέ σοι λέγω σαφές·

ἥξουσι πρέσβεις δεῦρο περὶ διαλλαγῶν

παρὰ τοῦ Διὸς καὶ τῶν Τριβαλλῶν τῶν ἄνω·

ὑμεῖς δὲ μὴ σπένδεσθʼ, ἐὰν μὴ παραδιδῷ

τὸ σκῆπτρον ὁ Ζεὺς τοῖσιν ὄρνισιν πάλιν,
1535

καὶ τὴν Βασίλειάν σοι γυναῖκʼ ἔχειν διδῷ.

Πισθέταιρος

τίς ἐστιν ἡ Βασίλεια;

Προμηθεύς

καλλίστη κόρη,

ἥπερ ταμιεύει τὸν κεραυνὸν τοῦ Διὸς

καὶ τἄλλʼ ἁπαξάπαντα, τὴν εὐβουλίαν

τὴν εὐνομίαν τὴν σωφροσύνην τὰ νεώρια,
1540

τὴν λοιδορίαν τὸν κωλακρέτην τὰ τριώβολα.

Πισθέταιρος

ἅπαντά γʼ ἆρʼ αὐτῷ ταμιεύει;

Προμηθεύς

φήμʼ ἐγώ.

ἥν γʼ ἢν σὺ παρʼ ἐκείνου παραλάβῃς, πάντʼ ἔχεις.

τούτων ἕνεκα δεῦρʼ ἦλθον, ἵνα φράσαιμί σοι.

ἀεί ποτʼ ἀνθρώποις γὰρ εὔνους εἴμʼ ἐγώ.
1545

Πισθέταιρος

μόνον θεῶν γὰρ διὰ σʼ ἀπανθρακίζομεν.

Προμηθεύς

μισῶ δʼ ἅπαντας τοὺς θεούς, ὡς οἶσθα σύ.

Πισθέταιρος

νὴ τὸν Δίʼ ἀεὶ δῆτα θεομισὴς ἔφυς.

Προμηθεύς

Τίμων καθαρός. ἀλλʼ ὡς ἂν ἀποτρέχω πάλιν,

φέρε τὸ σκιάδειον, ἵνα με κἂν ὁ Ζεὺς ἴδῃ
1550

ἄνωθεν, ἀκολουθεῖν δοκῶ κανηφόρῳ.

Πισθέταιρος

καὶ τὸν δίφρον γε διφροφόρει τονδὶ λαβών.

Translations (2)

Birds (OCR draft) Experimental (Anonymous translation, 1938 compilation; legacy Perseus source migration. Preserved separately from the revised canonical perseus-eng2 at the project owner's request.) — 1525 focus

Pisthetaerus

1525 What! there are other gods besides you, barbarian gods who dwell above Olympus ?

Prometheus

If there were no barbarian gods, who would be the patron of Execestides?

Pisthetaerus

And what is the name of these gods?

Prometheus

Their name? Why, the Triballi.

Pisthetaerus

Ah, indeed! 1530 'tis from that no doubt that we derive the word ‘tribulation.'

Prometheus

Most likely. But one thing I can tell you for certain, namely, that Zeus and the celestial Triballi are going to send deputies here to sue for peace. Now don't you treat with them, unless 1535 Zeus restores the scepter to the birds and gives you Basileia in marriage.

Pisthetaerus

Who is this Basileia?

Prometheus

A very fine young damsel, who makes the lightning for Zeus; all things come from her, 1540 wisdom, good laws, virtue, the fleet, calumnies, the public paymaster and the triobolus.

Pisthetaerus

Ah! then she is a sort of general manageress to the god.

Prometheus

Yes, precisely. If he gives you her for your wife, yours will be the almighty power. That is what I have come to tell you; 1545 for you know my constant and habitual goodwill towards men.

Pisthetaerus

Oh, yes! it's thanks to you that we roast our meat.

Prometheus

I hate the gods, as you know.

Pisthetaerus

Aye, by Zeus, you have always detested them.

Prometheus

Towards them I am a veritable Timon; but I must return in all haste, 1550 so give me the umbrella; if Zeus should see me from up there, he would think I was escorting one of the Canephori.

Pisthetaerus

Wait, take this stool as well. Prometheus leaves. Pisthetaerus goes into the thicket.

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.) — 1525 focus

Pisthetaerus: for there are other gods, some barbarians.

1525

Pisthetaerus: From above, you?

Prometheus: for they are not barbarians,

Prometheus: From where is his ancestral [god] Exekestides?

Pisthetaerus: but these are the names of these barbarian gods

Pisthetaerus: What is it?

Prometheus: What is it? Triballi.

Pisthetaerus: I understand.

Pisthetaerus: So from here did it come to be the 'epitribes'?

1530

Prometheus: Most certainly of all. And one thing I tell you clearly:

Prometheus: Envoys will come here concerning a reconciliation.

Prometheus: from Zeus and the Triballians who are above;

Prometheus: But you must not pour a libation, unless he hands it over.

Prometheus: the scepter, Zeus, to the birds again,

1535

Prometheus: And may he give you to have the Queen as your wife.

Pisthetaerus: Who is the Queen?

Prometheus: 'most beautiful daughter,'

Prometheus: who keeps guard of the thunderbolt of Zeus

Prometheus: and everything else, the good counsel

Prometheus: the good order, the self-control, the ship-sheds,

1540

Prometheus: the abuse, the butt-crack-striker, the three-obol piece.

Pisthetaerus: Is he indeed saving everything for himself?

Prometheus: I am the rumor.

Prometheus: Whatever you receive from him, you have everything.

Prometheus: For this reason I have come here, so that I may tell you.

Prometheus: For I am always well-disposed toward men.

1545

Pisthetaerus: For we only charcoal-ize the gods through you.

Prometheus: I hate all the gods, as you know.

Pisthetaerus: By Zeus, you are certainly a god-hater.

Prometheus: Timon is clean. But as if I am running away again,

Prometheus: Bring the sunshade, so that even Zeus may see me.

1550

Prometheus: From above, I seem to be following a kanephoros.

Pisthetaerus: and having taken this seat, carry the seat.

Commentary

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

1533. mvp-tlg0019-tlg006-sanjaya-com-eng1-92

Line 1533

παρὰ τοῦ Διὸς καὶ τῶν Τριβαλλῶν τῶν ἄνω·

The phrase 'καὶ τῶν Τριβαλλῶν τῶν ἄνω' is a deliberate comedic anachronism. The Triballi were a Thracian people located in the northern Balkans (modern Serbia/Bulgaria), far from the mythological sky-world of the play. By adding them to the list of divine or celestial authorities from whom the birds seek protection, Aristophanes satirizes the practice of oath-taking by invoking remote, non-divine, or ethnically 'barbarian' groups as if they were cosmic powers, thereby undermining the gravity of the oath and highlighting the absurdity of the birds' political ambition to usurp Zeus's reign.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

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Pisthetaerus What! there are other gods besides you, barbarian gods who dwell above Olympus ? 1525

Prometheus If there were no barbarian gods, who would be the patron of Execestides?

Pisthetaerus And what is the name of these gods?

Prometheus Their name? Why, the Triballi.

Pisthetaerus Ah, indeed! 'tis from that no doubt that we derive the word ‘tribulation.' 1530

Prometheus Most likely. But one thing I can tell you for certain, namely, that Zeus and the celestial Triballi are going to send deputies here to sue for peace. Now don't you treat with them, unless Zeus restores the scepter to the birds and gives you Basileia in marriage. 1535

Pisthetaerus Who is this Basileia?

Prometheus A very fine young damsel, who makes the lightning for Zeus; all things come from her, wisdom, good laws, virtue, the fleet, calumnies, the public paymaster and the triobolus. 1540

Pisthetaerus Ah! then she is a sort of general manageress to the god.

Prometheus Yes, precisely. If he gives you her for your wife, yours will be the almighty power. That is what I have come to tell you; for you know my constant and habitual goodwill towards men. 1545

Pisthetaerus Oh, yes! it's thanks to you that we roast our meat.

Prometheus I hate the gods, as you know.

Pisthetaerus Aye, by Zeus, you have always detested them.

Prometheus Towards them I am a veritable Timon; but I must return in all haste, so give me the umbrella; if Zeus should see me from up there, he would think I was escorting one of the Canephori. 1550

Pisthetaerus Wait, take this stool as well. Prometheus leaves. Pisthetaerus goes into the thicket.

Current edition Perseus

Πισθέταιρος εἰσὶν γὰρ ἕτεροι βάρβαροι θεοί τινες 1525 ἄνωθεν ὑμῶν;

Προμηθεύς οὐ γάρ εἰσι βάρβαροι, ὅθεν ὁ πατρῷός ἐστιν Ἐξηκεστίδῃ;

Πισθέταιρος ὄνομα δὲ τούτοις τοῖς θεοῖς τοῖς βαρβάροις τί ἔστιν;

Προμηθεύς ὅ τι ἔστιν; Τριβαλλοί.

Πισθέταιρος μανθάνω. ἐντεῦθεν ἆρα τοὐπιτριβείης ἐγένετο; 1530

Πισθέταιρος τίς ἐστιν ἡ Βασίλεια;

Πισθέταιρος ἅπαντά γʼ ἆρʼ αὐτῷ ταμιεύει;

Προμηθεύς φήμʼ ἐγώ. ἥν γʼ ἢν σὺ παρʼ ἐκείνου παραλάβῃς, πάντʼ ἔχεις. τούτων ἕνεκα δεῦρʼ ἦλθον, ἵνα φράσαιμί σοι. ἀεί ποτʼ ἀνθρώποις γὰρ εὔνους εἴμʼ ἐγώ. 1545

Πισθέταιρος μόνον θεῶν γὰρ διὰ σʼ ἀπανθρακίζομεν.

Προμηθεύς μισῶ δʼ ἅπαντας τοὺς θεούς, ὡς οἶσθα σύ.

Πισθέταιρος νὴ τὸν Δίʼ ἀεὶ δῆτα θεομισὴς ἔφυς.

Προμηθεύς Τίμων καθαρός. ἀλλʼ ὡς ἂν ἀποτρέχω πάλιν, φέρε τὸ σκιάδειον, ἵνα με κἂν ὁ Ζεὺς ἴδῃ 1550 ἄνωθεν, ἀκολουθεῖν δοκῶ κανηφόρῳ.

Πισθέταιρος καὶ τὸν δίφρον γε διφροφόρει τονδὶ λαβών.

Pisthetaerus 1525 What! there are other gods besides you, barbarian gods who dwell above Olympus ?

Prometheus If there were no barbarian gods, who would be the patron of Execestides?

Pisthetaerus And what is the name of these gods?

Prometheus Their name? Why, the Triballi.

Pisthetaerus Ah, indeed! 1530 'tis from that no doubt that we derive the word ‘tribulation.'

Prometheus Most likely. But one thing I can tell you for certain, namely, that Zeus and the celestial Triballi are going to send deputies here to sue for peace. Now don't you treat with them, unless 1535 Zeus restores the scepter to the birds and gives you Basileia in marriage.

Pisthetaerus Who is this Basileia?

Prometheus A very fine young damsel, who makes the lightning for Zeus; all things come from her, 1540 wisdom, good laws, virtue, the fleet, calumnies, the public paymaster and the triobolus.

Pisthetaerus Ah! then she is a sort of general manageress to the god.

Prometheus Yes, precisely. If he gives you her for your wife, yours will be the almighty power. That is what I have come to tell you; 1545 for you know my constant and habitual goodwill towards men.

Pisthetaerus Oh, yes! it's thanks to you that we roast our meat.

Prometheus I hate the gods, as you know.

Pisthetaerus Aye, by Zeus, you have always detested them.

Prometheus Towards them I am a veritable Timon; but I must return in all haste, 1550 so give me the umbrella; if Zeus should see me from up there, he would think I was escorting one of the Canephori.

Pisthetaerus Wait, take this stool as well. Prometheus leaves. Pisthetaerus goes into the thicket.

Commentary

Line 1533

Stable identifiers

Pisthetaerus

What! there are other gods besides you, barbarian gods who dwell above Olympus ?
1525

Prometheus

If there were no barbarian gods, who would be the patron of Execestides?

Pisthetaerus

And what is the name of these gods?

Prometheus

Their name? Why, the Triballi.

Pisthetaerus

Ah, indeed!

'tis from that no doubt that we derive the word ‘tribulation.'
1530

Prometheus

Most likely. But one thing I can tell you for certain, namely, that Zeus and the celestial Triballi are going to send deputies here to sue for peace. Now don't you treat with them, unless

Zeus restores the scepter to the birds and gives you Basileia in marriage.
1535

Pisthetaerus

Who is this Basileia?

Prometheus

A very fine young damsel, who makes the lightning for Zeus; all things come from her,

wisdom, good laws, virtue, the fleet, calumnies, the public paymaster and the triobolus.
1540

Pisthetaerus

Ah! then she is a sort of general manageress to the god.

Prometheus

Yes, precisely. If he gives you her for your wife, yours will be the almighty power. That is what I have come to tell you;

for you know my constant and habitual goodwill towards men.
1545

Pisthetaerus

Oh, yes! it's thanks to you that we roast our meat.

Prometheus

I hate the gods, as you know.

Pisthetaerus

Aye, by Zeus, you have always detested them.

Prometheus

Towards them I am a veritable Timon; but I must return in all haste,

so give me the umbrella; if Zeus should see me from up there, he would think I was escorting one of the Canephori.
1550

Pisthetaerus

Wait, take this stool as well. Prometheus leaves. Pisthetaerus goes into the thicket.

Πισθέταιρος

εἰσὶν γὰρ ἕτεροι βάρβαροι θεοί τινες
1525

ἄνωθεν ὑμῶν;

Προμηθεύς

οὐ γάρ εἰσι βάρβαροι,

ὅθεν ὁ πατρῷός ἐστιν Ἐξηκεστίδῃ;

Πισθέταιρος

ὄνομα δὲ τούτοις τοῖς θεοῖς τοῖς βαρβάροις

τί ἔστιν;

Προμηθεύς

ὅ τι ἔστιν; Τριβαλλοί.

Πισθέταιρος

μανθάνω.

ἐντεῦθεν ἆρα τοὐπιτριβείης ἐγένετο;
1530

Πισθέταιρος

τίς ἐστιν ἡ Βασίλεια;

Πισθέταιρος

ἅπαντά γʼ ἆρʼ αὐτῷ ταμιεύει;

Προμηθεύς

φήμʼ ἐγώ.

ἥν γʼ ἢν σὺ παρʼ ἐκείνου παραλάβῃς, πάντʼ ἔχεις.

τούτων ἕνεκα δεῦρʼ ἦλθον, ἵνα φράσαιμί σοι.

ἀεί ποτʼ ἀνθρώποις γὰρ εὔνους εἴμʼ ἐγώ.
1545

Πισθέταιρος

μόνον θεῶν γὰρ διὰ σʼ ἀπανθρακίζομεν.

Προμηθεύς

μισῶ δʼ ἅπαντας τοὺς θεούς, ὡς οἶσθα σύ.

Πισθέταιρος

νὴ τὸν Δίʼ ἀεὶ δῆτα θεομισὴς ἔφυς.

Προμηθεύς

Τίμων καθαρός. ἀλλʼ ὡς ἂν ἀποτρέχω πάλιν,

φέρε τὸ σκιάδειον, ἵνα με κἂν ὁ Ζεὺς ἴδῃ
1550

ἄνωθεν, ἀκολουθεῖν δοκῶ κανηφόρῳ.

Πισθέταιρος

καὶ τὸν δίφρον γε διφροφόρει τονδὶ λαβών.

Pisthetaerus

1525 What! there are other gods besides you, barbarian gods who dwell above Olympus ?

Prometheus

If there were no barbarian gods, who would be the patron of Execestides?

Pisthetaerus

And what is the name of these gods?

Prometheus

Their name? Why, the Triballi.

Pisthetaerus

Ah, indeed! 1530 'tis from that no doubt that we derive the word ‘tribulation.'

Prometheus

Most likely. But one thing I can tell you for certain, namely, that Zeus and the celestial Triballi are going to send deputies here to sue for peace. Now don't you treat with them, unless 1535 Zeus restores the scepter to the birds and gives you Basileia in marriage.

Pisthetaerus

Who is this Basileia?

Prometheus

A very fine young damsel, who makes the lightning for Zeus; all things come from her, 1540 wisdom, good laws, virtue, the fleet, calumnies, the public paymaster and the triobolus.

Pisthetaerus

Ah! then she is a sort of general manageress to the god.

Prometheus

Yes, precisely. If he gives you her for your wife, yours will be the almighty power. That is what I have come to tell you; 1545 for you know my constant and habitual goodwill towards men.

Pisthetaerus

Oh, yes! it's thanks to you that we roast our meat.

Prometheus

I hate the gods, as you know.

Pisthetaerus

Aye, by Zeus, you have always detested them.

Prometheus

Towards them I am a veritable Timon; but I must return in all haste, 1550 so give me the umbrella; if Zeus should see me from up there, he would think I was escorting one of the Canephori.

Pisthetaerus

Wait, take this stool as well. Prometheus leaves. Pisthetaerus goes into the thicket.