OF　OLD　MEN　slowly　enters；　carrying　faggots　and　pots　of　fire。）
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  Go　easy；　Draces；　go　easy；　why；　your　shoulder　is　all　chafed　by
  these　damned　heavy　olive　stocks。　But　forward　still；　forward；　man；　as
  needs　must。
  FIRST　SEMI…CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN　　（singing）
  What　unlooked…for　things　do　happen；　to　be　sure；　in　a　long　life！
  Ah！　Strymodorus；　who　would　ever　have　thought　it？　Here　we　have　the
  women；　who　used；　for　our　misfortune；　to　eat　our　bread　and　live　in
  our　houses；　daring　nowadays　to　lay　hands　on　the　holy　image　of　the
  goddess；　to　seize　the　Acropolis　and　draw　bars　and　bolts　to　keep　any
  from　entering！
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  Come；　Philurgus；　man；　let's　hurry　there；　let's　lay　our　faggots　all
  about　the　citadel；　and　on　the　blazing　pile　burn　with　our　hands　these
  vile　conspiratresses；　one　and　all…and　Lycon's　wife　first　and　foremost！
  SECOND　SEMI…CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN　　（singing）
  Nay；　by　Demeter；　never　will　I　let　them　laugh　at　me；　whiles　I
  have　a　breath　left　in　my　body。　Cleomenes　himself；　the　first　who　ever
  seized　our　citadel；　had　to　quit　it　to　his　sore　dishonour；　spite　his
  Lacedaemonian　pride；　he　had　to　deliver　me　up　his　arms　and　slink　off
  with　a　single　garment　to　his　back。　My　word！　but　he　was　filthy　and
  ragged！　and　what　an　unkempt　beard；　to　be　sure！　He　had　not　had　a　bath
  for　six　long　years！
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  Oh！　but　that　was　a　mighty　siege！　Our　men　were　ranged　seventeen
  deep　before　the　gate；　and　never　left　their　posts；　even　to　sleep。　These
  women；　these　enemies　of　Euripides　and　all　the　gods；　shall　I　do　nothing
  to　hinder　their　inordinate　insolence？　else　let　them　tear　down　my
  trophies　of　Marathon。
  FIRST　SEMI…CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN　　（singing）
  But　look；　to　finish　this　toilsome　climb　only　this　last　steep　bit
  is　left　to　mount。　Truly；　it's　no　easy　job　without　beasts　of　burden；
  and　how　these　logs　do　bruise　my　shoulder！　Still　let　us　carry　on；　and
  blow　up　our　fire　and　see　it　does　not　go　out　just　as　we　reach　our
  destination。　Phew！　phew！　　（Blowing　the　fire）　　Oh！　dear！　what　a
  dreadful　smoke！
  SECOND　SEMI…CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN　　（singing）
  It　bites　my　eyes　like　a　mad　dog。　It　is　Lemnian　fire　for　sure；　or
  it　would　never　devour　my　eyelids　like　this。　Come　on；　Laches；　let's
  hurry；　let's　bring　succour　to　the　goddess；　it's　now　or　never！　Phew！
  phew！　　（Blowing　the　fire）　　Oh　dear！　what　a　confounded　smoke！
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  There　now；　there's　our　fire　all　bright　and　burning；　thank　the
  gods！　Now；　why　not　first　put　down　our　loads　here；　then　take　a
  vine…branch；　light　it　at　the　brazier　and　hurl　it　at　the　gate　by　way　of
  battering…ram？　If　they　don't　answer　our　summons　by　pulling　back　the
  bolts；　then　we　set　fire　to　the　woodwork；　and　the　smoke　will　choke
  them。　Ye　gods！　what　a　smoke！　Pfaugh！　Is　there　never　a　Samian　general
  will　help　me　unload　my　burden？…Ah！　it　shall　not　gall　my　shoulder　any
  more。　　（Setting　down　the　wood）　　Come；　brazier；　do　your　duty；　make
  the　embers　flare；　that　I　may　kindle　a　brand；　I　want　to　be　the　first　to
  hurl　one。　Aid　me；　heavenly　Victory；　let　us　punish　for　their　insolent
  audacity　the　women　who　have　seized　our　citadel；　and　may　we　raise　a
  trophy　of　triumph　for　success！
  （They　begin　to　build　a　fire。　The　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  now　enters；　carrying　pots　of　water。）
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  Oh！　　my　dears；　methinks　I　see　fire　and　smoke；　can　it　be　a
  conflagration？　Let　us　hurry　all　we　can。
  FIRST　SEMI…CHORUS　OF　WOMEN　　（singing）
  Fly；　fly；　Nicodice；　ere　Calyce　and　Critylle　perish　in　the　fire；　or
  are　stifled　in　the　smoke　raised　by　these　accursed　old　men　and　their
  pitiless　laws。　But；　great　gods；　can　it　be　I　come　too　late？　Rising　at
  dawn；　I　had　the　utmost　trouble　to　fill　this　vessel　at　the　fountain。
  Oh！　what　a　crowd　there　was；　and　what　a　din！　What　a　rattling　of
  water…pots！　Servants　and　slave…girls　pushed　and　thronged　me！
  However；　here　I　have　it　full　at　last；　and　I　am　running　to　carry　the
  water　to　my　fellow…townswomen；　whom　our　foes　are　plotting　to　burn
  alive。
  SECOND　SEMI…CHORUS　OF　WOMEN　　（singing）
  News　has　been　brought　us　that　a　company　of　old；　doddering
  grey…beards；　loaded　with　enormous　faggots；　as　if　they　wanted　to　heat　a
  furnace；　have　taken　the　field；　vomiting　dreadful　threats；　crying
  that　they　must　reduce　to　ashes　these　horrible　women。　Suffer　them
  not；　oh！　goddess；　but；　of　thy　grace；　may　I　see　Athens　and　Greece　cured
  of　their　warlike　folly。　'Tis　to　this　end；　oh！　thou　guardian　deity　of
  our　city；　goddess　of　the　golden　crest；　that　they　have　seized　thy
  sanctuary。　Be　their　friend　and　ally；　Athene；　and　if　any　man　hurl
  against　them　lighted　firebrands；　aid　us　to　carry　water　to　extinguish
  them。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  What　is　this　I　see；　ye　wretched　old　men？　Honest　and　pious　folk
  ye　cannot　be　who　act　so　vilely。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  Ah；　ha！　here's　something　new！　a　swarm　of　women　stand　posted
  outside　to　defend　the　gates！
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  Fart　at　us；　would　you？　we　seem　a　mighty　host；　yet　you　do　not　see
  the　ten…thousandth　part　of　our　sex。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  Ho；　Phaedrias！　shall　we　stop　their　cackle？　Suppose　one　of　us
  were　to　break　a　stick　across　their　backs；　eh？
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  Let　us　set　down　our　water…pots　on　the　ground；　to　be　out　of　the
  way；　if　they　should　dare　to　offer　us　violence。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  Let　someone　knock　out　two　or　three　teeth　for　them；　as　they　did
  to　Bupalus；　they　won't　talk　so　loud　then。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  Come　on　then；　I　wait　you　with　unflinching　foot；　and　no　other　bitch
  will　ever　grab　your　balls。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  Silence！　or　my　stick　will　cut　short　your　days。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  Now；　just　you　dare　to　touch　Stratyllis　with　the　tip　of　your
  finger！
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  And　if　I　batter　you　to　pieces　with　my　fists；　what　will　you　do？
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  I　will　tear　out　your　lungs　and　entrails　with　my　teeth。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  Oh！　what　a　clever　poet　is　Euripides！　how　well　he　says　that　woman
  is　the　most　shameless　of　animals。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  Let's　pick　up　our　water…jars　again；　Rhodippe。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  You　damned　women；　what　do　you　mean　to　do　here　with　your　water？
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  And　you；　old　death…in…life；　with　your　fire？　Is　it　to　cremate
  yourself？
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  I　am　going　to　build　you　a　pyre　to　roast　your　female　friends　upon。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  And　I；…I　am　going　to　put　out　your　fire。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  You　put　out　my　fire…you？
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  Yes；　you　shall　soon　see。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  I　don't　know　what　prevents　me　from　roasting　you　with　this　torch。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  I　am　getting　you　a　bath　ready　to　clean　off　the　filth。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  A　bath　for　me；　you　dirty　slut？
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  Yes；　indeed；　a　nuptial　bath…tee　heel
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN　　（turning　to　his　followers）
  Do　you　hear　that？　What　insolence！
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  I　am　a　free　woman；　I　tell　you。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  I　will　make　you　hold　your　tongue；　never　fear！
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  Ah　ha！　you　shall　never　sit　any　more　amongst　the　Heliasts。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN　　（to　his　torch）
  Burn　off　her　hair　for　her！
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN　　（to　her　pot）
  Achelous；　do　your　duty！
  （The　women　pitch　the　water　in　their
  water…pots　over　the　old　men。）
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  Oh；　dear！　oh；　dear！　oh；　dear！
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  Was　it　hot？
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  Hot；　great　gods！　Enough；　enough！
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  I'm　watering　you；　to　make　you　bloom　afresh。
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  Alas！　I　am　too　dry！　Ah；　me　how！　how　I　am　trembling　with　cold！
  （A　MAGISTRATE　enters；　with　a　few　Scythian　policemen。）
  MAGISTRATE
  These　women；　have　they　made　din　enough；　I　wonder；　with　their
  tambourines？　bewept　Adonis　enough　upon　their　terraces？　I　was　listening
  to　the　speeches　last　assembly　day；　and　Demostratus；　whom　heaven
  confound！　was　saying　we　must　all　go　over　to　Sicily…and　lo！　his　wife
  was　dancing　round　repeating：　〃Alas！　alas！　Adonis；　woe　is　me　for
  Adonis！〃　Demostratus　was　saying　we　must　levy　hoplites　at　Zacynthus…and
  there　was　his　wife；　more　than　half　drunk；　screaming　on　the　ho