the birds-第6节
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until Eros had brought together all the ingredients of the world；
and from their marriage Heaven； Ocean； Earth and the imperishable race
of blessed gods sprang into being。 Thus our origin is very much
older than that of the dwellers in Olympus。 We are the offspring of
Eros； there are a thousand proofs to show it。 We have wings and we
lend assistance to lovers。 How many handsome youths； who had sworn
to remain insensible； have opened their thighs because of our power
and have yielded themselves to their lovers when almost at the end
of their youth； being led away by the gift of a quail； a waterfowl；
a goose； or a cock。
And what important services do not the birds render to mortals！
First of all； they mark the seasons for them； springtime； winter；
and autumn。 Does the screaming crane migrate to Libya；…it warns the
husbandman to sow； the pilot to take his ease beside his tiller hung
up in his dwelling； and Orestes to weave a tunic； so that the rigorous
cold may not drive him any more to strip other folk。 When the kite
reappears； he tells of the return of spring and of the period when the
fleece of the sheep must be clipped。 Is the swallow in sight？ All
hasten to sell their warm tunic and to buy some light clothing。 We are
your Ammon； Delphi； Dodona； your Phoebus Apollo。 Before undertaking
anything； whether a business transaction； a marriage； or the
purchase of food； you consult the birds by reading the omens； and
you give this name of omen to all signs that tell of the future。
With you a word is an omen； you call a sneeze an omen； a meeting an
omen； an unknown sound an omen； a slave or an ass an omen。 Is it not
clear that we are a prophetic Apollo to you？ （More and more rapidly
from here on。） If you recognize us as gods； we shall be your
divining Muses； through us you will know the winds and the seasons；
summer； winter； and the temperate months。 We shall not withdraw
ourselves to the highest clouds like Zeus； but shall be among you
and shall give to you and to your children and the children of your
children； health and wealth； long life； peace； youth； laughter；
songs and feasts； in short； you will all be so well off； that you will
be weary and cloyed with enjoyment。
FIRST SEMI…CHORUS （singing）
Oh； rustic Muse of such varied note； tiotiotiotiotiotinx； I sing
with you in the groves and on the mountain tops； tiotiotiotinx。 I
poured forth sacred strains from my golden throat in honour of the god
Pan； tiotiotiotinx； from the top of the thickly leaved ash； and my
voice mingles with the mighty choirs who extol Cybele on the
mountain tops； totototototototototinx。 'Tis to our concerts that
Phrynichus comes to pillage like a bee the ambrosia of his songs；
the sweetness of which so charms the ear； tiotiotiotinx。
LEADER OF FIRST SEMI…CHORUS
If there is one of you spectators who wishes to spend the rest
of his life quietly among the birds； let him come to us。 All that is
disgraceful and forbidden by law on earth is on the contrary
honourable among us； the birds。 For instance； among you it's a crime
to beat your father； but with us it's an estimable deed； it's
considered fine to run straight at your father and hit him； saying；
〃Come； lift your spur if you want to fight。〃 The runaway slave； whom
you brand； is only a spotted francolin with us。 Are you Phrygian
like Spintharus？ Among us you would be the Phrygian bird； the
goldfinch； of the race of Philemon。 Are you a slave and a Carian
like Execestides？ Among us you can create yourself fore…fathers； you
can always find relations。 Does the son of Pisias want to betray the
gates of the city to the foe？ Let him become a partridge； the
fitting offspring of his father； among us there is no shame in
escaping as cleverly as a partridge。
SECOND SEMI…CHORUS （singing）
So the swans on the banks of the Hebrus； tiotiotiotiotiotinx；
mingle their voices to serenade Apollo； tiotiotiotinx； flapping
their wings the while； tiotiotiotinx； their notes reach beyond the
clouds of heaven； they startle the various tribes of the beasts； a
windles sky calms the waves； totototototototototinx； all Olympus
resounds； and astonishment seizes its rulers； the Olympian graces
and Muses cry aloud the strain； tiotiotiotinx。
LEADER OF SECOND SEMI…CHORUS
There is nothing more useful nor more pleasant than to have wings。
To begin with； just let us suppose a spectator to be dying with hunger
and to be weary of the choruses of the tragic poets； if he were
winged； he would fly off； go home to dine and come back with his
stomach filled。 Some Patroclides； needing to take a crap； would not
have to spill it out on his cloak； but could fly off； satisfy his
requirements； let a few farts and； having recovered his breath；
return。 If one of you； it matters not who； had adulterous relations
and saw the husband of his mistress in the seats of the senators； he
might stretch his wings； fly to her； and； having laid her； resume
his place。 Is it not the most priceless gift of all； to be winged？
Look at Diitrephes！ His wings were only wicker…work ones； and yet he
got himself chosen Phylarch and then Hipparch； from being nobody； he
has risen to be famous； he's now the finest gilded cock of his tribe。
（PITHETAERUS and EUELPIDES return； they now have wings。）
PITHETAERUS
Halloa！ What's this？ By Zeus！ I never saw anything so funny in all
my life。
EUELPIDES
What makes you laugh？
PITHETAERUS
Your little wings。 D'you know what you look like？ Like a goose
painted by some dauber。
EUELPIDES
And you look like a close…shaven blackbird。
PITHETAERUS
We ourselves asked for this transformation； and； as Aeschylus
has it； 〃These are no borrowed feathers； but truly our own。〃
EPOPS
Come now； what must be done？
PITHETAERUS
First give our city a great and famous name； then sacrifice to the
gods。
EUELPIDES
I think so too。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Let's see。 What shall our city be called？
PITHETAERUS
Will you have a high…sounding Laconian name？ Shall we call it
Sparta？
EUELPIDES
What！ call my town Sparta？ Why； I would not use esparto for my
bed； even though I had nothing but bands of rushes。
PITHETAERUS
Well then； what name can you suggest？
EUELPIDES
Some name borrowed from the clouds； from these lofty regions in
which we dwell…in short； some well…known name。
PITHETAERUS
Do you like Nephelococcygia？
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Oh！ capital！ truly that's a brilliant thought！
EUELPIDES
Is it in Nephelococcygia that all the wealth of Theogenes and most
of Aeschines' is？
PITHETAERUS
No； it's rather the plain of Phlegra； where the gods withered
the pride of the sons of the Earth with their shafts。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Oh！ what a splendid city！ But what god shall be its patron？ for
whom shall we weave the peplus？
EUELPIDES
Why not choose Athene Polias？
PITHETAERUS
Oh！ what a well…ordered town it would be to have a female deity
armed from head to foot； while Clisthenes was spinning！
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Who then shall guard the Pelargicon？
PITHETAERUS
A bird。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
One of us？ What kind of bird？
PITHETAERUS
A bird of Persian strain； who is everywhere proclaimed to be the
bravest of all； a true chick of Ares。
EUELPIDES
Oh！ noble chick！
PITHETAERUS
Because he is a god well suited to live on the rocks。 Come！ into
the air with you to help the workers who are building the wall；
carry up rubble； strip yourself to mix the mortar； take up the hod；
tumble down the ladder； if you like； post sentinels； keep the fire
smouldering beneath the ashes； go round the walls； bell in hand； and
go to sleep up there yourself then despatch two heralds； one to the
gods above； the other to mankind on earth and come back here。
EUELPIDES
As for yourself； remain here； and may the plague take you for a
troublesome fellow！
（He departs。）
PITHETAERUS
Go； friend； go where I send you； for without you my orders
cannot be obeyed。 For myself； I want to sacrifice to the new god；
and I am going to summon the priest who must preside at the
ceremony。 Slaves！ slaves！ bring forward the basket and the lustral
water。
CHORUS （singing）
I do as you do； and I wish as you wish； and I implore you to
address powerful and solemn prayers to the gods； and in addition to
immolate a sheep as a token of our gratitude。 Let us sing the
Pythian chant in honour of the god； and let Chaeris accompany our
voices。
PITHETAERUS
Enough！ but； by Heracles！ what is this？ Great gods！ I have seen
many prodigious things； but I never saw a muzzled raven。 （The PRIEST
arrives。） Priest！ it's high time！ Sacrifice to the new gods。
PRIEST
I begin； but where is the man with the basket？ P
