Because in your ignorance, Micyllus, you have
gone just as far astray as most people in regard to
the rich. Take my word for it, they live a much
Yes, by Heaven, it is high time now for you to talk and tell me how you got transformed and what you know of each existence.
Listen ; but first let me tell you thus much, that I have never seen anyone leading a happier life than you.
Than I, cock? I wish you no better luck yourself! You force me to curse you, you know. But begin with Euphorbus and tell me how you were transformed to Pythagoras, and then the rest of it till you get to the cock : for it is likely that you have seen many sights and had many adventures in your multifarious existences.
How my soul originally left Apollo, flew down to earth and entered into a human body and what sin it was condemned to expiate in that way would make a long story; besides, it is impious either for me to tell or for you to hear such things. But when I became Euphorbus. . .
But I,—who was I formerly, wondrous creature ?
First tell me whether I too was ever transformed
like you.
Cock
Yes, certainly.
You were an Indian ant, one of the gold-digging
kind.
You can’t by any possibility find that out. But when I became Euphorbus—for I am going back to that subject—I fought at Troy and was killed by Menelaus, and some time afterwards I entered into Pythagoras. In the meanwhile I stood about and waited without a house till Mnesarchus should build me one.
Without food and drink, my friend ?
Yes, certainly ; for they turned out to be unnecessary, except for the body.
Well, then, tell me the story of Troy first. Was it all as Homer says ?
Why, where did he get his information, Micyllus?
When all that was going on, he was a camel in
But how about Achilles? Was he as Homer describes him, supreme in everything, or is this only a fable too ?
I did not come into contact with him at all,
Micyllus, and I can’t tell you as accurately about
the Greek side. How could I, being one of the
enemy? His comrade Patroclus, however, I killed
without difficulty, running him through with my
spear.
In brief, Micyllus, I was a sophist, for I must tell
the truth, I suppose. However, I was not uneducated or unacquainted with the noblest sciences. I
So I have heard, and I have also heard that you were thought to have come to life again after dying, and that you once showed them that your thigh was of gold. But, look here, tell me how it occurred to you to make a law against eating either meat or beans?
Do not press that question, Micyllus.
Why, cock ? Cock Because I am ashamed to tell you the truth of it.
But you oughtn’t to hesitate to tell a housemate and a friend—for I cannot call myself your master any longer.
It was nothing sensible or wise, but I perceived
that if I made laws that were ordinary and just
like those of the run of legislators I should not
induce men to wonder at me, whereas the more I departed from precedent, the more of a figure I should
cut, I thought, in their eyes. Therefore I preferred
to introduce innovations, keeping the reason for
them secret so that one man might guess one thing
Not so much at you as at the people of Croton and Metapontum and Tarentum and all the rest who followed you dumbly and worshipped the footprints that you left in walking.
But after you put off the part of Pythagoras what other did you assume ?
Aspasia, the courtesan from Miletus.
Whew, what a yarn! So Pythagoras became a woman on top of everything else, and there was once atime when you laid eggs, most distinguished of cocks; when you lived with Pericles in the capacity of Aspasia and had children by him and carded wool and spun yarn and made the most of your sex in courtesan style?
Yes, I did all that, and I am not the only one:
both Tiresias and Caeneus the son of Elatus preecded
me, so that all your jokes at my expense will be at
their expense too.
Hang you, cock, do you think everybody hails from Miletus or Samos? They say that while you were Pythagoras and young and handsome you often played Aspasia to the tyrant.
But what man or woman did you become after Aspasia ?
The Cynic Crates.
Twin brethren! what ups and downs! First a courtesan, then a philosopher !
Then a king, then a poor man, and soon a satrap ;
then a horse, a jackdaw, a frog, and a thousand things
besides ; it would take too long to enumerate them
all. But of late I have often been a cock, for I liked
that sort of life; and after belonging to many men,
Well then, Pythagoras—but tell me what you like best to be called, so that I may not muddle up our conversation by calling you different names.
It will make no difference whether you call me Euphorbus or Pythagoras, Aspasia or Crates; I am all of them. But you had better call me what you now see me to be, a cock, so as not to slight a bird that, although held in low esteem, has in itself so many souls.
Well then, cock, as you have tried almost every existence and know everything, please tell me clearly about the life of the rich and the life of the poor, each by itself, so that I may learn if you are telling the truth when you declare that I am happier than the rich.
Well now, look at it this way, Micyllus. As for you,
you are little concerned about war if you hear that
the enemy is approaching, and you do not worry for
fear they may lay your farm waste in a raid or