The women of Greece meet to devise a plan to stop their husbands from fighting the Peloponnesian War…
Lysistrata
Good day Calonice.
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.
Lysistrata
Calonice, it’s more than I can bear, I am hot all over with blushes for our sex. Men say we're slippery rogues—
Calonice
And aren’t they right?
Lysistrata
Yet summoned on the most tremendous business For deliberation, still they snuggle in bed.
Calonice
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.
Lysistrata
But I tell you, here’s a far more weighty object.
Calonice
What is it all about, dear Lysistrata, That you’ve called the women hither in a troop? What kind of an object is it?
Lysistrata
A tremendous thing!
Calonice
And long?
Lysistrata
Indeed, it may be very lengthy.
Calonice
Then why aren't they here?
Lysistrata
No man's connected with it; If that was the case, they'd soon come fluttering along. No, no. It concerns an object I've felt over And turned this way and that for sleepless nights.
Calonice
It must be fine to stand such long attention.
Lysistrata
So fine it comes to this—Greece saved by Woman!
Lysistrata
Then I'll expose my mighty mystery. O women, if we would compel the men To bow to Peace, we must refrain—
Myrrhine
From what? O tell us!
Lysistrata
Will you truly do it then?
Myrrhine
We will, we will, if we must die for it.
Lysistrata
We must refrain from every depth of love… Why do you turn your backs? Where are you going? Why do you bite your lips and shake your heads? Why are your faces blanched? Why do you weep? Will you or won't you, or what do you mean?
Lysistrata
To husband or lover I'll not open arms.
Calonice
To husband or lover I'll not open arms
Lysistrata
Though love and denial may enlarge his charms.
Calonice
Though love and denial may enlarge his charms.
O, O, my knees are failing me, Lysistrata!
Lysistrata
But still at home, ignoring him, I'll stay,
Calonice
But still at home, ignoring him, I'll stay,
Lysistrata
Beautiful, clad in saffron silks all day.
Calonice
Beautiful, clad in saffron silks all day.
Lysistrata
If then he seizes me by dint of force,
Calonice
If then he seizes me by dint of force,
Lysistrata
I'll give him reason for a long remorse.
Calonice
I'll give him reason for a long remorse.
Lysistrata
I'll never lie and stare up at the ceiling,
Calonice
I'll never lie and stare up at the ceiling,
Lysistrata
Nor like a lion on all fours go kneeling.
Calonice
Nor like a lion on all fours go kneeling.
Lysistrata
If I keep faith, then bounteous cups be mine.
Calonice
If I keep faith, then bounteous cups be mine.
Lysistrata
If not, to nauseous water change this wine.
Calonice
If not, to nauseous water change this wine.
Lysistrata
Do you all swear to this?
Myrrhine
We do, we do.
(Aristophanes, Lysistrata, text from Project Gutenberg)