Lysistrata | Page 5

their boat sails.
LYSISTRATA
And I'd have staked my life the Acharnian dames Would be here first,
yet they haven't come either!

CALONICE
Well anyhow there is Theagenes' wife We can expect--she consulted
Hecate. But look, here are some at last, and more behind them. See ...
where are they from?
CALONICE
From Anagyra they come.
LYSISTRATA
Yes, they generally manage to come first.
Enter MYRRHINE.
MYRRHINE
Are we late, Lysistrata? ... What is that? Nothing to say?
LYSISTRATA
I've not much to say for you, Myrrhine, dawdling on so vast an affair.
MYRRHINE
I couldn't find my girdle in the dark. But if the affair's so wonderfull,
tell us, what is it?
LYSISTRATA
No, let us stay a little longer till The Peloponnesian girls and the girls
of Bocotia Are here to listen.
MYRRHINE
That's the best advice. Ah, there comes Lampito.
Enter LAMPITO.

LYSISTRATA
Welcome Lampito! Dear Spartan girl with a delightful face, Washed
with the rosy spring, how fresh you look In the easy stride of your sleek
slenderness, Why you could strangle a bull!
LAMPITO
I think I could. It's frae exercise and kicking high behint.
[Footnote: The translator has put the speech of the Spartan characters in
Scotch dialect which is related to English about as was the Spartan
dialect to the speech of Athens. The Spartans, in their character,
anticipated the shrewd, canny, uncouth Scotch highlander of modern
times.]
LYSISTRATA
What lovely breasts to own!
LAMPITO
Oo ... your fingers Assess them, ye tickler, wi' such tender chucks I feel
as if I were an altar-victim.
LYSISTRATA
Who is this youngster?
LAMPITO
A Boeotian lady.
LYSISTRATA
There never was much undergrowth in Boeotia, Such a smooth place,
and this girl takes after it.
CALONICE

Yes, I never saw a skin so primly kept.
LYSISTRATA
This girl?
LAMPITO
A sonsie open-looking jinker! She's a Corinthian.
LYSISTRATA
Yes, isn't she Very open, in some ways particularly.
LAMPITO
But who's garred this Council o' Women to meet here?
LYSISTRATA
I have.
LAMPITO
Propound then what you want o' us.
MYRRHINE
What is the amazing news you have to tell?
LYSISTRATA
I'll tell you, but first answer one small question.
MYRRHINE
As you like.
LYSISTRATA

Are you not sad your children's fathers Go endlessly off soldiering afar
In this plodding war? I am willing to wager There's not one here whose
husband is at home.
CALONICE
Mine's been in Thrace, keeping an eye on Eucrates For five months
past.
MYRRHINE
And mine left me for Pylos Seven months ago at least.
LAMPITO
And as for mine No sooner has he slipped out frae the line He straps his
shield and he's snickt off again.
LYSISTRATA
And not the slightest glitter of a lover! And since the Milesians
betrayed us, I've not seen The image of a single upright man To be a
marble consolation to us. Now will you help me, if I find a means To
stamp the war out.
MYRRHINE
By the two Goddesses, Yes! I will though I've to pawn this very dress
And drink the barter-money the same day.
CALONICE
And I too though I'm split up like a turbot And half is hackt off as the
price of peace.
LAMPITO
And I too! Why, to get a peep at the shy thing I'd clamber up to the
tip-top o' Taygetus.

LYSISTRATA
Then I'll expose my mighty mystery. O women, if we would compel
the men To bow to Peace, we must refrain--
MYRRHINE
From what? O tell us!
LYSISTRATA
Will you truly do it then?
MYRRHINE
We will, we will, if we must die for it.
LYSISTRATA
We must refrain from every depth of love.... Why do you turn your
backs? Where are you going? Why do you bite your lips and shake
your heads? Why are your faces blanched? Why do you weep? Will
you or won't you, or what do you mean?
MYRRHINE
No, I won't do it. Let the war proceed.
CALONICE
No, I won't do it. Let the war proceed.
LYSISTRATA
You too, dear turbot, you that said just now You didn't mind being split
right up in the least?
CALONICE

Anything else? O bid me walk in fire But do not rob us of that darling
joy. What else is like it, dearest Lysistrata?
LYSISTRATA
And you?
MYRRHINE
O please give me the fire instead.
LYSISTRATA
Lewd to the least drop in the tiniest vein, Our sex is fitly food for
Tragic Poets, Our whole life's but a pile of kisses apd babies. But,
hardy Spartan, if you join with me All may be righted yet. O help me,
help me.
LAMPITO
It's a sair, sair thing to ask of us, by the Twa, A lass to sleep her lane
and never fill Love's lack except wi' makeshifts.... But let it be. Peace
maun