YOUNG MAN Flying, flying, flying, flying Over the surge of the untilled sea!
PEISTHETAERUS Not false, methinks, the tale our envoy told us. For here comes one whose song is all of eagles.
YOUNG MAN Fie on it! There’s nothing in this world so sweet as flying; I’ve quite a passion for these same bird-laws. In fact I’m gone bird-mad, and fly, and long To dwell with you, and hunger for your laws.
PEISTHETAERUS Which of our laws? for birds have many laws.
YOUNG MAN All! All! but most of all that jolly law Which lets a youngster throttle and beat his father.
PEISTHETAERUS Aye if a cockerel beat his father here, We do indeed account him quite a—Man.
YOUNG MAN That’s why I moved up hither and would fain Throttle my father and get all he has.
PEISTHETAERUS But there’s an ancient law among the birds, You’ll find it in the tablets of the storks; When the old stork has brought his storklings up, And all are fully fledged for flight, then they Must in their turn maintain the stork their father.
YOUNG MAN A jolly lot of good I’ve gained by coming,
YOUNG MAN
If now I’ve got to feed my father too!
PEISTHETAERUS Nay, my poor boy, you came here well-disposed, And so I’ll rig you like an orphan bird. And here’s a new suggestion, not a bad one, But what I learnt myself when I was young. Don’t beat your father, lad; but take this wing, And grasp this spur of battle in your hand, And think this crest a game-cock’s martial comb. Now march, keep guard, live on your soldier’s pay, And let your father be. If you want fighting, Fly off to Thraceward regions, and fight there.
YOUNG MAN By Dionysus, I believe you’re right.
YOUNG MAN I’ll do it too.
PEISTHETAERUS You’ll show your sense, by Zeus!
CINESIAS (Singing.) On the lightest of wings I am soaring on high, Lightly from measure to measure I fly;
PEISTHETAERUS Bless me, this creature wants a pack of wings!
CINESIAS (Singing.) And ever the new I am flitting to find, With timorless body, and timorless mind.
PEISTHETAERUS We clasp Cinesias, man of linden-wyth.
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