now breaks old laws and doesn’t care.

We swore a pact of all the birds. He’s now trapped us with deceitful words— so power goes

to all our foes, that wicked race which since its birth was raised for war with us on earth.

We’ll have some words with that one later. These two old men should get their punishment— I think we should give it now. Let’s do it— rip ’em to pieces, bit by bit.

We’re done for.

It’s all your fault—getting us into this mess.

Why’d you bring me here?

I wanted you to come.

What? So I could weep myself to death?

Now, you’re really talking nonsense— how do you intend to weep, once these birds poke out your eyes?

On, on . . . let’s move in to attack, and launch a bloody rush, come in from front and back,

and break ’em in the crush— with wings on every side

they’ll have no place to hide.

These two will start to howl, when my beak starts to eat

and makes ’em food for fowl. There’s no well-shaded peak, no cloud or salt-grey sea

What? So I could weep myself to death?

Now, you’re really talking nonsense— how do you intend to weep, once these birds poke out your eyes?

On, on . . . let’s move in to attack, and launch a bloody rush, come in from front and back,

and break ’em in the crush— with wings on every side

they’ll have no place to hide.

These two will start to howl, when my beak starts to eat

and makes ’em food for fowl. There’s no well-shaded peak, no cloud or salt-grey sea

where they can flee from me.

Now let’s bite and tear these two apart! Where’s the brigadier? Bring up the right wing!

This is it! I’m done for. Where can I run?

Why aren’t you staying put?

Here with you?

I don’t want ’em to rip me into pieces.

How do you intend to get away from them?

I haven’t a clue.

Then I’ll tell you how— we have to stay right here and fight it out. So put that cauldron down.

What good’s a cauldron?

It’ll keep the owls away from us.

What about the birds with claws?

PISTHETAIROS [rummaging in the pack

Grab this spit— stick it in the ground in front of you.

How do we protect our eyes?

An upturned bowl.

Set this on your head.

EUELPIDES: [putting the tin bowl upside down on his head and holding up the pot, with the spit stuck in the ground]

That’s brilliant! What a grand stroke of warlike strategy! In military matters you’re the best—

already smarter than that Nikias.

El-el-el-eu . . . Charge! Keep those beaks level—no holding back now!

Pull ’em, scratch ’em, hit ’em, rip their skins off! Go smash that big pot first of all.

Hold on, you wickedest of animals! Tell me this: Why do you want to kill these men,

to tear them both to bits? They’ve done no wrong. Besides, they’re my wife’s relatives, her clansmen.

Why should we be more merciful to them than we are to wolves? What other animals are greater enemies of ours than them? Have we got better targets for revenge?

An upturned bowl.

Set this on your head.

EUELPIDES: [putting the tin bowl upside down on his head and holding up the pot, with the spit stuck in the ground]

That’s brilliant! What a grand stroke of warlike strategy! In military matters you’re the best—

already smarter than that Nikias.

El-el-el-eu . . . Charge! Keep those beaks level—no holding back now!

Pull ’em, scratch ’em, hit ’em, rip their skins off! Go smash that big pot first of all.

Hold on, you wickedest of animals! Tell me this: Why do you want to kill these men,

to tear them both to bits? They’ve done no wrong. Besides, they’re my wife’s relatives, her clansmen.

Why should we be more merciful to them than we are to wolves? What other animals are greater enemies of ours than them? Have we got better targets for revenge?

Yes, by nature enemies—but what if they’ve got good intentions? What if they’ve come to teach you something really valuable?

How could they ever teach us anything,

or tell us something useful—they’re enemies, our feathered forefathers’ fierce foes.

But folks with fine minds find from foemen they can learn a lot. Caution saves us all. We don’t learn that from friends. But enemies can force that truth upon us right away. That’s why cities learn, not from their allies, but from enemies, how to build high walls, assemble fleets of warships—in that way, their knowledge saves their children, homes, and goods.

Well, here’s what seems best to me—first of all, let’s hear what they have come to say. It’s true— our enemies can teach us something wise.

I think their anger’s easing off. Let’s retreat.

It’s only fair—and you do owe me a favour, out of gratitude.

In other things, before today, we’ve never stood against you.

They’re acting now more peacefully to us— so put that pot and bowl down on the ground. But we’d better hang onto the spit, our spear.

We’ll use it on patrol inside our camp

right by this cauldron here. Keep your eyes peeled— don’t even think of running away.

What happens if we’re killed? Where on earth will we be buried?

In Kerameikos— where the potters live—they’ll bury both of us. We’ll get it done and have the public pay— I’ll tell the generals we died in battle, fighting with the troops at Orneai.

Fall back into the ranks you held before.