Stasimon 2
[Episode]
Hi! Epops! do you hear me?
Leader of the Chorus
Take them off to dine well and call your mate, the melodious Procne, whose songs are worthy of the Muses;
she will delight our leisure moments.
660
Pisthetaerus
Oh! I conjure you, accede to their wish; for this delightful bird will leave her rushes at the sound of your voice;
for the sake of the gods, let her come here, so that we may contemplate the nightingale.
Epops
Let it be as you desire. Come forth, Procne, show yourself to these strangers.
665
Pisthetaerus
Oh! great Zeus! what a beautiful little bird! what a dainty form! what brilliant plumage!
Do you know how dearly I should like to get between her thighs?
Euelpides
She is dazzling all over with gold, like a young girl.
670
Oh! how I should like to kiss her!
Pisthetaerus
Why, wretched man, she has two little sharp points on her beak!
Euelpides
I would treat her like an egg, the shell of which we remove before eating it; I would take off her mask and then kiss her pretty face.
Pisthetaerus
Lead the way, and may success attend us.
Epops goes into the thicket, followed by Pisthetaerus and Euelpides.
675
[Parabasis]
Lovable golden bird, whom I cherish above all others, you, whom I associate with all my songs, nightingale,
Chorus
you have come, you have come, to show yourself to me and to charm me with your notes. Come, you, who play spring melodies upon the harmonious flute, lead off our anapests.
680
Leader of the Chorus
Weak mortals, chained to the earth, creatures of clay as frail as the foliage of the woods, you unfortunate race, whose life is but darkness, as unreal as a shadow, the illusion of a dream, hearken to us, who are immortal beings, ethereal, ever young and occupied with eternal thoughts, for we shall teach you about all celestial matters;
685
you shall know thoroughly what is the nature of the birds, what the origin of the gods, of the rivers, of Erebus, and Chaos; thanks to us, even Prodicus will envy you your knowledge.
690
At the beginning there was only Chaos, Night, dark Erebus, and deep Tartarus. Earth, the air and heaven had no existence.
