Epops
Take your advice? In what way?
Take your advice? In what way?
Pisthetaerus
In what way? Well, firstly,
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
165
you cannot catch, for it never remains in any one place.
170
In what way? Well, firstly,
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
165
you cannot catch, for it never remains in any one place.
170
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!
Look down.
175
Oh, really, really! you talk like such a fool!
Look down.
175
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
How their pole?
180
How their pole?
180
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.
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.
185
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.
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.
185
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;
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.
190
The air is between earth and heaven. When we want to go to
Delphi
, we ask the Boeotians for leave of passage;
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.
190
Epops
By earth! by snares! by network! by cages!
I never heard of anything more cleverly conceived; and, if the other birds approve, I am going to build the city along with you.
195
By earth! by snares! by network! by cages!
I never heard of anything more cleverly conceived; and, if the other birds approve, I am going to build the city along with you.
195
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,
but since I have lived with them I have taught them to speak.
200
You must yourself. Before I came they were quite ignorant,
but since I have lived with them I have taught them to speak.
200
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
and as soon as they hear our voices, they will come to us hot wing.
205
Easily. I will hasten down to the thicket to waken my dear Procne
and as soon as they hear our voices, they will come to us hot wing.
205
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. 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.