18–19
Cock
I had no sound or reasonable motive; but seeing that if my practices were ordinary and the same as most people's, I should fail to draw on men to wonder at me, but the more outlandish they were the more august I seemed to them, this was the reason why I chose to innovate, pretending that my grounds were too holy for discussion, so that each might have his conjecture, and all stand amazed as at the dark sayings of the oracles. There, even you are laughing at me in your turn.
Mikyllos
Not so much at you as at the Krotoniates and Metapontines and Tarentines and the others who followed you speechless and kissed the footprints you left as you walked.
But when you had laid Pythagoras aside, what character did you clothe yourself with after him?
Cock
Aspasia, the courtesan from Miletos.
Mikyllos
Oh, what a tale! Pythagoras became even a woman among other people, and there was a time when you, most noble cock, were Aspasia, Perikles' mistress, and carded wool and wove the weft and sold your favors!
Cock
I am not the only man who has done all these things. Teiresias, too, before me, and Kaineus, Elatos' son, were in my case, so that any joke you make against me will also be made against them.
Mikyllos
Tell me, which life did you find. pleasanter, when you were a man or when Perikles caressed you?
5
Cock
Beware of asking a question that was not agreeable even to Teiresias.
Mikyllos
Even if you will not tell me, Euripides decided the matter adequately, saying that he would rather stand by his shield thrice than bear one child.
