Here is the magpie, the turtle-dove, the swallow, the horned-owl, the buzzard, the pigeon, the falcon, the ring-dove, the cuckoo, the red-foot, the red-cap, the purple-cap, the kestrel, the diver, the ousel, the osprey, the woodpecker . . . Pisthetaerus Oh! what a lot of birds! Oh! what a lot of blackbirds! How they scold, how they come rushing up! What a noise! what a noise! Can they be bearing us ill-will? Oh! there! there! they are opening their beaks and staring at us. Euelpides Why, so they are. Leader of the Chorus Popopopopopo. Where is he who called me? Where am I to find him? Epops I have been waiting for you a long while! I never fail in my word to my friends. Leader of the Chorus Tititititititi. What good news have you for me? Epops Something that concerns our common safety, and that is just as pleasant as it is to the point. Two men, who are subtle reasoners, have come here to seek me. Leader of the Chorus Where? How? What are you saying? Epops I say, two old men have come from the abode of humans to propose a vast and splendid scheme to us. Leader of the Chorus Oh! it's a horrible, unheard-of crime! What are you saying? Epops Never let my words scare you. Leader of the Chorus What have you done to me? Epops I have welcomed two men, who wish to live with us. Leader of the Chorus And you have dared to do that! Epops Yes, and I am delighted at having done so. Leader of the Chorus And are they already with us? Epops Just as much as I am. Chorus Singing. Ah! ah! we are betrayed; 'tis sacrilege! Our friend, he who picked up corn-seeds in the same plains as ourselves, has violated our ancient laws; he has broken the oaths that bind all birds; he has laid a snare for me, he has handed us over to the attacks of that impious race which, throughout all time, has never ceased to war against us. Leader of the Chorus As for this traitorous bird, we will decide his case later, but the two old men shall be punished forthwith; we are going to tear them to pieces. Pisthetaerus It's all over with us. Euelpides You are the sole cause of all our trouble. Why did you bring me from down yonder? Pisthetaerus To have you with me. Euelpides Say rather to have me melt into tears. Pisthetaerus Go on! you are talking nonsense. How will you weep with your eyes pecked out? Chorus Singing. Io! io! forward to the attack, throw yourselves upon the foe, spill his blood; take to your wings and surround them on all sides. Woe to them! let us get to work with our beaks, let us devour them.