CIN. (_taking the child in his arms_). Think what you do!
Have you no pity on a little child?
See how the tangled curls have all run wild
For lack of care; and, like the little head,
The tender body goes unwashed, unfed!
MYRR. Pity it is when fathers so neglect
Their children!
CIN. Nay, what else can you expect?
How can a man learn to become a nurse?
MYRR. He can but try.
CIN. ’Twould but make matters worse.
Come down, my girl, and let the soft arms cling
Once more around your neck!
MYRR. (_turning round_). Oh! what a thing
It is to be a mother! Needs must I go.
What other way remains, I do not know. (_She
begins to descend._)
CIN. Oh, how much younger and more fair she seems,
And lovelier to behold than in my dreams!
MYRR. (_descending to the lower stage_).
Child of a wicked father! Oh, run, run,
Quick to your mother’s arms, my little son,
My own, my sweet! Again, again, that kiss!
(CINESIAS _tries to embrace her, she turns away with
her face in the child’s neck. He tries to get the
child away, but it cries and clings to her._)
CIN. (_sternly_). O wretched woman, why have you done this--
Herding with other women, robbing me
And your own nature of felicity?
MYRR. Take your hand from me!
CIN. Since you left my doors,
Ruin befalls my property and yours.
MYRR. I care not for it.
CIN. Your toils are all undone;
Your house is turned into a poultry run.
MYRR. The shame be yours, then!
CIN. Board and chamber lack
The woman’s presence. Will you not come back?
MYRR. No, by high Heaven! Not until you cease
From waging useless war, and turn to peace!
CIN. Peace? How can _I_ make peace? What mean you, pray?
MYRR. You voted for the war: you went away
And left me all alone. (_Pretends to cry._)
What did you care?
You’d make peace if you loved me!
CIN. (_soothingly_). Ah, there, there!
It shall be thought on--since you wish it so.
MYRR. When you have well thought on it, let me know.
Till then, farewell. (_She moves away._)
CIN. Nay, sweetheart, stay awhile!
Myrrhina, oh, come nearer! Ah, that smile
Says that you love me.
MYRR. Yes.
CIN. (_opening his arms to her_). Come then!
MYRR. Nay, nay,
My arms are full already! Take not away
A mother from her child.
(CINESIAS _endeavours to separate them_.)
CIN. (_impatiently_). Come, brat, have done!
Here, Manes!... (MANES _is slow in coming_.)
Manes!... There, now off you run!
(MANES _takes the child, but waits as if to speak_.)
Well, and what now?
MANES. A messenger, my lord:
Your ship in harbour, with the troops aboard,
Lies waiting to cast off!
CIN. (_impatiently_). Oh, let it wait!
Go, get my arms: then stay at yonder gate
Until I come.
(_Exit_ MANES _leading the child_.
CENESIAS _approaches his wife. She repulses him._)
Well, and why now so loath?
MYRR. Nay, touch me not! for I have sworn an oath
Which I must keep.
CIN. An oath which has no sense.
On my head be it! A husband can dispense
His wife from oaths. Rest you!
(_They look at each other with meaning:
he intently, she bashfully._)
MYRR. (_faltering_). There must be found
Some place to rest on.
CIN. (_opening his arms_). Nay, sweetheart, look round!
Rest here!
Now, kiss me!
MYRR. Nay, not in the public street!
CIN. No one can see us here upon this seat.
Come, sit you down!
(_He seats himself and tries to draw her to his knee._)
MYRR. What? on this hard, cold stone?
I’ll fetch you something!
CIN. (_fondly_). Not for one alone!
MYRR. I’ll be your footstool!
(_Exit_ MYRRHINA.)
CIN. (_gazing after her_). Does not this declare
How well she loves me? Oh, how sweet an air
Breathes from her raiment; and how from her eyes
Fond love and longing mock her brief disguise
Of seeming frowardness!
(_Re-enter_ MYRRHINA, _carrying a rolled
mat. She arranges the mat on bench._)
MYRR. There! sit and rest!
Put up your feet. Now, will you not divest
Yourself of that great cloak?
(_Takes off his cloak._)
Why, on my life!
I have forgot the cushions.
CIN. Nay, sweet wife,
Let cushions wait!
MYRR. But you can’t sit on this:
I say you shall not!
CIN. Give me first one kiss!
MYRR. (_kissing the tips of her fingers and touching
his lips with them_).
There, keep it safe!
(_She runs off up stage._)
CIN. Be swift, do not delay!
Surely she loves me well!
(_He goes and picks up a flower she has let fall,
and begins kissing it. Re-enter_
MYRRHINA, _her arms full of cushions and
coverings, which trail after her as she goes_.)
Now, well-a-day!
What have we here?
MYRR. (_arranging cushions_). There, that one is for you--
This one for me: and this one?--this will do
To put between us lest we fall to blows.
This one is for your feet, and that one goes
Behind you: then this covers you (_arranges draperies_);
and this--
Where shall this go?
CIN. O sweetest wife, a kiss!
(_Attempts to embrace her, and clasps cushion._)
Nay, but by Hercules, sweet friend, you hurt!
I am on fire! This is a very shirt
Of Nessus!
(_He struggles with draperies._)
MYRR. Dear, dear! Why are all you men
So hasty in your joy! Here, loose it then!
(_Taking covering off him._)
Now you must have a fillet for your hair.
(_She stoops and takes off a sandal string. Kneels
beside him and begins to tie on fillet._)
CIN. Oh, how your fingers burn me! Ah, how fair,
How fair thou art! O tender, gentle, sweet,
Soft hands of love!
(_He jumps up to seize her._)
MYRR. Now, then, put up your feet;
I’ll loose your sandals.
CIN. Nay!
MYRR. What then? Your sword.
Shall I unbuckle it?
(_She kneels and looses his girdle._)
Let not my lord
Forget his promise that the war shall cease.
CIN. Else may I perish!
(_She lays aside his sword._)
MYRR. For when you bring peace
Comfort comes back again. Now let me comb
These shaggy locks. It’s time I had you home!
(_She sits on parapet above him, undoes
fillet, and starts combing; she pulls his
hair, he winces._)
Oh! what a tangle’s here! This will need oil.
CIN. Nay, let it wait!
MYRR. What? Let your beauty spoil
For lack of ointment? Never!
(_Runs off._)
CIN. (_starting up frantically_). Oh, let that man
Perish most miserably who first began
The use of ointments!
MYRR. (_re-entering with oil-flask_). Spare the curse! Belike
It was a woman.
CIN. Then let Heaven strike
The head of her, or him, whose precious balm
Now so afflicts me!
MYRR. (_paying no attention_). See, into my palm
I pour it, thus:
(_She advances with hand full of oil._)
Don’t touch me! Then I lave
These tangled locks.
(_He jerks away._)
Oh! why do you behave
So frowardly?
CIN. You’ve poured it down my face!
MYRR. Why didn’t you keep still? There, that’s your place.
(_Indicating her lap, she makes him sit down again._)
Now let me wipe it.
CIN. Sweetheart!
(_She stoops as if to kiss him._)
MYRR. Why! how strong
This ointment smells! Oh, me! I’ve brought the wrong!
This was the cooking oil!
CIN. Aye, so I fear!
I’m baked and basted now! Oh, come more near!
Lean on my breast, sit down upon my knee,
Clasp me in those dear arms!
MYRR. (eluding his embrace). Let be! Let be!
Will you fulfil your promise? Did you say
You’d vote for peace?
CIN. Leave that--to another day!
(_He endeavours to draw her down to him; she slips under
his arm, runs up the steps and through the gates._)
MYRR. Ah, ha! Ah, ha! Leave that to another day!
(_Exit._)
CIN. Oh, me! She’s gone! She’s gone! Look how my wife
Lured and then left me! Yes, she took a knife
And flayed me all alive!
(_While he speaks the_ CHORUS OF WOMEN
_creep on from behind. Enter, below_,
MANES, _carrying helmet and shield_.)
What shall I do?
How can I bear it? How shall I live through
Another hour? Oh, me! What flesh and blood
Can bear the strain? I am borne upon a flood
Of rage and love and longing, and have none
To help or comfort! Go, fool, get you gone!
(_Snatches his arms from_ MANES,
_throws them away, and drives him out_.)
Oh, me, I am undone!
(_Enter_ OLD MEN’S CHORUS.)
1ST LEADER OF WOMEN. Alas, unhappy one, how sorely grieved,
How much afflicted! Is it to be believed?
Are such things done? Dares she refuse a kiss
To her own husband?
CIN. Oh, me!
1ST LEADER OF MEN. Is all this
Wrought by one rebel wife?
2ND LEADER OF MEN. Let woe befall
Such women!
CIN. Nay, she is more sweet than all!
More now than ever!
3RD LEADER OF MEN. Ah! talk not of sweet!
Abominable!
4TH LEADER OF MEN. Oh, take her, Zeus, like wheat!
Take her and toss her! As a sheaf of corn
Borne by a whirlwind, so let her be borne
Hither and thither: and then
Back to the earth
Fall to be trodden, a thing of little worth,
Under the feet of men.
CIN. Oh, me! Alas! When shall I find release
From all these torments?
1ST LEADER OF WOMEN. When you bring us peace.
WOMEN. Peace.
(_Exit_ CINESIAS _in despair_.)
1ST LEADER OF MEN. Now hark, and I’ll tell you a story,
I used to be told as a boy,
Of Melanion, a youth, who before he
Grew old found the secret of joy.
For this youth, with affections unhampered,
Went forth to a wilderness bare,
And over the hill-tops he scampered,
And blithely he hunted the hare.
He fowled, and he fished, and he netted,
With only a dog at his side;
Yet for comforts of home never fretted,
And never had need of a bride.
3RD LEADER OF MEN. And he never came back, he never came back,
he never came back to them!
1ST LEADER OF MEN. Was he not wise?
2ND LEADER OF MEN. And am I not wise too?
Melanion hated women; so I hate you!
(_During this scene the_ 4TH LEADER OF MEN _had made
stealthy approaches to one of the women sitting
on the parapet above him_.)
4TH LEADER OF MEN. Young woman, I wish to embrace you.
3RD LEADER OF WOMEN. Go, eater of onions, go!
(_She pushes him down the steps._)
4TH LEADER OF MEN. I’m a proper man, yet let me tell you,
in case you
Don’t happen to know.
I’m sightly, and sprightly; and lightly
Can leg it along with the best!
3RD LEADER OF WOMEN. Out, greybeard, get out!
4TH LEADER OF MEN. And am rightly
Inclined when I’m rightly addressed.
1ST LEADER OF WOMEN. I also will tell you a story:--
Melanion’s brings it to mind--
How Timon of Athens, before he
Grew old had the wisdom to find
That friendship of men is unstable,
A favour reserved for the rich;
They feasted and drank at his table,
They left him to die in a ditch.
2ND LEADER OF WOMEN. So flattered and fooled for a season
By those who had emptied his purse,
He came to find wisdom and reason,
And left them--his curse.
1ST LEADER OF WOMEN. With the fury and loathing that moved him
Mankind he was fain to destroy;
4TH LEADER OF WOMEN. Yet still there were women who loved him:
In them he found joy.
(_The_ 4TH LEADER OF MEN _renews his advances_.)
3RD LEADER OF WOMEN (_to_ OLD MAN). You want the whip!
4TH LEADER OF MEN. I don’t! I want the cat!
3RD LEADER OF WOMEN. I’ll kick!
4TH LEADER OF MEN. You’ll show your ankles!
3RD LEADER OF WOMEN (_striking him_). Ah, take that!
(_Enter the_ COMMITTEE-MAN, _followed by his_ SECRETARY.
_He is in fresh attire, and newly oiled and curled. As
he struts pompously on, the Women look at him and laugh._)
(_Enter_ LACDÆMONIAN HERALD _dressed in bright scarlet and
bearing a long staff and a scroll over which the end of
his robe is flung_.)
HERALD. Tell me, where does the Athenian Senate sit,
I pray you, sir, for I have news for it.
COM. (_turning round_). Are you a man or an advertisement?
HERALD. I am a herald come from Sparta, sent
On embassy of peace.
COM. Is that a spear
Hidden beneath your robe?
HERALD (_displaying scroll_). Sir, have no fear,
We are for peace, not war.
COM. How comes it, then,
That Sparta is inclined for peace again?
HERALD. ’Tis the desire of every Spartan man
That lacks his mate.
COM. Came this desire from Pan?
HERALD. Nay, Lampito began it; then the rest
Throughout all Sparta. Each one from her breast
Has shut out love.
COM. And how, then, do ye fare?
HERALD. Restless we turn, like flies that breed in air.
One may not touch them, till throughout all Greece
With one accord we mingle, and make peace.
COM. (_triumphantly_). So ye, being suitors
to the Athenian State,
Own yourselves vanquished?
HERALD. Nay, has not one fate
O’erwhelmed us both? Does not the selfsame fire
Burn in each breast burdened with man’s desire?
Have not your women driven you to despair?
COM. Not so? In Athens men are bred to bear
Without complaint the petty bites and stings
Of all such volatile and venomous things
As women. We yield not to such as these,
Nor at their bidding!