Stasimon 2
[Parabasis]
tiotiotiotiotiotinx, mingle their voices to serenade Apollo, tiotiotiotinx, flapping their wings the while,
770
Second Semi-Chorus
tiotiotiotinx; their notes reach beyond the clouds of heaven; they startle the various tribes of the beasts; a windless sky calms the waves, totototototototototinx;
775
all Olympus resounds, and astonishment seizes its rulers; the Olympian graces and Muses cry aloud the strain, tiotiotiotinx.
780
Leader of Second Semi-Chorus
There is nothing more useful nor more pleasant than to have wings. To begin with, just let us suppose a spectator to be dying with hunger and to be weary of the choruses of the tragic poets; if he were winged, he would fly off, go home to dine and come back with his stomach filled.
785
Some Patroclides, needing to take a crap, would not have to spill it out on his cloak, but could fly off, satisfy his requirements, let a few farts and, having recovered his breath, return. If one of you, it matters not who, had adulterous relations and saw the husband of his mistress in the seats of the senators,
790
he might stretch his wings, fly to her, and, having laid her, resume his place. Is it not the most priceless gift of all, to be winged? Look at Diitrephes! His wings were only wicker-work ones, and yet he got himself chosen Phylarch and then Hipparch; from being nobody,
795
he has risen to be famous; he's now the finest gilded cock of his tribe.
800
Pisthetaerus
Halloa! What's this? By Zeus! I never saw anything so funny in all my life.
Euelpides
What makes you laugh?
Pisthetaerus
Your little wings. D'you know what you look like?
Like a goose painted by some dauber.
805
Euelpides
And you look like a close-shaven blackbird.
Pisthetaerus
We ourselves asked for this transformation, and, as Aeschylus has it, These are no borrowed feathers, but truly our own.
Epops
Come now, what must be done?
Pisthetaerus
First give our city
a great and famous name, then sacrifice to the gods.
810
Euelpides
I think so too.
Leader of the Chorus
Let's see. What shall our city be called?
Pisthetaerus
Will you have a high-sounding Laconian name? Shall we call it Sparta?
