the birds-第2章
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EUELPIDES
I would not be Opuntian for a talent。 But come； what is it like to
live with the birds？ You should know pretty well。
EPOPS
Why； it's not a disagreeable life。 In the first place； one has
no purse。
EUELPIDES
That does away with a lot of roguery。
EPOPS
For food the gardens yield us white sesame； myrtle…berries；
poppies and mint。
EUELPIDES
Why； 'tis the life of the newly…wed indeed。
PITHETAERUS
Ha！ I am beginning to see a great plan； which will transfer the
supreme power to the birds； if you will but take my advice。
EPOPS
Take your advice？ In what way？
PITHETAERUS
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 you cannot
catch； for it never remains in any one place。〃
EPOPS
By Zeus himself！ your jest hits the mark。 What then is to be done？
PITHETAERUS
Found a city。
EPOPS
We birds？ But what sort of city should we build？
PITHETAERUS
Oh； really； really！ you talk like such a fool！ Look down。
EPOPS
I am looking。
PITHETAERUS
Now look up。
EPOPS
I am looking。
PITHETAERUS
Turn your head round。
EPOPS
Ah！ it will be pleasant for me if I end in twisting my neck of！
PITHETAERUS
What have you seen？
EPOPS
The clouds and the sky。
PITHETAERUS
Very well！ is not this the pole of the birds then？
EPOPS
How their pole？
PITHETAERUS
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
EPOPS
How so？
PITHETAERUS
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。
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。
PITHETAERUS
Who will explain the matter to them？
EPOPS
You must yourself。 Before I came they were quite ignorant； but
since have lived with them I have taught them to speak。
PITHETAERUS
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。
PITHETAERUS
My dear bird； lose no time； please！ Fly at once into the thicket
and awaken Procne。
（EPOPS rushes into the thicket。）
EPOPS （from within； singing）
Chase off drowsy sleep； dear companion。 Let the sacred hymn gush
from thy divine throat in melodious strains； roll forth in soft
cadence your refreshing melodies to bewail the fate of Itys； which has
been the cause of so many tears to us both。 Your pure notes rise
through the thick leaves of the yew…tree right up to the throne of
Zeus； where Phoebus listens to you； Phoebus with his golden hair。
And his ivory lyre responds to your plaintive accents； he gathers
the choir of the gods and from their immortal lips pours forth a
sacred chant of blessed voices。
（The flute is played behind the scene； imitating the song of the
nightingale。）
PITHETAERUS
Oh！ by Zeus！ what a throat that little bird possesses。 He has
filled the whole thicket with honey…sweet melody！
EUELPIDES
Hush！
PITHETAERUS
What's the matter？
EUELPIDES
Be still！
PITHETAERUS
What for？
EUELPIDES
Epops is going to sing again。
EPOPS （in the thicket； singing）
Epopopoi popoi popopopoi popoi； here； here； quick； quick； quick；
my comrades in the air； all you who pillage the fertile lands of the
husbandmen； the numberless tribes who gather and devour the barley
seeds； the swift flying race that sings so sweetly。 And you whose
gentle twitter resounds through the fields with the little cry of
tiotictiotiotiotiotiotio； and you who hop about the branches of the
ivy in the gardens； the mountain birds； who feed on the wild
olive…berries or the arbutus； hurry to come at my call； trioto；
trioto； totobrix； you also； who snap up the sharp…stinging gnats in
the marshy vales； and you who dwell in the fine plain of Marathon； all
damp with dew； and you； the francolin with speckled wings； you too；
the halcyons； who flit over the swelling waves of the sea； come hither
to hear the tidings； let all the tribes of long…necked birds
assemble here； know that a clever old man has come to us； bringing
an entirely new idea and proposing great reforms。 Let all come to
the debate here； here； here； here。 Torotorotorotorotix； kikkabau；
kikkabau； torotorotorolililix。
PITHETAERUS
Can you see any bird？
EUELPIDES
By Phoebus； no！ and yet I am straining my eyesight to scan the
sky。
PITHETAERUS
It was hardly worth Epops' while to go and bury himself in the
thicket like a hatching plover。
A BIRD （entering）
Torotix； torotix。
PITHETAERUS
Wait； friend； there's a bird。
EUELPIDES
By Zeus； it is a bird； but what kind？ Isn't it a peacock？
PITHETAERUS （as EPOPS comes out of the thicket）
Epops will tell us。 What is this bird？
EPOPS
It's not one of those you are used to seeing； it's a bird from the
marshes。
EUELPIDES
Oh！ oh！ but he is very handsome with his wings as crimson as
flame。
EPOPS
Undoubtedly； indeed he is called flamingo。
EUELPIDES （excitedly）
Hi！ I say！ You！
PITHETAERUS
What are you shouting for？
EUELPIDES
Why； here's another bird。
PITHETAERUS
Aye； indeed； this one's a foreign bird too。 （To EPOPS） What is
this bird from beyond the mountains with a look as solemn as it is
stupid？
EPOPS
He is called the Mede。
EUELPIDES
The Mede！ But； by Heracles； how； if a Mede； has he flown here
without a camel？
PITHETAERUS
Here's another bird with a crest。
（From here on； the numerous birds that make up the CHORUS keep
rushing in。）
EUELPIDES
Ah！ that's curious。 I say； Epops； you are not the only one of your
kind then？
EPOPS
This bird is the son of Philocles； who is the son of Epops； so
that； you see； I am his grandfather； just as one might say；
Hipponicus； the son of Callias； who is the son of Hipponicus。
EUELPIDES
Then this bird is Callias！ Why； what a lot of his feathers he
has lost！
EPOPS
That's because he is honest； so the informers set upon him and the
women too pluck out his feathers。
EUELPIDES
By Posidon； do you see that many…coloured bird？ What is his name？
EPOPS
This one？ That's the glutton。
EUELPIDES
Is there another glutton besides Cleonymus？ But why； if he is
Cleonymus； has he not thrown away his crest？ But what is the meaning
of all these crests？ Have these birds come to contend for the double
stadium prize？
EPOPS
They are like the Carians； who cling to the crests of their
mountains for greater safety。
PITHETAERUS
Oh； Posidon！ look what awful swarms of birds are gathering here！
EUELPIDES
By Phoebus！ what a cloud！ The entrance to the stage is no longer
visible； so closely do they fly together。
PITHETAERUS
Here is the partridge。
EUELPIDES
Why； there is the francolin。
PITHETAERUS
There is the poachard。
EUELPIDES
Here is the kingfisher。 （To EPOPS） What's that bird behind the
king fisher？
EPOPS
That's the barber。
EUELPIDES
What？ a bird a barber？
PITHETAERUS
Why； Sporgilus is one。
EPOPS
Here comes the owl。
EUELPIDES
And who is it brings an owl to Athens？
EPOPS （pointing to the various species）
Here is the magpie； the turtle…dove； the swallow； the
horned…owl； the buzzard； the pigeon； the falcon； the ring…dove； the
cuckoo； the red…foot； the red…cap； the purple…cap。 the kestrel； the
diver； the ousel； the osprey； the woodpecker。。。
PITHETAERUS
Oh！ what a lot of birds！
EUELPIDES
Oh！ what a lot of blackbirds！
PITHETAERUS
How they scold； how they come rushing up！ What a noise！ what a
noise！
EUELPIDES
Can they be bearing us ill…will？
PITHETAERUS
Oh！ there！ there！ they are opening their beaks and staring at us。
EUELPIDES
Why； so they are。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Popopopopopo。 Where is he who called me？ Where am I to find him？
EPOPS
I have been waiting for you a long while！ I never fail in my
word to my friends。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Tititititititi。 What good news have you for me？
EPOPS
Something that concerns our common safety； and that is just as
pleasant as it is to the point。 Two men； who are subtle reasoners；
have come here to seek me。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Where？ How？ What are you saying？
EPOPS
I say； two old men have come from the abode of humans to propose a
vast and splendid scheme to us。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Oh！ it's a horrible； unheard…of crime！ What are you saying？
EPOPS
Never let my words scare you。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
What have you done to me？
EPOPS
I have welcomed two men； who wish to live with us。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
And you have dared to do that！
EPOPS
Yes； and I am delighted at having done so。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
And are they already with us？
EPOPS
Just as much as I am。
CHORUS （singing）
Ah！ ah！ we are betrayed； 'tis sacrilege！ Our friend； he who picked
up corn…seeds in the same plains as ourselves； has violated our
ancient laws； he has broken the oaths that bind all birds； he has laid
a snare for me； he has handed us over to the attacks of that impious
race which； throughout all time； has never ceased to war against us。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
As for this traitorous bird； we will decide his case later； but
the two old men shall be punished forthwith； we are going to tear them
to pieces。
PITHETAERUS
It's all over with us。
EUELPIDES
You are the sole cause of all our trouble。 Why did you bring me
from down yonder？
PITHETAERUS
To have you with me。
EUELPIDES
Say rather to have me melt into tears。
PITHETAERUS
Go on！ you are talking nonsense。 How will you weep with your
eyes pecked out？
