the birds-第3章
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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？
CHORUS （singing）
Io！ io！ forward to the attack； throw yourselves upon the foe；
spill his blood； take to your wings and surround them on all sides。
Woe to them！ let us get to work with our beaks； let us devour them。
Nothing can save them from our wrath； neither the mountain forests；
nor the clouds that float in the sky； nor the foaming deep。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Come； peck； tear to ribbons。 Where is the chief of the cohort？ Let
him engage the right wing。
（They rush at the two Athenians。）
EUELPIDES
This is the fatal moment。 Where shall I fly to； unfortunate wretch
that am？
PITHETAERUS
Wait！ Stay here！
EUELPIDES
That they may tear me to pieces？
PITHETAERUS
And how do you think to escape them？
EUELPIDES
I don't know at all。
PITHETAERUS
Come； I will tell you。 We must stop and fight them。 Let us arm
ourselves with these stew…pots。
EUELPIDES
Why with the stew…pots？
PITHETAERUS
The owl will not attack us then。
EUELPIDES
But do you see all those hooked claws？
PITHETAERUS
Take the spit and pierce the foe on your side。
EUELPIDES
And how about my eyes？
PITHETAERUS
Protect them with this dish or this vinegar…pot。
EUELPIDES
Oh！ what cleverness！ what inventive genius！ You are a great
general； even greater than Nicias； where stratagem is concerned。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Forward； forward； charge with your beaks！ Come； no delay。 Tear；
pluck； strike； flay them； and first of all smash the stew…pot。
EPOPS （stepping in front of the CHORUS）
Oh； most cruel of all animals； why tear these two men to pieces；
why kill them？ What have they done to you？ They belong to the same
tribe； to the same family as my wife。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Are wolves to be spared？ Are they not our most mortal foes？ So let
us punish them。
EPOPS
If they are your foes by nature； they are your friends in heart；
and they come
