the birds-第9节
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believed。 But here comes another messenger from the wall to bring us
some further news！ What a fighting look he has！
SECOND MESSENGER （rushing in）
Alas！ alas！ alas！ alas！ alas！ alas！
PITHETAERUS
What's the matter？
SECOND MESSENGER
A horrible outrage has occurred； a god sent by Zeus has passed
through our gates and has penetrated the realms of the air without the
knowledge of the jays； who are on guard in the daytime。
PITHETAERUS
It's a terrible and criminal deed。 What god was it？
SECOND MESSENGER
We don't know that。 All we know is； that he has got wings。
PITHETAERUS
Why were not patrolmen sent against him at once？
SECOND MESSENGER
We have despatched thirty thousand hawks of the legion of
Mounted Archers。 All the hook…clawed birds are moving against him； the
kestrel； the buzzard； the vulture； the great…horned owl； they cleave
the air so that it resounds with the flapping of their wings； they are
looking everywhere for the god； who cannot be far away； indeed； if I
mistake not； he is coming from yonder side。
PITHETAERUS
To arms； all； with slings and bows！ This way； all our soldiers；
shoot and strike！ Some one give me a sling！
CHORUS （singing）
War； a terrible war is breaking out between us and the gods！ Come；
let each one guard Air； the son of Erebus； in which the clouds
float。 Take care no immortal enters it without your knowledge。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Scan all sides with your glance。 Hark！ methinks I can hear the
rustle of the swift wings of a god from heaven。
（The Machine brings in IRIS； in the form of a young girl。）
PITHETAERUS
Hi！ you woman！ where； where； are you flying to？ Halt； don't
stir！ keep motionless！ not a beat of your wing！ （She pauses in her
flight。） Who are you and from what country？ You must say whence you
come。
IRIS
I come from the abode of the Olympian gods。
PITHETAERUS
What's your name； ship or head…dress？
IRIS
I am swift Iris。
PITHETAERUS
Paralus or Salaminia？
IRIS
What do you mean？
PITHETAERUS
Let a buzzard rush at her and seize her。
IRIS
Seize me？ But what do all these insults mean？
PITHETAERUS
Woe to you！
IRIS
I do not understand it。
PITHETAERUS
By which gate did you pass through the wall； wretched woman？
IRIS
By which gate？ Why； great gods； I don't know。
PITHETAERUS
You hear how she holds us in derision。 Did you present yourself to
the officers in command of the jays？ You don't answer。 Have you a
permit； bearing the seal of the storks？
IRIS
Am I dreaming？
PITHETAERUS
Did you get one？
IRIS
Are you mad？
PITHETAERUS
No head…bird gave you a safe…conduct？
IRIS
A safe…conduct to me。 You poor fool！
PITHETAERUS
Ah！ and so you slipped into this city on the sly and into these
realms of air…land that don't belong to you。
IRIS
And what other roads can the gods travel？
PITHETAERUS
By Zeus！ I know nothing about that； not I。 But they won't pass
this way。 And you still dare to complain？ Why； if you were treated
according to your deserts； no Iris would ever have more justly
suffered death。
IRIS
I am immortal。
PITHETAERUS
You would have died nevertheless。…Oh！ that would be truly
intolerable！ What！ should the universe obey us and the gods alone
continue their insolence and not understand that they must submit to
the law of the strongest in their due turn？ But tell me； where are you
flying to？
IRIS
I？ The messenger of Zeus to mankind； I am going to tell them to
sacrifice sheep and oxen on the altars and to fill their streets
with the rich smoke of burning fat。
PITHETAERUS
Of which gods are you speaking？
IRIS
Of which？ Why； of ourselves； the gods of heaven。
PITHETAERUS
You； gods？
IRIS
Are there others then？
PITHETAERUS
Men now adore the birds as gods； and it's to them； by Zeus； that
they must offer sacrifices； and not to Zeus at all！
IRIS （in tragic style）
Oh！ fool！ fool！ fool！ Rouse not the wrath of the gods； for it is
terrible indeed。 Armed with the brand of Zeus； justice would
annihilate your race； the lightning would strike you as it did
Licymnius and consume both your body and the porticos of your palace。
PITHETAERUS
Here！ that's enough tall talk。 Just you listen and keep quiet！
Do you take me for a Lydian or a Phrygian and think to frighten me
with your big words？ Know； that if Zeus worries me again； I shall go
at the head of my eagles； who are armed with lightning； and reduce his
dwelling and that of Amphion to cinders。 I shall send more than six
hundred porphyrions clothed in leopards' skins up to heaven against
him； and formerly a single Porphyrion gave him enough to do。 As for
you； his messenger； if you annoy me； I shall begin by getting
between your thighs； and even though you are Iris； you will be
surprised at the erection the old man can produce； it's three times as
good as the ram on a ship's prow！
IRIS
May you perish； you wretch； you and your infamous words！
PITHETAERUS
Won't you get out of here quickly？ Come； stretch your wings or
look out for squalls！
IRIS
If my father does not punish you for your insults。。。
（The Machine takes IRIS away。）
PITHETAERUS
Ha！。。。 but just you be off elsewhere to roast younger folk than us
with your lightning。
CHORUS （singing）
We forbid the gods； the sons of Zeus； to pass through our city and
the mortals to send them the smoke of their sacrifices by this road。
PITHETAERUS
It's odd that the messenger we sent to the mortals has never
returned。
（The HERALD enters； wearing a golden garland on his head。）
HERALD
Oh！ blessed Pithetaerus； very wise； very illustrious； very
gracious； thrice happy； very。。e； prompt me； somebody； do
PITHETAERUS
Get to your story！
HERALD
All peoples are filled with admiration for your wisdom； and they
award you this golden crown。
PITHETAERUS
I accept it。 But tell me； why do the people admire me？
HERALD
Oh you； who have founded so illustrious a city in the air； you
know not in what esteem men hold you and how many there are who burn
with desire to dwell in it。 Before your city was built； all men had
a mania for Sparta； long hair and fasting were held in honour； men
went dirty like Socrates and carried staves。 Now all is changed。
Firstly； as soon as it's dawn； they all spring out of bed together
to go and seek their food； the same as you do； then they fly off
towards the notices and finally devour the decrees。 The bird…madness
is so clear that many actually bear the names of birds。 There is a
halting victualler； who styles himself the partridge； Menippus calls
himself the swallow； Opuntius the one…eyed crow； Philocles the lark；
Theogenes the fox…goose； Lycurgus the ibis； Chaerephon the bat；
Syracosius the magpie； Midias the quail； indeed he looks like a
quail that has been hit hard on the head。 Out of love for the birds
they repeat all the songs which concern the swallow； the teal； the
goose or the pigeon； in each verse you see wings； or at all events a
few feathers。 This is what is happening down there。 Finally； there are
more than ten thousand folk who are coming here from earth to ask
you for feathers and hooked claws； so； mind you supply yourself with
wings for the immigrants。
PITHETAERUS
Ah！ by Zeus； there's no time for idling。 （To some slaves） Go as
quick as possible and fill every hamper； every basket you can find
with wings。 Manes will bring them to me outside the walls； where I
will welcome those who present themselves。
CHORUS （Singing）
This town will soon be inhabited by a crowd of men。 Fortune
favours us alone and thus they have fallen in love with our city。
PITHETAERUS （to the slave MANES； who brings in a basket full of
wings）
Come； hurry up and bring them along。
CHORUS （singing）
Will not man find here everything that can please him…wisdom；
love； the divine Graces； the sweet face of gentle peace？
PITHETAERUS （as MANES Comes in with another basket）
Oh！ you lazy servant！ won't you hurry yourself？
CHORUS （singing）
Let a basket of wings be brought speedily。 Come； beat him as I do；
and put some life into him； he is as lazy as an ass。
PITHETAERUS
Aye； Manes is a great craven。
CHORUS （singing）
Begin by putting this heap of wings in order； divide them in three
parts according to the birds from whom they came； the singing； the
prophetic and the aquatic birds； then you must take care to distribute
them to the men according to their character。
PITHETAERUS （to MANES； who is bringing in another basket）
Oh！ by the kestrels！ I can keep my hands off you no long
