Page:Acharnians and two other plays (1909).djvu/194

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Glorious Ostrich, hear our cry!

Fearful and enormous creature,

Hugest of all things that fly,

O preserve and prosper us,

Thou mother of Cleocritus!

Grant the blessings that we seek,

For us, and for the Chians' eke! Peis. That's right, the Chians—don't forget the Chians! Pri. To the Heroes, Birds, and Heroes' sons,

We call at once, we call and cry,

To the Woodpecker, the Jay, the Pie,

To the Mallard and the Wigeon,

To the Ringdove and the Pigeon,

To the Petrel and Sea-mew,

To the Dottrel and Curlew,

To the Vultures and the Hawks,

To the Cormorants and Storks,

To the Rail, to the Quail,

To the Peewit, to the Tomtit.

Peisthetairus, who can do everything better than everybody else, undertakes to perform the sacrifice. This is sufficiently in character. By making him the chief operator, a greater comic effect is given to the series of interruptions which disturb him; until in despair he determines to transfer the sacrifice elsewhere. In this way the Poet avoids the vulgar reality which he had before ridiculed.

Peis. Have done there! call no more of 'em; are you mad?

Inviting all the Cormorants and Vultures,

For a victim such as this! Why don't you see,

A kite at a single swoop, would carry it off?

Get out of my way there with your Crowns and Fillets,

I'll do it myself! I'll make the sacrifice! Pri. Then must I commence again,

In a simple, humble strain;

And invite the gods anew,

To visit us—but very few—

Or only just a single one,

All alone,

In a quiet, easy way;