IL LINOI S UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
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:tlM'tb~lr'.L- KW«.nL ., &^~rrp .. .. , .re'.. .:.: -, b.' Y Y LYSISTRATA HERBERT CLARKE, PRINTER 338, RUE SAINT-HONORS PARIS LYSISTRATA COMEDY IN FOUR ACTS
BY MAURICE DONNAY Of the French Academy
'Done into English by HELEN DAVENPORT GIBBONS
PARIS EUGENE FASQUELLE Publisher 11, Rue de Grenelle 1919
AIll rights reserved Copyright by Eugene Fasquelle, 1919 CAST
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Lysistrata JEANNE PROVOST. Salabaccha .. MARCELLE PRAINCE. Lampito . JEANNE CHEIREL. Gyrinno . . DUBREUIL. Callyce.. . . MARKEN. Hirondelle JORDAAN. Philinna . DEYAS. Myrrhine. . RAYNAL. Myrtale.. . . LANZY. Nicodice . LANCYLE. Cynnah . .. NYCOT. Calonice . RELLY. Giychre . . SANDY. Rhodippe DARLY. Rose .. . . MARQUY. Doris MORENCY.
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Agathos . JEAN WORMS. Lycon .... HUGUENET. Taraxion . . MAUREL. Cyndsias . LE GAL. Theorus . SCHEFFER. Dercyle.. DELSON. Nicostrate DEPRE. Acestor .... BLOCH Sosias .... LAGRANGE. Clysthne .. MENDAILLE. Strymodore.. RHEIMS. Draces .. GEORGE. Phidon .. DAUBRY. Sacas ARNAUD. Stilbonide ALCIDE. A dancing girl, matrons, courtisans, soldiers.
The scene takes place at Athens about 420 B. C., at the time of the Peloponnesian war. PROLOGUE
LYSISTRATA Priologos, clothed in a white tunic. On his head a wreath of ivy leaves and violets. Before the candles are lighted and the curtain raised, he addresses the audience: O Parisiennes, and you, Parisians, greetings! Before the plot is revealed, * Like a mountain path, With a thousand crooked turnings, Before his work braves success or failure, The author sends me in sincerity, Among you, the public, the dread public, Monster, Dragon, Hydra of Lerna, To bring you light Upon his purpose; At my own risk I come, To lift a corner of thecurtain. It is not a tragedy, Put that out of your head, Much less a parody, With what motive, tell me, Does your mother, Greece, Speak to you bitterly, In Alexandripes That move like awkward men of Flanders, ,. Two by two, classic and mournful, Or fall into refrains Of irreverence without limit, 4--% And of infinite stupidity ? 45346 And so, contrary to the usual custom, You are going to see people Like yourselves, barring the clothes. Be indulgent to them, They will speak as you do, And in their conversations Will mingle the most futile questions With grave problems. What can you expect? The author under- stands Through their writings that their spirit Was the ancestor of yours: The Greeks made approximations, Therefore be prepared For you may see something like that! Only, they had gods,- You lack them; That was their luminous side. Their temple was not the bank, But from the old Parthenon Resting on its white columns, Down to the humble nameless rock Lost in moss and verdure, Every spot was inhabited By pure divinity Whether it was a Nymph, Guardian of a spring; Or Pallas Athene, The wise and victorious, Watching her laughing city As over a beautiful child, Born under her glorious aegis, The gods, the gods were everywhere ! It is not too bold To put them in this comedy. Now, to be frank with you, I must tell you that prudish ears Will tingle. The Athenian, you will admit, Had taste, more or less Attic, And to dramatic criticism Brought an aesthetic sense That laughs, unruffled ; False modesty was unknown, And the naked truth Walked across their stage. Just as in their combats In the Stadium, they let their forms be seen -2 - Without any malicious intention, They expose their thought unveiled, And showed it as it was. Their poet, Aristophanes, Was not deemed profane When he brought upon the stage An act or two, strictly after nature. A tanner like Archon Did not think it strange That one called a spade a spade. And each one was content Without hindering The frankness of the master. Frankness that may appear to you Extreme, you who call a cat Something that is not cat at all. The author hopes you will not frown. He will shock the ultra-fastidious. Greetings to you, his listeners, He warns you kindly, While there is yet time. I see that no one is leaving, I shall tell them to begin. --3 -- ACT I A square in Athens. At the back, a small temple. Houses to the right and left. SCENE I Draces, Strymodorus When the curtain rises, the portals of the temple are closed. On a bench, two old men are seated, clothed in dark cloaks, and leaning upon their sticks. They are listening. In the distance, within the temple, is heard the chanting of women's voices. Artemis, pure goddess, Kneeling, we worship thee. We implore thee to bid thy wisdom Descend upon us. If our throats are choking With conquering desire, Shed thy peaceful light Upon our hearts. Artemis, we would walk In thy chaste paths. Thou shalt protect us from the arrows Of the Archer. Desire is like unto man Who spies upon thee, Sister of Apollo ! But thou shalt devise a punishment like that Of Actaeon. Draces Do you hear them, Strymodorus ? Strymodorus I hear very well, Draces. Our dear fellow citizens are praying to Artemis to put away from them Desire. Since the men went away to this interminable war, the women of Athens are bored, poor things! They are the prey of the torturing desires of Cypris. -- 5 Draces But, in the name of Dionysius! Have they not the old men! Why do they turn up their noses at us? Old age is sometimes green! Do you hear, they are at it again! (While within the temple, women's voices, distant and plaintive, are intoning. Two slender women with arms about each other, one a blond the other a brunette, one in a blue tunic, the other in rose, pass by. The chanting ceases). Strymodorus (Fretfully). You know those two women : Swallow and Dew? Draces Pretty girls! Strymodorus I say the same thing. The dark one is Swallow, and the blonde is Dew. Draces All the same, it is high time that the men come home. The way things are going, it won't be so soon as all that. This war drags on without a decision... and we are doing one stupid thing after another. What else can you say? We are beaten... beaten ! Massacred in Sicily where Nicias was killed. With Nicias dead, Alcibiades should have had the command. Instead of that, he has been tormented; they are jealous of him; they have provoked and even threatened him, so that he had to take refuge in Sparta. That was a fine way to advance! At this moment he is having his revenge, he is giving good advice to the Spartans. They have lately fortified Decelea. Ah! yes, letting Alcibiades go was a break. Strymodorus But what can you expect ? We are like that, we are like that! Nothing goes here but novelty; we change generals as we change our coat, and when there is no stability of command, there is no stability in the victory. - By Heracles! we see that well enough. Agathos has been before Decelea for three long months, and he is no further along than he was the first day. Draces By Ares ! What is the good of levying infantrymen the whole time at Zacynthos, at Argos, and in the Islands? There are plenty of men. If I were doing it, I should never scatter them the way they are now. (He traces a map on the sand with his stick). Here is Decelea. There! I should mass my cavalry and infantry, and one fine morning I'd make an assault. Strymodorus He did that-made an assault. How about the river ? ".-6- braces What river ? Strymodorus There, between Decelea and the army of Agathos, there is a river. Only, they could not cross it; the water had risen.., the ford disappeared. Braces The old story; nobody had foreseen a flood. Strymodorus Nobody ever foresees a flood. Draces But in my time, Strymodorus, half the army would have thrown itself into the river to make a ford for the other half. Strymodorus That's the way they did it in my time, too; if ;there were not enough soldiers after we had thrown ourselves in, we would just keep piling in until the river was full. braces But in those days, they knew how to make war; it was not a question of polite conversation, but of good rowing, and that was why we were able to take many cities from the Medes. Strymodorus The sun is getting hot. Let us go to my house. There is shade there, Draces. While we eat some of my nice fresh figs, we can talk better of the sufferings endured by our poor soldiers. (They depart). SCENE TWO Hirondelle and IRosie Rosie Oh, Swallow, who are those men that shout and make gestures ? Hirondelle Probably somebody talking politics. Rosie They are wizards; they have been tracing queer and mysterious signs in the sand. Hirondelle They are old men, good old fellows, who talk about war, while the people at the front bear the brunt. -7- Rosde They must be veterans of Marathon; hard as rocks; steel wire, hard-twisted. Hirondelle No. One of them, Draces, is an army contractor who was mixed up in that affair with the harnessmakers; the other is a merchant from Phoenicia. He lends money into the bargain. They are the ones who criticize the generals. O Republic; men who have never been soldiers, and are not even Athenians! Rosde Swallow! I dreamed last night that our husbands were in an attack before Decelea. They may both of them be wounded now. Hirondelle Perhaps. Rosde And if they are... Hirondelle Well, what of it ? Life is like that! Don't let sad thoughts furrow your pretty brow, little one. Let the old men discuss things. Our companions may pray to Artemis, if they like; but let us walk along the violet sea, and to the accompaniment of cradling waves, I will recite to you the divine ode that Sappho composed for the Egyptian courtisan, Rhodopis : Rhodopis, thy lover is like A god; his joy troubles me. When I think that there is a man For whom thy voice becomes so sweet. And that it is Charaxos, my brother, Who possesses thy superb body, And thy beauty of which I am proud, I tingle with jealousy. In my eyes are tears; in my ears Vague murmurings, And the monotonous ebb and flow Of the waves of the sea. And now a cold sweat Bathes my trembling body Then, calm, breathless, and cold Like a corpse. I feel That I am dying! Dying! (They disappear). (The portals of the temple open : women come out and crowd the square, form groups, disperse). -8 --- SCENE THREE Lampito, Myrrhina, Calonice, Nicodice, Callyce, Rhodippe, in the center of a group. Lanmpito (In a loud voice). Women ! You must not go away ! Do not forget that Lysistrata has summoned you all to meet at this place at the tenth hour after prayers. Our beloved Lysistrata will not be long in coming; she is punctual, like the late Clepsydra, herself. So, I say, do not go away; stroll about, or if you are tired, sit down awhile. Nicodice (Lying down). Exactly, that was well said. Lampito We must admire Nicodice; she is told to be seated-and she lies down. Nicodice Do the same thing yourself, my beautiful Lampito. Lampito Lie down-all alone? No, thank you. I'd rather stand up. Myrrhina Oh, Lampito, woman of too much temperament! I am sure you are thinking of Taraxion, your noble spouse. (She laughs). Lampito (Imitating her). Hee! Hee! Hee ! Hee! And you, what are you thinking about, Myrrhina ? Myrrhina I? Nothing at all, by Ceres; that little prayer did me good. Lampito Certainly, that's all right for an hour or two, but after ? Myrrhina After ? Oh, you will boss your servant about, card your wool, weave it, knead a cake, bathe the baby, get the supper-that sort of thing. Ah! In the name of all the goddesses! There are so many tasks a woman can do. Look after your house, and you will not think about those things. Lampito Perhaps you think my servants don't receive the proper orders, and my baby doesn't get his bath when it suits him? Do I need you to tell me how ? Only, it is in the evening ! Ah ! -9--- The evening, when I get into bed. Is it the night, the silence, the dark, or simply because I'm lying down ? Myrrhina It is probably because you're lying down ! Lampito I toss and turn for hours before I go to sleep. More than once, I have spent the night without sleeping at all. Nicodice So have I. First of all, I am afraid all alone, deathly afraid. And how long the time seems! Calonice Terribly long! One thinks the cursed cock will never crow. Nicodice And the least sound takes on extraordinary proportions; the furniture creaks, a dog barks-and I am all in a perspiration. Calonice There is a sacred olive tree in front of my door. Last night the wind blew through its branches. It made a sound like pschu, pschu, pschu,-absolutely like footsteps. You would have said, there was somebody walking in the vestibule. Nicodice When that happens to me, I hide my head under the covers and hold my breath. I am afraid of wakeful nights myself. When my husband is there beside me, I sleep quietly. There's no danger when there's a man in the house. He is ready for anything. Myrrhina If a mouse runs across your floor, your husband leaps quickly to the foot of the bed, takes his helmet and his shield, and pierces the mouse with his lance. Lampito Ah! When will our men come back! This solitude is wearing me out, I have never wanted love so much. It is not a secret feeling hidden away in my heart, it is Cypris clinging to her prey, as the tragedians say. It is sad to go to sleep without a single caress. Isn't that true, Callyce? You don't say anything, little one. Callyce Oh, Lampito, woman of too much temperament! Your sufferings,--what are they compared with what I have been through? You have at least found out what love means. If your Taraxion dies... -- 10 --- Lamnpito In Heaven's name, what are you saying? Taraxion! My Taraxion! No, no, you must not speak lightly of those things. Callyce 1 am not speaking lightly. It is for the sake of argument. Lampito Don't argue... I mean it,-the very thought of such a thing brings the perspiration to the palms of my hands. Nicodice That's right, that's right! Come, Callyce, my child, you were saying that... Callyce I was saying that if my husband,1my handsome Nicostratos, perishes in this unfortunate war, I shall never have known his caresses. Lampito What do you mean? You are exaggerating! Go on! Calonice Has Callyce never told you about her wedding night? Callyce Alas! It was not like most others. Night came, our friends accompanied us with torches, singing: Hymen! Hymenus! We arrived at the house : the slaves had retired; everything was ready; the bath had been cleaned; there was warm water; and the sesame cake that gives fecundity had been prepared. All was ready; the friends went away. Nicodice Alone at last! Callyce Nicostratos took me in his arms, threw himself at my feet, kissed my knees... Lampito Oh ! It is cruel of you to tell us about it! Myrrhina Courage, Lampito. All Woman of too much temperament! Callyce He said a thousand tender pretty things; called me a M-A 11- thousand charming names: my jewel, my idol, daughter of Cypris, confidante of the Muses, sister to the Graces... I... I cried. Lampito You had really no reason for doing that. It wasn't to insult you he said all that, the dear boy. Callyce I know, but it was stronger than I. Suddenly, there was knocking at the front door. Mlyrrhina Mother-in-law! Horrible! Callyce No, something more horrible still,-it was a friend of my 'husband's. He shouted, Make haste, Nicostratos, make haste!- What is the matter, by Apollo! answered my husband!--A messenger has come. The attacking army needs five hundred men; they must leaveleave forftorPylos Pyl this very night.-Immediately ?- Immediately. Lampito And then ? Callyce And then-Nicostratos had to go. His name was one of the first on the list. He put on his uniform, and took his arms. As we are both orphans, the wedding festival had taken place at the home of my aunt, Lysistrata. There was nothing in our house, not a sardine, not a chicken wing. He was obliged to carry away the sesame cake in his knapsack. Without it, he would have died of hunger during the march. I have not seen him since. You see, Lampito, I am right in thinking my fate is more cruel than yours. Lampito Don't you believe it, my dear Callyce. Between the one who never sipped the Chian wine, and the one who, having drunk, no longer enjoy it,--our pity is for the one who has drunk. Callyce But you have memories. Lampito That makes no difference. Callyce You can dream of happy nights... A consolation when you are alone. I-I haven't even memories. Lampito Then you have no regrets, and you have hope. -- 12 - Callyce And if Nicostratos never comes back, if he is killed! Lampito You are young, you would marry again. Callyce But if I die---think of that-I should never, never have known the joy of love. I should never have known how... If you think that is gay... (She weeps). All Poor little thing! Lampito Don't cry, my child. Your aunt, our dear Lysistrata, has called us all together to meet upon this square, to devise a remedy for our troubles. She is a woman of good judgment and keen mind. I shall be surprised if some sublime invention does not come from her brain,-as long ago, Pallas fully armed was born from the brain of Zeus. Here she is now. SCENE FOUR The Same, Lysistrata. Lysistrata comes out of her house. Voices Greetings, beloved Lysistrata. Lysistrata We shall soon be able to begin, my dear friends; but everybody is not here yet. Some are missing; the women from the shore are absent,-not one from Salamis. Calonice However, I know they embarked at dawn. Lysistrata And the Archarnian women; they should have been the first to arrive. Their husbands have been the most passionate partisans in the war. Nicodice Here they come now, and the others are following them. During this conversation, women are arriving, in little groups. Myrrhina Who are these women ? Lysistrata They are from the Peloponnesus. At their head I recognize -- 13- Gyrinna. Greetings, Gyrinna. Dear Lacedaemonian, how beau- tiful you are ! What strong arms you have, and what health! You could strangle a bull. Cyrinna By Castor and Pollux, you said a bull? You see I do Lacedaemonian gymnastics. Every morning when I get up, and every evening before I go to bed, I go through my exercises fifty times. But why have you called us together ? Rizodippe (Imitating her). But why have you called us together ? Lysistrata She has the Dorian accent. There is nothing surprising in that. I have called you together for a matter of the highest importance. It has caused me thought and sleepless nights. I shall explain it presently. The courtisans are not here ? Lampito Not yet. lyrrhizna Is it possible that they have been invited. Lysistrata Certainly... everybody. They are women, too, and I have need of them to carry out my plans. But when they are told to assemble here to treat an important question they sleep instead of coming. Rzodippe They are not used to getting up so early. Lysistrata circulates among the groups. Lysistrata And this young woman, what part of the country is she from ? Lampito She is a Boeotian by Castor,-of noble blood. Lysistrata Ah! My dear Boeotian, you are like a flower in a garden. (Pointing to another woman). And that one, who is she ? Lampito She is an honest girl; she is from Corinth. Lysistrata Itis not given to everybody to hale from there-or to go there either. - 14 - Callyce Here come the courtisans ! Salabaccha, dressed in a rich Oriental costume is leading a group of cdurtisans clothed in sumptuous fabrics. They come to the middle of the stage and stop some paces away from thie matrons. Lysistrata Oh, Salabaccha, why do you hold yourself aloof, with your companions? Come, mingle with us: in the desolate city of Athens, are we not all equal? Salabaccha You are right: we are equal,-since there are no more men Lysistrata moves about among the courtisans. Calonice Look at the ear-rings on the tall brunette! Nicodice Asiatic, I suppose. Ihodippe She is pretty. Calonice Think so ?... Not according to my notion. Nicodice She has been the mistress of Agathos. ARhodippe They have put on embroidered tunics... hardly suitable, in the morning. Ridiculous! Myrrhina Perhaps they haven't any others. Calonice Considering what it cost them... Salabaccha Tell me, Philinna, what is the matter with my back ? Philinna I don't see anything. Salabaccha Then why do those women stare at me ? Lysistrata (To the matrons). Come, my friends, don't divide yourselves into two camps. Myrrhina Do you wish us to mingle with those women ? -- 15- Lysistrata Certainly, in the name of Pallas, it is justice,-since we have invited them. What do you mean by this prudery? You are always fussing over them, you listen to stories about them, you imitate.them, you have the same tastes, the same kind of clothes, the same lovers, sometimes. Protests. Yes, the same lovers, and yet you want to make a distinction It is humiliating,-childish. Get together, get together, by Castor! When it is a question of making a decision against men, ought not women to be united in an implacable fraternity ? The matrons mingle with the courtisans. And Lampito, you are obliging, an Athenian, with a good voice, you shall act as herald. Call upon the women to take places and be ready to listen. Lampito Order! Order ! Pray the gods and goddesses that all may go well with this assembly to the great advantage of Athens, and to our own happiness. Let the palm go to her who, by acts and words, shall have deserved well of the Athenian people and of the women. Make your vows to the heavens, imploring happiness for yourselves. lo Poean! Io Poean! Let us rejoice! Myrinna May the gods and the goddesses grant our prayers. Apollo, Apollo, God of Golden Light, healer of moral wrongs, shed upon this assembly thy warm light. Apollo, god with the golden lyre, who reigns over sacred Delos, let there be harmony among us, as among the divine players of the harp, whom thou hast inspired. Salabaccha And thou daughter, of Zeus, the all-powerful, and the beau- tiful Leto, Goddess of Pure Light, queen of forests, whom we worship under divers names, who has never known the shame of love. Oh, thou purest of virgins, and the most beautiful, Artemis, purge our flesh of Desire, our bad counsellor. Or, let it be devoured in us by the dogs of Shame, as long ago, Actaeon, intrepid wanderer, was torn to pieces by his own pack! Lysistrata And thou, above all, invincible virgin, Pallas of the azure eyes and the golden lance! Thou whose protection is over the city. O Immaculate One, fruit of the head of our supreme god, thou divine Intelligence, heed our cry, descend to us and let thy wisdom prevail at the assembly of the noble matrons of Athens Lampito Silence! Listen, everyone. The assembly of women has met this morning to devise a means to bring about the end of the - 16 - war which, for twenty years, has taken away from Greece the best and purest of her blood. Who wishes to speak ? Lysistrata I! Murmurs of approbation. She ascends to the tribune. Lampito Before you speak, put on this crown. She places an olive wreath upon the head of Lysistrata. Silence! Be still everybody ! She is going to begin, she is clearing her throat, the way orators do: probably she khas much to say. Voices Listen! Listen! Lysistrata If I have consented to speak, I call the goddesses to witness that it is not for ambition. It is necessity. It is my duty. There are things that must be said, and I will say them. It is certain that if I had lived upon the Pyx during my youth, if I had spent my time listening to demagogues debating lies, I could make you a hollow high-sounding speech that would make me popular. But I am afraid that in spite of your prayers, Apollo will lend me no aid, because he does not often inspire rhetoricians-whose business it is to be eloquent,-so much the less will he trouble himself to inspire a plain woman like me. Voices Yes! Yes! Why not? You are too modest. Lysistrata Listen to me! I am only a woman, but I have common sense. Nature has endowed me with good judgment which I have been able to nourish, thanks to the wise counsel of my father and the elders. I beg the indulgence of the courtisans present today. Salabaccha No need for that, Lysistrata, your opening words have pleased me more than I can say. Lysistrata Perhaps they will consider that my language is too simple, they who are accustomed to treat the most important questions with philosophers and poets... But, they must reflect that while they were conversing with 'keenest minds, with masters of language, with men capable of beautiful thoughts,-we remained in our houses carding wool and watching so that the gruel was not too thin. Voices Very good !... That isright! - i7 - Lysistrata Courtisans have leisure. They can study, because they have nothing to do but make love, or half the time they pretend that they are making love... Saiabacciha Not any more than you do. Laughter, Voices Attention! Silence! Listen ! LysistLrata First of all, I must thank you for the laudable punctuality with which you have answered my invitation. Yes, I thank you. The men should follow your exempie. In order that you might be at the meeting it was not necessary to close the cabarets, and what is better, you came without any hope of remuneration. Your conduct puts the men to shame, for you have acted like the citizens and warriors of old. In the young years of the Republic men did not dare to demand payment for services rendered to the city or to the state. Each one brought his meal, some bread, a couple of onions, olives, and a little wine in a pitcher. Ah! How far those days ha ve slipped away from us ! To-day the citizen hastens to rake in his share of the graft; whether they are Prythans, or Heilasts, or Archonians, or Thesmothetes, or Polemarques, from top to bottom there is rivalry in seeking ;after gain... Al! Well said, o! lo! Well said Lysis tratz The prize is for the sharpest, and the magistrate is as merce- nary as the stone-mason. Myrrhina Ah! By Ceres, she speaks the truth. Lysistrata M.. My native land is as dear to me as it is to you, but I groan when I see what is going on. I was speaking to you a few minutes ago of the war-like virtues. War may be sacred and necessary. Sacred, when a peolie defends its faith and its gods, necessary when territory has to be protected against barbarians. In the olden days the Greeks braced their shields against the Persians, drunk with anger and rage. Biting their lips in fury they pursued their enemies, man against man. They harpooned them, piercing long robes. Those were the great days of Marathon, Salamis, and Plataea. At that time the duty of every citizen was to make war. But this is a fratricidal war. For years the peoples of the same race have been pitted against one another. 8 --- The sons of one mother have destroyed each other. Such a war is futile, abject, and detestable to the gods. Now why have we been at war for twenty years ? Why is it that Greece is a vast army-camp ? Is it because barbarians have devastated our fields, burned our temples, and pillaged our cities? No,... it is for a mere bagatelle, a slight incident between two cities. One evening some young men who had been drinking too much go to Megara to carry off Simetha, the cortisan. To get their revenge, the Megarians, in turn, kidnap two courtisans from the house of Aspasia, and for the sake of three beauties, all Greece is set on fire. Come-! This is not worthy! Then the fields are abandoned, the peasants take refuge in the cities, the Dionysiac festivals are no longer celebrated, the shepherds' flutes are heard no more. Every city, every island, however small it may be, must furnish its quota of horses and men. The arts are forgotten, militarism reigns supreme. I tell you: miitarism,-there is our enemy. All Jo! lo! She is right! Lysistrata If there is a truce, a short truce, the men do not lay aside their arms while they are in the city. They go about the market place with their lances in their fists; they are to be seen among the vegetables and soup kettles in all their war togs like Corybantes. Is it not amusing to watch a man carrying a buckler with the head of a Gorgon on it, bargaining for gold fish ? (Laughter). IS that not perfectly true? Am I right? Am I exaggerating? I, who am speaking to you, I saw the other day a long-haired tribal chief in the market place. He was on horse, and he poured the soup he had bought from an old woman, into his helmet. In the meantime, his horse was trampling a pile of figs, to the despair of the merchant in the next booth. What have you to say about that, my dear friends ? Salabaccha It was an amusing incident, and worth laughing at. Lvsistrataj To be sure, we women love helmets, and horse tails, reviews. and handsome men. The men must have action, they must pass their time in struggle. They- throw the discus, and they drive chariots. We want them to be brave, but what we do not want is that they spill their blood. What we love is not that they make war, but that they are capable of making it. I grant you, it is flattering to be caressed by a captain who has three aigrettes and a purple cloak. Let those among us who love the red tunic reflect that once taken off and hung up,- whether it is red or not, the tunic is of very little importance. (That's true ! That's true !) I know one thing: Lycon, my husband, is a captain..... but when 19- he comes home from the campaign with his evil smelling equip- ment, I assure you it is no fun. (Laughter). Seriously, don't you have a horror of massacres ? Oh, my friends, the sons that we bear go to fight far away from Athens. Your boys, thousands of them, have gone to their death at Naxos. And, as our wise Pericles said, when our youth perishes in combat, the year has lost its spring. By Pallas, our goddess, we are Athenians, but we are mothers as well, and, I call Cypris to witness, we are women. Now, while we are young and should be loved and caressed, we go to lonely beds, like widows. I am thinking especially of the young girls, the young girls who are growing old. They are tender flowers that fade without love. lyrrhina The men are getting old too. Lysistrata That isn't the same thing. And even if they come back bald and/ gray, they will not be long in finding a young wife; but woman has but one moment; if she does not profit by it, she is put on the shelf. All that is left to her is to have her future told by the augurs. Well, if I have found a way to make wars cease, will you support me ? Myrrhina Yes, by all the goddesses, I swear it, if I must pawn my dress and spend the money the same day. Calonice And I, if I have to be cut in two like a sole and the half of me taken away. MAyrrhina To see peace, I would climb to the summit of Taygetis. Lysistrata Then, I will keep silent no longer. Women, if we wish to force our husbands to make peace..... Callyce (Beginning to dance). Peace... Peace... Ah!. But that word is sweet. Lysistrata What is the matter with her ? Callyce At the very name of peace my feet itch to dance. Lysistrata There now, that's enough. - 20 - Callyce Just one more little turn, and I've done. Lysistrata Yes, but it must be the last. What! You are at it again! Callyce It's this leg,-I jiggle my right foot, then I'm through. Lysistrata Well, just the right foot. Callyce And the left foot must have a turn, or it would be jealous. Ah! Peace! Peace! I am pleased, I am happy, I sing, I dance, I laugh. Lysistrata You have finished ? Callyce Yes. Lysistrata Women, if we wish to constrain our husbands to make peace, we must withhold ourselves. Mlyrrhina What is that ? Tell us! Lysistrata Wil you do it ? Lampito We will do it, if it kills us! Lysistrata When the next truce happens and your husbands come back, the first thing they will do will be to ask you..... Am I not right ? Lampito Well, we offer it, don't we ? Lysistrata Oh, Lampito, woman with too much temperament, that is exactly what you must not do. You must refuse them, repulse them. Alyrrhina How is that ? Lysistrata Yes, when they want... Exactly, you must lay down your conditions and never give up until they promise to make peace. Myrrhina By Castor, she is right! - 21 -- Nicodice It is clear. Calonice They'll be in a nice fix. Rhodippe We have them. Oh, Lysistrata, you ingenious woman! Myrrhina Keen mind! Lampito Clear brain ! All lo! Io! Let us rejoice! Lysistrata Oh, noble women of Athens, I did not expect less of you. Are you ready now to bind yourselves in a solemn pledge ? Yes, yes, tellus the formula. Lysistrata You have made up your minds..... Then, I may tell you that the hour is close at hand when you can put wise resolutions into execution. Lamnpito (Disturbed). What are you saying ? Lysistrata Yes, last night the gods sent me a dream. It was revealed that our men will arrive about the twelfth hour. The army is only a short distance from the city. lo! io ! Rejoice! But why are you turning away? Where are you going? You are biting your lips, you are nodding your heads. Why so pale ? Why do you weep? Will you do it? Yes or no? Do you hesitate ? Myrrhina No, I won't do it..... Let the war continue. Lysistrata Where are you running to, Nicodice? Nicodice I want to go home. I have some Miletus wool which will be eaten by moths. Lysistrata Let them eat it! -- 22 - Nicodce I swear by the goddesses, I will return as soon as I have spread it on my bed. Lysistrata It is not the wool that you want to spread out on your bed..... Don't you move from here, I beg of you. If you give the example, someone else will do the same thing. Rhodippe (Shrieking). Ah! la, la! Oh! la, la! Lysistrata What is the matter with her ? You are crazy, Rhodippe. Rhodippe I'm not crazy. I'm about to be confined. L~sistrata But a while ago, you were not pregnant. Rhodippe I am now! Lysistrata That is not possible. Rhodippe I know more about it than you do, perhaps. Ah ! Lysistrata, let me go! Lampito (To Rhodippe). What have you there ? Rhodippe A boy or a girl, I don't know which, but a baby it is, that's certain! Lampito Look here, what she had under her dress; a casque, a casque! She went home to fetch it! iLysistrata And you, Calonice, what have you to say ? You consented a while ago to be cut in two like a sole. Oh, my pretty sole, solitude frightens you ? Calonice Anything except that. Command me to pass through fire, but the sweetest thing there is in the world..... Lampito What can she mean ? In principle !... - 23 - Calonice To deprive oneself, my dear Lysistrata ! Lysistrata And you, Nicodice, have you changed your mind too? Nicodice Yes, I prefer to pass through fire. Lysistrata Ah, Athenians, unbridled women, I did not expect less of you. But do you think of nothing but that ? Nicodice What can you expect? We are not super-women like you ! Lampito And then, the way you told us, like that..... only an hour before. One hasn't the time to prepare to resist; I thought you meant to give us at least three months. We are not used to the idea. It isn't our fault. Lysistrata And so, I have nobody with me when I am acting for your own happiness. One wishes to tend her wool, the other thinks she will be confined. Oh, fools, that you are, you are not worthy of the name of woman, I swear it by the Sun that gives us light. Why did you call upon the gods and goddesses ? Myrrhzina Because it's always done..... It is a habit. (Laughter). Lysistrata You are blasphemous. It is too much. You abandon me. I am alone! Swallow and Dew You have us, Lysistrata, we will stand by you. Lysistrata That makes two. Lampito Surely. But what are they risking ? Lvsistrata And you Callyce, my dear child, whom I brought up as my own daughter, you who have remained pure. Salabaccha Ah! but...,. Lysistrata Will you second me ? - 24 - Callyce Oh, no, my aunt, you understand, I will not swear anything. I have waited a long while..... I will swear nothing at all. And if they don't want to make peace, well, they can go away again and I will remain a virgin. Oh no, I'm sick of it all: I don't want to die without finding out what love means. Lysistrata But do you think of nothing but that; the idea has got fixed in your head: not to die without looking into the mysteries of Cypris. You will not be alone. Callyce That's a consolation ! Lysistrata By Hecate, there are a few who died before... But they didn't die from that. If... they are dead, but not from that... I mean, I mean.., that it is not so..... Salabaccha Help, help! Come to our dear Lysistrata's rescue! Lysistrata If one of you can propose another way to end the war, let her speak now. Let her put the olive wreath upon her head and ascend to this tribune. And let nobody leave this place ! All No, no, put the wreath on again. Lysistrata Then what ? Calonice But if we abstain... as you say, then shall we have peace ? Lysistrata By all the goddesses, there is no doubt about it! Let us stay at home. Let us anoint our bodies with seductive perfumes and drape ourselves in transparent yellow tunics. The men will be stirred; we shall make ourselves desirable by taking a thousand ingenious poses, and when they are at the end of their patience, they will agree to make peace. Cyrinna It was in this way, they say, King Menelaus threw down the gauntlet when he saw the naked beauty of Helen. Salabaccha Oh, noble matrons of Athens, repulse them and you will be all the, more desirable. - 25 --- Syrrhina My beautiful Salabaccha,-you will lose nothing by it. If we discourage them, they will go to the courtisans. Lysistrata But if the courtisans take the same firm stand, they will stick to it. It is to their interest that the war should finish. Their business is dull enough with the men away ! Salabaccha Ah! If... Myrrhina They are having a rest. Lysistrata To be sure they are, but they have housekeeping expenses, slaves to feed, dependents to support. Salabaccha Exactly, expenses keep on, during this time. Lysistrata And then, men are so made that what they want the most is the thing they cannot get, especially when it is their right. Our husbands cannot have us, and naturally, it is us they want. Nicodice But if they knock at our doors... Lysistrata If they knock, you won't open the door. You will come out on your terraces and scream like savages. C(alonice They are stronger than we are. Miyrrhina If they take us by force... Lysistrata That wouldn't do! Pleasure is a fruit that is enhanced when it is shared. Therefore, 0 women, you must not weaken. Don't let them touch you, be on your guard like a clump of nettles. Do not allow yourselves to be convinced or corrupted. Uphold your reputation for stubbornness and malice. Remember the benefits you will obtain from your energetic attitude. You may lose a day or two, but your young years are passing by, your best years, whereas, if you follow my counsel... Rhodippe By Hercules, she is right again. - 26-- Nicodice We are the ones that have been foolish. Lysistrata What do you say, Myrrhina ? Myrrhiina As for our own men we can bring them around easily enough. But your restless Athenians, who will be able to keep them from fighting ? Lysistrata Don't let that trouble you, they are for us to look after; we shall manage them. Are you ready now to take a solemn pledge. All Yes, yes! We are ready. Lysistrata And you, Callyce, my dear child, do you persist in your stupid ideas ? Callyce Oh, yes, my aunt, I persist. I will promise nothing. Besides, I don't even know exactly what my husband will ask of me... and if I should break my word without knowing it! Salabaccha Oh, the first time one always knows! Lysistrata You see the rest of us are reasonable and have decided to be patient. It is for the safety of the Republic. Callyce Oh, my dear aunt; the Republic means nothing to me. You see that I do not want to die without... Lysistrata Yes, yes, we know all about that. You must understand that I cannot waste time over the obstinate notion of a little girl like you. I cannot admit that the whole flock should be led astray by one lamb. Salabaccha You are hard on her, Lysistrata. Lysistrata She is my niece. Salabaccha That may be a reason. Lysistrata You will be imprisoned in the temple of Artemis and put 27-- under the protection of the chaste goddess. That will calm you down. You other women,-you will watch so that she does not escape. (Women crowd around Callyce). Myrrhina Quickly, Lysistrata, bind us in an unbreakable pledge. Each one of us will say it in turn, and afterwards we will repeat it all together. Myrrhiza Let us swear on a buckler, like the seven chiefs before Thebes. Lampito Yes, we will swear upon a buckler. Rhodippe We should offer up a burning sacrifice. Lysistrata Charming! Can't you see, Rhodippe, we cannot shed the blood of an innocent victim,-we who are taking this pledge because we are disgusted with the shedding of blood. Calonice But how shall we take our pledge ? Lysistrata Here is what I propose. Let us place upon the ground a large urn; let us pour out wine of Thasos and swear not to mix a drop of water with it. Rhodippe Ah, this gage pleases me more than I can say. Lysistrata And to give the pledge the sacred character worthy of it, let us go to the temple of Artemis to fetch the Priestess, the flute- players, and those who make music with the lute and the cymbals. Let an urn be brought here and a measure of wine. You can take my niece, Callyce, with you to be imprisoned at the same time. Nicodice and Myrrhina, you may discharge this painful duty. However cruel it seems to you, say to yourselves that it is for the good of all and for the safety of the Republic Myrrhina Come, then, Callyce, my poor friend. Callyce Go... I will follow you without resistance. Oh, women mark you: it is not permitted to mortals to change the course of natural laws. In vain you put me under the protection of - 28 - Artemis, the chaste... All your precautions will be in vain; if the gods have willed that I should not die before knowing the mysteries of love, Eros will conquer and Cypris will be victorious. (She enters the temple. Myrrhina, Lampito, Nicodice, the Priestess, the flute- players, those who make music with the lute and with the cymbal, two women bearing a large black urn, another carrying a cruse, and still another bringing a golden cup, appear under the portico). Calonice Hush! Hush! Here is the sacred procession. (Music. The procession. The large black urn is placed on the ground before Lysistrata). Rhodippe Ah, my dear friends, the beautiful cup! What joy it will be to empty it. Lysistrata All-powerful Persuasion, and thou cup friendly to joy' receive this sacrifice and be propitious to us, the women of Athens. (The contents of the cruse are poured into the urn). Rhodippe What crimson blood ! How smoothly it flows, and how sweet the aroma ! Lysistrata Come, Lampito, Myrrhina, Salabaccha, and all of you, my friends. Raise your hands above this urn and take the same vows. (They sing). All If my husband or my lover Comes to me amorously, However sweet his caress, With whatever ardor he persuades me I will not yield to him. Calonice I shall put among my hair, Under its confining bands, A wreath of violets; And thanks to filmy fabrics, He shall have glimpses Of my secret beauty That will make his heart sing. Salabaccha But this is not enough, Oh, women. After the Ionian fashion I will speak passionate words, S29 - Andwith tempting poses, I will simulate pleasure To exasperate desire. Lysiirata For the love of Zeus ! If he takes me by force He shall suffer for it. Before I give up The struggle will be terrible, Until the ill-fated moment When the last veil falls, And shoulders touch shoulders. All If I break my pledge, Let the gods chn:ge The crimson wine within this urn Into pure water ! Lysistrata Now let us sacrifice the victim. (She drinks). Rihodippe Stay, my dear, to seal our compact, let us all touch our lips to the cup. (All drink in turn. The cup is filled several times. In the distance, the sound of trumpets). Lysistrata And now, Myrrhina, return to Sparta, with instructions to your women, and leave your companions here as hostages. Rhodippe Listen! Listen! Nicodice It is they! Myrrhina They are coming... Let us run ahead of them. Sa1abacch1a Let us stay where we are.. It is -better to show ourselves firm and cold. Lampito There's no law against seeing them... I have given my word... Do as you like, I am going. Calonice So am I. - 3 - All So am I. (They hasten to get ahead of the troops; a number of them group themselves on the steps of the temple. Trumpets). Lysistrata By all that is divine, it was just in time. Happily they have. given their word. Rosde They are coming: shall we go to meet them ? H-irondelle We have seen it twenty times, it is always the same thing. Rosde After all, they are our husbands; it would be more polite.. Hirondelle If you like. (They leave without haste. Return of the troops. Shouts and music). CURTAIN --.3 ' ACT II SAME AS ACT I. SCENE ONE (It is night. There is monlight. An urchin passes, whistling an Athenian march, Suddenly there is heard from within the house of Lysistrata the sound of a violent altercation. Furniture is knocked about: the door flies open, then closes behind Lycon who has been thrown into the street.) Lycon (He has lost his coat, appears to be confused. He remains a few second motionless). By Hercules, I'm thrown out of my own door! My slaves, obeying nobody but Lysistrata pushed me out by the shoulders. This must stop. shouts) Hello! Midas Phrygian, Masynthias ! Curse those slaves. They won't even answer me! (He goes to the door of the house.. Lysistrata ! Lysistrata! Monster, tigress, sorceress..... Woman, open the door. My Lysis, my little wife, my little duckie, my Lystratette, my Lystratinette,..... Open the door.! I didn't to a thing... After all, what I ask of you is my right (Howling). It is my right! Do you ear? I am speaking to you gently. Come, come, I know you are there, back of the door; I am going to give it a mighty kick and bang you on the nose. You know, your pretty little nose, your exquisite nose, you don't want it to be smashed by a great big door You know I'll do it, just as I have said. You won't answer..., Well (He pushes with his shoulder). Ouch !..... I won't open. Oh, door, you are as hard as the heart of my wife. (He pushes again with his shoulder). It can't be possible, the hinges were torged by- Hephaestos, the divine blacksmith, and his black Cyclops. Here. old Hephaestos take that! (With all his strength he kicks the door, again and again). Oh! I am hurt, badly hurt! He limps). - 33 - SCENE TWO Lycon, Lysistrata Lysistrata (Appearing on the terrace). Good enough for you; it is Hephaestos himself who has punished you, good for him. Are you through making a row? What does it mean? Aren't you ashamed? at your age! You're behaving like a child; you keep me from sleeping. I'm going to turn you over to the police. Where are the Scythae? They were right here a bit ago; you never find them when' you need them. Lycon No, I ihaven't finished: here I've been for two hours at the door..... I have my fill of it. The joke has lasted long enough. Lysistrata But it is no joke... You should not have let me get out of the habit. You went away to battle when you liked, at your own pleasure. Lycon At my own pleasure! Ye gods, listen to her! Lysistrata You go away and leave me for a whole year. Lycon A year! Ye gods, listen to her! Lysistrata Call it seven months. And then, you come back like this, from time to time, to talk to me about our country. No, you see, I'm on to this trick of a truce. It mustn't happen again. Lycon Really, my dear, you are talking like..... I'm upset, shocked, vexed, hurt. If you love me... Lysistrata I adore you Lycon. Lycon Do you expect me to believe that? Lysistrata No, honestly, I love you very much.... I have a great affection for you. - 34 - Lycon But if you love me, you'd be enchanted to see me, if it were only for three or four days. You would think it was a good chance to be tender to me. Lysistrata No, my friend, my heart is not made of stone. I told you, when peace is signed, I'll be your wife again.... But, in the meantime, I am an iceberg. Lycon But I'm not an iceberg! Lysistrata1 But you will be, the fresh air will cool you off... the nights are pretty cold now. Here, take your coat! (She throws him his coat). Lycon (Kicking it away from him). I don't want the damn coat. Lysistrata You're making a mistake, better take it along. After a while, you'll be glad to have it, and you'll thank me. The sea breeze is coming up,-I'm going to bed. Good night (She disappears). SCENE THREE Lycon, Cynesias. (Lycon left alone, puts on his coat. At this moment a man, Cynesias, is thrown out of Myrrhina's house, close by. He bumps into a stone and falls at Lycon's feet). Lycon (Helping Cynesias to his feet). What is the matter, my dear fellow? Cynesias Thank you. That cursed stone... Lycon Why, it is Cynesias, my lieutenant! Cynesias It is I... Cynesias, son of Peon. Lycon You have just come out of your house! -- 35 - Cynesias Yes... out of my house, you saw me. Lycon Everybody well at your house?... your wife? Cynseias Myrrhina? In perfect health. Lycon Ah! She is the gay one. Cynesias And Lysistrata? Lycon Charming. Cynesias Fine evening, Eh? Lycon The air is cool... I am not sorry I put on my coat. Cynesias It is always a wise precaution. (A short silence). And,... You are taking your after-dinner stroll ? Lycon Yes, a turn or two. Cynesias All the same... after seven months' absence it is a pleasure for a fellow to come back to his city, his house, his children.. Lycon His wife. Cynesias Of course. Lycon Beautiful woman, Myrrhina... Eh? The first delight... Cynesias You can readily believe the first delight was not a matter of the brain... Think! After seven months of absence! And think our truce is only for seven days. - 36 - Lycon Did you tell your wife we had come back for five days only? Cynesias Certainly. Lycon How did she take that? Cynesias Very well! Lycon Very well? Cynesias What had she to say about it? To be sure, she wasn't so very pleased, she scolded a bit; but I quickly made her listen to reason. If one always had to listen to a woman's lamentation... Lycon Where shall we go? Cynesias Let's see. (Short silence). Lycon I am not keeping you, I hope? Cynesias Keeping me? Not at all. Lycon I thought because of Myrrhina... Cynesias Oh! Myrrhina is taking a rest. Lycon You must not feel obliged to stay with me because I am your captain. (They are interrupted by the entry of Sosias and Acestor). - 37 - SCENE FOUR Lycon, Cynesias, Acestor- Sosias then Theorus, Dercies, then Nicostratos. Sosias Neither do I. Acestor She continues to send me about my business. Sosias Not the smallest chance of caressing her; might as well make love to a stone. Lycon Greetings! Sosias and Acestor Greetings, Lycon! Lycon You seem to have tasted the bitterwine of anger. Acestor Don't you understand? Our wives won't 'show us the least sign of affection. Lycon Is that true? Sosias (To Lycon). What about Lysistrata? Lycon Eh! Eh! Acestor (To Cynesias). And Myrrhina? Cynesias Oh! Oh! Acestor Here come Theorus and Derycles,--the husbands of Swallow and Dew. -- 38 - Sosias They look very cross. Iierycies Greetings to you both! Cynesias Greetings to you all! Acestor Well? Theorus Well? Acestor How did your wives receive you? Theorus Very badly. We are furious. What do you think! First of all, we dined together, the four of us; Dercycles and his wife, and my wife and I. Gay little supper, wasn't it, Dercycles? Derycles Yes, Theorus, very pleasant. Our wives, who did not know each other before we left, have become friends. Lycon Then, what have you to kick about? Theorus You see, it was after supper the trouble began. Dercycles proposed that we all go home .. you understand? But our wives said that they wanted to stay a little while longer,-they were having such a good time. Then, they went off together... without paying any more attention to us... you understand? Derycles When they didn't come back, we began to be worried; we looked for them everywhere. Finally we discovered them locked in a bedroom. They had wine, fruit, lamps,-everything they needed to make them comfortable... Theorus saw them ,through a crack in the door... didn't you, Theorus? Theorus Yes! They danced while they sang, and they sang while they danced; as if they had taken leave of their senses. We begged them to open the door. Shrieking with laughter, they shouted: Make Peace! Make Peace! - 39 - Derycles Finally, they put out the lamp, and we saw nothing more of them. Nicostratos You are lucky,-relatively, I mean. It is impossible for me to get my hands on mine at all. I go everywhere, asking: Is Callyce with you? Have you seen my wife? They laugh in my face! Lycon Your aunt, Lysistrata, must know where her niece is. Have you asked her? Nicostratos Yes, my wife slept with Lysistrata the evening we arrived... She left at dawn yesterday morning, and she has not been seen since. She did not know of our return. She had become impatient, perhaps, after seven months of waiting. Lycon One must not think of such things. Nicostratos But.where can she be? Maybe she has met with a drunken soldier or some vagabond who has brought her to harm! Ah! in the name of Menelaus ! If only nothing terrible has happened to her! Sosias Oh, curse women! The fellow was right when he said that we could not live with them, and we couldn't live without them! Cynesias There was once upon a time a young man called Melanius who fled to the desert to escape marriage... He lived in the mountains, and for company, he had only his hunting dog. He never came home, so much did he detest women. Oh, my dear friends, let us be like Melanius! Sosias Ah! Our Zeus! Let loose a hurricane, a whirlwind that will blow them away like straws! Lycon Here is Agathos. He will give us good advice. - 40 - SCENE FIVE The Same, Agathos Lycon and the others Agathos, we salute you. Agathos Greetings, my friends. Lycon Where have you been, Agathos ? Agathos I have just left the house... It has taken me all day to make up my report on our last expedition. I have prepared the answers for the interpolations the demagogues will not fail to harass me with to morrow. But, what are you all doing on the street at this hour of the night? You ask for a truce to see your wives and children, and you take an evening off instead of doing your duty as husbands. Sosias Haven't you heard, Agathos? I must tell you then that it is our wives who are refusing to do their duty. They have chased us from our beds! Acestor If only the gods had been willing to grant us that much! That would prove we had at least been there! Agathos You mean that they all refuse ? Acestor All of them. Agathos Even your wife, my brave Lycon ? Lycon Yes, by Hercules, I can afford to confess it, now that I am sure that I am not an exception. Agathos What? Lysistrata, the wise? The dutiful wife? It is not possible. Lycon It is possible since it has happened. - 41 - Agathos But at least they give you a reason. They would not act this way unless there was something behind it. Lycon They want us to make peace with the Lacedaemonians. Agathos Peace! Peace! You haven't peace in your vest-pockets! Acestor That's obvious..... But they invoke the happiness of Greece and the safety of the Republic. Agathos Tell them that their first duty is to populate the state and to make children every time the chance is given to them. Cynesias You go a bit too far, Agathos. Agathos I am speaking to their husbands, remember? Now, what do you propose to do? You are not going to spend the night in the street? Lycon We've got to, unless we break down the doors and make a forced entry into our own houses. Agathos Don't be made sport of in this fashion. Pretend you don't care so much about what is refused you. Your anger is the very thing that delights your wives. Show them that you can get along without them. Instead of staying around here, feeling sorry for yourselves, hurry to the courtisans,-they will receive you with open arms. There is a party tonight at the house of the dark haired Salabaccha, and the best looking girls in Athens will be there. Go along, then, to Salabaccha's house. Or, to Pellena, or to Ampella, it makes little difference which. Don't go home until daylight, and then be dead drunk, wreathes on your heads and torches in your hands... but ask nothing of your wives. Theortis He is right... let us go to Salabaccha. Eh, Dercyles? Dercyles Yes, Theorus, that appeals to me as just the thing. Are you coming, Cynesias? -42 - Cynesias Certainly, I am coming. Lycon And you too, Nico.stratos ? Nicostratos You go,--if you like. I haven't the heart. I shall go home and wait for Callyce. I have no right to deceive her..... she has never refused me anything. Lycon Go home then, unhappy Nicostratos..... You are a model husband. I hope you will never regret it! Are you with us, Agathos? Agathlos I shall join you later, perhaps. I must be alone a while longer. I need to walk in the silence of the night..... to think about the answers I shall make to morrow to the interpolations of the demagogues. Lycon. Prepare answers that will put them to confusion. In the meantime, thank you for your advice. We shall follow it with ardor. (Exeunt.) SCENE SIX Agathos, alone (Left alone Agathos tiptoes under tce -ino-,ows of Lysistrata's house and calls: " Lysistraa! Lysistrata! " At this moment a man and a woman are seen approaching : it is Lampito and Taraxion.) Agathzos Hello! Let's see what these people are up to! (He hides himself behind a pillar.) SCENE SEVEN Lampito, Taraxion Taraxion How, long are you going to continue persecuting me like this, Lampito? Lampito As long as I can, Taraxion..... I want to know where'you are going. - 43 - Taraxion I told you, I am going to sleep. Lampito Out-of-doors ? Taraxion Yes, out-of-doors, because I can't sleep at the house. Lainpito What, nerve! I don't prevent you! Taraxion Cheeky thing! It isn't you that prevents me? You can't keep still! Lampito My foot was asleep. Taraxion You never stop talking. Lampito I have so many things to tell you. Taraxion When I am falling asleep, you kiss me in the ear. Lampito Well, you ought to like that. Taraxion This beats all! Lampito Taraxion! You reproach me... I love you too well! Taraxion But when a man is sleepy... and then you keep me too warm, If you think that is pleasant! Lampito What a bear! If you think it is pleasant to have a husband who falls asleep directly after supper... Taraxion It is your fault for giving me too much to eat. - 44 - Lampito Complaining of your food! But I do it with the best of inten- tions, it is to keep up your strength. Only, I overdo it; the instant the last mouthful is swallowed, you snore. Poor old warrior! Ah, Ah, think of a hushand who comes to see his wife after an absence of seven months,-and falls asleep over his dinner! Taraxion Oh, please don't get sarcastic! It doesn't do any good. Well, yes, I'm sleepy, there! I'm sleepy,-do your hear? I confess I am not ashamed of it, either. There is a time for everything.., we'll see, later, but just now what I want most of all, is to be let alone. Lampito In the name of Artemis! And I was going to be the one to demand peace of you! Oh, Lysistrata, if you saw me now, if you could hear me. Shame on me! I have told you the whole thing, Taraxion, and it means nothing to you. For your sake I was ready to break an inviolable pledge, alas less inviolable than you! Taraxion But I ask you nothing: keep your old pledge... I am going to sleep. I ask only for that one thing, the right to sleep. Simple enough thing to ask. Lampito But where are you going to sleep? Saraxion There,-on a bench,on some steps, on the ground, it doesn't matter where... If I can only sleep! Lampito Listen to me, Taraxion, I don't want you to spend the night out of doors... let's go back to the house. Taraxion No, by Hercules, I know what that means! Lamp-'ta Come along home, I promise you... I shall be reasonable, I am afraid you will catch cold. Taraxion No, no, it would only begin all over again. I know you. You are sincere now, but it is stronger than you, You could - 45 - not... It is always the same story. You have too much temperament. Lampito Ah! that is what you are up to. You insult me. I insist that you come home. Taraxion Sarcasm again! Listen! honestly, I am at the end of my rope. I am going to drop down in my tracks, and go to sleep where I am. Lampito I will stay with you, then. What is this game? How do I know what you are up to? Taraxion What do you mean? Lampito I mean you might give me the slip, and run away to the courtisans. Taraxion For heaven's sake, No! If you knew...... You are absurd! Lampito You know well enough, we met Derycles, Theorus and Lycon,-they were going to Salabaccha. Taraxion How do you know? Lampito . They said so themselves. How am I going to believe you will not join them? Ah ! if you ever did that, if you ever ran after those women! Taraxion Don't be jealous. Lanpito I'm not jealous. I am looking after my property. Taraxion Your property doesn't amount to much. Lampito One reason more why I must look after it. Wherever you go, I will follow you. - 46 - Taraxion (Resigned). Just as you say. Lampito And you, Lysistrata, super-woman, severe matron, sleep on the victim of your own enthusiasm! Be true to your pledge, while Lycon, your husband, takes refuge upon the warm breast of Salabaccha. SCENE EIGHT Agathos, Lysistrata. Agathos (Coming out of his hiding-place). She's gone at last! In the name of Zeus, I thought she would never go. (He remains a few minutes listening and looking about. Then he approaches the house). Lysistrata! (Lysistrata appears on the terrace). Lysistrata, is that you? Lysistrata Is that you, Agathos? They have gone, those good people. Agathos Ah! did you hear them? Funny, wasn't it? Lysistrata Screamingly funny! Agathos They have gone. May I come in? Lysistrata It is impossible,-absolutely impossible, because of the slaves Agathos They are asleep at this hour. Lysistrata The slightest noise wakens them. Agathos I can take off my shoes before I come upstairs. Lysistrata Socrates would bark! - 47 - Agathos That's true-curse the dog! I did not think of him. What shall we do? You come down. Lysistrata Couldn't think of it. Agathos I have something importantt to tell you. Lysistrata Couldn't you tell me from where you are? Agathos Why not from the Acropolis, while you are about it? You will have to come down. If you don't, I swear by all the gods, I'm coming up. I will break down the door, I will wake the slaves, and Socrates may bark all he likes; but I must talk with you. Lysistrata If he says so, he'll do it. Lord! but you're a bother! Don't stand there in the moonlight. Someone will see you. Wait a minute-I'm coming down. (She appears a few seconds later. As she closes the door gently, she speaks to her dog). Socrates! will you shut up. Yes-there-you're a beautiful dog! He was a precious doggie! Agathos Here you are at last! Oh, my Lysis, I adore you. (He tries to take her in his arms). Lysistrata (Avoiding him . Look out! what you're doing is dangerous! Lycon may come at any time. Agathos Not the least danger. He's in a safe place. He's celebrating with Salabaccha .. I sent him there myself. I will explain the whole thing to you after a bit. ihut we have a pile of things to say to each other. Why didn't you come before? Lysistrata Syra, my slave, was making me a tunic. She needed me all the time to try it on. It is a yellow tunic, very long,-you know, the kind they wear now, with a box pleat in the back, on the bias like this (Indicating) ..... an Aspasian pleat. You will see it is very pretty. - 48 - Agathos What are you talking about? You are making fun of me. Answer me.-seriously, why didn't you come ? Lysistrata Listen, Agathos, since your arrival, haven't you heard 'about a pledge by which the women swore ..... ? Agathos Yes, but it doesn't mean me, that pledge! Lysistrata Silly! Certainly it means you. The terms are exact : If my husband or my lover. Agathos Well, you didn't come, and I was waiting for-,gou, worried to death, as you can guess. You see, I wondered if you were ill, or whether Lycon was on to something, or even whether you loved me any more. Lysistrata Do you love me? Agatlos I adore you, Lysis, I adore you! Lysistrata Truly ? Agathos I swear it by Phoebe, and the stars shining above. Lysistrata Then you love me. Agathos Can you doubt it?..... Better than anything else in the world. Lysistrata We shall see about that. Agathos Ah ! what a day I have spent! You must be very nice to me so that I will forget it. Lysistr'ata We shall see about that too. S49 - Agathos Let us see right away. (He put his arms around her). Lysistrata No, no, be sensible! Agathos Chilly reception you're giving me! Lysistrata It is so long since I have seen you, I have nothing to say. Do you know, it is seven months since you left? Did you have a good time? Agathos (Annoyed). A good time! You are joking. Continual respon- sibility, always on the alert, endless difficulties, all sorts of privations. Lysistrata You haven't lost weight. Agathos And the heat! Impossible to sleep: there were swamps near our camp, and the mosquitoes nearly ate us up. Yes, that's the kind of good time 1 had. ... not to mention three great battles, terrible battles. In the last one, we lost nine hundred and fifty men. Lysistrata Nine hundred and fifty! Agathos Nine hundred and fifty-three, to be exact. Lysistrata Poor things!..... Ah, you see, war is a terrible thing,-odious, barbarous. Agathos Lysistrata! Lysistrata Yes, by all the goddesses, I know that shocks you..... I am very sorry. * Agathos How can you talk like this, Lysistrata, a woman whose ancestor was a general at Marathon, whose grandfather covered himself with glory at Plataea ? - 50 - Lysistrata It was not the same'thing. In those days, it was a question of defending the very life of Greece against the arrogance and the cupidity of the great king. It meant the Greeks had to fight for freedom, or else become slaves. But this war, for the supremacy between Athens and Sparta and the Allies, this war of merchants,-but that is what it is,-this war wearies me, it exasperates me. When I think it is being fought over investments, about money,-in other words, for business....! That men must allow themselves to be killed for this is disgusting, it is horrible. Ah! if you think you can thrill me by telling of your exploits, you are mistaken. Agathos I had no intention of turning your head, or anything like that. You asked me whether I had a good time, and so I started to tell you. Lysistrata Perhaps you didn't have a good time: You were'nt bored, either. Fighting is your passion, your life. Agathos You are unjust, Lysistrata..... In the midst of combat, I thought of you. Lysistrata You want me to believe that in the thickest of the fight, you thought of me? You had other fish to fry. Agathos I never said, in the thickest of the fight. Lysistrata Because you didn't dare. Agathos But we were not fighting all the time, and at night, sometimes lying in my tent..... Lysistrata Oh, I don't doubt that. Agathos And when I couldn't sleep..... Lysistrata On account of the mosquitoes. --- 51 -- Agathos It wasn't the mosquitoes. It was the thought of you, my dear Lysis, that possessed me. How many times you appeared to me in a dream! It seemed cruel to me when I came back to Athens for a few days on purpose to see you, and you didn't come,- didn't even send me a message. Lysistrata Were you waiting only for me? Didn't you put in a little time with Salabaccha? Agathos No, by all that's holy! If I put my foot within her door, the thunder of Zeus may pulverize me. Listen, Lysis, let us talk seriously. I waited for you and you did not come. Then I sent word to you that I intended to go back to camp to-night if you did not consent to see me..... And I meant it. Finally, this evening, I came myself. Right here in the square, I met Lycon and Cynesias gesticulating and carrying on. As I wanted the place to myself, I sent them all to Salabaccha. Lysistrata How were the husbands behaving? Agathos My soul, they were upset! To be sure, what happened to them was extraordinary. When a man comes back after a long absence, he may find anything--ithe house burned down, the slaves in flight, the children ill, the wife dead; but it would never occur to anyone to think that his wife would not wish..... Lysistrata Then, that strikes you as unusual? Agathos If only it does not last! I consider it a stroke of genius..... The woman who originated the idea is a genius! It can't be Lampito. Lysistrata Who do you think it is? Agatios I do not know. Lysistrata (Modestly.) A woman of genius. - 52 - Agathos It was you, Oh my Lysis! You, meant to keep yourself for me! Lysistrata You are mistaken, Agathos. Yes, it is I who had the idea you find so brilliant; but it is sincerely in order to bring about peace. There was no ulterior motive, nothing to do with love. If I did not come to you, if I made no answer to your messages.... Agathos You did not trust yourself? Lysistrata No, I was not afraid of weakness in myself, but I might have gone so far as to come to you, and Lysistrata must be above suspicion. -If I have come downstairs this evening, at your call, it is in spite of myself, and because you threatened to go away again this very night without seeing me. I love you, Agathos, I have been waiting for seven long months, and you must remember I have suffered too! Think of the life I have led while you were gone! I remained at home alone. The city has been dead. I have had no fun. I did not know where you were, or what you were doing. I was without news of you for long periods of time, and I was afraid of news, for I was always expecting to hear that you were wounded or dead. At night, I had fantastic dreams. I saw you in the midst of intense (fighting, or lying in a ditch with your precious body covered with gaping wounds. Ah! I have lived through dreadful days. That is why I want this truce to be a definite peace. Agathos But I am powerless to make peace. It doesn't depend upon me. I cannot even propose it. I am surrounded by spies, and jealous enemies. Goodness knows, it will be hard enough to morrow for me to make answers to the interpolations of the demagogues. Lysistrata Your acts will speak for you, Agathos. Agathos How can I make reason to be heard by men of bad faith, flatter the vile passions of the populace? Men attack those in power. Men who have never handled a spear meddle with the operations of an army. I am in the hands of people like that. If I propose peace, they will call me coward, deserter; they will - 53 - compare me to Eucrates, the traitor, or to Cleonymus, who threw down his shield, and I shall become the prey of the comic papers. Lysistrata A man that has love can snap his fingers at poets. Agathos You ask me to sacrifice my honor as a soldier. I tell you it is impossible. Lysistrata Then you do not love me. Agathos It is you who do not love me. If you love me, you would take advantage of these few days to steep yourself in passion and lavish tenderness upon me. Lysistrata You say exactly the same things as my husband says. Agathos Because you refuse me exactly the same things that you refuse him. Lysistrata If you do not wish to sacrifice your honor as a soldier, neither do I want to betray my pledge as a woman of Athens. Agathos Come, Lysis, what you say is idiotic. We are losing precious time. It will soon be daylight, when Lycon will return. Have you no caresses for me? (He tries to take her in his arms; she escapes leaving her cloak in his hand. She reappears clothed in transparent material embroidered in god and silver. She goes toward the door of her house). Lysistrata Don't come near me or I'll scream. Agathos Oh, my darling! How beautiful you are! You did not tell me about this. Lysistrata If you take one step, I will call Socrates. He will pierce your legs with sharp arguments. - 54 - Agathos It is your fault as. well as mine..... You are dressed, or rather undressed, in such a fashion that..... Your veils are transparent, suggestive, tantalizing! Ah! Cypris! Ah, Dionysus! Ah, Dioscures! Ah, Corybantes! This spectacle is tempting! Lysistrat a Agathos, give me back my cloak. Agathos Never, by all that is holy! Lysistraia Don't come near me. I will release Socrates. Agathos It is cruel to leave a poor general in this fix. Lysistrata Oh! men! they are all alike! Because I am dressed like a dancer, I seem to him a hundred times more desirable. Give me back my cloak. Agathos Listen, Lysistrata. Give yourself to me, and I swear that I will make peace. Lysistiata No. Make peace first, and then I will give myself to you. Agathos You don't trust me when I give you my word of honor? Lysistrata I trust you absolutely. But there is a very practical rule which should always determine the conduct of women: t2r the virgin to accord nothing before marriage, for the courtisan to accord nothing before she is paid, and for the mistress to accord nothing until she has what she wants. Now, I want peace. This is my last word. Give me my cloak. "You are not willing ? Well, I shall go into the house. I won't catch cold for the sake of your beautiful eyes. (She opens the door and talks to the dog). There! Socrates! Yes, you're a dear little doggie. Oh, how he loves me! (She addresses Agathos). Good-bye. Agathos Lysis ! Lysistrata Well? - 55 - Agathos You mean it ? Lysistrata Absolutely. Agathos Very good. You understand that I am not going to break into your house like a thief in the night. There are plenty of houses where I can meet women more agreeable than you. Lysistrata Charming women! All you have to do is to pay their price. Agatizos Even without that. Yes, I shall go to Salabaccha: One enjoys himself there. I shall arrive in the middle of her party, and I shall find your husband there, and perhaps Socrates-the oher one, I mean. I shall be quite at home. Lysistrata You don't care to take my cloak with you, I suppose? Agathos (Handing the cloak to her). That's true. I didn't think about that. Good bye. Lysistrata Well, go; but if you put your foot inside her door, you will never see me again. Agathos That's all right. Lysistrata Good-bye. (From her door, she watches Agathos go away. Then, when he is nearly out of sight, she runs after him). Wretch! No, you shall not go away.. I don't want you to go there. You came pretty close to losing me. Agathos But I had to. Lysistrata Yes, this is the way 'you reward me for my love and for waiting seven long months for you. You forget my sadness and my tears. You are cowardly and selfish like the others. It is for - 56 -- a man like that I have constantly risked my name, my reputation, my honor everything. And after all my devotion and tenderness, you reproach me for withholding that which I cannot give you. You are an odious brute! Agathos I am not an odious brute! If I am your lover, receive me as your lover. Instead of that, you treat me as if I were your husband, and you must put up with my acting as if I were. It is you who are selfish! You let me go away all alone; you wanted me to go to my house like a good boy, like our simple Nicostratos. You're not worried over whether I shall sleep or not, or what kind of a night I shall pass. Lysistrata You deserve to suffer for me when I have suffered for you. You do not understand the degree to which I am tortured. If I did not wish to see you, if I had to be cold to you awhile ago, it was more to resist myself than to resist you. You can be sure of that. Agate:os And then, what? I am going to Salabaccha simply to pass away the time. I am not necessarily going back on you because I go to visit a courtisan. Love is not the only reason for going there. There will be philosophers, magistrates, very worth- while people. Lysistrata Then, for me you will not make the sacrifice of not going there? Agathos And you, what sacrifice will you make for me? Lysistrata If I had not made that cursed pledge! I assure you... Agathos Of course, but I haven't taken any pledge. And then, after all, you didn't have to take it yourself, because it was you who had the idea. Lysistrata I don't understand, - 57 - Agathos I mean to say that this pledge was for the benefit of the others, and not to persuade you, Consequently, for you, it is only a formula, and doesn't count. Lysistrata All the same... Agathos That is, it counts less. Lysistrata To perjure oneself is always a serious matter. Agathos Without a doubt, it is better not to perjure oneself: but when there is no other way! And, then, you took the pledge for a definite purpose,-to bring about peace. Lysistrata Absolutely. Agathos Well, then, listen to me attentively. It happens that by keeping true to your pledge, you are farthest away from obtain- ing peace, since if you give yourself to me, I will promise to use all my authority to bring about the end of the war,-so that while apparently betraying the pledge, you really affirm it. It is still in the interest of the original purpose of the pledge, you understand? Lysistrata No, it is a way of reasoning. Besides, I could reply with similar sophisms. Agathos No, Lysistrata, don't trouble to make your sophism;-two loving words falling from your lips are worth all the speeches of the philosophers. Lysistrata Then, if I give myself to you, that means you promise the war shall end? Agathos I swear it, I swear it, Lysistrata,' by Zeus all-powerful, and by Pallas the wise. -- 58 Lysistrata That is only a pledge. Agathos / There are pledges, and pledges. But I swear it above all upon your own self whom I adore, for that is the most important thing to be said. You see, I am burning for you... Your coldness, your very virtue, make you more desirable. Your perfume intoxicates me; your voice stirs me, even when it insults me. And the vision of your exquisite throat and of your body which I have caressed, fills me with longing for what I have already enjoyed. Lysistrata And you will make peace. Ah, Artemis, I am weakening. Be thou a witness that it is for the safety of the Republic. Agathos Then you consent? Lysistrata Alas! But where? Agathos At my house. Lysistrata At your house... It is impossible... Think, if anybody met us... Some husband strolling about the city. Agathos Poor fellow! Your house, then. Lysistrata If Lycon came back... Listen; there is a place. Agathos Where? Speak quickly. (Lysistrata points to the Temple of Artemis). The temple? Lysistrata (Shakes her head affirmatively). Agathos Oh! Oh! It is a sacrilege. 59 - Lysistrata There is no other place... And then, it is for the safety of the Republic... Unless you... Agathos I! Oh! not at all... In that matter, I am of the school of Alcibiades. On the contrary, in a temple, that is something new. But how shall we get in? The priestess has gone, and the doors are closed. Lysistrata There is a little door. I know where the key is... To the right, under the third stone. I will find out if everything is all right. Let me do it. Stay there in the shadow,and wait for me... In a few minutes, I will come back and get you. Agatos Don't be tp6 long, (He hides himself in a dark corner. She runs tot he little door of the Temple, opens it, and soon comes out again accompanied byt he young Callyce). SCENE NINE Lysistrata and Callyce Yes, it is I, my dear child... I came to get you. I came to give you your liberty for a few hours. Callyce Why were you so severe, so implacable? Lysistrata My poor little girl, I was obliged to assume a severity that was not in my heart. It was because of the others who would have been jealous of your happiness. The law had to be alike for everybody... but you did not take the pledge. Go and join your husband. Fly to Nicostratos, he is waiting for you sadly at your house. Callyce Oh! my aunt, how good you are! How thankful I am! Lysistrata Do not lay it up against me. I acted for the greatest good of the Republic. I give you your liberty for a few hours only, - 60o - on one condition; you must be back here at dawn to make your vows to Artemis. Callyce At the first crow of the cock ? That is dreadfully early, my aunt. (Hesitating). Shall I have enough time? Lysistrata (smiling). Oh, plenty. Callyce Then, my aunt, you can be sure of me. I swear by all the goddesses. Lysistrata Do not forget the time. The blame will fall upon me, and whatever happens, do not say a word about all this. Bind Nicostratos to secrecy, as well. You are happy, you are no longer afraid of dying before... Callyce Oh, my aunt. (She embraces Lysistrata and runs away). SCENE TEN Agathos and Lysistrata (Coming back to Agathos). Here I am. I have kept you waiting. Agathos A little. Lysistrata I couldn't find the key; but everything is ready now. Agathos Come, my Lysis. Lysistrata This is folly. Shall I not regret what I am doing for you? Agathos I will be your fervent and devoted lover until death. - 61 - Lysistrata Ah! Callyce was right. Not with impunity do we try to change natural laws. The prophesy of this child comes home to me. Agathos What are you saying? Lysistrata Nothing... But is seems a supernatural force impels me, that it is not I, the wise Lysistrata, who am acting in this moment, but another woman whom I do not recognize. Great gods! if it were known! Agathos It is-impossible! You are above suspicion. That is where your force lies. Lysistrata That is where my weakness lies. And not content with this double sacrilege, it is in the Temple of Artemis that I commit perjury. And if the goddess were to punish me, if the chaste Artemis were to make me feel the weight of her displeasure,- disloyal adulteress, shameless woman that I am,-...! Agathos Why need you think that she will be angry? She is chaste, it is true, but she is young and beautiful. It is not as though we had an old maid who was jealous because other women love or are loved. Lysistrata Listen... Don't you hear? (The first phrases of the Hymn of Artemis are heard vaguely). Agathos What? Lysistrata The hymn! The sacred hymn! Agathos There is no one in the temple. Lysistrata Oh, Agathos, in this calm night, I seem to hear the murmur- ing of a distant storm. It is the goddess, it is Artemis manifest- ing her anger and recalling me to my duty. -- 62 - Agathos No, if the goddess were displeased, her star would be veiled in the sky: but, look, no jealous cloud comes to hide her splendid light. It has never shone so brightly as now, nor so calmly. Look! the light of the star shows us a path right up to the portals of the temple, a path of light. Each ray is a smile. No, Artemis is not always the huntress, pursuing the hosts oP' the forests; on nights like this, the grave goddess lets her silver bow rest. With light steps, she goes to her brother Apollo, according to the rites, to lead the chorus of muses and charities. What you take to be a distant storm is but the voices of beautiful Coryphas, whose golden harps accompany the divine chants. Oh, come! It is the hour when the nymphs take down their hair, and give themselves to Sylvans. In the depth of deep forests, beautiful couples exchange soft looks and promises, and amorous flowers shed their perfume in the tender night like frail urns. Come! inflexible Eros, bearing your obedient bow. Aim at the hearts of damsels and lovers, and into these eternal, palpitating targets, lance your diamond-pointed arrows. All nature is a marriage song. The flower of the forest and the flower on the tomb, alike, will love this night. A caress missed is a sacrilege. Above us is the torch of Hymen. Tremble no longer, O my Lysis! Lysistrata . .. .. I love you. (With arms about each other, they move towards the temple in the path of light shed by the moon. But as Lysistrata is about to ascend the steps of the temple, she makes a sudden movement as though to retreat). Agathos What is the matter? Why do you suddenly recoil? Lysistrata An infantryman, reclining upon these steps, seems to bar the path before me with a gesture of accusation. Agathos Where? I see no infantryman. Lysistrata In his left side is a frightful wound. Oh, do not get too near to him... You might walk in his blood. Agathos If I had only that to soil my shoes! - 63 -- Lysistrata Keep away! keep away! In his features, drawn with anguish, I recognize Telias, my brother. Alas! he was killed in the last war. His throat was cut in Sicily, at the port of Labdalon. Agathos I still see nothing, by Apollo! Come with me. Lysistrata No, take care! take care! !Agathos! Do you see nothing?... There... there. .. look! My relatives, my friends, all those I have lost are here, lying about me. Here is Naos, mown down in his twentieth year, crushed under a chariot near to Mantina; this other, Hermocrates, surnamed The Lion, fallen in combat at Delion: here is Thrasynilkhos, the discus-thrower, lost in the descent of Epipolus; Lykas, who was drowned in company with so many heroes in the perfidious waters of the river Asinorus; and Psyllus, who met his death at Sparta... Have you not enough of this butchery. Agathos (Who begins to follow her idea). Come then! Lysistrata I won't go... Oh! no, I won't go! I cannot. At every step is a corpse. Livid eyes stare at me, and stir my conscience. Agathos They are brave men who died bravely. Little they care about your pledge. They would not insult you with their scruples. They are but ghosts of those who died for their country. Joyous, strong, and of their own free will they fell. Their action spelled courage, and courage was the light in their eyes. Lysistrata But who is that woman up there .. on my terrace? Did my very ghost pass by? You, Myrrhina, where are you running? Why do you leave your house? Ah! you are going to join them. Agathos She is losing her reason. The cursed pledge makes her have illusions. Lysistrata My illusions, they are widows and mothers with faces veiled -in black. They guard the threshold of the Temple of Artemis. Mothers, daughters, and widows, do you hear? Your mourning is an illusion. The plaintive wail of orphans is an illusion. - 64 - Agathos Your words are Sybilline. Lysistrata And now the chorus of the suppliants. They have unveiled their haggard faces upon which the tears have worn hollows. Agathos We have very little time, and we are wasting it. Lysistrata Alas! their tears are nothing to you. Agathos What do you expect me to do about it? War is war!... And what is more, I see nothing. Lysistrata Those everlasting words; War is War! and our 'sons are massacred! Like to young gods they were,-brilliant as Hope, sweet as a Promise, they will never again see the light of day, they will never drink again from the cup of love[! They are as green leaves fallen in midsummer, trees cut down when they are in blossom, wheat gathered too soon. War is War! Triumphant refrain! The flower of our race is stricken: the light in their eyes become decay; their young flesh becomes food for the dogs; the dead are abandoned; bodies without tombs are the prey of the vultures. Mad with blood lust, men strangle children on the breasts of their mothers. Our venerable fathers are torn away from the threshold of their homes. Flames devour the four corners of the horizon. The fields are laid waste. Cities are desolate. Temples suffer mutilation. The virgins are violated. Our days and our nights are a torment. War is War!... I tell you, it is infamous. Agathos But, Lysistrata, you speak as a woman. You see only the dead. You think of gaping wounds. But you do not hear the battle song when men strike their bucklers with swords. For the seasoned heart, war is the noblest of games. Rather than pass monotonous days in the gloom of cities, fulfilling lowly duties, one has the spur of danger. Life is sweet when death lurks near. War is the unexpected adventure. War means a return to nature. Courage becomes highest virtue. One's heart is content when one has fought well. From all time, war has existed. War is necessary. - 65 -- Lysistrata Oh, miserable man, what are you saying? Alas! you are sincere. Your reason is lost in eternal error. You are able to bear horrors without being moved. Yes, for you, war is adven- ture..... glory. Your heart is in the struggle. You are deaf to history. War changes men into ferocious animals. It is the source of all evil. War brings in its wake, famine, pestilence and all misery. Men must learn to detest it. Agathos Lysis! Lysistrata No, no, let me alone! You dare not touch me! Go! You frighten me. In you, I see a butcher covered with blood. Agathos But I am a soldier. I must make war. Lysistrata I am a woman and must make war upon war. Agathos. Come, come, Lysistrata. Enough of speeches. The temple is there, and the moments are flying. Lysistrata I will not follow you. Ah! ye gods! what was I about to do! If war is necessary for your happiness and indispensable, if for you, it is a thrilling game, to make everything perish in blood and fire, my love is not for you,-I keep my pledge,-I, a good woman of Athens, must keep my pledge. (She enters her house.) Agathos And I shall seek a pleasant place where one is free to love' CURTAIN - 66 - ACT Ill SCENE I (At the house of Salabaccha). Salabaccha-Philinna-Cynna-Glycera-Myrtale-Stilbonides- Clysthene-Phidon-Strymodoros-Draces--Sacas A large hall close to a bay. In the distance, Athens, shining white under a moonlit sky, is seen. The guests are reclining on couches placed around a large table. Near Salabaccha is an unoccupied bed. Sacas By Hercules, my friends, doesn't that unoccupied bed beside Salabaccha look lonely? Nothing is more depressing than a party from which a guest is lacking. It looks to me like a pretty mouth with one tooth missing. I can't stand it, Salabaccha. May I stretch out on that bed ? Salabaccha No, stay where you are. If you come here, it would be like replacing the missing tooth with a bad one. Philinna] You got it that time, little Sacas! What right have you to take the place of Agathos ? Salabaccha I fancy he will not come now; he abandons me, my foolish lover. He may be this minute in the arms of another. Cynna You needn't worry, since all the women of Athens took the pledge. - 67 - Salabaccha Will they keep it ? Clysthene Yes, they'll have sense enough to keep it. All the city is stirred up. The husbands of Athens, repulsed by their wives, driven from their houses, are wandering about the streets, calling down from heaven curses upon their cruel spouses, like the heroes of Homer. There has been trouble at the Odeon, and at the flour market. At the Piraeus, the warriors have laid siege to the houses of prostitutes. Salabaccha By Castor that must be a curious spectacle! Glycera (Crying out). Say, listen, Stilbonides, don't do that again. You hurt me. Stilbonides Glycera, you are too fussy. I couldn't have hurt you. Glycera All the same, I felt it. Stilbonides My dear friends, I scarcely touched her. Glycera (Imitating him). Scarcely touched her... That doesn't prevent my having the print of your fingers on my arm. You're all the time touching me with your bony old fingers. It is true, Stilbon- ides is one of those people who cannot say a word to you without taking hold of your arm. Myrtale Ah, my dear, I have a horror of that. Glycera And it its always when he is going to tell you disgusting stories. Phidon What can you expect! These brave Heliastes are all alike. They have to make up in private life for the austerity that their functions force them to exhibit at the Tribunal. - 68 - Cynna Do you want to change places with me, Glycera ? Then you would be beside Strymodorus who will kiss you with his scratchy beard. Strymodorus Your friends are rather cool this evening, Of beautiful Salabaccha. You should urge them to be a little more agreeable. Philinna We took the pledge. Stilbonides But we are not warriors, and the cursed pledge does not include us. Cynna We have sworn that, at all hazards, we will' yield to no man. We shall resist you first in order to get used to restraint that is hardly our profession. Glycera This is a rehearsal. Philinna Yes, we are in training. Cynna If the warriors come around here, we shall be ready for them, for if we have the courage to be cruel to you, then we have no temptation to fear. Draces Cynna is very kind. We must recognize that. Philinna My friends, look at Sacas, He is crying. He is shedding buckets of tears. Draces He is abominably drunk. Sacas No, Athenians... Clysthenes He imagines he is on the Pnyx. - 69 - Sacas No, Athenians, I am not drunk. I am thinking about the warriors and their return. They are -going to compete with us for the favors of Salabaccha, of the midnight hair,-of Philinna, with eyes the color of violets,-of Cynna, of milk-white arms,- of Glycera, with the slender legs,-and so many other pretty girls. Salabaccha Don't cry, Sacas. The soldiers will not get any more than you. If you think they will, you insult these women. Sacas What, you want me to believe you will keep the pledge ? Salabacha There is no doubt about it. Sacas Even if Agathos... Salabaccha Even if it were the King of Persia himself. Clysthenes What do you mean? (Enter a Slave), Doris Mistress, there are men here asking to speak with you. Salabaccha Let them come in! (Lycon, followed by the husbands, appears at the door). SCENE II The same.--Lycon-Acestor-Socias-Nicostratos. Cynesias- Th eorus-Dercyles. Lycon Salabaccha, we salute you! Salabaccha You are welcome in my house, strangers. Lycon We are not strangers, buit good Athenians. I am a captain 7- - home from the war. Like Odysseus followed by his companions, I come to you followed by my soldiers. They, with me, have the misfortune to be married. We venture to cross your threshold. We are confident, because a large number of young men, and old men, have told us of your reputation for hospitality. Phidon He is joking. Lycon Do not look upon us as vulgar sports who will enjoy -offending the sacred laws of love, to whom a night of orgy is a passing game. If we come here, in a sense it is our wives who sent us, since they have refused us our legitimate rights. They have taken, I know not what ridiculous pledge. We were put out of our own houses. We come to you, Salabaccha, inspired by a just longing for reprisal, and also to avoid walking around all night under the cold stars. cynna He knows how to talk. Myrtale He must have made up his speech on the way. Philinna So things are not going well at home ? Glycera They have had a tough time. Salabaccha You appear to have drunk a bitter draught of anger, but here in my house, you are welcome. You come in good time for a party. The men are agreeable, and the women at least encour- aging. They will do their best to make the hours you spend here pass pleasantly. Philinna Why do you stand there so solemnly ? Do we frighten you? Lycon You must excuse them : they are soldiers, husbands, fathers. They are not accustomed... Phiinmna You have no reason to be afraid of us. However, I think we - 71 - shall be obliged to make the first advances. (She approaches Cynesiasy. I like your looks. What is your name ? Cynesias I am called Cynesias, son of Peon. Philinna It is a pretty name. Cynesias Nothing extraordinary. Philinna After all, I suppose it is not your fault if you are called Cynesias. I like your name, and, I may say, that I attach a great importance to names. Cynesias Really! Philinna Exactly, as I told you. Don't you feel the same way ? Cynesias Certainly I like a pretty name better than an ugly one, although I have known very fine people... Philina To be sure. It is curious; we don't know why a name pleases us and attracts us to the person bearing it. I can't explain it. Let me tell you a story about something that happened to me not long ago. Come, sit down beside me so we can talk more comfortably. (Meanwhile, each one of the courtisans has taken a partner,--Philinna and Cynesias; Myrtale and Theorus; Glycera and Derycles; Cynna and Acestor; Salabaccha and Lycon). Salabaccha Come, Captain, take the place beside me. I was keeping it for Agathos. Lycon I should be glad to. He may join us later, Agathos. It was he who sent us here. We left him a few minutes ago in front of my house beside the Temple of Artemis. The reason he did not accompany us is that he wished to be alone in the silence of the night to prepare the answers to the interpolations of the demagogues to morrow! 72 - " Salabaccha Well, let us be happy. Evoh6! Evohe! Recline upon these beds with your partners. The Amphoras are filled with wine, and the cups are empty : pour one into the other, and the other into yourselves! (All arrange themselves, some lying down, others standing up around the table). Lycon Ah, how different this is from home life! (He caresses Salabaccha). Lovely arms, by Cypris; graceful throat, and oh, your eyes! Salabaccha I am hardly a potato sack, as they say. Lycon My word, when I was marching last night, carrying my heavy equipment, if I had thought that to night I should not be beside my wife, Lysistrata the Wise... Salabaccha Lysistrata! So she is your wife,--Lysistrata ? Lycon My wife. Salabaccha By Ceres! That makes you more interesting. The husband of Lysistrata is somebody. Are you aware of the fact that Lysistrata is the woman of the day ? Lycon Of the day ? Maybe,-but I know she is not the woman of the night! Salabaccha Charming! You are witty! I saw the minute you came in here that there was something unusual about 'you. There is something in your look,- I mean, you look masterful... I was attracted to you without knowing why. Now, I understand: you are the husband of a super-woman. Clysthene You reflect her! It was the reflection that attracted you, Salabaccha. Lycon Now, now, now,--I beg of you... - 73 - Salabacc'za Yes, by Pallas, she is a great citizen, a true patriot. If you had heard her this morning, you would have been moved and convinced, as we were. You would have been proud of her. She is a woman of genius. Clysthene Take my wreath, dear friend. Lycon What did you say ? Clysthene I cannot see the husband of Lysistrata drink bare-headed, when a worthless person like me is crowned with roses. Lycon But I cannot allow... Several Voices Yes, yes, he must have it. Salabaccha Come, tell us what happened. Lycon Oh, it was quite simple. I entered the house this morning; naturally, I wanted to prove to Lysistrata my tenderness, and the profound joy I had in seeing her again. But she observed that I was covered with dust, that I had marched a long way in the sunshine. She said she would prepare my bath. Salabaccha She takes good care of you, our dear Lysistrata. Lycon I plunged into tepid water. The bath made me hungry. Happily, my wife had prepared an extraordinary meal. I ate like Hercules, I drank like Dionysius. Soon, I felt amorous. Lysis- trata only said that I was red in the face, that the blood had gone to my head, and that immediately after eating like that, it was dangerous. Cynna A congestion! - 74 - Philima A stroke of apoplexy ! Myrtale Even death, perhaps! Lycon I realized that she was right. Anyway,,I began to be sleepy. In the army, one becomes accustomed to live on bread and onions. Suddenly, you are stuffed with oysters, hare, pastry, and what not. One's stomach is not used to food like that. There was a honey cake that I could not swallow. Myrtale Nothing is heavier..... I ate some the other evening when I was dining with Glycera. That night, I had horrible dreams. Salabacchu Tell us some more. This is interesting. Lycon I fell asleep, and I awakened content. I called Lysistrata. When she appeared, her sweet fragrant body was draped in a transparent yellow tunic. Sosias Just like Nicodice. Acestor And Calonice. Lycon I thought she did it to please Mme, but instead of coming anywhere near me, my wife began to dance. Cynesias Like Myrrhina. Lycon As she danced, she sang words that made me blush Salabaccha. Salabaccha Impossible! Lycon I followed her. She ran away. - 75 - Salabaccha Adding insult to injury. Lycon In vain, I followed her. I might as well have been making love to a stone..... I begged her to give herself to me, I knelt before her, I threatened her,-all in vain. Finally, my patience was worn out; you can easily see how I felt. I wanted to violate my own wife. The Men lo ! Io! Brave Lycon! Lycon She had the slaves throw me out of the door, while she cried: Make peace, make peace! The Women o ! Io ! Praised be Lysistrata! Salabaccha It was very sad, don't you think so, Phidon ? Phlidon Certainly, I pity their fate. But none of this would happen if things were done in the Republic according to the desires of Socrates. Clysthenes And what are those desires ? Phidon That admirable man told me the other day his ideas on war and discord. He suggests that warriors be a caste apart, in the State, and that they be accompanied by women who have natural gifts for military affairs. Clysthenes But do women like that exist ? Phidon Without a doubt, by the goddesses ! Just as there are women with a taste for music, or painting, or medicine, or philosophy, there are courageous women capable of making war. Women like that would go along with the warriors, and share their work in all that pertains to the defence of the State. They would belong to all. More than that, the children would be common. - 76 - Clysthenes Socrates would have trouble passing such a law. Phidon You must recognize, Clysthenes, that if such a law was in force, the idea of a strike on the part of the women would never have entered Lysistrata's head. The warriors would always have easy access to what is denied them to day. Lycon Then, in the system of your friend, Socrates, Lysistrata would belong to anybody..... like the women here ? Salabaccha What is that! Lycon I should have to share her with Agathos..... (The women laugh). Did I say something funny ? Salabaccha Don't pay any attention to them..... They are joking. Lycon With Agathos, Cynesios, Acestor, Theorus, and all the others. Ah! Ah ! that would be a pretty kettle of fish ! Your philosopher goes a little too far. Salabaccha I think that Lysistrata's idea is much better than that of Socrates. He admits that war is an abominable thing, while she has found a way to dispense with it altogether. Phidon We must accept war because States, alas! are not perfect. What Socrates is dreaming about is a society of perfect States. But as long as the philosophers do not reign in all the States, and as long as those we call kings or sovereigns are not truly and seriously philosophical, as long as political power and philosophy do not meet, there will be no remedy, in my opinion, for the human race; and a perfect State will not see the light of day ! (Meanwhile, at a sign from Salabaccha, the slaves have brought basins for the ablutions. The guests wash their hands. Lycon yawns noisily). Salabaccha Dear Lycon,-are you bored with us ? -- 77 - Lycon That damned philosopher is too much for me. Salabaccha What can you expect? To day, it is all the rage. There is never a party wlfere someone doesn't talk the eyes out of your head about philosophy. Lycon By Apollo! Let us tell yarns and sing songs. The one that knows a gool joke should out with it! Would you like me to tell you a tale in the style of Aesop ? Wait a minute, I'll sing you a song about the scarf of Iris. Clysthlenes No, old fellow, if that's the newest tale you know. Lycon It doesn't matter to me. I don't care to sing..... It isn't a matter of pride with me; but, by Dionysius, let's do something! Shall I ask you a riddle ? Glycera He is quite right..... We have had enough of philosophy. Salabaccha, make Myrtale tell us some poetic legend. Clysthenes Perhaps she has not brought her music ? Salabaccha Myrtale is kindness itself. Let them bring her the ivory harp, She will not need coaxing. (A slave brings the harp). Myrtale (Striking some chords). I will tell you why blond Cypris emerged from the violet water of the sea. (see sings to the accompaniment of the harp : As the waves, with silvery foam, Whether they are black or blue, grey or violet, Or green, with perverse reflection, So her eyes are like the changing sea. And like the languid wave, That follows the rhythm of the wind, Her breasts rise and fall, and Have the slow rhythm of the cradling sea. - 78 - Now soft, now grave, now plaintive, With shades of tender meaning, Of caressing love, Her voice is like the singing sea. And while the sun-kissed ocean Fills the air with perfume, Fervor burns the flesh of the lover, Beside the salty sea. This is why our mother Cypris, Winding her splendid golden hair, Emerged from the bitter ocean One rosy morn in spring. Salabaccha Thank you, Myrtale. That was charming. You have the voice of a siren, as well as the grace. It was high time that you sang for us to cheer up our dear Phidon. Stilbonides What are you waiting for, Salabaccha ? Why not call the dancers, and the flute-players ? Salabaccha They are coming, my dear friend. I have planned a surprise for you. (Enter dancers and flute-players. They do a slow, voluptuous dance, first with their arms, then with their hips. Little by little, the movement increases in intensity and warmth. The dancers turn faster and faster, and, finally, fall to the ground in the midst of the applause of the guests). Draces What do you call this dance, divine Salabaccha ? Salabaccha It hasn't a name. It is a dance that all the women know in my country. Stilbonides It is not the sort of dance we are accustomed to see at Athens, at Corinth, and in other cities; but that does not make it any less curious and suggestive. Strymodorus That is not dancing; it is decadence. - 79 - Phidon Plato would call it immoral, and would banish it from the Republic. Clysthenes Plato sanctioned only the Pyrrhic and the Caryatic dances. Salabaccha And now, my dear friends, if you are weary of lying down, for everything becomes fatiguing, even repose, I suggest you get up and stretch your legs. Go where you will, move about as you please,-the house is yours. Those who feel like playing will find dice and checkers. Let those who do not play make love to my friends. You must feel at home. (All rise, form groups, disperse). Draces I propose two games of dice, Strymodorus. The game is twelve heminas a throw. Strymodoruts Done, by Hermes! You haven't my money yet. Draces You are not playing, Phidon ? Phidon I am a philosopher. I have never touched the dice; but I enjoy looking on, and I might even venture to bet on your game. (They disappear). Salabaccha (To Lycon). YOU are not playing, my captain ? Come, try a little game. Lycon I never play. Salabaccha With me..... you cannot refuse me. Lycon Yes, provided we do not play for too much money, because, if I win, I shall be sorry to see you lose, and if I lose, I should be still more sorry not to have won. That is easy to understand. (He laughs loudly). -- 80o - Salabaccha We will play just what you like. (Meanwhile, couples! form: Theorus and Myrtale, Acestor and Cynna, Dercyles and Glycera, Cynesias and Philinna). Lycon Your friends will be in demand to night. Thelwine and the dancers have excited my soldiers. (Philinna and Cynesias stroll by). SCENE III Philinna and Cynesias Cynesias Certainly, I adore you. Philinna You long for me. Cynesias One and the same thing, by Hercules. Philinna How warm-hearted you are, little Cynesias. You tell me that you adore me, and you scarcely know me. Cynesias I can prove it to you. Philinna I don't doubt it. Cynesias Youare as tantalizing as Myrrhina. Philinna You see you are always talking about your wife. You come back to her all the time. Ah, you know, I am very jealous. You love Myrrhina, not me. How do I know, if I yield to you, that when you kiss me, it will be her mouth that you will be thinking of! 5 Cynesias By Zeus! A mouth lis a mouth. .Each'one of us has one. You are joking. - 81 -- Philinna Tell me, would you give money to your wife... to obtain from her what you ask of me ? Cynesias Under no consideration. That would be like asking me whether I give money each time I draw wine from the cask in my cellar: I paid for the cask once for all; I imagine marriage is like that. Philinna Well, if you want me to believe that you see a difference between your wife and me, give me five heminas. Cynesias That makes five hundred drachmes,-a good deal of money. Could you not.....! Philina Oh, I beg of you, don't bargain with me! What a way to treat a woman ! You must think you are talking to Myrrhina. You must learn that it is not our custom to give: receive-very well; that is the fashion of the goddesses. The example comes from above! Look how their hands are placed on their statues. When we ask favors of them, they stretch out their upturned palms, not to give but to receive. Cynesias I have never noticed that, but it is quite true. Philinna Come, dear Cynesias, don't be disagreeable. What I was saying was only to test you. I am bound by my pledge, and I will not break it,--at least for five heminas. (Exeunt. Enter Theorus and Myrtale). SCENE IV Myrtale and Theorus Theorus When I came in here and saw you first, I said to myself: There's a face that I love! Don't you remember me? I am Theorus, the son of the baker. -- 82 - Myrtale That is a little vague. Theorus Think a minute..... The street of the tripod, our houses were near to each other. I saw you when you were no higher than that (indicating). We grew up together. There was even a time when they talked of a marriage. Myrtale Marriage! I ought to remember that! There haven't been so many possessed with that idea. It's curious. Theorus Your mother, Crobyle, was the fruit seller at the corner..... Myrtale What corner? Theorus How many times, when I was a child, did I go with my mother to buy vegetables of your mother. Myrtale Ah, you are mistaken, my friend. First of all, my mother was not called Crobyle. I'd have you know, there have never been any fruitsellers in my family. Thcorus I didn't know..... In any case, there's no shame in that. Euripides is the son of a fruitseller. Myrtale That's his business..... but I tell you, you're mistaken: no doubt, you take me for Glycera, the pretty blond 'just coming back of us..... Hush! she is a friend of mine. Theoruts I beg your pardon if I annoyed you..... You know, I talk with- out thinking what I say, just as it comes; but my heart is all right. Even if you were the daughter of Cleon, I should still like you. Myrtale No, you don't love me so much as all that, since you, made that mistake about my mother. (Exeunt. Enter Dercycles and Glycera). - 83 -- SCENE V Glycera and Dercyles Dercyles Then you take this pledge seriously? Glycera Absolutely. Dercyles Why do you say that in such an angry tone of voice? Glycera I am not angry. I am sad because you were coarse. It's true, you talked to me as if..... Because you met me here, no doubt you imagine..... I am out of place here. I am better than all these women about me. Dercyles By Castor, I don't doubt it. I did not mean to offend you. I don't know how to talk to you..... I don't belong here either. Glycera That's true. It wasn't your fault, and you seem like a good sort..... Later, if we see each other again when peace is made, tI will tell you the story of my family misfortunes. I have been chrough things I was not born to face. Daughter of a superior fficer..... (Exeunt. Enter Acestor and Cynna). SCENE VI Acestor and Cynna Acestor My soul, if when I came here I had thought that..... Cynna Pray tell me, what did you expect? Acestor By Neptune, one doesn't make fun of people like that. - 84 - Cynna Why do you think I was making fun of you? I told you in the beginning that love had no attractions for me..... You go too far. It isn't my fault: there are two sorts of temperament, Pasipha& and me. You understand that under these circum- stances, it would be stupid of me to break the pledge, since it would give me no plasure. Acestor That everlasting pledge! Then you all gave your word ? Cynna Absolutely. Acestor Confound it. There is no way to get ahead of these women. They are a pest! Cyrnna Acestor, you are wrong..... There's no use getting angry. You have against you all the women of Athens. There is nothing you can do. You must take your medicine, and be content with the light in our eyes, the beauty of our clothes, and the music of our voices,-I mean everything, excepting that..... SCENE SEVEN Lycon and Salabaccha Salabaccha (Leading, Lycon to a sheltered corner close to the bay). Here we can be comfortable. Here we can be alone. Some of the men are gambling, and my friends are occupied with yours. Lycon Are you sure we shall not be disturbed ? Salabaccha Lie down there, and don't worry. Lycon Will you come beside me? -- 85 - Salabaccha After a while..... I must first find a cushion to put under your head. Lycon I don't need it.... Salabaccha Yes..... yes..... It will be better. (She brings a cushion and puts it under the head of Lycon). Lycon Come now. Salabaccha Where? Lycon Here, by Cypris! Lie down beside me. Salabaccha You are in a hurry. Don't you want a drink? Lycon I long only for your lips. Salabaccha Take the drink first. Here is Chios wine, and Salabaccha herself will pour it for you. Lycon The gods themselves have nothing better in Olympus. Come, my divine Hebe! (He puts his arm around her waist and bries to draw her to him). Salabaccha Here, here, what are you doing? (She takes a sip from the cup). You may drink where my lips have touched. Lycon (Drinking). By Castor, you have perfumed the wine. (She sits down neir him). Salabaccha What a beautiful night! Look at the moonlight. Do you catch the perfume of hawthorn borne by the evening breeze? Don't you think a night like this makes one dreamy? - 86 - Lycon I think this night was made for love. (He embraces her brutally). Salabaccha You must be calm. Lycon Do you think I can sit here with you without having my feelings aroused? Listen, Salabaccha, from the moment I met you, I have been conscious of a devouring fire. The poets tell of such feelings. Until now, I thought the poets exaggerated, but I see that it can happen. I feel something that is strange and not natural. If you should ask me to sacrifice my fortune, my children, my wife, by eternal Zeus, I could not hesitate a minute. Salabaccha Good, good! You speak like a man. Lycon Fool that I am. would you consent to follow me to my poor house to share my work-a-day existence without luxuries? More than that, I am only a rough soldier, and you would quickly regret all your fine young men, and the discourses of philosophy. Salabaccha Ah. dear Lycon, you make a mistake. If you knew how those young dandies bore me, with their fingers laden down with rings, how odious luxury is to me, and how I weary of the philosophers! But you are so strong and refreshing. You have broad shoulders, you move me mysteriously. Lycon You mean it ? Salabaccha Can't you see it ? Can't you feel it..... (She nestles to him). Lycon Well, then..... come! Salabaccha Alas, I am bound by my pledge. Ah, without that, we could have been so happy together. I could teach you things your poor wife never heard of. You know, in my country, the women are ardent and wise..... But it cannot be. - 87 - Lycon Yes, yes, we must. (He takes her in his arms). Salabaccha How strong you are!..... Would you beat me? Lycon Yes, if you deserved it. Salabaccha I could adore you. Oh, curses on that pledge! Lycon, let me alone. (She frees herself from him). Lycon Ouch! Salabaccha Did you hurt yourself? Lycon By castor, I turned my finger nail back. Perhaps you need an iron bar around your neck to support your throat. Salabaccha Insolent! It was against my throat itself that you turned back your nail. Lycon You are joking ? Salabaccha Well, look. Lycon It is true..... by all the gods. Ah, my beautiful friend, what firmness, and sweetness! Your breasts are hard as young quinces. Salabaccha You tickle me..... like a victim. Lycon I am the victim. There is about you a perfume that intoxicates me. My wife has nothing like it. Salabaccha Your wife uses the perfumes of Rhodes, while I like only perfumes of Syria. They are more delicate, and more expensive. - 88 - Lycon How soft these materials are ! Salabaccha I wear only silk tunics..... They are softer to the skin. Lycon My wife does not wear such soft underwear. She has linen tunics. Happy is the lover who possesses a creature like you! Salabaccha Silk tunics don't make happiness, dear Lycon. A heart that loves you is more precious. Lycon O Salabaccha, as the mist, rising from the depths of the sea, veil the splendor of the sun, so your soft tunic veils the beauty of your divine body, and the glow of your burning flesh. But just as the sun warms me through the mists, your body burns me through the filmy fabric of your tunic. Salabaccha Down with the hands !..... Look, but don't touch. Lycon I am not for Platonic love..... Salabaccha And my pledge, would you have me perjure myself ? Lycon I take the responsibility. Don't you worry. Salabaccha Stretch yourself out on this bed and go to sleep. Lycon O divine queen of Cyprus, of Paphos, and of Cythera, look upon my suffering; oh beautiful mistress of the midnight hair, you will not take pity upon me. Salabaccha I am bound by an inviolable pledge. Lycon Take care. By the goddesses, I swear that either you or the pledge will be violated. - 89 - Salabaccha The dream of my life ! You would violate me! Lycon Yes, by Cypris, if you continue to inflame me. Salabaccha Ah, by Artemis, don't tempt me. (She releases a buckle, allowing her leg to be seen). Lycon You would have brought it upon yourself. (He throws himself upon her). Salabaccha (Screaming). Help, help, come everybody ! My friends! Ah! Ah! SCENE VIII Agathos What is going on? Why this shrieking? Who is being murdered here ? Salabaccha You arrived just in time, Agathos ! Lycon Yes, Agathos, indeed you arrived just in time. (When Salabaccha is shrieking, all the guests rush in to her assistance). This brute suddenly threw himself upon me like a wild bull. Lycon By Hermes! my friends, this woman got only what she deserved. For three hours, she has been telling me she adores me. She has been talking to me about her silk tunics. She lets me feel her throat, and shows me her leg. Salabaccha What have you to complain of ? Agathos Oh, wretched Lycon, thwarted in your ardor which devours you ! - 90 - Cynesias Cursed women! Your experience, Lycon, is the same as ours. It is clear these coquettes are making sport of us. Philinna Think so? Lycon O Salabaccha, infamous creature, woman without loyalty ! Salabaccha I was loyal. I call the goddesses to witness to it. I told you that as long as a good treaty with the Lacedoemonians should not bring this stupid war to a close..... The courtisans Yes, yes, she is right! Make peace! make peace! Lycon What is this I hear, my friends ? These women propose to meddle with our affairs, and decide upon peace or war. Acestor What impudence! Theorus A pretty how-do-you-do! Lycon Let me die in misery before allowing myself to be dictated to by petticoats! Salabaccha If it is petticoats you want, take mine, put it around your head and shut up. Cynna ,You may have my garters, too. Myrtale And my girdle. Glycera And my slippers. (She throws her slippers at his head). Lycon This is too much, my friends... Let us punish them,--if we are not eunuchs. --91 -- Cynesias A good smack on the mouth, and they wouldn't sing so loudly! Philinna Be careful, little Cynesias, or, by Pallas, when you go back home, your old mother herself will not be able to recognize you. Lycon Outrageous! They are spoiling for a fight! Roll up your sleeves, roll up your sleeves ! Men are men, and we can fight. Acestor (Advancing towards Cynna). Come, Cynna ! Cytna If you come near me !... (Acestor seizes Cynna and, with the aid of Cynesias, tries to !carry her off, Confusion follows). The soldiers Yes, yes, let us kidnap her, kidnap her! She is the one that does not care to make love. Let her pay for all the rest! The courtisans Brutes! Cowards! Barbarians! Satyrs !... Six against one woman. They will kill her... Doris, go find the Scythae. Cynna Help, my friends, help... Don't let them kidnap me. I am afraid... They are too many! (Meanwhile, Phidon, Draces, Clysthenes, Sacas, Stilbonides, intervene. The slaves have thrown themselves uppn the door to prevent the soldiers from going out. Finally, the courtisans, with the aid of their friends, succeed in recapturing Cynna. A pause. They get their breath, and sharp speeches continue to be made). Agathos Come, my dear friends, are you not ashamed ? Lycon It was you who sent us to the courtisans. Agathos Yes, but I did not tell you to resort to violence. I came here to listen to songs, and to see dances... And you give me this exhibition. - 92 -- Lycon The songs are sung, the dances are finished, and now the women ought to... Philinna Coarse brutes! Cynesias (Imitating her). Coarse brutes! Theorus Come, Myrtale Crobylides, you have only to work at your trade! Myrtale (Addressing Theorus). If you touch me with the tip of your finger, we will send you to a lunatic asylum. Dercvles (To Glycera). And you, daughter of a superior officer... Glycera If you were not afraid to show yourself in my garden, you would get a good swift kick. Dercyles Don't hesitate. Glycera We would be only too happy ! Salabaccha By Castor, my dear friends, put on your tunics. Phidon It is a pity! Salabaccha Can't you see they are drunk ? (Pointing to Lycon). Look at purple face, this grotesque wreath ! Philinna Go sleep off your drunk ! Cynna Go back to your wine ! - 93 - Salabaccha Slaves ! Bring torches, and take them home. Clysthenes Ah, Circe, you've changed them into beasts. (Slaves bring torches). Lycon Come, Acestor, Theorus, Dercyles, Cynesias, let us strangle them. T eoruzs and Dercvles Yes, yes, strangle them! Cynesias Cut their throats like victims fit for sacrifice ! Salabaccha Listen to them! They want to cut our throats! Philinna If we'd give it to ,them. Cynna What do 1 care! Myrtale What a state they are in ! Glycera Yes, look at them! Salabaccha Philinna, Cynna, Glycera, Myrtale, take a torch, each one of you. If they come near you, burn them alive. Philinna That's right. Let us set fire to their tunics ! Lycon Have you finished croaking, old frog ? (Philinna pursues him with her torch. Lycon takes flight)> Cynna (Pursuing Acestor). Oh! Oh! You are not fond of heat! - 94 - Myrtale (Pursuing Theorus). Wait, you. I will singe your hair ! Glycera (Pursuing Dercyles). And you, you will burn like a poplar struck by lightning! (And when the soldiers have left:) Salabaccha Enough, my friends! I smell something burning. Spare them so they may tell to the other Athenians how the courtisans kept the pledge. Agathos But it was not made for me, that pledge! Salabaccha What rubbish! Certainly, it was made for you. The formula is relentless : If my husband or my lover. Agathos It is passing strange... Now I shall go back home; but I know what to say to morrow in answer to the interpolations of the demagogues. CURTAIN 95 ACT FOUR SAME SETTING AS ACT I. A few days later about 8 o'clock in the morning. Lysistrata (Coming out of her house). Where is my niece, Callyce? Where can she be? Since I opened the door of the temple for her, the other evening, requiring her to swear that she would return before the cock crowed, she has not appeared. She and her husband, Nicostratos,--no one knows what has become of them. This morning Lampito and several other women, started to search for them. Myrrh~ina (Coming our of her house). Greetings, dear Lysistrata. Lysistrata Greetings, Myrrhina, have you slept well? Myrrhina Very badly. Cynesias bothered me all night long. He is like a mosquito. He left this morning at dawn. He took the road by which the Laconian ambassadors are coming. (women are arriving in little groups). Rhodippe Greetings, dear Lysistrata. Is there anything new? Lysistrata Alas! nothing. Nicodice Ah, Lysistrata, it is seven days since our husbands came back. Seven long days that we have been refusing them. This situation cannot last longer. Insomnia is killing me. - 96 - Calonice I am devoured with desire. When the men are not here, one can reason about it. War is war. Swallow But when the men are here, not to...! It is impossible, it is against nature. Salabaccha Hear, hear! The Women We have enough of it! Whe have enough of it! Lysistrata Patience, my friends, patience! Be reasonable. Our dear Gyrinna has done good work. The Lacedcemians are going to demand peace. I am sure of it. They are men. An oracle promises us the victory if we are united. Rhodippe If we are united,.. but there is a traitor amongst us, Why is Callyce no longer in the temple? Lysistrata Precisely. Here are the words of the oracle: When the dove shall take flight, far from the sacred place: then the larks shall bring the olive branch. Salabaccha Very good. This is quite clear: the dove is Callyce, the larks are the Lacedoemonians. Lysistrata You speak well. Myrrhina But here is the white dove. Rhodippe With her husband, Nicostratos. (Callyce and Nicostratos appear with Lampito and several women.) Lampito Yes, I am bringing them back, Guess, oh, guess, where I found them. Nicodice I do not know... How do you expect us to guess? - 97 - Lampito I found them, lying side by side, in a grotto in the midst of an orange grove, beside the violet sea. The Women Infamy! Myrrhina But how did she get there? Callyce Fine... couldn't be better. Myrrhina Ah! do not play with words. How did you get out of the Temple of Artemis where we imprisoned you ? Lampito I have already questioned her. She would not answer. She stated that she would speak before her aunt Lysistrata and the assembled women. Rhodippe . Well, the women are assembled. Let her speak! Lysistrata What are they going to hear? What shall I do! Callyce What happened to me, my friends, is strange. You will have difficulty in believing it. Nevertheless, I shalls peak only the truth. I was locked up in the Temple of Artemis, and I dreamed that the warriors had returned. Among them was my Nicostratos, of the beautiful eyes, the husband I did not know, the husband I have desired. Nicostratos O Callyce! Lampito Don't interrupt. It is scandalous. Callyce Suddenly, I heard a frightful noise like thunder. Beside myself with fear, I fell to my knees, and hid my face in my hands. How long I remained there, I do not know. When I came to, the temple was flooded with soft light. The door was open. The moon was shining,-it came in so softly...! - 98 - Myrrhina With whom? Callyce All alone. Lampito But who had opened the door? Callyce The God of Love. The Women The God of Love! Callyce I understood then that Cypris had fulfilled my vows, and that the good goddess did not wish me to die without knowing the mysteries. Naturally, I took advantage of the open door. I ran to Nicostratos who was waiting for me. Ah, my friends, what a night of joy. Salabaccha Nicostratos did his best, my dear! Callyce Better than his best, my dear! Lampito (Fainting). Ah! (The women support her). The Women Come! Courage, Lampito,-woman with too much temper- ament. Myrrhina But how did they happen to be found in an orange grove? Callyce I knew that it would be noticed that I was no longer in the temples, and that they would come to capture me in Nicostratos' house. And so, the other morning, when the rosy dawn came, we sought a safer retreat. We found a grotto beside the sea that would shelter our love. A spring ran close by. We have led a sweet and amorous life. It was idyllic. The goats gave us our milk, the spring yielded clear water, the bees gave their honey, and the orange trees their golden fruit. Night and day, we lavished caresses upon each other. - 99 - Nicostratos O Callyce! Lampito While I, like a fool, was keeping the pledge and restraining the ardor of my husband, you were languishing in the arms of Nicostratos. Wretched woman, you shall pay dearly for your treason. Salabaccha O Lampito, woman of too much temperament, Callyce did not take the pledge. She has not committed perjury. She has only obeyed a stronger will. Lysistrata Who would not recognize in these events the powerful hands of the gods! The Women We recognize them, we recognize them! Lysistrata I tell you, in truth, peace is near. (Enter Agathos, followed by warriors). Agathos Women, I announce to you great news. The ambassadors of the Lacedcemonians have arrived, At this moment, they are before the Senate. They bring peace, on condition that we give up their ramparts. Cynesias What ramparts? Agathos Pylos, that we have been beseiging for seven long months. Taraxion Give up Pylos? Impossible! It cost us men and money. The Women Make peace ! make peace! Agathos But if we give in exchange Echinos, the Gulf of Maliac, and the two spurs of Megarus. Lampito Give them Pylos! Take the two spurs, all the spurs, and make peace. -- 100 Lysistrata Here comes Gyrinna, the Laccedemonian. Gyrinna Greetings, Lysistrata, most vital among women ! Lysistrata Greetings, Gyrinna! Oh beautiful friend, is it true that. you bring us peace ? Gyrinna I bring you peace. Taraxion Oh, beautiful peace, what a bosom, what arms and what legs! Oh, the joy it will be to caress her. Lampito Caress your wife first, Taraxion. Gyrinna Yes, I came with the ambassadors of the Peloponnesus. Ah, what good work we have done there! In answer to my appeal. all the women of Lacedoemonia, armed with whips, chased their husbands from the houses. They had no resistance left, and begged for mercy. Oh, Lysistrata, your idea was admirable. A/ll Long live Lysistrata! Long live Peace ! Lycon (Entering . Ah, my friends, my dear friends, it is done. It is signed. The peace is signed. All the city is celebrating,-shout- ing, laughing, singing, dancing. Every woman is decorating her house with palms and garlands. Processions are forming. Music everywhere. The wife falls into the arms of her husband, the husband into the arms of his beloved. All Long live Peace! Long live Peace! lo! Io! le! Hallali! (The Athenian march is played). Lycon Ah! peace, peace! we have it! From this day forth, we may stroll about at our leisure, stay in our homes, make love, sleep, go from one fete to the other, join in the processions and banquets, and cry Ohd ! Evohd ! --- 101 "- Cynesias All the cities delivered from their pain will make a burning sacrifice. Myrrhina All the country, delivered of its misery, will send us the fruits of the earth. Nicodice Life was expensive, but now we may buy vegetables, fruits fish, and meats. Calonice The Boeotians will send us geese and ducks and pigeons. Rlhodippe Eels from the lake of Copais will arrive in baskets. The markets will be flooded with apples and pomegranates. Salabaccha O Peace, august sovereign, ancient goddess, queen of love, thou dost perform miracles. Look, Lysistrata is clasped lovingly in the arms of Lycon. Philinna Taraxion is tenderly caressing Lampito. Cynna Look at Swallow in the arms of Theorus. Glycera And Dew in the arms of Derycles. Swallow Long live the Graces! Here's to Aphrodite! Here's to Love! Long live the men! Theorits Yes, may we spend our lives caressing our wives and sitting by our cozy fireside. Dercycles I have endured fatigue, I have slept upon the ground, I have lived on cheese and onions. Dew You shall have a bed of roses. I will cook good things for you. - 102 - Strymodorus Eheu! Eheu! No longer can I get a commission on casques, trumpets, aigrettes, and bucklers. Draces Eheu! Eheu! I can no longer lend money to the State, to our dear Government, at high interest. Acestor Let him who prefers war, O Dionysius, be condemned forever to press his elbows into sharp-pointed needles. Cynesias If a manufacturer of lances or a dealer in military equipment desires war in order to sell his merchandise, let him fall into the hands of the Persians, and until the day of his death, live upon cheese. Lysistrata Oh, my friends, let us cherish Peace! Nicostratos No, I have no love for glory, no longing for promotion. I yearn to sit with my comrades beside an open fire, and to drink warm wine, so that the bright-colored flames that dance and sing may warm me to the tips of my toes! Taraxion I choose to live far from war, far from bloody combat. Let me eat chestnuts roasted in the embers of my fire,-and after- wards satisfy my thirst. Let my wife go to the cellar for sweet wine. Let us hasten! Let me take upon my knee a bright-eyed slave. Hush! Some one's coming!... The marks of my kisses shall be seen upon the white flesh of the damsel. Lanmpito Oh, Taraxion, quit your boasting! Lycon After long winters, when the rain has beaten down upon our fields, benevolent showers to fructify our harvest, nothing is more charming than to hold long conversation with my friend, to exchange with them the time of day. While the heavens are sprinkling the earth in obediencedto the gods that protect our harvest, let us drink, let us enjoy the savory flesh of quail. In the sauce should be kindly herbs to ward off fever. There must be in the cellar, with the cream, four choice morsels of hare,- unless last night the cat stole them. But if, as I hope, all four pieces are still there, come, my slave, serve me three,-and give the other to my father. 103o - Lysistrata Ah, peace, our goddess, thou hast grapes to give us. Thou fillest the beehives. Thy hands of plenty give us heavy fruit, sweet perfumes, the music of flutes, songs, festivals, poetic lutes, and tender love! Oh goddess, praised be thy warm breast! Thou art the source of sweet springs and fragrant bread! Peasants, lay aside your swords, and return to your fields! Cultivate the earth, and let it be teeming with fruitful grain instead of cruel blood. Let us sing of peace, let us implore heaven that we may not be a people greedy for conquest. Let us be crowned with wreaths of viplets. Soon our maidens will be dancing. Let each one of us, with joyful hearts, embrace the olive trees planted in honor of the good and fertile goddess. CURTAIN - 104 - This book is a preservation facsimile produced for the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. It is made in compliance with copyright law and produced on acid-free archival 60# book weight paper which meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (permanence of paper). Preservation facsimile printing and binding by Northern Micrographics Brookhaven Bindery La Crosse, Wisconsin 2012