Lysistrata

Aristophanes

• Publisher: HarperTorch
• Year: 2015
• eBook ISBN: 9781443446440
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Ancient & Classical Drama
• Index: Literature

When the Peloponnesian War goes on too long, the women of Athens, led by the beautiful Lysistrata, take matters into their own hands, withholding their passion as a way to force their men to negotiate a peace treaty. But the women's vow to deny their husbands and lovers does little to force peace, and instead ignites a battle between the sexes.

Aristophanes' Lysistrata was first performed in 411 B.C., and was one of the first comedies to explore sexual dynamics between men and women. The play continues to be performed in modern times.

HarperTorch brings great works of non-fiction and the dramatic arts to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperTorch collection to build your digital library.

Scene II

[STRATYLLUS, CHORUS OF OLD MEN, and CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN.]

STRATYLLUS

Cease ho!—what tumult’s this, O wicked wretches?

For good and pious men had ne’er thus acted.

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

This deed comes unexpected to our sight.

The female swarm is aiding at the doors.

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

Why fear ye us?—think you that we are many?

And yet ye see not our ten thousandth part.

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

O Phaedria, shall we suffer them to prate so?

Must not one beat them till he break his staff?

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

Let us, too, place our pitchers on the ground.

That if a man against us lift his hand

These may be no impediment.

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

By Jove,

Had any one struck their jaws twice or thrice,

Like Bupalus’, they would have had no voice. [20]

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

Lo, here I stand—let any one assault me,

I’ll show myself such that no other dog

Can ever seize you.

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

If you won’t be silent.

In killing you I’ll pound my age to grains.

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

Come, and but touch Stratyllis with a finger.

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

And what if I should maul her with my fists?

What dreadful evil wilt thou do to me?

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

I’ll bite thy lungs, and tear thine entrails out.

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

There is no poet than Euripides

More wise, for there’s no animal so shameless

As woman.

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

Let us, O Rhodippe, take

Our water pitcher.

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

But on what account,

O hated by the gods, art thou come hither.

Bearing the water?

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

And why thou the fire,

O neighbour to the tomb, [21] as if about

T’ ignite thyself?

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

I, having rear’d a pile,

Would set thy friends on fire.

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

And I would quench

Thy flame with this.

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

Wilt thou my fire extinguish?

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

The deed will quickly show you this.

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

I know not

Whether to burn them with this lamp I hold.

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

If thou by chance art filthy, I will give

A bath.

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

To me a bath, O dirty wretch?

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

And that a nuptial one.

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

Hear you her boldness?

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

It is that I am free.

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

I will restrain

Thy present noise.

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

But thou wilt be no more

A Heliastic judge.

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

Ignite her hair.

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

O Achelous, do thy work.

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

O me

Unhappy!

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

Was it warm?

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

How, warm? wilt thou

Not cease? what art thou doing?

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

Watering thee,

That thou may’st spring again.

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

But I am now

All dry and trembling.

CHORUS OF OLD WOMEN

Then, since thou hast fire,

It will be in thy power to warm thyself.

[Enter a MAGISTRATE.]

MAGISTRATE

Hath then the women’s wantonness shone out—

Frequent drum-beatings and Sabazian rites; [22]

And on the roofs this weeping for Adonis,

Which I so late in the assembly heard?

Demostratus [23] (ill-fated may he perish!)

Advis’d the armament ’gainst Sicily;

But his wife, dancing, cries—“Ah! for Adonis!”

Demostratus advis’d us to enrol

The heavy-arm’d Zacynthian [24] soldiery;

But his inebriate wife upon the roof

ToId them to beat their bosoms for Adonis;

While the god’s hate, that wretch Cholozyges,

Was forc’d to raise his voice to a high strain,

So loud and so indecent were their songs.

CHORUS OF OLD MEN

And what, if you should hear their insolence?

Who with their tongues revile, and from their pitchers

Bathe us with such a stream, that we may shake

Our reeking clothes, as if we’d wet ourselves.

MAGISTRATE

I swear, by Neptune, the marine, ’tis just: [25]

For when ourselves in evil courses join

With women, and in luxury instruct them,

Counsels like these spring from them—then we speak

After this fashion in the workmen’s shops—

“Goldsmith, that necklace, which thou hast prepar’d.

As my wife frolick’d in the evening dance.

An acorn from its setting fell—for me,

I am obliged to sail for Salamis;

But, if thou art at leisure, by all means

At even come to her and reset the nut.”

Another to a shoemaker will say,

Whose youth with more than boyish vigour glows—

“O shoemaker, my wife’s shoe-latchet pinches

Her little toe, it is so delicate—

Then come thou at mid-day and loosen it,

That it may fit more widely.” Such result

Have I encounter’d from these accidents.

I being then a senator, whose care

Is to supply the rowers with provision; [26]

Now, when there is necessity for money,

Am by the women shut out from the gates.

But there’s no profit in this standing still—

Bring bars, that I may curb their insolence.

Why gapest thou, O wretch? engag’d in nought,

But, turning toward the liquor-shop thine eyes?

Will y...

Table of contents

• CONTENTS
• Dramatis Personae
• Preliminary Observations upon The Lysistrata
• Act I
• Scene I
• Act II
• Scene I
• Scene II
• Act III
• Scene I
• About the Author
• About the Series
• Copyright
• About the Publisher