Page:Acharnians and two other plays (1909).djvu/164

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With poppy-seeds and myrtle. Eu. So your time

Is passed like a perpetual wedding-day. [Peisthetairus, who has hitherto felt his way by putting Euelpides forward, and allowing him to take the lead, and who has paid no attention to this trifling inconclusive conversation, breaks out as from a profound reflective reverie. Peis. Ha! What a power is here! What opportunities!

If I could only advise you. I see it all!

The means for an infinite empire and command! Hoo. And what would you have us do? What's your advice? Peis. Do? What would I have ye do? Why first of all

Don't flutter and hurry about all open-mouthed,

In that undignified way. With us, for instance,

At home, we should cry out, "What creature's that?"

And Teleas would be the first to answer:

"A mere poor creature, a weak restless animal,

A silly bird, that's neither here nor there." Hoo. Yes, Teleas might say so. It would be like him.

But tell me, what would you have us do? Peis. (emphatically). Concentrate!

Bring all your birds together. Build a city. Hoo. The birds! How could we build a city? Where? Peis. Nonsense. You can't be serious. What a question!

Look down. Hoo. I do. Peis. Look up now. Hoo. So I do. Peis. Now turn your neck round. Hoo. I should sprain it though. Peis. Come, what d'ye see? Hoo. The clouds and sky; that's all. Peis. Well, that we call the Pole and the Atmosphere;

And would it not serve you birds for a Metropole?