Page:Acharnians and two other plays (1909).djvu/175

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Boy, bring me a crown and a basin and ewer. Eu. Why, what does he mean? Are we banqueting sure? Peis. A rhetorical banquet, I mean; and I wish

To serve them at first with a sumptuous dish,

To astound and delight them. "The grief and compassion

That oppresses my mind on beholding a nation

A people of sovereigns" Chorus. Sovereigns we! Peis. Of all the creation! of this man and me,

And of Jupiter too; for observe that your birth

Was before the old Titans, and Saturn and Earth. Chorus. And Earth! Peis. I repeat it. Chorus. That's wonderful news! Peis. Your wonder implies a neglect to peruse,

And examine old Æsop; from whom you might gather,

That the lark was embarrassed to bury his father;

On account of the then non-existence of Earth;

And how to repair so distressing a dearth,

He adopted a method unheard of and new. Chorus. If the story you quote, is authentic and true,

No doubt can exist of our clear seniority;

And the gods must acknowledge our right to authority. Eu. Your beaks will be worn with distinction and pride;

The woodpecker's title will scarce be denied;

And Jove the pretender, will surely surrender. Peis. Moreover, most singular facts are combined

In proof, that the birds were adored by mankind:

For instance; the cock was a sovereign of yore

In the empire of Persia, and ruled it before

Darius's time; and you all may have heard,

That his title exists, as the "Persian bird." Eu. And hence you behold him stalk in pride,

Majestic and stout, with a royal stride,

With his turban upright, a privilege known

Reserved to kings and kings alone. Peis. So wide was his empire, so mighty his sway,