THE BIRDS 279
Hercules. That makes no difference ; or if it does, It makes me long to throttle him the more.
Peisthetairus [very busy, affecting not to see them.~ Give me the Silphium spice. Where 's the cheese-grater ? Bring cheese here, somebody ! Mend the charcoal fire. Hercules. Mortal, we greet you and hail you ! Three of us — 25
Three deities.
Peisthetahms [without looking up. But I 'm en- gaged at present ; A little busy, you see, mixing my sauce.
Hercules. Why sure ! How can it be ? what dish is this ? Birds seemingly ! ^
Peisthetairus [without looking up Some indi- vidual birds, Opposed to the popular democratic birds, so
Rendered themselves obnoxious.
Hercules. So, you 've plucked them,
And put them into sauce, provisionally f
Peisthetairus [looking ujj]. Oh! bless me, Her- cules, I 'm quite glad to see you. What brings you here ?
Hercules. We 're come upon an embassy
From heaven, to put an end to this same war. ... 3.5
Servant [to Peisthetairus]. The cruet 's empty,
our oil is out. Peisthetairus. No matter,
Fetch more, fetch plenty, I tell ye. We shall want it. Hercules. For, in fact, it brings no benefit to us,
^ Hercules was proverbially a gonnnand. It is through this weak- ness that Peisthetairus wins him over to his side.
