Abstract

At Aristophanes, Birds 172ff., Peisetaerus persuades the Hoopoe that the birds would be better off building a city in the clouds. The Hoopoe announces that he will go off to summon the other birds to an assembly, so that the proposal may be approved. ‘How will you summon them?’, asks Peisetaerus. ‘That's easy’, replies the Hoopoe: ΕΠΟΨδɛυρὶ γὰρ ἐμβὰς αὐτίκα μάλ' ɛἰς τὴν λόχμην,ἔπɛιτ' ἀνɛγɛίρας τὴν ἐμὴν ἀηδόνα,καλοῦμɛν αὐτούς· οἱ δὲ νῷν τοῦ ϕθέγματοςἐάνπɛρ ἐπακούσωσι θɛύσονται δρόμῳ. 205ΠΕΙΣΕΤΑΙΡΟΣὦ ϕίλτατ' ὀρνίθων σύ, μή νυν ἕσταθι·ἀλλ', ἀντιβολῶ σ', ἄγ' ὡς τάχιστ' ɛἰς τὴν λόχμηνɛἴσβαινɛ κἀνέγɛιρɛ τὴν ἀηδόνα.