2ND LEADER OF MEN. And _laws_--which they obey.
3RD LEADER OF MEN. We should be named
Slaves rightly if by woman’s wiles so tamed!
4TH LEADER OF MEN. _We_ seek not peace!
HERALD. Enough! Let me get hence!
And if in Athens ye have men of sense,
Show where they be!
1ST LEADER OF MEN. Of sense?
HERALD. Oh, greybeard, cease!
Fight your own battles!--but we _men_ need peace!
(_Exit_ HERALD, _followed by_ COMMITTEE-MAN,
_who, as he goes, turns contemptuously
upon the_ WOMEN. _They laugh._)
COM. Pah!
(_Exit_ COMMITTEE-MAN.)
(_The_ CHORUS OF OLD MEN _stand much depressed,
eyeing the_ WOMEN _malevolently_.)
1ST LEADER OF MEN. Oh, are not women, set to their desire,
Shameless as cats, unconquerable as fire!
Who, then, may hope to match or beat them down?
1ST LEADER OF WOMEN. If ye knew this, then wherefore
did ye frown,
And wage vile war against us, when of late
We sought to be your friends?
2ND LEADER OF MEN. Now will I hate
Women for ever!
1ST LEADER OF WOMEN. So be it, as you please.
2ND LEADER OF WOMEN. But wherefore stand ye thus
with naked knees,
All bare of limb as for a wrestling bout?
What means this folly that ye go without
Your cloaks?
4TH LEADER OF WOMEN. Come, put them on!
(_The_ WOMEN _descend bearing the_ OLD MEN’S _cloaks
in their hands. The_ OLD MEN _submit to be dressed_.)
1ST LEADER OF MEN. By Zeus, now, this,
Which you have done for me is not amiss!
2ND LEADER OF MEN. Ah, when I stripped the fire was in the pan!
2ND LEADER OF WOMEN. Why! now, indeed, you look a proper man,
A noble, and a handsome, and a brave!
4TH LEADER OF WOMEN. Why did you vex us? Why did you behave
So frowardly?
3RD LEADER OF WOMEN. Wait, now! Here in your eye,
Blurring the vision, is some kind of fly.
Does it not pain you?
4TH LEADER OF MEN. Oh! so that’s the thing
Was troubling me?
3RD LEADER OF WOMEN. No doubt.
4TH LEADER OF MEN (_irritably_). Well, take this ring.
Fetch it out for me! Aye, for many a day
This has been stinging me. Get it away!
3RD LEADER OF WOMEN. Well, don’t be cross, then!
Oh, just look at that!
(_They all collect and look._)
There, don’t you see it? Why, a monstrous gnat,
Big as a hornet.
4TH LEADER OF MEN. Aye, in truth, a pest!
A plague! By Zeus, now you have given me rest.
(_All the other_ OLD MEN _go to the other_ WOMEN
_and have flies taken out of their eyes_.)
3RD LEADER OF WOMEN. Wait till I wipe it clean lest it
should swell.
(_She wipes it._)
There! Now I’ll kiss the place and make it well.
4TH LEADER OF MEN. No, no! Don’t kiss me!
3RD LEADER OF WOMEN. I don’t ask your leave.
That’s how you pay.
4TH LEADER OF MEN. Oh, woman, ’tis your nature thus to thieve
And wheedle! Ah! it was well said, no doubt,
“’Tis best not to be with--nor yet without--
Female seduction.”
(_During this scene the_ WOMEN _have collected
and carried away_ MYRRHINA’S _leavings_.)
1ST LEADER OF MEN. Why, who be these?
2ND LEADER OF MEN. Spartans: and by their wands
Ambassadors.
3RD LEADER OF MEN. Come they to us in bonds?
(_Enter two_ SPARTAN AMBASSADORS.)
1ST LEADER OF MEN. O Spartans, welcome first, and tell us next
For what cause are ye come?
1ST SPARTAN. Nay, read the text
Of your own hearts! Is not our plight the same?
All Greece endures a need without a name.
2ND LEADER OF MEN. Have you, too, got a fly
Or hornet in your eye?
(_Enter two_ ATHENIANS.)
1ST ATHEN. Where is Lysistrata? Nay, be not dumb!
Tell her that we be here:--Athenians, come
Of high degree, with powers upon us laid,
Sent by the Senate, to entreat her aid.
1ST LEADER OF MEN. However high ye be, all of one grief
Suffer both day and night without relief!
1ST ATHEN. O welcome, Spartans! These be shameful things
We suffer!
1ST SPARTAN. Of a truth compassion wrings
My heart. A common grief hath made us kind.
2ND ATHEN. Wherefore, then, have ye come?
1ST SPARTAN. We are resigned
To plead for peace.
1ST. ATHEN. Now, truly, ye say well.
We also are agreed; and thus we fell
To meeting.
2ND SPARTAN. Good!
2ND ATHEN. Call, then, for Heaven’s sake,
Lysistrata; for she alone can make
Peace for us.
1ST SPARTAN. Nay! call--if a hope remains--
All the Lysistratas the world contains!
(_Enter_ LYSISTRATA.)
1ST LEADER OF MEN. Nay, call not, for she comes!
2ND LEADER OF MEN. O wisest, best,
Bravest of women--hail! To thee addressed
We come!
3RD LEADER OF MEN. Be good, and grave, and gracious,
mild and shrewd!
For at thy feet, the Grecian chiefs subdued
Now seek for aid.
4TH LEADER OF MEN. Surrendering to thy charms
With one consent all here lay down their arms.
1ST SPARTAN. Nay, nay! We treat: we do not yield
our claim (_pugnaciously_).
LYS. Surely it is not hard, when people aim
With open mind for peace, to find a road.
But if to strife ye goad each other still,--
Forthwith ye lack the will.
Quickly I’ll test you. Here comes Peace.
(_Enter a young girl, olive-bearing, emblematic of_ PEACE.
LYSISTRATA _turns to the_ WOMEN.)
Now take
Each by the hand these Spartan lords, and make
Them come with you.
(_The_ WOMEN _descend and lead the_ SPARTANS
_by the hand toward the centre_.)
--not by self-will or force,
As is the way of men, but from the source
Of sweet affection to all women dear.
Let the Athenians also be brought here.
(WOMEN _descend and lead forward the_ ATHENIANS.)
And now let both sides hearken to the word
Which I shall speak; and hold when ye have heard.
I am a woman: yet of brain and sense
Equal to yours; and often long years hence
Back in the past, I heard my father speak
Of the blood-bond which once bound Greek to Greek
’Gainst all the world. May I not blame you, then,
That ye forget the words of older men
Who made Greece strong? Do ye not sprinkle still
The same gods’ altars, and with worship fill
Delphi, and Pylae, and Olympia’s shrine,
And others of a fame ye hold divine?
Yet vain your worship when throughout the land
Deserted homes and ruined cities stand,
And graves piled with the dead of slaughtered kin,
While all around Barbarians press in,
And waste your borders.... So one part is told.
1ST ATHEN. O form desirable! O heart of gold!
LYS. Next upon you, O Spartans, I cry shame.
Have ye forgot how once a Spartan came
Suppliant to Athens, praying by all the gods
For help of arms against o’erwhelming odds?
Since, then, we sent swift succour, why do ye
Now waste the land which brought you liberty?
2ND ATHEN. By Zeus, well said! Sparta has done us wrong!
1ST SPARTAN. But might is right! And force good for the strong.
LYS. And do you think I have no word to say
To you Athenians? Ah, there was a day
When Sparta, in her turn, came forth and slew
Many Thessalians, and succoured you
From Hippias and his horde. ’Twas she alone
Came to your aid when ye lay overthrown.
1ST SPARTAN. Never saw I a woman to compare
With this!
2ND SPARTAN. Nor I a bosom half so fair!
LYSISTRATA _takes a spray of olive from_ PEACE
_and divides it in two_.)
LYS. Why will ye not make peace? What is the root
Of your contention?
1ST SPARTAN. We have no dispute
Save upon this--restore what once was ours.
1ST ATHEN. What, namely?
1ST SPARTAN. Pylos: for were not her towers
Of Sparta’s building?
2ND ATHEN. By Poseidon, no!
Did we not save those towers from overthrow
When ye stood worsted?
2ND SPARTAN. Aye! Because ye made
A compact which ye broke!
1ST ATHEN. Because ye laid
False hands on Cöos!
1ST SPARTAN. ’Twas ours; ye know it well!
2ND ATHEN. Yours, as the herdman’s flocks upon the fell
Are to the wolf his own!
1ST SPARTAN. Aye, even so
Seized ye on Pylos!
(_They are about to fall to blows._)
LYS. Nay, let them have it!
1ST ATHEN. And where shall we go
To obtain recompense?
LYS. Demand instead
Some other place.
1ST ATHEN. So be it: wisely said!
Do you give up to us all the waste land
Beyond Echinus, and on either hand
Of Megara, skirting the Melian bay!
1ST SPARTAN. Nay, by the gods! What? Give all that away?
Not I!
LYS. Why grudge it them? ’Tis barren ground.
2ND ATHEN. But we would cultivate and fence it round,
Making it fertile.
2ND SPARTAN. Ah! we have a scheme
For doing that ourselves.
LYS. An idle dream!
Since without peace ye cannot.
1ST SPARTAN. But if the prize
Goes thus divided, what of our allies?
They will need payment, having borne the cost.
1ST ATHEN. Tell them the truth, and own that ye have lost!
1ST SPARTAN. Nay, what I have I hold! Cöos stays mine.
2ND ATHEN. Starved and stuck fast, dry-footed in the brine,
Fearing the fleets of Athens!
2ND SPARTAN. --Who on land
Now fears to show her face or lift a hand
’Gainst Spartan spears!
1ST ATHEN. Guarding a barren shore
Which we have spoiled for you!
LYS. So with vile war.
Ye waste each other’s wealth! Go, then, and seek
Consent of your allies: then come and speak
More on the matter.
(_She turns back to the Acropolis.
The_ WOMEN _follow her_.)
1ST ATHEN. Nay, by Heaven I vow
I cannot wait. Have the point settled now!
And--oh, get the thing done! Pylos is yours!
1ST SPARTAN. Echinus, and the waste land by the shores
Of Megara, we give you!
(_All the_ WOMEN _utter a cry of joy and wonder_.)
LYS. (_presenting the olive branches_). Ye do well!
Go, then, prepare; for in yon citadel
We hold our feast: there will we make new vows
Of friendship; then shall each man with his spouse
Return to his own home.
1ST ATHEN. Oh, word of peace!
Come ye soft fires of night, and let war cease!
(_From the gates of the citadel come_ WOMEN
_carrying raiment of festival, golden fillets, wreaths,
and wine-cups. Night has fallen. Torch-bearers enter and
stand at the entrances on both sides of the stage._)
1ST LEADER OF WOMEN. Now will I offer my best
For the good of each guest,
Raiment, and linen, and jewel,
2ND LEADER OF WOMEN. And shoes for the feet,
3RD LEADER OF WOMEN. And fuel and meat.
4TH LEADER OF WOMEN. Let them enter and bear it away!
(_Enter_ DANCERS, _strewing flowers_.)
1ST LEADER OF WOMEN. If any lack food in this city,
Let him come, I will offer him bread.
2ND LEADER OF WOMEN. If any lack comfort or pity,
Lo, here is a roof and a bed.
3RD LEADER OF WOMEN. For Peace hath her portion in plenty,
1ST LEADER OF WOMEN. And Discord is dead.
1ST ATHEN. Now let the dance begin! Give thanks and praise
To Artemis, and Him who bears the bays,
Sun-beamed Apollo--
2ND ATHEN. Bacchus, with bright eyes
Among his Bacchanals, and in the skies
Fire-bearing Zeus!
1ST LEADER OF WOMEN. And Hera, that bright dame
Who shares his throne, and Pallas of virgin fame!
2ND LEADER OF WOMEN. Call we on these as witnesses in Heaven
To that fair peace by Aphrodite given.
Shout for the triumph of gentler powers!
ALL THE WOMEN. Evoe! Evoe! The victory is ours.
CHORUS (_leading procession of_ PEACE).
Take up your pipes of music sweet,
And make a measure for my feet
To dance to. Take your lute, and raise
Your song in Aphrodite’s praise.
And while the praise of Heaven ye tell,
Give praise to Mother Earth as well!
(_Led by dancers, and with women strewing
flowers before her_, PEACE _descends. She
offers her hand to the_ SPARTAN AMBASSADOR.)
LYS. Why do ye wait? Ye that have led hard lives
In foreign service, are not these your wives?
Since ye have made peace, do ye not deserve
The fruits of peace? We conquer but to serve.
(_The chorus is repeated as_ PEACE, _leading
the_ AMBASSADOR, _preceded by the_ DANCERS,
_and followed by her_ ATTENDANTS, _passes out_.)
(_Enter_ CINESIAS. MYRRHINA _comes down to meet him
with extended hands. He rushes up to her, catches
her up in his arms, and carries her away.
Immediately the other_ ATHENIANS _seize their
women and carry them off_. DANCERS _and_
TORCH-BEARERS _follow. The stage is left empty
of all but_ LYSISTRATA.)
(LYSISTRATA _comes down slowly to the
centre of the upper stage. She stands and
looks after the revellers. The light of the
torches fades away; only moonlight remains.
A sound of the cooing of doves is
heard from the roof._ LYSISTRATA _turns
and descends, going out in the opposite
direction, away from the sounds of revelry_.)