Aristophanes, Birds, ed. F. W. Hall, ed. William M. Geldart, 1410

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Συκοφάντης

ὄρνιθες τίνες οὐδὲν ἔχοντες πτεροποίκιλοι,
1410

τανυσίπτερε ποικίλα χελιδοῖ;

Πισθέταιρος

τουτὶ τὸ κακὸν οὐ φαῦλον ἐξεγρήγορεν.

ὅδʼ αὖ μινυρίζων δεῦρό τις προσέρχεται.

Συκοφάντης

τανυσίπτερε ποικίλα μάλʼ αὖθις.
1415

Πισθέταιρος

ἐς θοἰμάτιον τὸ σκόλιον ᾄδειν μοι δοκεῖ,

δεῖσθαι δʼ ἔοικεν οὐκ ὀλίγων χελιδόνων.

Συκοφάντης

τίς ὁ πτερῶν δεῦρʼ ἐστὶ τοὺς ἀφικνουμένους;

Πισθέταιρος

ὁδὶ πάρεστιν· ἀλλʼ ὅτου δεῖ χρὴ λέγειν.

Συκοφάντης

πτερῶν πτερῶν δεῖ· μὴ πύθῃ τὸ δεύτερον.
1420

Πισθέταιρος

μῶν εὐθὺ Πελλήνης πέτεσθαι διανοεῖ;

Συκοφάντης

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλὰ κλητήρ εἰμι νησιωτικὸς

καὶ συκοφάντης —

Πισθέταιρος

ὦ μακάριε τῆς τέχνης.

Συκοφάντης

καὶ πραγματοδίφης. εἶτα δέομαι πτερὰ λαβὼν

κύκλῳ περισοβεῖν τὰς πόλεις καλούμενος.
1425

Πισθέταιρος

ὑπὸ πτερύγων τι προσκαλεῖ σοφώτερον;

Συκοφάντης

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ἵνʼ οἱ λῃσταί τε μὴ λυπῶσί με,

μετὰ τῶν γεράνων τʼ ἐκεῖθεν ἀναχωρῶ πάλιν,

ἀνθʼ ἕρματος πολλὰς καταπεπωκὼς δίκας.

Πισθέταιρος

τουτὶ γὰρ ἐργάζει σὺ τοὔργον; εἰπέ μοι,
1430

νεανίας ὢν συκοφαντεῖς τοὺς ξένους;

Συκοφάντης

τί γὰρ πάθω; σκάπτειν γὰρ οὐκ ἐπίσταμαι.

Πισθέταιρος

ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ἕτερα νὴ Δίʼ ἔργα σώφρονα,

ἀφʼ ὧν διαζῆν ἄνδρα χρῆν τοσουτονὶ

ἐκ τοῦ δικαίου μᾶλλον ἢ δικορραφεῖν.
1435

Birds. Aristophanes. ed. F. W. Hall, ed. William M. Geldart. Oxford. 1906.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

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

Translations (3)

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

No corresponding passage available

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.) — 1410 focus

Cinesias departs and an Informer arrives.

Informer

1410 What are these birds with downy feathers, who look so pitiable to me? Tell me, oh swallow with the long dappled wings.

Pisthetaerus

Oh! it's a regular invasion that threatens us. Here comes another one, humming along.

Informer

1415 Swallow with the long dappled wings, once more I summon you.

Pisthetaerus

It's his cloak I believe he's addressing; it stands in great need of the swallows' return.

Informer

Where is he who gives out wings to all comers?

Pisthetaerus

Here I am, but you must tell me for what purpose you want them.

Informer

1420 Ask no questions. I want wings, and wings I must have.

Pisthetaerus

Do you want to fly straight to Pellene ?

Informer

I? Why, I am an accuser of the islands, an informer ...

Pisthetaerus

A fine trade, truly!

Informer

... a hatcher of lawsuits. Hence I have great need of wings 1425 to prowl round the cities and drag them before justice.

Pisthetaerus

Would you do this better if you had wings?

Informer

No, but I should no longer fear the pirates; I should return with the cranes, loaded with a supply of lawsuits by way of ballast.

Pisthetaerus

1430 So it seems, despite all your youthful vigor, you make it your trade to denounce strangers?

Informer

Well, and why not? I don't know how to dig.

Pisthetaerus

But, by Zeus! there are 1435 honest ways of gaining a living at your age without all this infamous trickery.

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.) — 1410 focus

Sycophant: some birds, having nothing, are wing-variegated,

1410

Sycophant: 'Long-winged, varied swallow?'

Pisthetaerus: This evil has not awakened lightly.

Pisthetaerus: Here comes someone approaching us, humming.

Sycophant: with stretched wings, again, in various colors.

1415

Pisthetaerus: I think he should sing to the crooked tunic,

Pisthetaerus: It seems that many swallows are needed.

Sycophant: Who is the one with wings who has come here to the arriving ones?

Pisthetaerus: Here I am. But one must speak when one must.

Sycophant: Wings, wings are needed; do not ask a second time.

1420

Pisthetaerus: Do you really intend to fly straight to Pellene?

Sycophant: By Zeus, but I am an islander summoner.

Sycophant: and a sycophant —

Pisthetaerus: O happy man of the craft.

Sycophant: and one who gnaws at facts. Then I pray, having taken wings

Sycophant: being called to trim the cities all around.

1425

Pisthetaerus: Are you summoning something under the wings that is more clever?

Sycophant: By Zeus, but so that the robbers may not distress me,

Sycophant: I am departing again from there with the cranes,

Sycophant: having sold many lawsuits in exchange for a rock.

Pisthetairos: you are doing this work, are you? Tell me,

1430

Pisthetaerus: As a young man, do you slander the foreigners?

Sycophant: For what should I suffer? For I do not know how to dig.

Pisthetaerus: But by Zeus, there are other moderate deeds,

Pisthetaerus: from which a man should live to such an extent

Pisthetaerus: from the right, rather than from the lawsuit-patchers.

1435

Aristophanes Birds 1410

ed. F. W. Hall, ed. William M. Geldart

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Συκοφάντης

ὄρνιθες τίνες οὐδὲν ἔχοντες πτεροποίκιλοι,
1410

τανυσίπτερε ποικίλα χελιδοῖ;

Πισθέταιρος

τουτὶ τὸ κακὸν οὐ φαῦλον ἐξεγρήγορεν.

ὅδʼ αὖ μινυρίζων δεῦρό τις προσέρχεται.

Συκοφάντης

τανυσίπτερε ποικίλα μάλʼ αὖθις.
1415

Πισθέταιρος

ἐς θοἰμάτιον τὸ σκόλιον ᾄδειν μοι δοκεῖ,

δεῖσθαι δʼ ἔοικεν οὐκ ὀλίγων χελιδόνων.

Συκοφάντης

τίς ὁ πτερῶν δεῦρʼ ἐστὶ τοὺς ἀφικνουμένους;

Πισθέταιρος

ὁδὶ πάρεστιν· ἀλλʼ ὅτου δεῖ χρὴ λέγειν.

Συκοφάντης

πτερῶν πτερῶν δεῖ· μὴ πύθῃ τὸ δεύτερον.
1420

Πισθέταιρος

μῶν εὐθὺ Πελλήνης πέτεσθαι διανοεῖ;

Συκοφάντης

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλὰ κλητήρ εἰμι νησιωτικὸς

καὶ συκοφάντης —

Πισθέταιρος

ὦ μακάριε τῆς τέχνης.

Συκοφάντης

καὶ πραγματοδίφης. εἶτα δέομαι πτερὰ λαβὼν

κύκλῳ περισοβεῖν τὰς πόλεις καλούμενος.
1425

Πισθέταιρος

ὑπὸ πτερύγων τι προσκαλεῖ σοφώτερον;

Συκοφάντης

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ἵνʼ οἱ λῃσταί τε μὴ λυπῶσί με,

μετὰ τῶν γεράνων τʼ ἐκεῖθεν ἀναχωρῶ πάλιν,

ἀνθʼ ἕρματος πολλὰς καταπεπωκὼς δίκας.

Πισθέταιρος

τουτὶ γὰρ ἐργάζει σὺ τοὔργον; εἰπέ μοι,
1430

νεανίας ὢν συκοφαντεῖς τοὺς ξένους;

Συκοφάντης

τί γὰρ πάθω; σκάπτειν γὰρ οὐκ ἐπίσταμαι.

Πισθέταιρος

ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ἕτερα νὴ Δίʼ ἔργα σώφρονα,

ἀφʼ ὧν διαζῆν ἄνδρα χρῆν τοσουτονὶ

ἐκ τοῦ δικαίου μᾶλλον ἢ δικορραφεῖν.
1435

Current edition Perseus

Informer

1410 What are these birds with downy feathers, who look so pitiable to me? Tell me, oh swallow with the long dappled wings.

Pisthetaerus

Oh! it's a regular invasion that threatens us. Here comes another one, humming along.

Informer

1415 Swallow with the long dappled wings, once more I summon you.

Pisthetaerus

It's his cloak I believe he's addressing; it stands in great need of the swallows' return.

Informer

Where is he who gives out wings to all comers?

Pisthetaerus

Here I am, but you must tell me for what purpose you want them.

Informer

1420 Ask no questions. I want wings, and wings I must have.

Pisthetaerus

Do you want to fly straight to Pellene ?

Informer

I? Why, I am an accuser of the islands, an informer ...

Pisthetaerus

A fine trade, truly!

Informer

... a hatcher of lawsuits. Hence I have great need of wings 1425 to prowl round the cities and drag them before justice.

Pisthetaerus

Would you do this better if you had wings?

Informer

No, but I should no longer fear the pirates; I should return with the cranes, loaded with a supply of lawsuits by way of ballast.

Pisthetaerus

1430 So it seems, despite all your youthful vigor, you make it your trade to denounce strangers?

Informer

Well, and why not? I don't know how to dig.

Pisthetaerus

But, by Zeus! there are 1435 honest ways of gaining a living at your age without all this infamous trickery.

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Συκοφάντης ὄρνιθες τίνες οὐδὲν ἔχοντες πτεροποίκιλοι, 1410 τανυσίπτερε ποικίλα χελιδοῖ;

Πισθέταιρος τουτὶ τὸ κακὸν οὐ φαῦλον ἐξεγρήγορεν. ὅδʼ αὖ μινυρίζων δεῦρό τις προσέρχεται.

Συκοφάντης τανυσίπτερε ποικίλα μάλʼ αὖθις. 1415

Πισθέταιρος ἐς θοἰμάτιον τὸ σκόλιον ᾄδειν μοι δοκεῖ, δεῖσθαι δʼ ἔοικεν οὐκ ὀλίγων χελιδόνων.

Συκοφάντης τίς ὁ πτερῶν δεῦρʼ ἐστὶ τοὺς ἀφικνουμένους;

Πισθέταιρος ὁδὶ πάρεστιν· ἀλλʼ ὅτου δεῖ χρὴ λέγειν.

Συκοφάντης πτερῶν πτερῶν δεῖ· μὴ πύθῃ τὸ δεύτερον. 1420

Πισθέταιρος μῶν εὐθὺ Πελλήνης πέτεσθαι διανοεῖ;

Συκοφάντης μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλὰ κλητήρ εἰμι νησιωτικὸς καὶ συκοφάντης —

Πισθέταιρος ὦ μακάριε τῆς τέχνης.

Συκοφάντης καὶ πραγματοδίφης. εἶτα δέομαι πτερὰ λαβὼν κύκλῳ περισοβεῖν τὰς πόλεις καλούμενος. 1425

Πισθέταιρος ὑπὸ πτερύγων τι προσκαλεῖ σοφώτερον;

Συκοφάντης μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ἵνʼ οἱ λῃσταί τε μὴ λυπῶσί με, μετὰ τῶν γεράνων τʼ ἐκεῖθεν ἀναχωρῶ πάλιν, ἀνθʼ ἕρματος πολλὰς καταπεπωκὼς δίκας.

Πισθέταιρος τουτὶ γὰρ ἐργάζει σὺ τοὔργον; εἰπέ μοι, 1430 νεανίας ὢν συκοφαντεῖς τοὺς ξένους;

Συκοφάντης τί γὰρ πάθω; σκάπτειν γὰρ οὐκ ἐπίσταμαι.

Πισθέταιρος ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ἕτερα νὴ Δίʼ ἔργα σώφρονα, ἀφʼ ὧν διαζῆν ἄνδρα χρῆν τοσουτονὶ ἐκ τοῦ δικαίου μᾶλλον ἢ δικορραφεῖν. 1435

Current edition Perseus

Informer 1410 What are these birds with downy feathers, who look so pitiable to me? Tell me, oh swallow with the long dappled wings.

Pisthetaerus Oh! it's a regular invasion that threatens us. Here comes another one, humming along.

Informer 1415 Swallow with the long dappled wings, once more I summon you.

Pisthetaerus It's his cloak I believe he's addressing; it stands in great need of the swallows' return.

Informer Where is he who gives out wings to all comers?

Pisthetaerus Here I am, but you must tell me for what purpose you want them.

Informer 1420 Ask no questions. I want wings, and wings I must have.

Pisthetaerus Do you want to fly straight to Pellene ?

Informer I? Why, I am an accuser of the islands, an informer ...

Pisthetaerus A fine trade, truly!

Informer ... a hatcher of lawsuits. Hence I have great need of wings 1425 to prowl round the cities and drag them before justice.

Pisthetaerus Would you do this better if you had wings?

Informer No, but I should no longer fear the pirates; I should return with the cranes, loaded with a supply of lawsuits by way of ballast.

Pisthetaerus 1430 So it seems, despite all your youthful vigor, you make it your trade to denounce strangers?

Informer Well, and why not? I don't know how to dig.

Pisthetaerus But, by Zeus! there are 1435 honest ways of gaining a living at your age without all this infamous trickery.

Stable identifiers

Συκοφάντης

ὄρνιθες τίνες οὐδὲν ἔχοντες πτεροποίκιλοι,
1410

τανυσίπτερε ποικίλα χελιδοῖ;

Πισθέταιρος

τουτὶ τὸ κακὸν οὐ φαῦλον ἐξεγρήγορεν.

ὅδʼ αὖ μινυρίζων δεῦρό τις προσέρχεται.

Συκοφάντης

τανυσίπτερε ποικίλα μάλʼ αὖθις.
1415

Πισθέταιρος

ἐς θοἰμάτιον τὸ σκόλιον ᾄδειν μοι δοκεῖ,

δεῖσθαι δʼ ἔοικεν οὐκ ὀλίγων χελιδόνων.

Συκοφάντης

τίς ὁ πτερῶν δεῦρʼ ἐστὶ τοὺς ἀφικνουμένους;

Πισθέταιρος

ὁδὶ πάρεστιν· ἀλλʼ ὅτου δεῖ χρὴ λέγειν.

Συκοφάντης

πτερῶν πτερῶν δεῖ· μὴ πύθῃ τὸ δεύτερον.
1420

Πισθέταιρος

μῶν εὐθὺ Πελλήνης πέτεσθαι διανοεῖ;

Συκοφάντης

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλὰ κλητήρ εἰμι νησιωτικὸς

καὶ συκοφάντης —

Πισθέταιρος

ὦ μακάριε τῆς τέχνης.

Συκοφάντης

καὶ πραγματοδίφης. εἶτα δέομαι πτερὰ λαβὼν

κύκλῳ περισοβεῖν τὰς πόλεις καλούμενος.
1425

Πισθέταιρος

ὑπὸ πτερύγων τι προσκαλεῖ σοφώτερον;

Συκοφάντης

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ἵνʼ οἱ λῃσταί τε μὴ λυπῶσί με,

μετὰ τῶν γεράνων τʼ ἐκεῖθεν ἀναχωρῶ πάλιν,

ἀνθʼ ἕρματος πολλὰς καταπεπωκὼς δίκας.

Πισθέταιρος

τουτὶ γὰρ ἐργάζει σὺ τοὔργον; εἰπέ μοι,
1430

νεανίας ὢν συκοφαντεῖς τοὺς ξένους;

Συκοφάντης

τί γὰρ πάθω; σκάπτειν γὰρ οὐκ ἐπίσταμαι.

Πισθέταιρος

ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ἕτερα νὴ Δίʼ ἔργα σώφρονα,

ἀφʼ ὧν διαζῆν ἄνδρα χρῆν τοσουτονὶ

ἐκ τοῦ δικαίου μᾶλλον ἢ δικορραφεῖν.
1435

Informer

1410 What are these birds with downy feathers, who look so pitiable to me? Tell me, oh swallow with the long dappled wings.

Pisthetaerus

Oh! it's a regular invasion that threatens us. Here comes another one, humming along.

Informer

1415 Swallow with the long dappled wings, once more I summon you.

Pisthetaerus

It's his cloak I believe he's addressing; it stands in great need of the swallows' return.

Informer

Where is he who gives out wings to all comers?

Pisthetaerus

Here I am, but you must tell me for what purpose you want them.

Informer

1420 Ask no questions. I want wings, and wings I must have.

Pisthetaerus

Do you want to fly straight to Pellene ?

Informer

I? Why, I am an accuser of the islands, an informer ...

Pisthetaerus

A fine trade, truly!

Informer

... a hatcher of lawsuits. Hence I have great need of wings 1425 to prowl round the cities and drag them before justice.

Pisthetaerus

Would you do this better if you had wings?

Informer

No, but I should no longer fear the pirates; I should return with the cranes, loaded with a supply of lawsuits by way of ballast.

Pisthetaerus

1430 So it seems, despite all your youthful vigor, you make it your trade to denounce strangers?

Informer

Well, and why not? I don't know how to dig.

Pisthetaerus

But, by Zeus! there are 1435 honest ways of gaining a living at your age without all this infamous trickery.