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277 THE BIRDS 211

Prometheus. What queen ? A most delightful charming girl, Jove's housekeeper, that manages his matters. Serves out his thunderbolts, arranges everything ; 55 The constitutional laws and liberties, Morals and manners, the marine department. Freedom of speech, and threepence for the juries.

Peisthetairus. Why, that seems all in aU.

Prometheus. Yes, everything,

I tell ye, in having her, you 've everything : 60

I came down hastily, to say thus much ; I 'm hearty, ye know ; I stick to principle. Steady to the human interest — always was.^

Peisthetairus. Yes ! we 're obliged to you for our roast victuals.

Prometheus. And I hate these present gods, you know, most thoroughly. 65

I need not tell you that.

Peisthetairus ^ [with a sort of half snee?']. No, no, you need not. You 're known of old, for an enemy to the gods.

Prometheus. Yes, yes, like Timon, I 'm a perfect Timon ; ^ Just such another. But I must be going ; Give me the umbrella ; if Jupiter should see me, 70 He '11 think that I 'm attending a procession.'*

^ Prometheus had incurred the wrath of Jupiter hy his kindness to mankind in having bestowed on them the gift of fire.

^ Peisthetairus, who has learned all that he wanted to know, does not care to lose his time in listening to professions of zeal and attach- ment. He contrives, however, to conclude civilly with a piece of obliging attention.

^ Timon of Athens (see p. 445) hated gods as well as men.

and a folding chair.
 * The Canephoroi were followed by a person bearing an umbrella