3RD LEADER OF MEN. And burn them up alive!
(_They fall to action with the unlit torches._)
4TH LEADER OF MEN. Ay, you say well!
But first uplift this load
And set it as a trophy on our road.
3RD LEADER OF MEN. Proof of the victory which here befell!
(_They set the log up on end._)
1ST LEADER OF MEN. And now--for it is time that ye began--
Quick to your business, pan!
(_They thrust their torches into the firepan._)
2ND LEADER OF MEN. Catch, kindle, burn, lend me a torch of fire.
(_Four women’s heads appear over the ramparts watching them._)
4TH LEADER OF MEN. And light me to the goal of my desire,
1ST LEADER OF MEN. Where rampant women, daring to rebel,
With impious hands have seized my citadel.
(_They catch sight of the women, and crouch with their lighted
torches below the steps leading to the gates._)
(_Enter_ CHORUS OF WOMEN _from citadel. They pretend
to be unaware of the old men’s presence._)
1ST LEADER OF WOMEN. What fire is this?
What smoke that mounts to Heaven?
Oh, women, hasten! Was the warning given
Too late?
2ND LEADER OF WOMEN. What if it be
One of our sisters, that too tardily
Hath hither run; and even now, entrapped
By evil men and unjust laws, stands lapt
In flame of martyrdom!
1ST LEADER OF WOMEN. Come, quickly come!
O women, bring
Your pitchers from the spring!
(_Enter the_ WATER CARRIERS.)
3RD LEADER OF WOMEN. Oh, me! I am afraid
Lest we have come too late to offer aid.
2ND LEADER OF WOMEN. Not so! (_pointing to the_ OLD MEN).
1ST LEADER OF WOMEN. Tarry, for I have heard
That certain gay old dogs,
Men past their prime,
With brains and senses blurred,
Diseased by age,
Have come forth carrying logs
And full of rage,
To burn us to a cinder.
ALL THE WOMEN CHORUS (_fiercely_). Ah!
(_The_ OLD MEN _grow uncomfortable_.)
2ND LEADER OF WOMEN. So dark a crime
Shall we not hinder?
ALL THE WOMEN CHORUS. Yes!
1ST LEADER OF WOMEN. Therefore, O maiden of the golden crest,
Guardian divine,
We women hold thy shrine.
2ND LEADER OF WOMEN. So to our gain,
O goddess, now unsheath
Thy strength: and if these men set fire beneath
Send thou down--Rain!
ALL THE WOMEN CHORUS (_lifting their pitchers_).
Send thou down--Rain!
3RD LEADER OF WOMEN. What’s this I see below us?
1ST LEADER OF WOMEN. O greybeards, old in sin,
Is it thus that ye begin
To overthrow us?
(_The_ OLD MEN _scatter and slink away into
shelter, hiding behind each other’s backs_.)
1ST LEADER OF MEN. This is most unexpected! Nay what form
Of war is this?
2ND LEADER OF MEN. Get back!
We are detected!
Get back, get back!
3RD LEADER OF MEN. See from the Acropolis women in a swarm
All unprovoked come running to the attack!
4TH LEADER OF MEN. Tut, tut! Go back, go back!
1ST LEADER OF WOMEN. Why do ye threaten us? Are we so few?
The women ye now see in front of you
Are not one-thousandth part of them that wait
Our call within the gate.
1ST LEADER OF MEN. O brothers--brothers, will ye let them prate?
You want a whipping! (_To the women._)
2ND LEADER OF MEN. Yes, a good thick stick
Broken across your backs.
STRAT. Come, sisters, quick!
Set down your pitchers!
(_The_ WOMEN _set them down_.)
There! now take your choice:
Which of us first?
3RD LEADER OF MEN. Ah, you had had no voice
Left, had I dealt with you as I would like!
STRAT. Well, here I am then (_advances_).
What, will no one strike?
(_The_ MEN _are silent_.)
Not one?
(_To_ LEADER OF MEN.)
Come, be a man, lift up your mace--
Smite: and thereafter never show your face.
1ST LEADER OF MEN. Be silent!
Else I’ll strip and beat you bare!
ALL THE WOMEN CHORUS. Ah, do it! do it! do it!
Hurt but one hair,
Or with one finger dare to lay a scratch
Upon her body!
1ST LEADER OF MEN. Well? And when I match
My fists to hers--where will the hurt be, then?
STRAT. Quick in the minds and consciences of men--
Deeper than fang can bite or gadfly sting!
2ND LEADER OF MEN. Well said the poet--“No more shameless thing
Exists, than woman!”
STRAT. Oh, take up once more
Your pitchers, women! Ye need not fear war
With such faint hearts as these. Call them not men!
(_The_ WOMEN _take up their pitchers and begin to
retire. The_ OLD MEN _grow bold again_.)
1ST LEADER OF MEN. Call yourselves women! There, be off again!
2ND LEADER OF MEN (_with curiosity_). What was that water for?
STRAT. For what that fire?
Old foot-in-the-grave, was it your funeral pyre
You came to light?
3RD LEADER OF MEN (_furiously_). No, yours!
STRAT. Sought ye to learn
How water puts out fire?
3RD LEADER OF MEN. How fire can burn!
Wait! You shall get a scorching!
STRAT. (_turning and advancing towards him_).
Oh, you grub!
Have you brought soap then? Do you want a tub?
ALL WOMEN CHORUS. D’ you want a tub?
3RD LEADER OF MEN. A tub?
STRAT. A nuptial bath. Oh, to thy side
Take me, Tithonus! Let me be thy bride!
(_The_ WOMEN _laugh_.)
3RD LEADER OF MEN. Fire, fire on them!
(_The_ MEN _advance with torches. The_ WOMEN
_lift and swing back their pitchers_.)
STRAT. Then, pitcher, to thy task!
(_The_ WOMEN _run down the steps and
empty their pitchers over the men_.)
ALL MEN CHORUS. Oh me! Woe, woe!
STRAT. What, is it hot?
ALL THE WOMEN CHORUS (_laughing_). Hot? Is it hot?
ALL THE MEN CHORUS. Hot? Hot? Why do you ask?
Oh stop, let be! let be!
1ST LEADER OF MEN. What are you doing? Oh women, let me go!
STRAT. We water you, being young, that ye may grow.
ALL THE MEN CHORUS (_trembling, and with chattering teeth_).
I’m old: I’m cold!
ALL THE WOMEN CHORUS (_imitating them_).
I’m old: I’m cold!
STRAT. Get back into your pot!
Go to your fire, and warm yourself!
(_The_ WOMEN _pick up their pitchers,
and run off laughing_.)
(_The_ OLD MEN _huddle miserably about the fire_.)
(_Enter_ COMMITTEE-MAN, _accompanied by his_ SECRETARY.)
COM. What? What?
What means this noise of women? Have the jades
Started their rackettings again--their raids,
Their drummings, and their voices from the roof
At public meetings? Aye, had we not proof
When Strellus in debate, only last week,
On Naval policy, began to speak
Of unlaunched keels left rotting on the slips:
Says he--most wisely--“You must _man_ your ships
As well as build them.” Suddenly in burst
A voice from nowhere--“Man your women first!”
It was his daughter! Athens being drained
Of marriageable men, affairs grow strained
Within the home. Then, on another occasion,
Brennus was holding forth about invasion,
Conscription, taxes, and the waste of war:
When all at once a voice squeaks through the door--
“What about women?”
ATHEN. WOMAN (_opening and shutting door of Acropolis_).
“What about women?”
COM. Well, then, what about ’em?
Ugh! if I had my way I’d up and out ’em.
In no time! _Women!_
1ST LEADER OF MEN. Yes, we quite agree:
“Women!” Nay wait, and you shall hear and see
How we’ve been treated!
(_They all come out and display themselves_.)
There! Behold what payment
To us is meted!
2ND LEADER OF MEN. See how from our raiment
The water drops
Run down!
3RD LEADER OF MEN. See, see, what sops
Thus
They have made of us!
1ST LEADER OF MEN. We are like rain-flushed sewers!
2ND LEADER OF MEN. Like bursting mains!