164 ARISTOPHANES,

Her. “The war brings us no good. As for you,
by being on good terms with us you can always have
rain in your cisterns, and always fine weather. We
have come, you will understand, with full powers to
treat.”

Plaus. “Well, we did not begin the war, you .
know, and we are quite ready to make peace, if you
are willing to do the right thing. Give back to the
birds the power which they once possessed, and the
matter is settled. On these terms I invite the am-
bassadors to breakfast.”’

Her. “These terms satisfy me; I vote for accept-
ing them.” Bi

Pos. “You are a fool and a glutton. Are you
going to rob your father of his kingdom?” 2

Plaus. “ Don’t you think that you gods will be.all
the more powerful if we birds rule the lower region ?
As things are now, men take your name in vain,
because you can’t see them for the clouds. Call the
birds to help you, and as soon as any rascal for-
swears himself, a crow will have his eye out in a
trice.”

Pos. “That is well put.”

Her, “ And so I think.”

Pos. (to the Triballian). “And what is your
. opinion ?”

Trib. “Say true.” }
1 The jargon which is put into the Triballian’s mouth is nabaisatreu.

The last six letters, as Frere remarks, make the English words “ say
true,”