Consequently the critics lay the emphasis on the effort
to cleanse society, not the method of laughter.
Aristophanes wished to destroy Cleon because that
demagogue failed to realize the poet’s conception
of dignified government and tended to upset the stability
of Hellas. But it was the stability of life,
the vindication of all individual freedoms, in which
he was ultimately interested.
JACK LINDSAY.
* * * *
*
The Persons of the drama.
LYSISTRATA
CALONICE
MYRRHINE
LAMPITO
Stratyllis, etc.
Chorus of Women.
MAGISTRATE
CINESIAS
SPARTAN HERALD
ENVOYS
ATHENIANS
Porter, Market Idlers, etc.
Chorus of old Men.
LYSISTRATA stands alone with the Propylaea at her
back.
If they were trysting for a Bacchanal,
A feast of Pan or Colias or Genetyllis,
The tambourines would block the rowdy streets,
But now there’s not a woman to be seen
Except—ah, yes—this neighbour
of mine yonder.
Enter CALONICE.
Good day Calonice.
Good day Lysistrata.
But what has vexed you so? Tell me, child.
What are these black looks for? It doesn’t
suit you
To knit your eyebrows up glumly like that.
Calonice, it’s more than I can bear,
I am hot all over with blushes for our sex.
Men say we’re slippery rogues—
And aren’t they right?
Yet summoned on the most tremendous business
For deliberation, still they snuggle in bed.
My dear, they’ll come. It’s hard
for women, you know,
To get away. There’s so much to do;
Husbands to be patted and put in good tempers:
Servants to be poked out: children washed
Or soothed with lullays or fed with mouthfuls of pap.
But I tell you, here’s a far more weighty object.
What is it all about, dear Lysistrata,
That you’ve called the women hither in a troop?
What kind of an object is it?
A tremendous thing!
And long?
Indeed, it may be very lengthy.
