University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

Pisthetærus,  Chorus , and a Parricide.
Parricide.
‘Oh for an eagle's lofty pinion
To bear me with supreme dominion
O'er the blue barren ocean's swell!’

Pisthetærus.
Well, our reporter seems to have been no false one.
Here's one hath set the eagle to a tune.

Parricide.
O what's so sweet as flying? I'm fall'n in love
With the birds' polity. I'm downright bird-mad.
I feel a fluttering. I've a longing wish
To dwell with you, a vehement coveting for
Your laws.

Pisthetærus.
What laws? for the birds' laws are many.

Parricide.
All, all; but most because by them 'tis honourable
To throttle one's own father.

Pisthetærus.
True, by Jove;
They judge it very manly, at the least,
If one, being a chick, hath struck its father.

Parricide.
This is the reason of my settling with you.
I long to throttle my father, and have all.

Pisthetærus.
But we've an ancient law among the birds
('Tis in the tablet of the storks inscribed),
Whenso the father-stork hath nourish'd all
His young, and made them able to take wing,
That they in turn must yield their father nourishment.

Parricide.
A pretty journey then I've made, by Jove!
If all I've got by coming is, that I
Must feed my father.

Pisthetærus.
Nay, not so; for since
Thou'rt come, poor fellow, with good will here, we
Will as an orphan fledge thee. I've besides,
Young sir, some counsel for thee, which thou'lt find
Not ill, such as my younger days have taught me.
Smite not thy father. But here, take this wing;
And in the other hand this spur: believe
Thou hast a cock's crest on; disgrace it not;
Keep watch; serve bravely; be thy pay thy sustenance;
And for thy father, let him live: but since
Thou art for battling, fly away to Thrace,
And there fight.

Parricide.
This sounds well, at least, by Bacchus!
And I'll e'en do't.

Pisthetærus.
By Jove, 'twill be thy wisdom.