EUELPIDES. I would not be Opuntian[195] for a talent. But come, what is it like to live with the birds? You should know pretty well. EPOPS. Why, 'tis not a disagreeable life. In the first place, one has no purse. EUELPIDES. That does away with much roguery. EPOPS. For food the gardens yield us white sesame, myrtle-berries, poppies and mint. EUELPIDES. Why, 'tis the life of the newly-wed indeed.[196] PISTHETAERUS. Ha! I am beginning to see a great plan, which will transfer the supreme power to the birds, if you will but take my advice. EPOPS. Take your advice? In what way? PISTHETAERUS. In what way? Well, firstly, do not fly in all directions with open beak; it is not dignified. Among us, when we see a thoughtless man, we ask, "What sort of bird is this?" and Teleas answers, "'Tis a man who has no brain, a bird that has lost his head, a creature you cannot catch, for it never remains in any one place." EPOPS. By Zeus himself! your jest hits the mark. What then is to be done? PISTHETAERUS. Found a city. EPOPS. We birds? But what sort of city should we build? PISTHETAERUS. Oh, really, really! 'tis spoken like a fool! Look down. EPOPS. I am looking. PISTHETAERUS. Now look upwards. EPOPS. I am looking. PISTHETAERUS. Turn your head round. EPOPS. Ah! 'twill be pleasant for me, if I end in twisting my neck! PISTHETAERUS. What have you seen? EPOPS. The clouds and the sky. PISTHETAERUS. Very well! is not this the pole of the birds then? EPOPS. How their pole? PISTHETAERUS. Or, if you like it, the land. And since it turns and passes through the whole universe, it is called, 'pole.'[197] If you build and fortify it, you will turn your pole into a fortified city.[198] In this way you will reign over mankind as you do over the grasshoppers and cause the gods to die of rabid hunger. EPOPS. How so? PISTHETAERUS. The air is 'twixt earth and heaven. When we want to go to Delphi, we ask the Boeotians[199] for leave of passage; in the same way, when men sacrifice to the gods, unless the latter pay you tribute, you exercise the right of every nation towards strangers and don't allow the smoke of the sacrifices to pass through your city and territory. EPOPS. By earth! by snares! by network![200] I never heard of anything more cleverly conceived; and, if the other birds approve, I am going to build the city along with you. PISTHETAERUS. Who will explain the matter to them? EPOPS. You must yourself. Before I came they were quite ignorant, but since I have lived with them I have taught them to speak. PISTHETAERUS. But how can they be gathered together? EPOPS. Easily. I will hasten down to the coppice to waken my dear Procné;[201] as soon as they hear our voices, they will come to us hot wing. PISTHETAERUS. My dear bird, lose no time, I beg. Fly at once into the coppice and awaken Procné.