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410 BC
LYSISTRATA
by Aristophanes
anonymous translator
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
LYSISTRATA
CLEONICE
MYRRHINE
LAMPITO
MAGISTRATES
CINESIAS
CHILD OF CINESIAS
HERALD OF THE LACEDAEMONIANS
ENVOYS OF THE LACEDAEMONIANS
AN ATHENIAN CITIZEN
CHORUS OF OLD MEN
CHORUS OF WOMEN
LYSISTRATA
LYSISTRATA
（SCENE：…At the base of the Orchestra are two buildings； the house
of LYSISTRATA and the entrance to the Acropolis； a winding and
narrow path leads up to the latter。 Between the two buildings is the
opening of the Cave of Pan。 LYSISTRATA is pacing up and down in
front of her house。）
LYSISTRATA
Ah！ if only they had been invited to a Bacchic revelling； or a
feast of Pan or Aphrodite or Genetyllis； why！ the streets would have
been impassable for the thronging tambourines！ Now there's never a
woman here…ah！ except my neighbour Cleonice； whom I see approaching
yonder。。。。 Good day； Cleonice。
CLEONICE
Good day； Lysistrata； but pray； why this dark； forbidding face； my
dear？ Believe me； you don't look a bit pretty with those black
lowering brows。
LYSISTRATA
Oh； Cleonice； my heart is on fire； I blush for our sex。 Men will
have it we are tricky and sly。。。。
CLEONICE
And they are quite right； upon my word！
LYSISTRATA
Yet； look you； when the women are summoned to meet for a matter of
the greatest importance； they lie in bed instead of coming。
CLEONICE
Oh！ they will come； my dear； but it's not easy； you know； for
women to leave the house。 One is busy pottering about her husband；
another is getting the servant up； a third is putting her child asleep
or washing the brat or feeding it。
LYSISTRATA
But I tell you； the business that calls them here is far and
away more urgent。
CLEONICE
And why do you summon us； dear Lysistrata？ What is it all about？
LYSISTRATA
About a big thing。
CLEONICE （taking this in a different sense； with great interest）
And is it thick too？
LYSISTRATA
Yes； very thick。
CLEONICE
And we are not all on the spot！ Imagine！
LYSISTRATA （wearily）
Oh！ if it were what you suppose； there would be never an absentee。
No； no； it concerns a thing I have turned about and about this way and
that so many sleepless nights。
CLEONICE （still unable to be serious）
It must be something mighty fine and subtle for you to have turned
it about so！
LYSISTRATA
So fine； it means just this； Greece saved by the women！
CLEONICE
By the women！ Why； its salvation hangs on a poor thread then！
LYSISTRATA
Our country's fortunes depend on us…it is with us to undo
utterly the Peloponnesians。
CLEONICE
That would be a noble deed truly！
LYSISTRATA
To exterminate the Boeotians to a man！
CLEONICE
But surely you would spare the eels。
LYSISTRATA
For Athens' sake I will never threaten so fell a doom； trust me
for that。 However； if the Boeotian and Peloponnesian women join us；
Greece is saved。
CLEONICE
But how should women perform so wise and glorious an
achievement； we women who dwell in the retirement of the household；
clad in diaphanous garments of yellow silk and long flowing gowns；
decked out with flowers and shod with dainty little slippers？
LYSISTRATA
Ah； but those are the very sheet…anchors of our salvation…those
yellow tunics； those scents and slippers； those cosmetics and
transparent robes。
CLEONICE
How so； pray？
LYSISTRATA
There is not a man will wield a lance against another。。。
CLEONICE
Quick； I will get me a yellow tunic from the dyer's。
LYSISTRATA
。。。or want a shield。
CLEONICE
I'll run and put on a flowing gown。
LYSISTRATA
。。。or draw a sword。
CLEONICE
I'll haste and buy a pair of slippers this instant。
LYSISTRATA
Now tell me； would not the women have done best to come？
CLEONICE
Why； they should have flown here！
LYSISTRATA
Ah！ my dear； you'll see that like true Athenians； they will do
everything too late。。。。 Why； there's not a woman come from the
shore； not one from Salamis。
CLEONICE
But I know for certain they embarked at daybreak。
LYSISTRATA
And the dames from Acharnae！ why； I thought they would have been
the very first to arrive。
CLEONICE
Theagenes' wife at any rate is sure to come； she has actually been
to consult Hecate。。。。 But look！ here are some arrivals…and there are
more behind。 Ah！ ha！ now what countrywomen may they be？
LYSISTRATA
They are from Anagyra。
CLEONICE
Yes！ upon my word； 'tis a levy en masse of all the female
population of Anagyra！
（MYRRHINE enters； followed by other women。）
MYRRHINE
Are we late； Lysistrata？ Tell us； pray； what； not a word？
LYSISTRATA
I cannot say much for you； Myrrhine！ you have not bestirred
yourself overmuch for an affair of such urgency。
MYRRHINE
I could not find my girdle in the dark。 However； if the matter
is so pressing； here we are； so speak。
CLEONICE
No； let's wait a moment more； till the women of Boeotia arrive and
those from the Peloponnese。
LYSISTRATA
Yes； that is best。。。。 Ah！ here comes Lampito。 （LAMPITO； a husky
Spartan damsel； enters with three others； two from Boeotia and one
from Corinth。） Good day； Lampito； dear friend from Lacedaemon。 How
well and handsome you look！ what a rosy complexion！ and how strong you
seem； why； you could strangle a bull surely！
LAMPITO
Yes； indeed； I really think I could。 It's because I do
gymnastics and practise the bottom…kicking dance。
CLEONICE （opening LAMPITO'S robe and baring her bosom）
And what superb breasts！
LAMPITO
La！ you are feeling me as if I were a beast for sacrifice。
LYSISTRATA
And this young woman； where is she from？
LAMPITO
She is a noble lady from Boeotia。
LYSISTRATA
Ah！ my pretty Boeotian friend； you are as blooming as a garden。
CLEONICE （making another inspection）
Yes； on my word！ and her 〃garden〃 is so thoroughly weeded too！
LYSISTRATA （pointing to the Corinthian）
And who is this？
LAMPITO
'Tis an honest woman； by my faith！ she comes from Corinth。
CLEONICE
Oh！ honest； no doubt then…as honesty goes at Corinth。
LAMPITO
But who has called together this council of women； pray？
LYSISTRATA
I have。
LAMPITO
Well then； tell us what you want of us。
CLEONICE
Yes； please tell us！ What is this very important business you wish
to inform us about？
LYSISTRATA
I will tell you。 But first answer me one question。
CLEONICE
Anything you wish。
LYSISTRATA
Don't you feel sad and sorry because the fathers of your
children are far away from you with the army？ For I'll wager there
is not one of you whose husband is not abroad at this moment。
CLEONICE
Mine has been the last five months in Thrace…looking after
Eucrates。
MYRRHINE
It's seven long months since mine left for Pylos。
LAMPITO
As for mine； if he ever does return from service； he's no sooner
home than he takes down his shield again and flies back to the wars。
LYSISTRATA
And not so much as the shadow of a lover！ Since the day the
Milesians betrayed us； I have never once seen an eight…inch gadget
even； to be a leathern consolation to us poor widows。。。。 Now tell
me； if I have discovered a means of ending the war； will you all
second me？
CLEONICE
Yes verily； by all the goddesses； I swear I will； though I have to
put my gown in pawn； and drink the money the same day。
MYRRHINE
And so will I； though I must be split in two like a flat…fish； and
have half myself removed。
LAMPITO
And I too； why to secure peace； I would climb to the top of
Mount Taygetus。
LYSISTRATA
Then I will out with it at last； my mighty secret！ Oh！ sister
women； if we would compel our husbands to make peace； we must
refrain。。。
CLEONICE
Refrain from what？ tell us； tell us！
LYSISTRATA
But will you do it？
MYRRHINE
We will； we will； though we should die of it。
LYSISTRATA
We must refrain from the male altogether。。。。 Nay； why do you
turn your backs