aeschylus - Conscious Evolution TV

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EUELPIDES
PEISTHETAERUS
THE BIRDS
DRAMA TIS PERSONAE
TROCHILUS, servant of Epops
Epops, THE HOOPOE
A PRIEST
A POET
AN ORACLE-MoNGER
METON, A GEOMETRICIAN
A COMMISSIONER
A STATUTE-SELLER
A GUARD
IRIS
A HERALD
A SIRE-STRIKER
CINESIAS, a Dithyrambic Poet
A SYCOPHANT
PROMETHEUS
POSEIDON
TRIBALLIAN
HERACLES
A MESSENGER A SERVANT OF PEiSTHETAERUS
A desolate scene, with a tree and a Tock. Enter
PEISTHETAERUS, ca1'lying a crow, and EUEL­
PIDES, carrying a jack daw.
Euelpides. Straight on do you bid me go, where the
tree stands?
Peisthetaerus. 0 hang it all! mine's croaking back
again.
Eu. Why are we wandering up and down, you
rogue?
This endless spin will make an end of us.
Pe. To think that I, poor fool, at a crow's biddinf'
Should trudge about, an hundred miles and more.
Eu. To think that I, poor wretch, at a daw's bidding,
Should wear the very nails from off my feet!
Pe. Why, where we are, I've not the least idea.
Eu. Could you from hence find out your fatherland?
Pe. No, that would pose even-Execestides!
Eu. 0, here's a nuisance!
Pe. Go you there, then, friend.
Eu. I call Philocrates a regular cheat,
The fool that sells the bird-trays in the market.
He swore these two would lead us straight to Tereus,
The hoopoe, made a bird in that same market.!
So then this daw, this son ofTharreleides,
We bought for an obol, and that crow for three.
But what knew they? Nothing, but how to-bite!
Where are you gaping now? Do you want to lead us
!The hoopoe is really an actor who has obtained his
plumage in the bird-market, where these birds were also
bought; they might therefore be expected to find him.
Pandion of Athens had two daughters, Procne and Philomela;
Tereus of Thrace married the one and outraged
the other; the sisters killed his son Itys, and served him
up for his father's dinner; he pursued them, and they
were changed, Tereus into a hoopoe, Procne into a nightingale,
and Philomela into a swallow.
CHORUS OF BIRDS
Against the rocks? There's no road here, I tell you.
Pe. No, nor yet here; not even the tiniest path.
Eu. Well, but what says your crow about the road?
Pc. By Zeus, she croaks quite differently now.
Eu. (shouting) What does shc say about thc Toad?
Pc. She says
She'll gnaw my fingers off: that's all she says.
Eu. Now isn't it a shame that when we are here
Ready and willing as two men can be
To go to the ravens, we can't find the way.
For we are sick, spectators, with a sickness
Just the reverse of that which Sacas has.
He, no true townsman, would perforce press in;
Whilst we, with rights of tribe and race unchallenged,
Townsmen mid townsmen, no man scaring us,
Spread both our-feet, and flew away from home.
Not that we hate our city, as not being
A prosperous mighty city, free for all
To spend their wealth in, paying fines and fees.
Aye, the cicalas chirp upon the boughs
One month, or two: but our Athenians chirp
Over their lawsuits all their whole life long.
That's why we are journeying on this journey now,
Trudging along with basket, pot, and myrtles,
To find some quiet easy-going spot,
Where we may settle down, and dwell in peace.
Tereus, the hoopoe, is our journey's aim,
To learn if he, in any place he has flown to,
Has seen the sort of city that we want.
Pc. You there I
Eu. What now?
Pc. My crow keeps croaking upwards
Ever so long.
Eu. And here's my jackdaw gaping
Up in the air, as if to show me something.
There must be birds about, I am sure of that.
Let's make a noise and we shall soon find out.
Pc. Then harkye: bang your leg against the rock.