there　was　his　wife；　more　than　half　drunk；　screaming　on　the　house…roof：
  〃Weep；　weep　for　Adonis！〃…while　that　infamous　Mad　Ox　was　bellowing　away
  on　his　side。…Do　you　not　blush；　you　women；　for　your　wild　and　uproarious
  doings？
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  But　you　don't　know　all　their　effrontery　yet！　They　abused　and
  insulted　us；　then　soused　us　with　the　water　in　their　water…pots；　and
  have　set　us　wringing　out　our　clothes；　for　all　the　world　as　if　we　had
  bepissed　ourselves。
  MAGISTRATE
  And　well　done　too；　by　Posidon！　We　men　must　share　the　blame　of
  their　ill　conduct；　it　is　we　who　teach　them　to　love　riot　and
  dissoluteness　and　sow　the　seeds　of　wickedness　in　their　hearts。　You　see
  a　husband　go　into　a　shop：　〃Look　you；　jeweller；〃　says　he；　〃you　remember
  the　necklace　you　made　for　my　wife。　Well；　the　other　evening；　when　she
  was　dancing；　the　catch　came　open。　Now；　I　am　bound　to　start　for
  Salamis；　will　you　make　it　convenient　to　go　up　to…night　to　make　her
  fastening　secure？〃　Another　will　go　to　the　cobbler；　a　great；　strong
  fellow；　with　a　great；　long　tool；　and　tell　him：　〃The　strap　of　one　of　my
  wife's　sandals　presses　her　little　toe；　which　is　extremely　sensitive；
  come　in　about　midday　to　supple　the　thing　and　stretch　it。〃　Now　see
  the　results。　Take　my　own　case…as　a　Magistrate　I　have　enlisted
  rowers；　I　want　money　to　pay　them；　and　the　women　slam　the　door　in　my
  face。　But　why　do　we　stand　here　with　arms　crossed？　Bring　me　a
  crowbar；　I'll　chastise　their　insolence！…Ho！　there；　my　fine　fellow！
  （to　one　of　the　Scythians）　　what　are；　you　gaping　at　the　crows　for？
  looking　for　a　tavern；　I　suppose；　eh？　Come　on；　bring　crowbars　here；　and
  force　open　the　gates。　I　will　put　a　hand　to　the　work　myself。
  LYSISTRATA　　（opening　the　gate　and　walking　out）
  No　need　to　force　the　gates；　I　am　coming　out…here　I　am。　And　why
  bolts　and　bars？　What　we　want　here　is　not　bolts　and　bars　and　locks；　but
  common　sense。
  MAGISTRATE　　（jumping　nervously；　then　striving　manfully　to　regain　his
  dignity）
  Really；　my　fine　lady！　Where　is　my　officer？　I　want　him　to　tie
  that　woman's　hands　behind　her　back。
  LYSISTRATA
  By　Artemis；　the　virgin　goddess！　if　he　touches　me　with　the　tip　of
  his　finger；　officer　of　the　public　peace　though　he　be；　let　him　look　out
  for　himself！
  （The　first　Scythian　defecates　in　terror。）
  MAGISTRATE　　（to　another　officer）
  How　now；　are　you　afraid？　Seize　her；　I　tell　you；　round　the　body。
  Two　of　you　at　her；　and　have　done　with　it！
  CLEONICE
  By　Pandrosos！　if　you　lay　a　hand　on　her；　Ill　trample　you
  underfoot　till　the　crap　comes　out　of　you！
  （The　second　Scythian　defecates　in　terror。）
  MAGISTRATE
  Look　at　the　mess　you've　made！　Where　is　there　another　officer？　　（To
  the　third　Scythian）　　Bind　that　minx　first；　the　one　who　speaks　so
  prettily！
  MYRRHINE
  By　Phoebe；　if　you　touch　her　with　one　finger；　you'd　better　call
  quick　for　a　surgeon！
  （The　third　Scythian　defecates　in　terror。）
  MAGISTRATE
  What's　that？　Where's　the　officer？　　（To　the　fourth　Scythian）　　Lay
  hold　of　her。　Oh！　but　I'm　going　to　stop　your　foolishness　for　you　all
  CLEONICE
  By　the　Tauric　Artemis；　if　you　go　near　her；　I'll　pull　out　your
  hair；　scream　as　you　like。
  （The　fourth　Scythian　defecates　in　terror。）
  MAGISTRATE
  Ah！　miserable　man　that　I　am！　My　own　officers　desert　me。　What　ho！
  are　we　to　let　ourselves　be　bested　by　a　mob　of　women？　Ho！　Scythians
  mine；　close　up　your　ranks；　and　forward！
  LYSISTRATA
  By　the　holy　goddesses！　you'll　have　to　make　acquaintance　with
  four　companies　of　women；　ready　for　the　fray　and　well　armed　to　boot。
  MAGISTRATE
  Forward；　Scythians；　and　bind　them！
  （The　Scythians　advance　reluctantly。）
  LYSISTRATA
  Forward；　my　gallant　companions；　march　forth；　ye　vendors　of　grain
  and　eggs；　garlic　and　vegetables；　keepers　of　taverns　and　bakeries；
  wrench　and　strike　and　tear；　come；　a　torrent　of　invective　and　insult！
  （They　beat　the　Scythians　who　retire　in　haste。）　　Enough；　enough　now
  retire；　never　rob　the　vanquished！
  （The　women　withdraw。）
  MAGISTRATE
  How　unfortunate　for　my　officers！
  LYSISTRATA
  Ah；　ha！　so　you　thought　you　had　only　to　do　with　a　set　of
  slave…women！　you　did　not　know　the　ardour　that　fills　the　bosom　of
  free…born　dames。
  MAGISTRATE
  Ardour！　yes；　by　Apollo；　ardour　enough…especially　for　the　wine…cup！
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN
  Sir；　sir　what　good　are　words？　they　are　of　no　avail　with　wild
  beasts　of　this　sort。　Don't　you　know　how　they　have　just　washed　us
  down…and　with　no　very　fragrant　soap！
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  What　would　you　have？　You　should　never　have　laid　rash　hands　on
  us。　If　you　start　afresh；　I'll　knock　your　eyes　out。　My　delight　is　to
  stay　at　home　as　coy　as　a　young　maid；　without　hurting　anybody　or　moving
  any　more　than　a　milestone；　but　'ware　the　wasps；　if　you　go　stirring
  up　the　wasps'　nest！
  CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN　　（singing）
  Ah！　great　gods！　how　get　the　better　of　these　ferocious　creatures？
  'tis　past　all　bearing！　But　come；　let　us　try　to　find　out　the　reason
  of　the　dreadful　scourge。　With　what　end　in　view　have　they　seized　the
  citadel　of　Cranaus；　the　sacred　shrine　that　is　raised　upon　the
  inaccessible　rock　of　the　Acropolis？
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　OLD　MEN　　（to　the　MAGISTRATE）
  Question　them；　be　cautious　and　not　too　credulous。　It　would　be
  culpable　negligence　not　to　pierce　the　mystery；　if　we　may。
  MAGISTRATE　　（addressing　the　women）
  I　would　ask　you　first　why　you　have　barred　our　gates。
  LYSISTRATA
  To　seize　the　treasury；　no　more　money；　no　more　war。
  MAGISTRATE
  Then　money　is　the　cause　of　the　war？
  LYSISTRATA
  And　of　all　our　troubles。　It　was　to　find　occasion　to　steal　that
  Pisander　and　all　the　other　agitators　were　forever　raising　revolutions。
  Well　and　good！　but　they'll　never　get　another　drachma　here。
  MAGISTRATE
  What　do　you　propose　to　do　then；　pray？
  LYSISTRATA
  You　ask　me　that！　Why；　we　propose　to　administer　the　treasury
  ourselves。
  MAGISTRATE
  You　do？
  LYSISTRATA
  What　is　there　in　that　to　surprise　you？　Do　we　not　administer　the
  budget　of　household　expenses？
  MAGISTRATE
  But　that　is　not　the　same　thing。
  LYSISTRATA
  How　so…not　the　same　thing？
  MAGISTRATE
  It　is　the　treasury　supplies　the　expenses　of　the　war。
  LYSISTRATA
  That's　our　first　principle…no　war！
  MAGISTRATE
  What！　and　the　safety　of　the　city？
  LYSISTRATA
  We　will　provide　for　that。
  MAGISTRATE
  You？
  LYSISTRATA
  Yes；　we！
  MAGISTRATE
  What　a　sorry　business！
  LYSISTRATA
  Yes；　we're　going　to　save　you；　whether　you　like　it　or　not。
  MAGISTRATE
  Oh！　the　impudence　of　the　creatures！
  LYSISTRATA
  You　seem　annoyed！　but　it　has　to　be　done；　nevertheless。
  MAGISTRATE
  But　it's　the　very　height　of　iniquity！
  LYSISTRATA　　（testily）
  We're　going　to　save　you；　my　good　man。
  MAGISTRATE
  But　if　I　don't　want　to　be　saved？
  LYSISTRATA
  Why；　all　the　more　reason！
  MAGISTRATE
  But　what　a　notion；　to　concern　yourselves　with　questions　of　peace
  and　war！
  LYSISTRATA
  We　will　explain　our　idea。
  MAGISTRATE
  Out　with　it　then；　quick；　or。。。　（threatening　her）。
  LYSISTRATA　　（sternly）
  Listen；　and　never　a　movement；　please！
  MAGISTRATE　　（in　impotent　rage）
  Oh！　it　is　too　much　for　me！　I　cannot　keep　my　temper！
  LEADER　OF　CHORUS　OF　WOMEN
  Then　look　out　for　yourself；　you　have　more　to　fear　than　we　have。
  MAGISTRATE
  Stop　your　croaking；　you　old　crow！　　（To　LYSISTRATA）　　Now　you；　say
  what　you　have　to　say。
  LYSISTRATA
  Willingly。　All　the　long　time　the　war　has　lasted；　we　have　endured
  in　modest　silence　all　you　men　did；　you　never　allowed　us　to　open　our
  lips。　We　were　far　from　satisfied；　for　we　knew　how　things　were　going；
  often　in　our　homes　we　would　hear　you　discussing；　upside　down　and
  inside　out；　some　important　turn　of　affairs。　Then　with　sad　hearts；
  but　smiling　lips；　we　would　ask　you：　Well；　in　today's　Assembly　did　they
  vote　peace？…But；　〃Mind　your　own　business！〃　the　husband　would　growl；
  〃Hold　your　tongue；　please！〃　And　we　would　say　no　more。
  CLEONICE
  I　would　not　have　held　my　tongue　though；　not　I！
  MAGISTRATE
  You　would　have　been　reduced　to　silence　by　blows　then。
  LYSISTRATA
  Well；　for　my　part；　I　would　say　no　more。　But　presently　I　would　come
  to　know　you　had　arrived　at　some　fresh　decision　more　fatally　foolish