Stasimon 2
[Lyric-Scene 1]
the wrath of the gods, for it is terrible indeed. Armed with the brand of Zeus, Justice would annihilate your race; the lightning would strike you as it did Licymnius and consume both your body and the porticos of your palace.
1240
Pisthetaerus
Here! that's enough tall talk. Just you listen and keep quiet! Do you take me for a Lydian or a Phrygian
and think to frighten me with your big words? Know, that if Zeus worries me again, I shall go at the head of my eagles, who are armed with lightning, and reduce his dwelling and that of Amphion to cinders. I shall send more than six hundred porphyrions
1245
clothed in leopards' skins up to heaven against him; and formerly a single Porphyrion gave him enough to do. As for you, his messenger, if you annoy me, I shall begin by getting between your thighs,
1250
and even though you are Iris, you will be surprised at the erection the old man can produce; it's three times as good as the ram on a ship's prow!
1255
Iris
May you perish, you wretch, you and your infamous words!
Pisthetaerus
Won't you get out of here quickly? Come, stretch your wings or look out for squalls!
Iris
If my father does not punish you for your insults ...
Pisthetaerus
Ha! ... but just you be off elsewhere to roast younger folk than us with your lightning.
1260
Chorus
We forbid the gods, the sons of Zeus, to pass through our city
and the mortals to send them the smoke of their sacrifices by this road.
1265
Pisthetaerus
It's odd that the messenger
we sent to the mortals has never returned.
1270
Herald
Oh! blessed Pisthetaerus, very wise, very illustrious, very gracious, thrice happy, very ... Come, prompt me, somebody, do
Pisthetaerus
Get to your story!
Herald
All peoples are filled with admiration for your wisdom, and they award you this golden crown.
Pisthetaerus
I accept it. But tell me, why do the people admire me?
Herald
Oh you, who have founded so illustrious a city in the air, you know not in what esteem men hold you and how many there are who burn with desire to dwell in it.
Before your city was built, all men had a mania for Sparta; long hair and fasting were held in honor, men went dirty like Socrates and carried staves. Now all is changed.
1280
Firstly, as soon as it's dawn, they all spring out of bed together to go and seek their food, the same as you do; then they fly off towards the notices and finally devour the decrees.
1285
