With a saving of time, and a saving of cost;
And a seaman in future will never be lost.595
Hoo. How so?
Peis. We shall warn them, "Now hasten to sail,
Now keep within harbour; your voyage will fail."
Eu. How readily then will a fortune be made!
I'll purchase a vessel and venture on trade.
Peis. And old treasure concealed will again be revealed;[1]
The Birds as they know it, will readily shew it.600
'Tis a saying of old, "My silver and gold
Are so safely secreted, and closely interred,
No creature can know it, excepting a Bird."
Eu. I'll part with my vessel, I'll not go aboard;
I'll purchase a mattock and dig up a hoard.
Hoo. We're clear as to wealth; but the blessing of health,
Is the gift of the gods.
Peis. It will make no such odds:
If they're going on well, they'll be healthy still,
And none are in health, that are going on ill.605
Hoo. But then for longevity; that is the gift
Of the gods.[2]
Peis. But the Birds can afford them a lift,
And allow them a century, less or more.
Hoo. How so?
Peis. From their own individual store:
They may reckon it fair, to allot them a share;
For old proverbs affirm, that the final term
Of a Raven's life exceeds the space
Of five generations of human race.
Hoo.[3] What need have we then for Jove as a king?610
Surely the Birds are a better thing!
- ↑ The want of stability and good faith, both in the Government and individuals, obliged the Greeks to secure their monied capital by concealment. Hence the vast collections of ancient coin which appear in the cabinets of antiquarians.
Observe the shallow shatter-brained character of Euelpides.
- ↑ The origin of this notion of life being transferable, cannot be accounted for; in the form of a wish, it appears to have been common.
- ↑ This speech must belong to the Hoopoe. Aristophanes would not leave the result of the scene to be summed up by such a silly fellow as Euelpides. We see besides that Peisthetairus replies to it. He never replies to Euelpides.
