CHORUS
Lo here from Sparta the envoys come: in a pitiful plight they are hobbling in. Heavily hangs each reverend beard; heavily droops and trails from the chin. Laconian envoys! first I bid you welcome, And next I ask how goes the world with you?
LACONIAN I needna mony words to answer that! ’Tis unco plain hoo the warld gangs wi’ us.
CHORUS Dear, dear, this trouble grows from bad to worse.
LACONIAN ’Tis awfu’ bad: ’tis nae gude talkin’, cummer. We maun hae peace whatever gaet we gang till’t.
CHORUS And here, good faith, I see our own Autochthons Bustling along. They seem in trouble too.
ATHENIAN Can some good soul inform me where to find Lysistrata? our men are (shrugging his shoulders) as you see.
CHORUS Sure, we are smitten with the same complaint. Say, don’t you get a fit i’ the early morning?
ATHENIAN Why, we are all worn out with doing this: So Cleisthenes will have to serve our turn Unless we can procure a speedy peace.
CHORUS If you are wise, wrap up, unless you wish One of those Hermes-choppers to catch sight o’ you.
ATHENIAN Prudent advice, by Zeus.
LACONIAN Aye, by the Twa: Gie us the clout to cover up oorsels.
ATHENIAN Aha, Laconians! a bad business this.
LACONIAN "Deed is it, lovey; though it grow nae waur, Gin they see us too all agog like this.
ATHENIAN Well, well, Laconians, come to facts at once. What brings you here?
LACONIAN We’re envoys sent to claver Anent a Peace.
ATHENIAN Ah, just the same as we. Then let’s call out Lysistrata at once, There’s none but she can make us friends again.
LACONIAN Ay, by the Twa, ca’ oot Lysistrata.
ATHENIAN Nay, here she is! no need, it seems, to call. She heard your voices, and she comes uncalled.
CHORUS O Lady, noblest and best of all! arise, arise, and thyself reveal, Gentle, severe, attractive, harsh, well skilled with all our complaints to deal, The first and foremost of Hellas come, they are caught by the charm of thy spell-drawn wheel, They come to Thee to adjust their claims, disputes to settle, and strifes to heal.
LYSISTRATA And no such mighty matter, if you take them In Love’s first passion, still unsatisfied. I’ll try them now. Go, RECONCILIATION, Bring those Laconians hither, not with rude Ungenial harshness hurrying them along, Not in the awkward style our husbands used, But with all tact, as only women can. So; so: now bring me those Athenians too. Now then, Laconians, stand beside me here, And you stand there, and listen to my words. I am a woman, but I don’t lack sense;
LYSISTRATA I’m of myself not badly off for brains, And often listening to my father’s words And old men’s talk, I’ve not been badly schooled. And now, dear friends, I wish to chide you both, That ye, all of one blood, all brethren sprinkling The selfsame altars from the selfsame laver, At Pylae, Pytho, and Olympia, ay And many others which ’twere long to name, That ye, Hellenes—with barbarian foes Armed, looking on—fight and destroy Hellenes! So far one reprimand includes you both.
ATHENIAN And I, I’m dying all for love, sweetheart.
LYSISTRATA And ye, Laconians, for I’ll turn to you, Do ye not mind how Pericleidas came, (His coat was scarlet but his cheeks were white), And sat a suppliant at Athenian altars And begged for help? ’Twas when Messene pressed Weighing you down, and God’s great earthquake too. And Cimon went, Athenian Cimon went With his four thousand men, and saved your State. And ye, whom Athens aided, now in turn Ravage the land which erst befriended you.
ATHENIAN Fore Zeus they’re wrong, they’re wrong, Lysistrata
LACONIAN O ay, we’re wrang, but she’s a braw ane, she.
LYSISTRATA And you, Athenians, think ye that I mean To let You off? Do ye not mind, when ye Wore skirts of hide, how these Laconians came
LYSISTRATA And stood beside you in the fight alone, And slew full many a stout Thessalian trooper, Full many of Hippias’s friends and helpers, And freed the State, and gave your people back The civic mantle for the servile skirt?
LACONIAN Danged, an’ there ever waur a bonnier lassie!
ATHENIAN Hanged if I ever saw so sweet a creature!
LYSISTRATA Such friends aforetime, helping each the other, What is it makes you fight and bicker now? Why can’t ye come to terms? Why can’t ye, hey?
LACONIAN Troth an’ we’re willin’, gin they gie us back Yon girdled neuk.
ATHENIAN What’s that?
LACONIAN Pylus, ye ninny, Whilk we’ve been aye langin’ an’ graipin’ for.
ATHENIAN No, by Poseidon, but you won’t get that.
LYSISTRATA O let them have it, man.
ATHENIAN How can we stir Without it?
LYSISTRATA Ask for something else instead.
ATHENIAN Hum! haw! let’s see; suppose they give us back Echinus first, then the full-bosomed gulf Of Melis, then the straight Megaric limbs.
LACONIAN Eh, mon, ye’re daft; ye’ll no hae everything.
LYSISTRATA O let it be: don’t wrangle about the limbs.
ATHENIAN I’fecks, I’d like to strip, and plough my field?
LACONIAN An’ I to bring the midden, by the Twa.
LYSISTRATA All this ye’ll do, when once ye come to terms.
LYSISTRATA So if ye would, go and consult together And talk it over, each with your allies.
ATHENIAN Allies, says she! Now my good soul consider: What do they want, what can they want, but this, Their wives again?
LACONIAN The fient anither wiss Ha’ mine, I ween.
ATHENIAN Nor my Carystians either.
LYSISTRATA O that is well: so purify yourselves; And in the Acropolis we’ll feast you all On what our cupboards still retain in store. There, each to other, plight your oath and troth, Then every man receive his wife again, And hie off homeward
ATHENIAN That we will, and quickly.
LACONIAN Gae on: we’se follow.
ATHENIAN Ay, as quick as quick.
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