Parodos
[Choral 1]
wisdom, love, the divine Graces, the sweet face of gentle peace?
1320
Pisthetaerus
Oh! you lazy servant! won't you hurry yourself?
Chorus
Let a basket of wings be brought speedily.
1325
Come, beat him as I do, and put some life into him;
Pisthetaerus
Aye, Manes is a great craven.
Chorus
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.
1330
[Episode]
Oh! by the kestrels! I can keep my hands off you no longer; you are too slow and lazy altogether.
1335
Parricide
Oh! might I but become an eagle, who soars in the skies! Oh! might I fly above the azure waves of the barren sea!
Pisthetaerus
Ha! it would seem the news was true; I hear someone coming who talks of wings.
1340
Parricide
Nothing is more charming than to fly; I am bird-mad and fly towards you, for I want
to live with you and to obey your laws.
1345
Pisthetaerus
Which laws? The birds have many laws.
Parricide
All of them; but the one that pleases me most is that among the birds it is considered a fine thing to peck and strangle one's father.
Pisthetaerus
Yes, by Zeus! according to us,
he who dares to strike his father, while still a chick, is a brave fellow.
1350
Parricide
And therefore I want to dwell here, for I want to strangle my father and inherit his wealth.
Pisthetaerus
But we have also an ancient law written in the code of the storks, which runs thus,
When the stork father has reared his young and has taught them to fly, the young must in their turn support the father.
1355
Parricide
It's hardly worth while coming all this distance to be compelled to keep my father!
Pisthetaerus
No, no, young friend, since you have come to us with such willingness, I am going to give you these black wings, as though you were an orphan bird; furthermore, some good advice, that I received myself in infancy. Don't strike your father, but take
1360
these wings in one hand and these spurs in the other; imagine you have a cock's crest on your head and go and mount guard and fight; live on your pay and respect your father's life. You're a gallant fellow! Very well, then! Fly to Thrace and fight.
1365
Parricide
By Bacchus! You're right; I will follow your counsel.
1370
Pisthetaerus
It's acting wisely, by Zeus..
Cinesias
On my light pinions I soar off to Olympus; in its capricious flight my Muse flutters along the thousand paths of poetry in turn ...
Pisthetaerus
This is a fellow will need a whole shipload of wings.
1375
Cinesias
... and being fearless and vigorous, it is seeking fresh outlet.
Pisthetaerus
Welcome, Cinesias, you lime-wood man! Why have you come here twisting your game leg in circles?
Cinesias
I want to become a bird, a tuneful nightingale.
1380
Pisthetaerus
Enough of that sort of ditty. Tell me what you want.
