MAGISTRATE

Women there! Tell what I ask you, directly....

Come, without rambling, I wish you to state

What's your rebellious intention in barring up thus on our noses

545

our own temple-gate.

LYSISTRATA

To take first the treasury out of your management, and so stop the war

through the absence of gold.

MAGISTRATE

Is gold then the cause of the war?

LYSISTRATA

Yes, gold caused it and miseries more, too many to be told.

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'Twas for money, and money alone, that Pisander with all of the army of

mob-agitators.

Raised up revolutions. But, as for the future, it won't be worth while

to set up to be traitors.

Not an obol they'll get as their loot, not an obol! while we have the

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treasure-chest in our command.

MAGISTRATE

What then is that you propose?

LYSISTRATA

Just this—merely to take the exchequer henceforth in hand.

MAGISTRATE

The exchequer!

LYSISTRATA

Yes, why not? Of our capabilities you have had various clear evidences.

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Firstly remember we have always administered soundly the budget of all

home-expenses.

MAGISTRATE

But this matter's different.

LYSISTRATA

How is it different?

MAGISTRATE

Why, it deals chiefly with war-time supplies.

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LYSISTRATA

But we abolish war straight by our policy.

MAGISTRATE

What will you do if emergencies arise?

LYSISTRATA

Face them our own way.

MAGISTRATE

What you will?

LYSISTRATA

Yes we will!

570

MAGISTRATE

Then there's no help for it; we're all destoryed.

LYSISTRATA

No, willy-nilly you must be safeguarded.

MAGISTRATE

What madness is this?

LYSISTRATA

Why, it seems you're annoyed.

It must be done, that's all.

575

MAGISTRATE

Such awful oppression never,

O never in the past yet I bore.

LYSISTRATA

You must be saved, sirrah—that's all there is to it.

MAGISTRATE

If we don't want to be saved?

LYSISTRATA

All the more.

580

MAGISTRATE

Why do you women come prying and meddling in matters of state touching

war-time and peace?

LYSISTRATA

That I will tell you.

MAGISTRATE

O tell me or quickly I'll—

LYSISTRATA

Hearken awhile and from threatening cease.

585

MAGISTRATE

I cannot, I cannot; it's growing too insolent.

WOMEN

Come on; you've far more than we have to dread.

MAGISTRATE

Stop from your croaking, old carrion-crow there....

Continue

LYSISTRATA

Be calm then and I'll go ahead.

590

All the long years when the hopeless war dragged along we, unassuming,

forgotten in quiet,

Endured without question, endured in our loneliness all your incessant

child's antics and riot.

Our lips we kept tied, though aching with silence, though well all the

595

while in our silence we knew

How wretchedly everything still was progressing by listening dumbly the

day long to you.

For always at home you continued discussing the war and its politics

loudly, and we

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Sometimes would ask you, our hearts deep with sorrowing though we spoke

lightly, though happy to see,

“What's to be inscribed on the side of the Treaty-stone

What, dear, was said in the Assembly today?”

“Mind your own business,” he'd answer me growlingly

605

“hold your tongue, woman, or else go away.”

And so I would hold it.

WOMEN

I'd not be silent for any man living on earth, no, not I!

MAGISTRATE

Not for a staff?

LYSISTRATA

Well, so I did nothing but sit in the house, feeling dreary, and sigh,

610

While ever arrived some fresh tale of decisions more foolish by far and

presaging disaster.

Then I would say to him, “O my dear husband, why still do they rush on

destructlon the faster?”

At which he would look at me sideways, exclaiming, “Keep for your web

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and your shuttle your care,

Or for some hours hence your cheeks will be sore and hot; leave this

alone, war is Man's sole affair!”

MAGISTRATE

By Zeus, but a man of fine sense, he.

LYSISTRATA

How sensible?

620

You dotard, because he at no time had lent

His intractible ears to absorb from our counsel one temperate word of

advice, kindly meant?

But when at the last in the streets we heard shouted (everywhere ringing

the ominous cry)

625

“Is there no one to help us, no saviour in Athens ?” and, “No, there is

no one,” come back in reply.

At once a convention of all wives through Hellas here for a serious

purpose was held,

To determine how husbands might yet back to wisdom despite their

630

reluctance in time be compelled.

Why then delay any longer? It's settled. For the future you'll take

up our old occupation.

Now in turn you're to hold tongue, as we did, and listen while we show

the way to recover the nation.

635

MAGISTRATE

You talk to us! Why, you're mad. I'll not stand it.

LYSISTRATA

Cease babbling, you fool; till I end, hold your tongue.

MAGISTRATE

If I should take orders from one who wears veils, may my

neck straightaway be deservedly wrung.