Chapter 1
SCENE 1 of LISISTRATA. LISISTRATA. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Dramatis Personae.
LISISTRATA. Read by Avaei. CALONIKE. Read by Lianya. MIERINE.
Read by Lian. LAMPITO. Read by Clarinet Carrot. Stratilis, read by Lydia. First woman, read by Leanne Yar.
Second woman, read by Daphne Ma. Third woman, read by Sonia. Fourth woman, read by Sawa Sawaia. A woman, read by Sandra Schmidt. Chorus of women, read by Eva Davis.
Slave, read by Esther Kamis. Child, read by Lydia. Magistrate, read by Rob Baud. Kinesias, read by Zames Curran Old Man, read by Alan Mapstone
Chorus of Old Men, read by Peter Tucker Herald, read by Sean Lally Laconian, by Maparar Chorus of Laconians, read by Alan Mapstone Athenian, read by Nemo
Chorus of Athenians, read by Thomas Peter Market lounger. Wrathu. Narrated by Kay Hand. Lysistrata by Aristophanes.
Scenes. In a public square at Athens, afterwards before the gates of the Acropolis, and finally within the precincts of the Citadel. Scene 1.
In a public square at Athens. Lysistrata alone. Ah, if only they had been invited to a Bachig reveling, or a feast of Pan or Aphrodite or Genetilis. Why, the streets would have been impassable for the thronging tambourines.
Now there's never a woman here. Ah, except my neighbour Kalonike, whom I see approaching yonder. Good day, Kalonike. Good day, Lysistrata. But pray, why this dark, forbidding face, my dear?
Believe me, you don't look a bit pretty with those black, luring brows. Oh, Kalonike, my heart is on fire. I blush for our sex. Men will have it. We are tricky and sly.
And they are quite right, upon my word. Yet, look you, when the women are summoned to meet for a matter of the last importance, they lie abate instead of coming. Oh, they will come, my dear. But tis not easy, you know.
for women to leave the house. One is busy pottering about her husband, another is getting the servant up, a third is putting her child asleep, or washing the brat, or feeding it.
But I tell you, the business that calls them here is far and away more urgent. And why do you summon us, dear Lizistrata? What is it all about? About a big affair.
And is it thick, too? Yes, indeed, both big and great. And we are not all on the spot. Oh, if it were what you suppose, there would be never an absentee. No, no, it concerns a thing I have turned about and about this way and that of many sleepless nights.
It must be something mighty fine and subtle for you to have turned it about so. So fine, it means just this, Greece saved by the women. By women! Why, its salvation hangs on a poor thread, then. Our country's fortunes depend on us. It is with us to undo utterly the Peloponnesians.
That would be a noble deed, truly. To exterminate the Boeotians to a man. But surely you would spare the eels. For Athens' sake, I will never threaten Sophallidum. Trust me for that.
However, if the Boeotian and Peloponnesian women join us, Greece is saved. But how should women perform so wise and glorious in achievement? We women who dwell in the retirement of the household, clad in diaphanous garments of yellow silk and long flowing gowns, decked out with flowers and shod with dainty little slippers.
Nay, but those are the very sheet anchors of our salvation. those yellow tunics, those scents and slippers, those cosmetics and transparent robes. How so, pray? There is not a man will wield a lance against another. Quick, I will get me a yellow tunic from the dyers.
Or want a shield. I'll run and put on a flowing gown. Or draw a sword. I'll haste and buy a pair of slippers this instant. Now tell me, would not the women have done best to come?
Why, they should have flown here. Ah, my dear, you'll see that like true Athenians they will do everything too late. Why, there's not a woman come from the shoreward parts, not one from Salamis. But I know for certain they embarked at daybreak. And the dames from Akarnay.
Why, I thought they would have been the very first to arrive. Theagina's wife, at any rate, is sure to come. She has actually been to consult Hecate. But look, here are some arrivals, and there are more behind. Aha! Now, what countrywomen may they be?
They are from Anagira. Yes, upon my word, tis a levy en masse of all the female population of Anagira. Are we late, Lysistrada? Tell us, pray. What not a word. I cannot say much for you, Merchine. You have not bestirred yourself over much for an affair of such urgency.
I could not find my girl, though, in the dark. However, if the matter is so pressing, here we are. So speak. No, but let us wait a moment more till the women of Boeotia arrive and those from the Peloponnese.
Yes, that is best. Ah, here comes Lampito. Ah, good day, Lampito, dear friend from Lacedaemon. how well and handsome you look what a rosy complexion and how strong you seem why you could strangle a bull surely yes indeed i really think i could tis because i do gymnastics and practise the kick-dance and what superb bosoms la you are feeling me as if i were a beast for sacrifice and this young woman what countrywoman is she she is a noble lady from
ah my pretty boeotian friend you are as blooming as a garden yes on my word and the garden is so prettily weeded too and who is this tis an honest woman by my faith she comes from corinth Oh, honest no doubt, then. As honesty goes at Corinth. But who has called together this council of women, pray? I have. Well, then, tell us what you want of us.
With pleasure, my dear. What is the most important business you wish to inform us about? I will tell you. But first answer me one question. What is that? Don't you feel sad and sorry because the fathers of your children are far away from you with the army?
For I'll undertake there is not one of you whose husband is not abroad at this moment. Mine has been the last five months in Thrace, looking after Eucrates. It is seven long months since mine left me for Pylos. As for mine, if he ever does return from service, he's no sooner back than he takes down his shield again and flies back to the walls.
And not so much as the shadow of a lover. Since the day the Malaysians betrayed us, I have never once seen an eight-inch-long goudmiche even, to be a leathern consolation to us poor widows. Now, tell me, if I have discovered a means of ending the war, will you all second me? Yes, verily. But all the goddesses, I swear I will. Though I have to put my gown in palm and drink the money the same day. and so will i though i must be split in two like a flat fish and have half myself removed and i too why to secure peace i'll climb to the top of mount tegettus then i will out with it at last my mighty secret oh sister women if we would compel our husbands to make peace we must refrain refrain from what tell us tell us But will you do it?
We will, we will, though we should die of it. We must refrain from the male organ altogether. Nay, why do you turn your backs on me? Where are you going? So you bite your lips and shake your heads, eh?
Why these pale, sad looks? Why these tears? Come, will you do it, yes or no? Do you hesitate? No, I will not do it. Let the war go on.
And you, my pretty flatfish, who declared just now they might split you in two? Anything, anything but that. Bid me go through the fire, if you will. But to rob us of the sweetest thing in all the world, my dear, dear Lizistrata. And you? Yes, I agree with the others. I too would sooner go through the fire.
oh wanton vicious sex the poets have done well to make tragedies upon us we are good for nothing then but love and lewdness but you my dear you from hardy sparta if you join me all may yet be well help me second me i conjure you tis a hard thing by the two goddesses it is for a woman to sleep alone without ever a standing weapon in her bed but there peace must come first oh my dear my dearest best friend you are the only one deserving the name of woman but if which the gods forbid we do refrain altogether from what you say should we get peace any sooner Of course we should, by the goddess's twain. We need only sit indoors with painted cheeks,
and meet our mates lightly clad in transparent gowns of amorgous silk, and with our moths nicely plucked smooth. Then their tools will stand like mad, and they will be wild to lie with us. That will be the time to refuse, and they will hasten to make peace. I am convinced of that.
Yes, just as Menelaus, when he saw Helen's naked bosom, threw away his sword, they say. But, poor devils, suppose our husbands go away and leave us? Then, as Pherecrates says, we must flay a skinned dog. That's all. Bah! These proverbs are all idle talk. But if our husbands drag us by main force into the bedchamber?
Hold on to the doorposts. but if they beat us then yield to their wishes but with a bad grace there is no pleasure for them when they do it by force besides there are a thousand ways of tormenting them never fear they'll soon tire of the game there's no satisfaction for a man unless the woman shares it very well if you will have it so we agree for ourselves no doubt we shall persuade our husbands to conclude a fair and honest peace but there is the athenian populace how are we to cure these folk of their warlike frenzy have no fear we undertake to make our own people here reason nay impossible so long as they have their trusty ships and the vast treasures stored in the temple of athene
Ah, but we have seen to that. This very day the Acropolis will be in our hands. That is the task assigned to the older women. While we are here in council, they are going, under pretense of offering sacrifice, to seize the citadel.
Well said indeed. So everything is going for the best. Come quick, Lampito, and let us bind ourselves by an inviolable oath. Recite the terms. We will swear to them. With pleasure. where is our usheress now what are you staring at pray lay this shield on the earth before us its hollow upwards and some one bring me the victims inwards
say what oath are we to swear what oath why in eisculus they sacrifice a sheep and swear over a buckler we will do the same no lizistrata one cannot swear peace over a buckler surely what other oath do you prefer let's take a white horse and sacrifice it and swear on its entrails but where get a white horse from well what oath shall we take then listen to me let's set a great black bowl on the ground let's sacrifice a skin of thasian wine into it and take oath not to add one single drop of water ah that's an oath pleases me more than i can say Let them bring me a bowl and a skin of wine. Ah, my dears, what a noble big bowl!
What a delight will be to empty it! Set the bowl down on the ground and lay your hands on the victim. Almighty goddess Persuasion, and thou, bowl, boon comrade of joy and merriment, receive this our sacrifice and be propitious to us poor women.
Oh, the fine red blood! How well it flows! And what a delicious savour by the goddess's twain. Now, my dears, let me swear first, if you please. No, by the goddess of love. Let us decide that by lot. Come then, Lampito, and all of you, put your hands to the bowl.
And do you, Kalonike, repeat in the name of all the solemn terms I am going to recite. Then you must all swear and pledge yourselves by the same promises. I will have naught to do whether with lover or husband. Albeit he come to me with stiff and standing tool. Oh, busy Strata, I cannot bear it.
I will live at home in perfect chastity. Beautifully dressed and wearing a saffron-coloured gown. To the end I may inspire my husband with the most ardent longings. Never will I give myself voluntarily. And if he has me by force,
And if he has me by force? I will be cold as ice and never stir a limb. I will be cold as ice and never stir a limb. I will not lift my legs in air. I will not lift my legs in air.
Nor will I crouch with bottom upraised like carven lions on a knife handle. Nor will I crouch with bottom upraised like carven lions on a knife handle. And if I keep my oath, may I be suffered to drink of this wine. And if I keep my oath, may I be suffered to drink of this wine. But if I break it, let my bowl be filled with water.
But if I break it, let my bowl be filled with water. Will you all take this oath? Yes, yes. Then lo, I immolate the victim. She drinks.
Enough, enough, my dear. Now let us all drink in turn to cement our friendship. Hark! What do those cries mean? Tis what I was telling you. The women have just occupied the Acropolis. So now, Lampito, do you return to Sparta to organise the plot while your comrades here remain as hostages? For ourselves, let us away to join the rest in the citadel and let us push the bolts well home.
But don't you think the men will march up against us? I laugh at them. Neither threats nor flames shall force our doors. They shall open only on the conditions I have named. Yes, yes, by the goddess of love. Let us keep up our all-time repute for obstinacy and spite.
