the birds-第12章
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swift hawk or kestrel wings； so that I may summon the islanders；
sustain the accusation here； and haste back there again on flying
pinions。
PITHETAERUS
I see。 In this way the stranger will be condemned even before he
appears。
INFORMER
That's just it。
PITHETAERUS
And while he is on his way here by sea； you will be flying to
the islands to despoil him of his property。
INFORMER
You've hit it； precisely； I must whirl hither and thither like a
perfect humming…top。
PITHETAERUS
I catch the idea。 Wait； I've got some fine Corcyraean wings。 How
do you like them？
INFORMER
Oh！ woe is me！ Why； it's a whip！
PITHETAERUS
No； no； these are the wings； I tell you； that make the top spin。
INFORMER （as PITHETAERUS lashes him）
Oh！ oh！ oh！
PITHETAERUS
Take your flight； clear off； you miserable cur； or you will soon
see what comes of quibbling and lying。 （The INFORMER flees。 To his
slaves） Come； let us gather up our wings and withdraw。
（The baskets are taken away。）
CHORUS （singing）
In my ethereal flights I have seen many things new and strange and
wondrous beyond belief。 There is a tree called Cleonymus belonging
to an unknown species； it has no heart； is good for nothing and is
as tall as it is cowardly。 In springtime it shoots forth calumnies
instead of buds and in autumn it strews the ground with bucklers in
place of leaves。
Far away in the regions of darkness； where no ray of light ever
enters； there is a country； where men sit at the table of the heroes
and dwell with them always…except in the evening。 Should any mortal
meet the hero Orestes at night； he would soon be stripped and
covered with blows from head to foot。
（PROMETHEUS enters； masked to conceal his identity。）
PROMETHEUS
Ah！ by the gods！ if only Zeus does not espy me！ Where is
Pithetaerus？
PITHETAERUS
Ha！ what is this？ A masked man！
PROMETHEUS
Can you see any god behind me？
PITHETAERUS
No； none。 But who are you； pray？
PROMETHEUS
What's the time； please？
PITHETAERUS
The time？ Why； it's past noon。 Who are you？
PROMETHEUS
Is it the fall of day？ Is it no later than that？
PITHETAERUS
This is getting dull！
PROMETHEUS
What is Zeus doing？ Is he dispersing the clouds or gathering them？
PITHETAERUS
Watch out for yourself！
PROMETHEUS
Come； I will raise my mask。
PITHETAERUS
Ah！ my dear Prometheus！
PROMETHEUS
Sh！ Sh！ speak lower！
PITHETAERUS
Why； what's the matter； Prometheus？
PROMETHEUS
Sh！ sh！ Don't call me by my name； you will be my ruin； if Zeus
should see me here。 But； if you want me to tell you how things are
going in heaven； take this umbrella and shield me； so that the gods
don't see me。
PITHETAERUS
I can recognize Prometheus in this cunning trick。 Come； quick
then； and fear nothing； speak on。
PROMETHEUS
Then listen。
PITHETAERUS
I am listening； proceed！
FROM…ETHEUS
Zeus is done for。
PITHETAERUS
Ah！ and since when； pray？
PROMETHEUS
Since you founded this city in the air。 There is not a man who now
sacrifices to the gods； the smoke of the victims no longer reaches us。
Not the smallest offering comes！ We fast as though it were the
festivall of Demeter。 The barbarian gods； who are dying of hunger； are
bawling like Illyrians and threaten to make an armed descent upon
Zeus； if he does not open markets where joints of the victims are
sold。
PITHETAERUS
What！ there are other gods besides you； barbarian gods who dwell
above Olympus？
PROMETHEUS
If there were no barbarian gods； who would be the patron of
Execestides？
PITHETAERUS
And what is the name of these gods？
PROMETHEUS
Their name？ Why； the Triballi。
PITHETAERUS
Ah； indeed！ 'tis from that no doubt that we derive the word
'tribulation。'
PROMETHEUS
Most likely。 But one thing I can tell you for certain； namely；
that Zeus and the celestial Triballi are going to send deputies here
to sue for peace。 Now don't you treat with them； unless Zeus
restores the sceptre to the birds and gives you Basileia in marriage。
PITHETAERUS
Who is this Basileia？
PROMETHEUS
A very fine young damsel； who makes the lightning for Zeus； all
things come from her； wisdom； good laws； virtue； the fleet； calumnies；
the public paymaster and the triobolus。
PITHETAERUS
Ah！ then she is a sort of general manageress to the god。
PROMETHEUS
Yes； precisely。 If he gives you her for your wife； yours will be
the almighty power。 That is what I have come to tell you； for you know
my constant and habitual goodwill towards men。
PITHETAERUS
Oh； yes！ it's thanks to you that we roast our meat。
PROMETHEUS
I hate the gods； as you know。
PITHETAERUS
Aye； by Zeus； you have always detested them。
PROMETHEUS
Towards them I am a veritable Timon； but I must return in all
haste； so give me the umbrella； if Zeus should see me from up there；
he would think I was escorting one of the Canephori。
PITHETAERUS
Wait； take this stool as well。
（PROMETHEUS leaves。 PITHETAERUS goes into the thicket。）
CHORUS （singing）
Near by the land of the Sciapodes there is a marsh； from the
borders whereof the unwashed Socrates evokes the souls of men。
Pisander came one day to see his soul； which he had left there when
still alive。 He offered a little victim； a camel； slit his throat and；
following the example of Odysseus； stepped one pace backwards。 Then
that bat of a Chaerephon came up from hell to drink the camel's blood。
（POSIDON enters； accompanied by HERACLES and TRIBALLUS。）
POSIDON
This is the city of Nephelococcygia； to which we come as
ambassadors。 （To TRIBALLUS） Hi！ what are you up to？ you are throwing
your cloak over the left shoulder。 Come； fling it quick over the
right！ And why； pray； does it draggle in this fashion？ Have you ulcers
to hide like Laespodias？ Oh！ democracy！ whither； oh！ whither are you
leading us？ Is it possible that the gods have chosen such an envoy？
You are undisturbed？ Ugh！ you cursed savage！ you are by far the most
barbarous of all the gods。…Tell me； Heracles； what are we going to do？
HERACLES
I have already told you that I want to strangle the fellow who
dared to wall us out。
POSIDON
But； my friend； we are envoys of peace。
HERACLES
All the more reason why I wish to strangle him。
（PITHETAERUS comes out of the thicket； followed by slaves； who are
carrying various kitchen utensils； one of them sets up a table
on which he places poultry dressed for roasting。）
PITHETAERUS
Hand me the cheese…grater； bring me the silphium for sauce； pass
me the cheese and watch the coals。
HERACLES
Mortal！ we who greet you are three gods。
PITHETAERUS
Wait a bit till I have prepared my silphium pickle。
HERACLES
What are these meats？
PITHETAERUS
These are birds that have been punished with death for attacking
the people's friends。
HERACLES
And you are going to season them before answering us？
PITHETAERUS （looking up from his work for the first time）
Ah！ Heracles！ welcome； welcome！ What's the matter？
POSIDON
The gods have sent us here as ambassadors to treat for peace。
PITHETAERUS （ignoring this）
There's no more oil in the flask。
HERACLES
And yet the birds must be thoroughly basted with it。
POSIDON
We have no interest to serve in fighting you； as for you； be
friends and we promise that you shall always have rain…water in your
pools and the warmest of warm weather。 So far as these points go we
are plenipotentiaries。
PITHETAERUS
We have never been the aggressors； and even now we are as well
dispose
