PARRICIDE. Nothing is more charming than to fly; I burn with desire to live under the same laws as the birds; I am bird-mad and fly towards you, for I want to live with you and to obey your laws. PISTHETAERUS. Which laws? The birds have many laws. PARRICIDE. All of them; but the one that pleases me most is, that among the birds it is considered a fine thing to peck and strangle one's father. PISTHETAERUS. Aye, by Zeus! according to us, he who dares to strike his father, while still a chick, is a brave fellow. PARRICIDE. And therefore I want to dwell here, for I want to strangle my father and inherit his wealth. PISTHETAERUS. But we have also an ancient law written in the code of the storks, which runs thus, "When the stork father has reared his young and has taught them to fly, the young must in their turn support the father." PARRICIDE. 'Tis hardly worth while coming all this distance to be compelled to keep my father! PISTHETAERUS. No, no, young friend, since you have come to us with such willingness, I am going to give you these black wings, as though you were an orphan bird; furthermore, some good advice, that I received myself in infancy. Don't strike your father, but take these wings in one hand and these spurs in the other; imagine you have a cock's crest on your head and go and mount guard and fight; live on your pay and respect your father's life. You're a gallant fellow! Very well, then! Fly to Thrace and fight.[330] PARRICIDE. By Bacchus! 'Tis well spoken; I will follow your counsel. PISTHETAERUS. 'Tis acting wisely, by Zeus. CINESIAS.[331] "On my light pinions I soar off to Olympus; in its capricious flight my Muse flutters along the thousand paths of poetry in turn ..." PISTHETAERUS. This is a fellow will need a whole shipload of wings. CINESIAS. ... it is seeking fresh outlet." PISTHETAERUS. Welcome, Cinesias, you lime-wood man![332] Why have you come here a-twisting your game leg in circles? CINESIAS. "I want to become a bird, a tuneful nightingale." PISTHETAERUS. Enough of that sort of ditty. Tell me what you want. CINESIAS. Give me wings and I will fly into the topmost airs to gather fresh songs in the clouds, in the midst of the vapours and the fleecy snow. PISTHETAERUS. Gather songs in the clouds? CINESIAS. 'Tis on them the whole of our latter-day art depends. The most brilliant dithyrambs are those that flap their wings in void space and are clothed in mist and dense obscurity. To appreciate this, just listen. PISTHETAERUS. Oh! no, no, no! CINESIAS. By Hermes! but indeed you shall. "I shall travel through thine ethereal empire like a winged bird, who cleaveth space with his long neck...." PISTHETAERUS. Stop! easy all, I say![333] CINESIAS. ... as I soar over the seas, carried by the breath of the winds ... PISTHETAERUS. By Zeus! but I'll cut your breath short.