第 2 节
作者:九米      更新:2021-02-21 15:33      字数:9321
  We must refrain from the male altogether。。。。 Nay; why do you
  turn your backs on me? Where are you going? So; you bite your lips;
  and shake your heads; eh? Why these pale; sad looks? why these
  tears? Come; will you do it…yes or no? Do you hesitate?
  CLEONICE
  I will not do it; let the war go on。
  MYRRHINE
  Nor will I; let the war go on。
  LYSISTRATA  (to MYRRHINE)
  And you say this; my pretty flat…fish; who declared just now
  they might split you in two?
  CLEONICE
  Anything; anything but that! Bid me go through the fire; if you
  will;…but to rob us of the sweetest thing in all the world; Lysistrata
  darling!
  LYSISTRATA  (to MYRRHINE)
  And you?
  MYRRHINE
  Yes; I agree with the others; I too would sooner go through the
  fire。
  LYSISTRATA
  Oh; wanton; vicious sex! the poets have done well to make
  tragedies upon us; we are good for nothing then but love and lewdness!
  But you; my dear; you from hardy Sparta; if you join me; all may yet
  be well; help me; second me; I beg you。
  LAMPITO
  'Tis a hard thing; by the two goddesses it is! for a woman to
  sleep alone without ever a strong male in her bed。 But there; peace
  must come first。
  LYSISTRATA
  Oh; my darling; my dearest; best friend; you are the only one
  deserving the name of woman!
  CLEONICE
  But if…which the gods forbid…we do refrain altogether from what
  you say; should we get peace any sooner?
  LYSISTRATA
  Of course we should; by the goddesses twain! We need only sit
  indoors with painted cheeks; and meet our mates lightly clad in
  transparent gowns of Amorgos silk; and perfectly depilated; they
  will get their tools up and be wild to lie with us。 That will be the
  time to refuse; and they will hasten to make peace; I am convinced
  of that!
  LAMPITO
  Yes; just as Menelaus; when he saw Helen's naked bosom; threw away
  his sword; they say。
  CLEONICE
  But; oh dear; suppose our husbands go away and leave us。
  LYSISTRATA
  Then; as Pherecrates says; we must 〃flay a skinned dog;〃 that's
  all。
  CLEONICE
  Fiddlesticks! these proverbs are all idle talk。。。。 But if our
  husbands drag us by main force into the bedchamber?
  LYSISTRATA
  Hold on to the door posts。
  CLEONICE
  But if they beat us?
  LYSISTRATA
  Then yield to their wishes; but with a bad grace; there is no
  pleasure in it for them; when they do it by force。 Besides; there
  are a thousand ways of tormenting them。 Never fear; they'll soon
  tire of the game; there's no satisfaction for a man; unless the
  woman shares it。
  CLEONICE
  Very well; if you must have it so; we agree。
  LAMPITO
  For ourselves; no doubt we shall persuade our husbands to conclude
  a fair and honest peace; but there is the Athenian populace; how are
  we to cure these folk of their warlike frenzy?
  LYSISTRATA
  Have no fear; we undertake to make our own people listen to
  reason。
  LAMPITO
  That's impossible; so long as they have their trusty ships and the
  vast treasures stored in the temple of Athene。
  LYSISTRATA
  Ah! but we have seen to that; this very day the Acropolis will
  be in our hands。 That is the task assigned to the older women; while
  we are here in council; they are going; under pretence of offering
  sacrifice; to seize the citadel。
  LAMPITO
  Well said indeed! everything is going for the best。
  LYSISTRATA
  Come; quick; Lampito; and let us bind ourselves by an inviolable
  oath。
  LAMPITO
  Recite the terms; we will swear to them。
  LYSISTRATA
  With pleasure。 Where is our Scythian policewoman? Now; what are
  you staring at; pray? Lay this shield on the earth before us; its
  hollow upwards; and someone bring me the victim's inwards。
  CLEONICE
  Lysistrata; say; what oath are we to swear?
  LYSISTRATA
  What oath? Why; in Aeschylus; they sacrifice a sheep; and swear
  over a buckler; we will do the same。
  CLEONICE
  No; Lysistrata; one cannot swear peace over a buckler; surely。
  LYSISTRATA
  What other oath do you prefer?
  CLEONICE
  Let's take a white horse; and sacrifice it; and swear on its
  entrails。
  LYSISTRATA
  But where shall we get a white horse?
  CLEONICE
  Well; what oath shall we take then?
  LYSISTRATA
  Listen to me。 Let's set a great black bowl on the ground; let's
  sacrifice a skin of Thasian wine into it; and take oath not to add one
  single drop of water。
  LAMPITO
  Ah! that's an oath pleases me more than I can say。
  LYSISTRATA
  Let them bring me a bowl and a skin of wine。
  CLEONICE
  Ah! my dears; what a noble big bowl! what fun it will be to
  empty it
  LYSISTRATA
  Set the bowl down on the ground; and lay your hands on the victim。
  。。。。Almighty goddess; Persuasion; and thou; bowl; boon comrade of joy
  and merriment; receive this our sacrifice; and be propitious to us
  poor women!
  CLEONICE  (as LYSISTRATA pours the wine into the bowl)
  Oh! the fine red blood! how well it flows!
  LAMPITO
  And what a delicious bouquet; by Castor!
  CLEONICE
  Now; my dears; let me swear first; if you please。
  LYSISTRATA
  No; by Aphrodite; unless it's decided by lot。 But come; then;
  Lampito; and all of you; put your hands to the bowl; and do you;
  Cleonice; repeat for all the rest the solemn terms I am going to
  recite。 Then you must all swear; and pledge yourselves by the same
  promises;…I will have naught to do whether with lover or husband。。。
  CLEONICE  (faintly)
  I will have naught to do whether with lover or husband。。。
  LYSISTRATA
  Albeit he come to me with an erection。。。
  CLEONICE  (her voice quavering)
  Albeit he come to me with an erection。。。  (in despair)  Oh!
  Lysistrata; I cannot bear it!
  LYSISTRATA  (ignoring this outburst)
  I will live at home unbulled。。。
  CLEONICE
  I will live at home unbulled。。。
  LYSISTRATA
  Beautifully dressed and wearing a saffron…coloured gown
  CLEONICE
  Beautifully dressed and wearing a saffron…coloured gown。。。
  LYSISTRATA
  To the end I may inspire my husband with the most ardent longings。
  CLEONICE
  To the end I may inspire my husband with the most ardent longings。
  LYSISTRATA
  Never will I give myself voluntarily。。。
  CLEONICE
  Never will I give myself voluntarily。。。
  LYSISTRATA
  And if he has me by force。。。
  CLEONICE
  And if he has me by force。。。
  LYSISTRATA
  I will be cold as ice; and never stir a limb。。。
  CLEONICE
  I will be cold as ice; and never stir a limb。。。
  LYSISTRATA
  I will neither extend my Persian slippers toward the ceiling。。。
  CLEONICE
  I will neither extend my Persian slippers toward the ceiling。。。
  LYSISTRATA
  Nor will I crouch like the carven lions on a knife…handle。
  CLEONICE
  Nor will I crouch like the carven lions on a knife…handle。
  LYSISTRATA
  And if I keep my oath; may I be suffered to drink of this wine。
  CLEONICE  (more courageously)
  And if I keep my oath; may I be suffered to drink of this wine。
  LYSISTRATA
  But if I break it; let my bowl be filled with water。
  CLEONICE
  But if I break it; let my bowl be filled with water。
  LYSISTRATA
  Will you all take this oath?
  ALL
  We do。
  LYSISTRATA
  Then I'll now consume this remnant。
  (She drinks。)
  CLEONICE  (reaching for the cup)
  Enough; enough; my dear; now let us all drink in turn to cement
  our friendship。
  (They pass the cup around and all drink。 A great commotion is
  heard off stage。)
  LAMPITO
  Listen! what do those cries mean?
  LYSISTRATA
  It's what I was telling you; the women have just occupied the
  Acropolis。 So now; Lampito; you return to Sparta to organize the plot;
  while your comrades here remain as hostages。 For ourselves; let us
  go and join the rest in the citadel; and let us push the bolts well
  home。
  CLEONICE
  But don't you think the men will march up against us?
  LYSISTRATA
  I laugh at them。 Neither threats nor flames shall force our doors;
  they shall open only on the conditions I have named。
  CLEONICE
  Yes; yes; by Aphrodite; otherwise we should be called cowardly and
  wretched women。
  (She follows LYSISTRATA out。)
  (The scene shifts to the entrance of the Acropolis。 The CHORUS
  OF OLD MEN slowly enters; carrying faggots and pots of fire。)