Chapter 28
INFORMER. I won't belie my breeding; from generation to generation we have lived by informing. Quick, therefore, give me quickly some light, swift hawk or kestrel wings, so that I may summon the islanders, sustain the accusation here, and haste back there again on flying pinions.
PISTHETAERUS. I see. In this way the stranger will be condemned even before he appears.
INFORMER. That's just it.
PISTHETAERUS. And while he is on his way here by sea, you will be flying to the islands to despoil him of his property.
INFORMER. You've hit it, precisely; I must whirl hither and thither like a perfect humming-top.
PISTHETAERUS. I catch the idea. Wait, i' faith, I've got some fine Corcyraean wings.[341] How do you like them?
INFORMER. Oh! woe is me! Why, 'tis a whip!
PISTHETAERUS. No, no; these are the wings, I tell you, that set the top a-spinning.
INFORMER. Oh! oh! oh!
PISTHETAERUS. Take your flight, clear off, you miserable cur, or you will soon see what comes of quibbling and lying. Come, let us gather up our wings and withdraw.
CHORUS. In my ethereal nights I have seen many things new and strange and wondrous beyond belief. There is a tree called Cleonymus belonging to an unknown species; it has no heart, is good for nothing and is as tall as it is cowardly. In springtime it shoots forth calumnies instead of buds and in autumn it strews the ground with bucklers in place of leaves.[342]
Far away in the regions of darkness, where no ray of light ever enters, there is a country, where men sit at the table of the heroes and dwell with them always--save always in the evening. Should any mortal meet the hero Orestes at night, he would soon be stripped and covered with blows from head to foot.[343]
PROMETHEUS. Ah! by the G.o.ds! if only Zeus does not espy me! Where is Pisthetaerus?
PISTHETAERUS. Ha! what is this? A masked man!
PROMETHEUS. Can you see any G.o.d behind me?
PISTHETAERUS. No, none. But who are you, pray?
PROMETHEUS. What's the time, please?
PISTHETAERUS. The time? Why, it's past noon. Who are you?
PROMETHEUS. Is it the fall of day? Is it no later
PISTHETAERUS. Oh! 'pon my word! but you grow tiresome!
PROMETHEUS. What is Zeus doing? Is he dispersing the clouds or gathering them?[345]
PISTHETAERUS. Take care, lest I lose all patience.
PROMETHEUS. Come, I will raise my mask.
PISTHETAERUS. Ah! my dear Prometheus!
PROMETHEUS. Stop! stop! speak lower!
PISTHETAERUS. Why, what's the matter, Prometheus?
PROMETHEUS. H'sh, h's.h.!.+ Don't call me by my name; you will be my ruin, if Zeus should see me here. But, if you want me to tell you how things are going in heaven, take this umbrella and s.h.i.+eld me, so that the G.o.ds don't see me.
PISTHETAERUS. I can recognize Prometheus in this cunning trick. Come, quick then, and fear nothing; speak on.
PROMETHEUS. Then listen.
PISTHETAERUS. I am listening, proceed!
PROMETHEUS. It's all over with Zeus.
PISTHETAERUS. Ah! and since when, pray?
PROMETHEUS. Since you founded this city in the air. There is not a man who now sacrifices to the G.o.ds; the smoke of the victims no longer reaches us. Not the smallest offering comes! We fast as though it were the festival of Demeter.[346] The barbarian G.o.ds, who are dying of hunger, are bawling like Illyrians[347] and threaten to make an armed descent upon Zeus, if he does not open markets where joints of the victims are sold.
PISTHETAERUS. What! there are other G.o.ds besides you, barbarian G.o.ds who dwell above Olympus?
PROMETHEUS. If there were no barbarian G.o.ds, who would be the patron of Execestides?[348]
PISTHETAERUS. And what is the name of these G.o.ds?
PROMETHEUS. Their name? Why, the Triballi.[349]
PISTHETAERUS. Ah, indeed! 'tis from that no doubt that we derive the word 'tribulation.'[350]
PROMETHEUS. Most likely. But one thing I can tell you for certain, namely, that Zeus and the celestial Triballi are going to send deputies here to sue for peace. Now don't you treat, unless Zeus restores the sceptre to the birds and gives you Basileia[351] in marriage.
PISTHETAERUS. Who is this Basileia?
PROMETHEUS. A very fine young damsel, who makes the lightning for Zeus; all things come from her, wisdom, good laws, virtue, the fleet, calumnies, the public paymaster and the triobolus.
PISTHETAERUS. Ah! then she is a sort of general manageress to the G.o.d.
PROMETHEUS. Yes, precisely. If he gives you her for your wife, yours will be the almighty power. That is what I have come to tell you; for you know my constant and habitual goodwill towards men.
PISTHETAERUS. Oh, yes! 'tis thanks to you that we roast our meat.[352]
PROMETHEUS. I hate the G.o.ds, as you know.
PISTHETAERUS. Aye, by Zeus, you have always detested them.
PROMETHEUS. Towards them I am a veritable Timon;[353] but I must return in all haste, so give me the umbrella; if Zeus should see me from up there, he would think I was escorting one of the Canephori.[354]
PISTHETAERUS. Wait, take this stool as well.
CHORUS. Near by the land of the Sciapodes[355] there is a marsh, from the borders whereof the odious Socrates evokes the souls of men.
Pisander[356] came one day to see his soul, which he had left there when still alive. He offered a little victim, a camel,[357] slit his throat and, following the example of Ulysses, stepped one pace backwards.[358]
Then that bat of a Chaerephon[359] came up from h.e.l.l to drink the camel's blood.