won't you hurry
yourself?
Aristophanes
Go as quick as
possible and fill every hamper, every basket you can find with wings.
Manes[326] will bring them to me outside the walls, where I will welcome
those who present themselves.
CHORUS. This town will soon be inhabited by a crowd of men.
PISTHETAERUS. If fortune favours us.
CHORUS. Folk are more and more delighted with it.
PISTHETAERUS. Come, hurry up and bring them along.
CHORUS. Will not man find here everything that can please him--wisdom,
love, the divine Graces, the sweet face of gentle peace?
PISTHETAERUS. Oh! you lazy servant!
won't you hurry yourself?
CHORUS. Let a basket of wings be brought speedily. Come, beat him as I
do, and put some life into him; he is as lazy as an ass.
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[327] and the aquatic birds; then you must take care to
distribute them to the men according to their character.
PISTHETAERUS (_to Manes_). Oh! by the kestrels! I can keep my hands off
you no longer; you are too slow and lazy altogether.
A PARRICIDE. [328] Oh! might I but become an eagle, who soars in the
skies! Oh!
possible and fill every hamper, every basket you can find with wings.
Manes[326] will bring them to me outside the walls, where I will welcome
those who present themselves.
CHORUS. This town will soon be inhabited by a crowd of men.
PISTHETAERUS. If fortune favours us.
CHORUS. Folk are more and more delighted with it.
PISTHETAERUS. Come, hurry up and bring them along.
CHORUS. Will not man find here everything that can please him--wisdom,
love, the divine Graces, the sweet face of gentle peace?
PISTHETAERUS. Oh! you lazy servant!
won't you hurry yourself?
CHORUS. Let a basket of wings be brought speedily. Come, beat him as I
do, and put some life into him; he is as lazy as an ass.
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[327] and the aquatic birds; then you must take care to
distribute them to the men according to their character.
PISTHETAERUS (_to Manes_). Oh! by the kestrels! I can keep my hands off
you no longer; you are too slow and lazy altogether.
A PARRICIDE. [328] Oh! might I but become an eagle, who soars in the
skies! Oh!
