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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 here to give you useful advice。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Advice or a useful word from their lips； from them； the enemies of
my forebears？
EPOPS
The wise can often profit by the lessons of a foe； for caution
is the mother of safety。 It is just such a thing as one will not learn
from a friend and which an enemy compels you to know。 To begin with；
it's the foe and not the friend that taught cities to build high
walls； to equip long vessels of war； and it's this knowledge that
protects our children； our slaves and our wealth。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Well then； I agree； let us first hear them； for that is best；
one can even learn something in an enemy's school。
PITHETAERUS （to EUELPIDES）
Their wrath seems to cool。 Draw back a little。
EPOPS
It's only justice； and you will thank me later。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Never have we opposed your advice up to now。
PITHETAERUS
They are in a more peaceful mood；…put down your stew…pot and
your two dishes； spit in hand； doing duty for a spear； let us mount
guard inside the camp close to the pot and watch in our arsenal
closely； for we must not fly。
EUELPIDES
You are right。 But where shall we be buried； if we die？
PITHETAERUS
In the Ceramicus； for； to get a public funeral； we shall tell
the Strategi that we fell at Orneae； fighting the country's foes。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Return to your ranks and lay down your courage beside your wrath
as the hoplites do。 Then let us ask these men who they are； whence
they come； and with what intent。 Here； Epops； answer me。
EPOPS
Are you calling me？ What do you want of me？
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Who are they？ From what country？
EPOPS
Strangers； who have come from Greece； the land of the wise。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
And what fate has led them hither to the land of the birds？
EPOPS
Their love for you and their wish to share your kind of life； to
dwell and remain with you always。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Indeed； and what are their plans？
EPOPS
They are wonderful； incredible； unheard of。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Why； do they think to see some advantage that determines them to
settle here？ Are they hoping with our help to triumph over their
foes or to be useful to their friends？
EPOPS
They speak of benefits so great it is impossible either to
describe or conceive them； all shall be yours； all that we see here；
there； above and below us； this they vouch for。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Are they mad？
EPOPS
They are the sanest people in the world。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Clever men？
EPOPS
The slyest of foxes； cleverness its very self； men of the world；
cunning； the cream of knowing folk。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Tell them to speak and speak quickly； why； as I listen to you； I
am beside myself with delight。
EPOPS （to two atte