Part 11 (1/2)

MAGISTRATE

Why do you women come prying and meddling in matters of state touching war-time and peace?

LYSISTRATA

That I will tell you.

MAGISTRATE

O tell me or quickly I'll--

LYSISTRATA

Hearken awhile and from threatening cease.

MAGISTRATE

I cannot, I cannot; it's growing too insolent.

WOMEN

Come on; you've far more than we have to dread.

MAGISTRATE

Stop from your croaking, old carrion-crow there....

Continue.

LYSISTRATA

Be calm then and I'll go ahead.

All the long years when the hopeless war dragged along we, una.s.suming, forgotten in quiet, Endured without question, endured in our loneliness all your incessant child's antics and riot.

Our lips we kept tied, though aching with silence, though well all the while in our silence we knew How wretchedly everything still was progressing by listening dumbly the day long to you.

For always at home you continued discussing the war and its politics loudly, and we Sometimes would ask you, our hearts deep with sorrowing though we spoke lightly, though happy to see, ”What's to be inscribed on the side of the Treaty-stone What, dear, was said in the a.s.sembly today?”

”Mind your own business,” he'd answer me growlingly ”hold your tongue, woman, or else go away.”

And so I would hold it.

WOMEN

I'd not be silent for any man living on earth, no, not I!

MAGISTRATE

Not for a staff?

LYSISTRATA

Well, so I did nothing but sit in the house, feeling dreary, and sigh, While ever arrived some fresh tale of decisions more foolish by far and presaging disaster.

Then I would say to him, ”O my dear husband, why still do they rush on destruction the faster?”