Oracle-Monger
Does it say that?
Does it say that?
Pisthetaerus
Look at the book
and go and hang yourself.
990
Look at the book
and go and hang yourself.
990
Oracle-Monger
Oh! unfortunate wretch that I am.
He departs.
Oh! unfortunate wretch that I am.
He departs.
Pisthetaerus
Away with you, and take your prophecies elsewhere.
Enter Meton, with surveying instruments.
Away with you, and take your prophecies elsewhere.
Meton
I have come to you . . .
I have come to you . . .
Pisthetaerus
Interrupting.
Yet another pest! What have you come to do? What's your plan? What's the purpose of your journey? Why these splendid buskins?
Yet another pest! What have you come to do? What's your plan? What's the purpose of your journey? Why these splendid buskins?
Meton
I want to survey the plains of the air for you and to parcel them into lots.
995
I want to survey the plains of the air for you and to parcel them into lots.
995
Pisthetaerus
In the name of the gods, who are you?
In the name of the gods, who are you?
Meton
Pisthetaerus
What are these things?
What are these things?
Meton
Tools for measuring the air.
In truth, the spaces in the air have precisely the form of a furnace. With this bent ruler I draw a line from top to bottom; from one of its points I describe a circle with the compass. Do you understand?
1000
Tools for measuring the air.
In truth, the spaces in the air have precisely the form of a furnace. With this bent ruler I draw a line from top to bottom; from one of its points I describe a circle with the compass. Do you understand?
1000
Pisthetaerus
Not in the least.
Not in the least.
Meton
With the straight ruler I set to work to inscribe
a square within this circle; in its center will be the market-place, into which all the straight streets will lead, converging to this center like a star, which, although only orbicular, sends forth its rays in a straight line from all sides.
1005
With the straight ruler I set to work to inscribe
a square within this circle; in its center will be the market-place, into which all the straight streets will lead, converging to this center like a star, which, although only orbicular, sends forth its rays in a straight line from all sides.
1005
Pisthetaerus
A regular Thales!
Meton . . .
1010
A regular Thales!
Meton . . .
1010
Meton
What d'you want with me?
What d'you want with me?
Pisthetaerus
I want to give you a proof of my friendship. Use your legs.
I want to give you a proof of my friendship. Use your legs.
Meton
Why, what have I to fear?
Why, what have I to fear?
Pisthetaerus
It's the same here as in
Sparta
. Strangers are driven away, and blows rain down as thick as hail.
It's the same here as in
Sparta
. Strangers are driven away, and blows rain down as thick as hail.
Meton
Is there sedition in your city?
Is there sedition in your city?
Pisthetaerus
No, certainly not.
1015
No, certainly not.
1015
Meton
What's wrong then?
What's wrong then?
Pisthetaerus
We are agreed to sweep all quacks and impostors far from our borders.
We are agreed to sweep all quacks and impostors far from our borders.
Meton
Then I'll be going.
Then I'll be going.
Pisthetaerus
I'm afraid it's too late. The thunder growls already.
He beats him.
I'm afraid it's too late. The thunder growls already.
Meton
Oh, woe! oh, woe!
Oh, woe! oh, woe!
Pisthetaerus
I warned you.
Now, be off, and do your surveying somewhere else.
1020
I warned you.
Now, be off, and do your surveying somewhere else.
1020
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.