EPOPS. But how will mankind recognize us as gods and not as jays? Us, who have wings and fly? PISTHETAERUS. You talk rubbish! Hermes is a god and has wings and flies, and so do many other gods. First of all, Victory flies with golden wings, Eros is undoubtedly winged too, and Iris is compared by Homer to a timorous dove.[239] If men in their blindness do not recognize you as gods and continue to worship the dwellers in Olympus, then a cloud of sparrows greedy for corn must descend upon their fields and eat up all their seeds; we shall see then if Demeter will mete them out any wheat. EUELPIDES. By Zeus, she'll take good care she does not, and you will see her inventing a thousand excuses. PISTHETAERUS. The crows too will prove your divinity to them by pecking out the eyes of their flocks and of their draught-oxen; and then let Apollo cure them, since he is a physician and is paid for the purpose.[240] EUELPIDES. Oh! don't do that! Wait first until I have sold my two young bullocks. PISTHETAERUS. If on the other hand they recognize that you are God, the principle of life, that you are Earth, Saturn, Posidon, they shall be loaded with benefits. EPOPS Name me one of these then. PISTHETAERUS. Firstly, the locusts shall not eat up their vine-blossoms; a legion of owls and kestrels will devour them. Moreover, the gnats and the gall-bugs shall no longer ravage the figs; a flock of thrushes shall swallow the whole host down to the very last. EPOPS. And how shall we give wealth to mankind? This is their strongest passion. PISTHETAERUS. When they consult the omens, you will point them to the richest mines, you will reveal the paying ventures to the diviner, and not another shipwreck will happen or sailor perish. EPOPS. No more shall perish? How is that? PISTHETAERUS. When the auguries are examined before starting on a voyage, some bird will not fail to say, "Don't start! there will be a storm," or else, "Go! you will make a most profitable venture." EUELPIDES. I shall buy a trading-vessel and go to sea. I will not stay with you. PISTHETAERUS. You will discover treasures to them, which were buried in former times, for you know them. Do not all men say, "None know where my treasure lies, unless perchance it be some bird."[241] EUELPIDES. I shall sell my boat and buy a spade to unearth the vessels. EPOPS. And how are we to give them health, which belongs to the gods? PISTHETAERUS. If they are happy, is not that the chief thing towards health? The miserable man is never well. EPOPS. Old Age also dwells in Olympus. How will they get at it? Must they die in early youth? PISTHETAERUS. Why, the birds, by Zeus, will add three hundred years to their life. EPOPS. From whom will they take them? PISTHETAERUS. From whom? Why, from themselves. Don't you know the cawing crow lives five times as long as a man? EUELPIDES. Ah! ah! these are far better kings for us than Zeus!