4TH LEADER OF MEN. Have turned us into drains!
COM. Oh, fitly are ye punished, for have not ye
Yourselves trained women to this villainy?
ALL THE MEN CHORUS. _We_ trained them?
COM. Have ye not sped them in the game of sex?
ALL THE MEN CHORUS. Game of sex?
COM. And bled your pockets to adorn their necks?
1ST LEADER OF MEN. No, _I’ve_ not!
COM. Taught them to twine and coil and paint their eyes,
And paid the price for all their amorous sighs
Present and absent, faithful and foresworn?
2ND LEADER OF MEN. _We_ pay the price?
COM. Aye! round their necks full many a clasp is worn
Not of _your_ making.
1ST LEADER OF MEN. Not of _our_ making?
(_The_ OLD MEN _turn and consult each other accusingly_.)
COM.. Where do such things lead?
Where but to this?--that when I come in need--
Aye, and with warrant--of money for the State,
I am shut out, and women hold the gate.
There they combine, call themselves “comrades”, “sisters”--
Rebels and law-breakers and tax-resisters!
1ST, 2ND, AND 3RD LEADERS OF MEN. Comrades? Sisters? Rebels?
Law--
(_While he speaks the women have come out again,
and stand in rows listening silently_.)
COM. Stand not to stare, ye fools! Search till ye find
That woman, by whose word they stand combined!
Fetch me Lysistrata! Bring rams and lay
Levers beneath the gates, and force your way!
(_Enter_ LYSISTRATA. _The_ WOMEN _spread
their cloaks and make a carpet for her to walk upon_.)
LYS. Nay, use no force! Lay down your battering ram!
Seek ye conciliation? Here I am
How can force help you here? Are levers meant
To take the place of reason and consent?
COM. Abominable creature! Hold your peace!
Seize her and bind her fast!
(_No one stirs._)
Police! Police!
Where are the police?
(_Enter a_ POLICEMAN.)
STRAT. Now, by Artemis!
Who first dares touch her, he shall weep for this,
If he remain a man!
(POLICEMAN _falls back_.)
COM. Are you afraid,
Fellow? Go, then, call others to your aid--
Bring reinforcements!
(_He goes, and returns with a second_ POLICEMAN.)
STRAT. Now look what you do?
If you but touch her, we will jump on you!
COM. More reinforcements!
(_They go and return with a third_ POLICEMAN.)
Aye, bind this one first!
And gag her too! (_Points to_ STRATYLLIS.)
These chatterers are the worst!
STRAT. For cowards who fear the truth!
(POLICE _advance up steps_.)
1ST ATHEN. WOMAN. See that you lay
No hand on her!
(_Other_ WOMEN _threaten--the_ POLICE _retreat_.)
COM. Why do ye run away?
What’s this? What’s this? Back boobies, to your task!
(_The_ POLICE _rally, and again advance_.)
2ND ATHEN. WOMAN (_pushing back the other and taking her place_).
By Pallas, I will make a Gorgon’s mask
Of him who touches her!
(_The_ POLICE _hesitate. During the speech of the_
COMMITTEE-MAN _which follows the_ WOMEN _cry
“Quack, Quack!” at intervals_.)
COM. (_putting a pole into their hands_).
For shame, for shame!
Will ye be beaten? Are ye all so tame?
Stricken of women, and of strength bereft!
Rally and march! Right left, right left, right left!
(_The_ POLICE _advance with the pole in a compact body_.)
LYS. Now by the light of heaven, ye shall begin
To know our strength! Ho, women! there within!
(_The_ WOMEN _crowd to the gates_.)
(LYSISTRATA _backs up the steps. The_ POLICE
_mount after her_.)
(_The_ WOMEN _open to right and left, and hold
their scarves ready to noose the_ POLICEMEN.)
(_Some of the_ WOMEN _seize hold of the poles_.)
COM. Twist back their hands, policemen!
LYS. Help! A stroke
For freedom! Come, ye women, ye market folk,
Ye buyers and sellers, ye keepers of the home,
Ye workers rich and poor, I bid you come!
(_They all rush out._)
1ST ATHEN. WOMAN. Will ye not drag? Will ye not beat and smite?
Will ye not face the foe, and put to flight?
(_The_ WOMEN _throw their cloaks over the_ POLICE,
_tie them up, and drag them into the citadel_.)
(_The others dance and scream with joy._)
LYS. Stop! Do no harm to them. Return again!
COM. Alas, how miserably have fared my men!
LYS. What did ye look for? When ye crossed our path
Thought ye that we were slaves? Is there no wrath
In woman, and no hurt if she be stirred?
1ST LEADER OF MEN. Master Commissioner, waste not a word
On such wild beasts as these.
2ND LEADER OF MEN. Did you not see
To what a drenching bath
They treated me
Who dared to cross their path--
Having done nothing!
LYS. Nothing? In such wise
The swelled head has to learn through swollen eyes.
3RD LEADER OF MEN. Oh, Zeus, what shall we make of fiends
like these,
Monsters intolerable?
4TH LEADER OF MEN. Nay, but inquire of them and bid them tell
How came they, with what intent, to seize
Our sacred citadel?
2ND LEADER OF MEN. Ask, ask, repeat,
And do not be persuaded
By feminine deceit:
1ST LEADER OF MEN. Nor, I entreat,
Let the straightforward question be evaded.