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281 THE BIRDS 281

While all mankind are shifting, skulking, lurking, And perjuring themselves here out of sight. 70

Whereas, if you would form a steady strict Alliance with the Birds, when any man (Using the common old familiar oath — " By Jupiter and the crow ") forswore himself. The crow would pick his eyes out, for his pains. 75 Neptiine. Well, that seems plausible — that 's

fairly put. Hercules. I think so, too. Peisthetairus [to the Triballian], Well, what

say you ? Triballian. Say true.^

JPeisthetairvs.'^ Yes. He consents, you see ! But I '11 explain now The services and good ojffices we could do you. so

Suppose a mortal made a vow, for instance, To any of you ; then he delays and shuffles, And says, " the gods are easy creditors." In such a case, we could assist ye, I say, To levy a fine.

Neptune [open to conviction^ but anxious to pro- ceed on sure ground^. How would you do it? Tell me. ss

Peisthetairus. Why, for example, when he 's count- ing money, Or sitting in the bath, we give the warrant To a pursuivant of ours, a kite or magpie ; And they pounce down immediately, and distrain Cash or apparel, money or money's worth, 90

To twice the amount of your demand upon him.

^ The Triballian speaks very imperfect Greek, but seems to mean that he favors breaking off the negotiations and returning to Olympus. So the interpretation which Peisthetairus puts upon his words is comic.

2 Very volubly — quite at his ease.