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（Enter the LACONIAN ENVOYS afflicted like their herald。） Hail to you；
first of all； Laconians； then tell us how you fare。
LACONIAN ENVOY
No need for many words； you can see what a state we are in。
LEADER OF CHORUS OF OLD MEN
Alas！ the situation grows more and more strained！ the intensity of
the thing is simply frightful。
LACONIAN ENVOY
It's beyond belief。 But to work！ summon your Commissioners； and
let us patch up the best peace we may。
LEADER OF CHORUS OF OLD MEN
Ah！ our men too； like wrestlers in the arena； cannot endure a
rag over their bellies； it's an athlete's malady； which only
exercise can remedy。
（The MAGISTRATE returns； he too now has an evident reason to
desire peace。）
MAGISTRATE
Can anybody tell us where Lysistrata is？ Surely she will have some
compassion on our condition。
LEADER OF CHORUS OF OLD MEN （pointing）
Look！ now he has the very same complaint。 （To the MAGISTRATE）
Don't you feel a strong nervous tension in the morning？
MAGISTRATE
Yes； and a dreadful； dreadful torture it is！ Unless peace is
made very soon； we shall find no recourse but to make love to
Clisthenes。
LEADER OF CHORUS OF OLD MEN
Take my advice； and arrange your clothes as best you can； one of
the fellows who mutilated the Hermae might see you。
MAGISTRATE
Right； by Zeus。
（He endeavours； not too successfully； to conceal his condition。）
LACONIAN ENVOY
Quite right； by the Dioscuri。 There； I will put on my tunic。
MAGISTRATE
Oh！ what a terrible state we are in！ Greeting to you； Laconian
fellow…sufferers。
LACONIAN ENVOY （addressing one of his countrymen）
Ah！ my boy； what a terrible thing it would have been if these
fellows had seen us just now when we were on full stand！
MAGISTRATE
Speak out； Laconians； what is it brings you here？
LACONIAN ENVOY
We have come to treat for peace。
MAGISTRATE
Well said； we are of the same mind。 Better call Lysistrata；
then； she is the only person will bring us to terms。
LACONIAN ENVOY
Yes； yes…and Lysistratus into the bargain； if you will。
MAGISTRATE
Needless to call her； she has heard your voices； and here she
comes。
（She comes out of the Acropolis。）
LEADER OF CHORUS OF OLD MEN
Hail； boldest and bravest of womankind！ The time is come to show
yourself in turn uncompromising and conciliatory； exacting and
yielding； haughty and condescending。 Call up all your skill and
artfulness。 Lo！ the foremost men in Hellas； seduced by your
fascinations； are agreed to entrust you with the task of ending
their quarrels。
LYSISTRATA
It will be an easy task…if only they refrain from mutual
indulgence in masculine love； if they do； I shall know the fact at
once。 Now； where is the gentle goddess Peace？ （The goddess； in the
form of a beautiful nude girl is brought in by the Machine。） Lead
hither the Laconian envoys。 But； look you； no roughness or violence；
our husbands always behaved so boorishly。 Bring them to me with
smiles； as women should。 If any refuse to give you his hand； then take
hold of his tool。 Bring up the Athenians too； you may lead them either
way。 Laconians； approach； and you； Athenians； on my other side。 Now
hearken all！ I am but a woman； but I have good common sense； Nature
has endowed me with discriminating judgment； which I have yet
further developed； thanks to the wise teachings of my father and the
elders of the city。 First I must bring a reproach against you that
applies equally to both sides。 At Olympia； and Thermopylae； and
Delphi； and a score of other places too numerous to mention； you
celebrate before the same altars ceremonies common to all Hellenes；
yet you go cutting each other's throats； and sacking Hellenic
cities； when all the while the barbarian yonder is threatening you！
That is my first point。
MAGISTRATE （devouring the goddess with his eyes）
Good god； this erection is killing me！
LYSISTRATA
Now it is to you I address myself； Laconians。 Have you forgotten
how Periclidas； your own countryman； sat a suppliant before our
altars？ How pale he was in his purple robes！ He had come to crave an
army of us； it was the time when Messenia was pressing you sore； and
the Sea…god was shaking the earth。 Cimon marched to your aid at the
head of four thousand hoplites； and saved Lacedaemon。 And； after
such a service as that； you ravage the soil of your benefactors！
MAGISTRATE
They do wrong； very wrong； Lysistrata。
LACONIAN ENVOY
We do wrong； very wrong。 （Looking at the goddess） Ah！ great
gods！ what a lovely bottom Peace has！
LYSISTRATA
And now a word to the Athenians。 Have you no memory left of how；
in the days when you wore the tunic of slaves； the Laconians came；
spear in hand； and slew a host of Thessalians and partisans of Hippias
the tyrant？ They； and they only； fought on your side on that
eventful day； they delivered you from despotism； and thanks to them
our nation could change the short tunic of the slave for the long
cloak of the free man。
LACONIAN ENVOY （looking at LYSISTRATA）
I have never see a woman of more gracious dignity。
MAGISTRATE （looking at PEACE）
I have never seen a woman with a finer body！
LYSISTRATA
Bound by such ties of mutual kindness； how can you bear to be at
war？ Stop； stay the hateful strife； be reconciled； what hinders you？
LACONIAN ENVOY
We are quite ready； if they will give us back our rampart。
LYSISTRATA
What rampart； my dear man？
LACONIAN ENVOY
Pylos； which we have been asking for and craving for ever so long。
MAGISTRATE
In the Sea…god's name； you shall never have it！
LYSISTRATA
Agree； my friends； agree。
MAGISTRATE
But then what city shall we be able to stir up trouble in？
LYSISTRATA
Ask for another place in exchange。
MAGISTRATE
Ah！ that's the ticket！ Well； to begin with； give us Echinus； the
Maliac gulf adjoining； and the two legs of Megara。
LACONIAN ENVOY
No； by the Dioscuri； surely not all that； my dear sir。
LYSISTRATA
Come to terms； never make a difficulty of two legs more or less！
MAGISTRATE （his eye on PEACE）
Well； I'm ready to strip down and get to work right now。
（He takes off his mantle。）
LACONIAN ENVOY （following out this idea）
And I also； to dung it to start with。
LYSISTRATA
That's just what you shall do； once peace is signed。 So； if you
really want to make it； go consult your allies about the matter。
MAGISTRATE
What allies； I should like to know？ Why； we are all erected；
there's no one who is not mad to be mating。 What we all want is to
be in bed with our wives； how should our allies fail to second our
project？
LACONIAN ENVOY
And ours too； for certain sure！
MAGISTRATE
The Carystians first and foremost by the gods！
LYSISTRATA
Well said； indeed！ Now go and purify yourselves for entering the
Acropolis； where the women invite you to supper； we will empty our
provision baskets to do you honour。 At table； you will exchange
oaths and pledges； then each man will go home with his wife。
MAGISTRATE
Come along then； and as quick as may be。
LACONIAN ENVOY
Lead on； I'm your man。
MAGISTRATE
Quick； quick's the word； say I。
（They follow LYSISTRATA into the Acropolis。）
CHORUS OF WOMEN （singing）
Embroidered stuffs； and dainty tunics； and flowing gowns； and
golden ornaments； everything I have； I offer them to you with all my
heart； take them all for your children； for your girls； in case they
are chosen Canephori。 I invite you every one to enter； come in and
choose whatever you will； there is nothing so well fastened； you
cannot break the seals； and carry away the contents。 Look about you
everywhere。 。 。 you won't find a blessed thing； unless you have
sharper eyes than mine。 And if any of you lacks corn to feed his
slaves and his young and numerous family； why； I have a few grains
of wheat at home； let him take what I have to give； a big twelve…pound
loaf included。 So let my poorer neighbours all come with bags and
wallets； my man； Manes； shall give them corn； but I warn them not to
come near my door； but…beware the dog！
（Another MAGISTRATE enters； and begins knocking at the gate。）
SECOND MAGISTRATE
I say； you； open the door！ （To the WOMEN） Go your way； I tell
you。 （As the women sit down in front of the gate）