Probulus: And indeed I desire, by Zeus, to learn this first,
Probulus: Because you shut the door to our city with the bolts, whatever you wanted.
Lysistrata: so that we might provide the money from your side and you might not fight because of it.
Probulus: Do we fight because of the money, then?
Lysistrata: And everything else is thoroughly mixed up.
Lysistrata: For so that Pissander might steal, and they, holding back the magistrates,
490
Lysistrata: She has always been a chatterbox. And they, therefore, for this reason are doing these things.
Lysistrata: Whatever they want; for they will not take this money any longer.
Probulus: But what will you do?
Lysistrata: You ask me this? We shall manage it.
Probulus: Will you keep the money safe?
Lysistrata: And what do you consider this to be terrible?
Lysistrata: Don't we also manage the men's money for you, after all?
495
Probulus: But it is not the same thing.
Lysistrata: How is it not the same?
Probulus: We must fight from this point on.
Lysistrata: But there is no need to fight first.
Probulus: For how shall we be saved otherwise?
Lysistrata: We will save you.
Probulus: that is truly outrageous.
Lysistrata: As long as she is saved, even if you do not wish it.
Probulus: You say something terrible.
Lysistrata: Are you angry.
Lysistrata: But these things must be done, all the same.
500
PROBULUS: By Demeter, that is unjust.
Lysistrata: we must be saved, oh women!
Probulus: And if I am not asking?
Lysistrata: For this reason, and even more so.
Probulus: And where, then, did you come to care about the war and the peace?
Lysistrata: We will tell.
Probulus: Speak quickly, then, so that you do not cry.
Lysistrata: "Now listen,"
Lysistrata: And try to keep your hands still.
Probulus: But I am not able, for it is difficult.
Probulus: 'To keep them in a state of rage.'
505
Woman A: She will cry all the more then.
Probulus: This, old woman, is something for you to croak; but you, tell me.
Lysistrata: I will do these things.
Lysistrata: We endured the former war and the time.
Lysistrata: By the moderation of us women, whatever you men did.
Lysistrata: For she does not allow us to grumble. And yet we did not please her.
Lysistrata: But we knew you well, and many times, being inside,
510
Lysistrata: We heard that you have taken a great decision badly.
Lysistrata: Then, having pained you from within, we would ask you to laugh after we have laughed,
Lysistrata: What has been decided to be inscribed as an addendum to the treaty on the stele?
Lysistrata: In the assembly today, for you? What does this have to do with you? 'For who is the man?'
Lysistrata: Will she not be silent? And I too was silent.
515
Woman A: But I would never be silent.
Probulus: And if you had not been silent, you would have wailed too.
Lysistrata: Therefore I was silent inside.
Lysistrata: We have contrived something else, more wicked, than yours;
Lysistrata: Then we would ask: How then does one accomplish these things so foolishly?
Lysistrata: And he, immediately glancing down at me, would have said, if I had not spun the warp,
Lysistrata: They will be beaten on the head with a long stick; but war will be the concern of men.
520
Probulus: That man speaks correctly, by Zeus.
Lysistrata: how rightly, you wretched woman,
Lysistrata: if it was not allowed for you to make a counter-proposal even to those who were advising badly?
Lysistrata: But now that we had already clearly heard you on the roads,
Lysistrata: Is there not a man in the country? By Zeus, certainly not, said another one.
Lysistrata: After this, it immediately occurred to us to save Greece together.
525
Lysistrata: when the women have gathered. For where else should we wait?
Lysistrata: So if you wish to listen to us when we speak well,
Lysistrata: And keep silent just as we do, and we would set you right.
Probulus: You us? You say something terrible and unbearable for me.
Probulus: I will be silent to you, you cursed woman, even though you are wearing a veil.
530
Probulus: about the head? By no means may I live.