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LEADER OF CHORUS OF WOMEN
What would you have？ You should never have laid rash hands on
us。 If you start afresh； I'll knock your eyes out。 My delight is to
stay at home as coy as a young maid； without hurting anybody or moving
any more than a milestone； but 'ware the wasps； if you go stirring
up the wasps' nest！
CHORUS OF OLD MEN （singing）
Ah！ great gods！ how get the better of these ferocious creatures？
'tis past all bearing！ But come； let us try to find out the reason
of the dreadful scourge。 With what end in view have they seized the
citadel of Cranaus； the sacred shrine that is raised upon the
inaccessible rock of the Acropolis？
LEADER OF CHORUS OF OLD MEN （to the MAGISTRATE）
Question them； be cautious and not too credulous。 It would be
culpable negligence not to pierce the mystery； if we may。
MAGISTRATE （addressing the women）
I would ask you first why you have barred our gates。
LYSISTRATA
To seize the treasury； no more money； no more war。
MAGISTRATE
Then money is the cause of the war？
LYSISTRATA
And of all our troubles。 It was to find occasion to steal that
Pisander and all the other agitators were forever raising revolutions。
Well and good！ but they'll never get another drachma here。
MAGISTRATE
What do you propose to do then； pray？
LYSISTRATA
You ask me that！ Why； we propose to administer the treasury
ourselves。
MAGISTRATE
You do？
LYSISTRATA
What is there in that to surprise you？ Do we not administer the
budget of household expenses？
MAGISTRATE
But that is not the same thing。
LYSISTRATA
How so…not the same thing？
MAGISTRATE
It is the treasury supplies the expenses of the war。
LYSISTRATA
That's our first principle…no war！
MAGISTRATE
What！ and the safety of the city？
LYSISTRATA
We will provide for that。
MAGISTRATE
You？
LYSISTRATA
Yes； we！
MAGISTRATE
What a sorry business！
LYSISTRATA
Yes； we're going to save you； whether you like it or not。
MAGISTRATE
Oh！ the impudence of the creatures！
LYSISTRATA
You seem annoyed！ but it has to be done； nevertheless。
MAGISTRATE
But it's the very height of iniquity！
LYSISTRATA （testily）
We're going to save you； my good man。
MAGISTRATE
But if I don't want to be saved？
LYSISTRATA
Why； all the more reason！
MAGISTRATE
But what a notion； to concern yourselves with questions of peace
and war！
LYSISTRATA
We will explain our idea。
MAGISTRATE
Out with it then； quick； or。。。 （threatening her）。
LYSISTRATA （sternly）
Listen； and never a movement； please！
MAGISTRATE （in impotent rage）
Oh！ it is too much for me！ I cannot keep my temper！
LEADER OF CHORUS OF WOMEN
Then look out for yourself； you have more to fear than we have。
MAGISTRATE
Stop your croaking； you old crow！ （To LYSISTRATA） Now you； say
what you have to say。
LYSISTRATA
Willingly。 All the long time the war has lasted； we have endured
in modest silence all you men did； you never allowed us to open our
lips。 We were far from satisfied； for we knew how things were going；
often in our homes we would hear you discussing； upside down and
inside out； some important turn of affairs。 Then with sad hearts；
but smiling lips； we would ask you： Well； in today's Assembly did they
vote peace？…But； 〃Mind your own business！〃 the husband would growl；
〃Hold your tongue； please！〃 And we would say no more。
CLEONICE
I would not have held my tongue though； not I！
MAGISTRATE
You would have been reduced to silence by blows then。
LYSISTRATA
Well； for my part； I would say no more。 But presently I would come
to know you had arrived at some fresh decision more fatally foolish
than ever。 〃Ah！ my dear man；〃 I would say； 〃what madness next！〃 But he
would only look at me askance and say： 〃Just weave your web； please；
else your cheeks will smart for hours。 War is men's business！〃
MAGISTRATE
Bravo！ well said indeed！
LYSISTRATA
How now； wretched man？ not to let us contend against your
follies was bad enough！ But presently we heard you asking out loud
in the open street： 〃Is there never a man left in Athens？〃 and； 〃No；
not one； not one；〃 you were assured in reply。 Then； then we made up
our minds without more delay to make common cause to save Greece。 Open
your ears to our wise counsels and hold your tongues； and we may yet
put things on a better footing。
MAGISTRATE
You put things indeed！ Oh！ this is too much！ The insolence of
the creatures！
LYSISTRATA
Be still！
MAGISTRATE
May I die a thousand deaths ere I obey one who wears a veil！
LYSISTRATA
If that's all that troubles you； here； take my veil； wrap it round
your head； and hold your tongue。
CLEONICE
Then take this basket； put on a girdle； card wool； munch beans。
The war shall be women's business。
LEADER OF CHORUS OF WOMEN
Lay aside your water…pots； we will guard them； we will help our
friends and companions。
CHORUS OF WOMEN （singing）
For myself； I will never weary of the dance； my knees will never
grow stiff with fatigue。 I will brave everything with my dear
allies； on whom Nature has lavished virtue； grace； boldness；
cleverness； and whose wisely directed energy is going to save the
State。
LEADER OF CHORUS OF WOMEN
Oh！ my good； gallant Lysistrata； and all my friends； be ever
like a bundle of nettles； never let your anger slacken； the winds of
fortune blow our way。
LYSISTRATA
May gentle Love and the sweet Cyprian Queen shower seductive
charms on our breasts and our thighs。 If only we may stir so amorous a
feeling among the men that they stand as firm as sticks； we shall
indeed deserve the name of peace…makers among the Greeks。
MAGISTRATE
How will that be； pray？
LYSISTRATA
To begin with； we shall not see you any more running like mad
fellows to the Market holding lance in fist。
CLEONICE
That will be something gained； anyway； by the Paphian goddess；
it will！
LYSISTRATA
Now we see them； mixed up with saucepans and kitchen stuff；
armed to the teeth； looking like wild Corybantes！
MAGISTRATE
Why； of course； that's what brave men should do。
LYSISTRATA
Oh！ but what a funny sight； to behold a man wearing a
Gorgon's…bead buckler coming along to buy fish！
CLEONICE
The other day in the Market I saw a phylarch with flowing
ringlets； he was on horseback； and was pouring into his helmet the
broth he had just bought at an old dame's still。 There was a
Thracian warrior too； who was brandishing his lance like Tereus in the
play； he had scared a good woman selling figs into a perfect panic；
and was gobbling up all her ripest fruit…
MAGISTRATE
And how； pray； would you propose to restore peace and order in all
the countries of Greece？
LYSISTRATA
It's the easiest thing in the world！
MAGISTRATE
Come； tell us how； I am curious to know。
LYSISTRATA
When we are winding thread； and it is tangled； we pass the spool
across and through the skein； now this way； now that way； even so；
to finish of the war； we shall send embassies hither and thither and
everywhere； to disentangle matters。
MAGISTRATE
And is it with your yarn； and your skeins； and your spools； you
think to appease so many bitter enmities； you silly women？
LYSISTRATA
If only you had common sense； you would always do in politics
the same