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We must refrain from the male altogether。。。。 Nay； why do you
turn your backs on me？ Where are you going？ So； you bite your lips；
and shake your heads； eh？ Why these pale； sad looks？ why these
tears？ Come； will you do it…yes or no？ Do you hesitate？
CLEONICE
I will not do it； let the war go on。
MYRRHINE
Nor will I； let the war go on。
LYSISTRATA （to MYRRHINE）
And you say this； my pretty flat…fish； who declared just now
they might split you in two？
CLEONICE
Anything； anything but that！ Bid me go through the fire； if you
will；…but to rob us of the sweetest thing in all the world； Lysistrata
darling！
LYSISTRATA （to MYRRHINE）
And you？
MYRRHINE
Yes； I agree with the others； I too would sooner go through the
fire。
LYSISTRATA
Oh； wanton； vicious sex！ the poets have done well to make
tragedies upon us； we are good for nothing then but love and lewdness！
But you； my dear； you from hardy Sparta； if you join me； all may yet
be well； help me； second me； I beg you。
LAMPITO
'Tis a hard thing； by the two goddesses it is！ for a woman to
sleep alone without ever a strong male in her bed。 But there； peace
must come first。
LYSISTRATA
Oh； my darling； my dearest； best friend； you are the only one
deserving the name of woman！
CLEONICE
But if…which the gods forbid…we do refrain altogether from what
you say； should we get peace any sooner？
LYSISTRATA
Of course we should； by the goddesses twain！ We need only sit
indoors with painted cheeks； and meet our mates lightly clad in
transparent gowns of Amorgos silk； and perfectly depilated； they
will get their tools up and be wild to lie with us。 That will be the
time to refuse； and they will hasten to make peace； I am convinced
of that！
LAMPITO
Yes； just as Menelaus； when he saw Helen's naked bosom； threw away
his sword； they say。
CLEONICE
But； oh dear； suppose our husbands go away and leave us。
LYSISTRATA
Then； as Pherecrates says； we must 〃flay a skinned dog；〃 that's
all。
CLEONICE
Fiddlesticks！ these proverbs are all idle talk。。。。 But if our
husbands drag us by main force into the bedchamber？
LYSISTRATA
Hold on to the door posts。
CLEONICE
But if they beat us？
LYSISTRATA
Then yield to their wishes； but with a bad grace； there is no
pleasure in it for them； when they do it by force。 Besides； there
are a thousand ways of tormenting them。 Never fear； they'll soon
tire of the game； there's no satisfaction for a man； unless the
woman shares it。
CLEONICE
Very well； if you must have it so； we agree。
LAMPITO
For ourselves； no doubt we shall persuade our husbands to conclude
a fair and honest peace； but there is the Athenian populace； how are
we to cure these folk of their warlike frenzy？
LYSISTRATA
Have no fear； we undertake to make our own people listen to
reason。
LAMPITO
That's impossible； so long as they have their trusty ships and the
vast treasures stored in the temple of Athene。
LYSISTRATA
Ah！ but we have seen to that； this very day the Acropolis will
be in our hands。 That is the task assigned to the older women； while
we are here in council； they are going； under pretence of offering
sacrifice； to seize the citadel。
LAMPITO
Well said indeed！ everything is going for the best。
LYSISTRATA
Come； quick； Lampito； and let us bind ourselves by an inviolable
oath。
LAMPITO
Recite the terms； we will swear to them。
LYSISTRATA
With pleasure。 Where is our Scythian policewoman？ Now； what are
you staring at； pray？ Lay this shield on the earth before us； its
hollow upwards； and someone bring me the victim's inwards。
CLEONICE
Lysistrata； say； what oath are we to swear？
LYSISTRATA
What oath？ Why； in Aeschylus； they sacrifice a sheep； and swear
over a buckler； we will do the same。
CLEONICE
No； Lysistrata； one cannot swear peace over a buckler； surely。
LYSISTRATA
What other oath do you prefer？
CLEONICE
Let's take a white horse； and sacrifice it； and swear on its
entrails。
LYSISTRATA
But where shall we get a white horse？
CLEONICE
Well； what oath shall we take then？
LYSISTRATA
Listen to me。 Let's set a great black bowl on the ground； let's
sacrifice a skin of Thasian wine into it； and take oath not to add one
single drop of water。
LAMPITO
Ah！ that's an oath pleases me more than I can say。
LYSISTRATA
Let them bring me a bowl and a skin of wine。
CLEONICE
Ah！ my dears； what a noble big bowl！ what fun it will be to
empty it
LYSISTRATA
Set the bowl down on the ground； and lay your hands on the victim。
。。。。Almighty goddess； Persuasion； and thou； bowl； boon comrade of joy
and merriment； receive this our sacrifice； and be propitious to us
poor women！
CLEONICE （as LYSISTRATA pours the wine into the bowl）
Oh！ the fine red blood！ how well it flows！
LAMPITO
And what a delicious bouquet； by Castor！
CLEONICE
Now； my dears； let me swear first； if you please。
LYSISTRATA
No； by Aphrodite； unless it's decided by lot。 But come； then；
Lampito； and all of you； put your hands to the bowl； and do you；
Cleonice； repeat for all the rest the solemn terms I am going to
recite。 Then you must all swear； and pledge yourselves by the same
promises；…I will have naught to do whether with lover or husband。。。
CLEONICE （faintly）
I will have naught to do whether with lover or husband。。。
LYSISTRATA
Albeit he come to me with an erection。。。
CLEONICE （her voice quavering）
Albeit he come to me with an erection。。。 （in despair） Oh！
Lysistrata； I cannot bear it！
LYSISTRATA （ignoring this outburst）
I will live at home unbulled。。。
CLEONICE
I will live at home unbulled。。。
LYSISTRATA
Beautifully dressed and wearing a saffron…coloured gown
CLEONICE
Beautifully dressed and wearing a saffron…coloured gown。。。
LYSISTRATA
To the end I may inspire my husband with the most ardent longings。
CLEONICE
To the end I may inspire my husband with the most ardent longings。
LYSISTRATA
Never will I give myself voluntarily。。。
CLEONICE
Never will I give myself voluntarily。。。
LYSISTRATA
And if he has me by force。。。
CLEONICE
And if he has me by force。。。
LYSISTRATA
I will be cold as ice； and never stir a limb。。。
CLEONICE
I will be cold as ice； and never stir a limb。。。
LYSISTRATA
I will neither extend my Persian slippers toward the ceiling。。。
CLEONICE
I will neither extend my Persian slippers toward the ceiling。。。
LYSISTRATA
Nor will I crouch like the carven lions on a knife…handle。
CLEONICE
Nor will I crouch like the carven lions on a knife…handle。
LYSISTRATA
And if I keep my oath； may I be suffered to drink of this wine。
CLEONICE （more courageously）
And if I keep my oath； may I be suffered to drink of this wine。
LYSISTRATA
But if I break it； let my bowl be filled with water。
CLEONICE
But if I break it； let my bowl be filled with water。
LYSISTRATA
Will you all take this oath？
ALL
We do。
LYSISTRATA
Then I'll now consume this remnant。
（She drinks。）
CLEONICE （reaching for the cup）
Enough； enough； my dear； now let us all drink in turn to cement
our friendship。
（They pass the cup around and all drink。 A great commotion is
heard off stage。）
LAMPITO
Listen！ what do those cries mean？
LYSISTRATA
It's what I was telling you； the women have just occupied the
Acropolis。 So now； Lampito； you return to Sparta to organize the plot；
while your comrades here remain as hostages。 For ourselves； let us
go and join the rest in the citadel； and let us push the bolts well
home。
CLEONICE
But don't you think the men will march up against us？
LYSISTRATA
I laugh at them。 Neither threats nor flames shall force our doors；
they shall open only on the conditions I have named。
CLEONICE
Yes； yes； by Aphrodite； otherwise we should be called cowardly and
wretched women。
（She follows LYSISTRATA out。）
（The scene shifts to the entrance of the Acropolis。 The CHORUS
OF OLD MEN slowly enters； carrying faggots and pots of fire。）