Nothing can save them from our wrath, neither the mountain forests, nor the clouds that float in the sky, nor the foaming deep. Leader of the Chorus Come, peck, tear to ribbons. Where is the chief of the cohort? Let him engage the right wing. They rush at the two Athenians. Euelpides This is the fatal moment. Where shall I fly to, unfortunate wretch that I am? Pisthetaerus Wait! Stay here! Euelpides That they may tear me to pieces? Pisthetaerus And how do you think to escape them? Euelpides I don't know at all. Pisthetaerus Come, I will tell you. We must stop and fight them. Let us arm ourselves with these stew-pots. Euelpides Why with the stew-pots? Pisthetaerus The owl will not attack us then. Euelpides But do you see all those hooked claws? Pisthetaerus Take the spit and pierce the foe on your side. Euelpides And how about my eyes? Pisthetaerus Protect them with this dish or this vinegar-pot. Euelpides Oh! what cleverness! what inventive genius! You are a great general, even greater than Nicias, where stratagem is concerned. Leader of the Chorus Forward, forward, charge with your beaks! Come, no delay. Tear, pluck, strike, flay them, and first of all smash the stew-pot. Epops Stepping in front of the Chorus. Oh, most cruel of all animals, why tear these two men to pieces, why kill them? What have they done to you? They belong to the same tribe, to the same family as my wife. Leader of the Chorus Are wolves to be spared? Are they not our most mortal foes? So let us punish them. Epops If they are your foes by nature, they are your friends in heart, and they come here to give you useful advice. Leader of the Chorus Advice or a useful word from their lips, from them, the enemies of my forebears? Epops The wise can often profit by the lessons of a foe, for caution is the mother of safety. It is just such a thing as one will not learn from a friend and which an enemy compels you to know. To begin with, it's the foe and not the friend that taught cities to build high walls, to equip long vessels of war; and it's this knowledge that protects our children, our slaves and our wealth. Leader of the Chorus Well then, I agree, let us first hear them, for that is best; one can even learn something in an enemy's school. Pisthetaerus To Euelpides. Their wrath seems to cool. Draw back a little. Epops It's only justice, and you will thank me later. Leader of the Chorus Never have we opposed your advice up to now. Pisthetaerus They are in a more peaceful mood; put down your stew-pot and your two dishes; spit in hand, doing duty for a spear, let us mount guard inside the camp