lysistrata-第8章
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And now a word to the Athenians。 Have you no memory left of how；
in the days when you wore the tunic of slaves； the Laconians came；
spear in hand； and slew a host of Thessalians and partisans of Hippias
the tyrant？ They； and they only； fought on your side on that
eventful day； they delivered you from despotism； and thanks to them
our nation could change the short tunic of the slave for the long
cloak of the free man。
LACONIAN ENVOY （looking at LYSISTRATA）
I have never see a woman of more gracious dignity。
MAGISTRATE （looking at PEACE）
I have never seen a woman with a finer body！
LYSISTRATA
Bound by such ties of mutual kindness； how can you bear to be at
war？ Stop； stay the hateful strife； be reconciled； what hinders you？
LACONIAN ENVOY
We are quite ready； if they will give us back our rampart。
LYSISTRATA
What rampart； my dear man？
LACONIAN ENVOY
Pylos； which we have been asking for and craving for ever so long。
MAGISTRATE
In the Sea…god's name； you shall never have it！
LYSISTRATA
Agree； my friends； agree。
MAGISTRATE
But then what city shall we be able to stir up trouble in？
LYSISTRATA
Ask for another place in exchange。
MAGISTRATE
Ah！ that's the ticket！ Well； to begin with； give us Echinus； the
Maliac gulf adjoining； and the two legs of Megara。
LACONIAN ENVOY
No； by the Dioscuri； surely not all that； my dear sir。
LYSISTRATA
Come to terms； never make a difficulty of two legs more or less！
MAGISTRATE （his eye on PEACE）
Well； I'm ready to strip down and get to work right now。
（He takes off his mantle。）
LACONIAN ENVOY （following out this idea）
And I also； to dung it to start with。
LYSISTRATA
That's just what you shall do； once peace is signed。 So； if you
really want to make it； go consult your allies about the matter。
MAGISTRATE
What allies； I should like to know？ Why； we are all erected；
there's no one who is not mad to be mating。 What we all want is to
be in bed with our wives； how should our allies fail to second our
project？
LACONIAN ENVOY
And ours too； for certain sure！
MAGISTRATE
The Carystians first and foremost by the gods！
LYSISTRATA
Well said； indeed！ Now go and purify yourselves for entering the
Acropolis； where the women invite you to supper； we will empty our
provision baskets to do you honour。 At table； you will exchange
oaths and pledges； then each man will go home with his wife。
MAGISTRATE
Come along then； and as quick as may be。
LACONIAN ENVOY
Lead on； I'm your man。
MAGISTRATE
Quick； quick's the word； say I。
（They follow LYSISTRATA into the Acropolis。）
CHORUS OF WOMEN （singing）
Embroidered stuffs； and dainty tunics； and flowing gowns； and
golden ornaments； everything I have； I offer them to you with all my
heart； take them all for your children； for your girls； in case they
are chosen Canephori。 I invite you every one to enter； come in and
choose whatever you will； there is nothing so well fastened； you
cannot break the seals； and carry away the contents。 Look about you
everywhere。 。 。 you won't find a blessed thing； unless you have
sharper eyes than mine。 And if any of you lacks corn to feed his
slaves and his young and numerous family； why； I have a few grains
of wheat at home； let him take what I have to give； a big twelve…pound
loaf included。 So let my poorer neighbours all come with bags and
wallets； my man； Manes； shall give them corn； but I warn them not to
come near my door； but…beware the dog！
（Another MAGISTRATE enters； and begins knocking at the gate。）
SECOND MAGISTRATE
I say； you； open the door！ （To the WOMEN） Go your way； I tell
you。 （As the women sit down in front of the gate） Why； bless me；
they're sitting down now； I shall have to singe 'em with my torch to
make 'em stir！ What impudence！ I won't take this。 Oh； well； if it's
absolutely necessary； just to please you； we'll have to take the
trouble。
AN ATHENIAN
And I'll share it with you。
（He brandishes the torch he is carrying and the CHORUS OF WOMEN
departs。 The CHORUS OF OLD MEN follows shortly after。）
SECOND MAGISTRATE
No； no； you must be off…or I'll tear your hair out； I will； be
off； I say； and don't annoy the Laconian envoys； they're just coming
out from the banquet…ball。
ATHENIAN
Such a merry banquet I've never seen before！ The Laconians were
simply charming。 After the drink is in； why； we're all wise men； every
one of us。
MAGISTRATE
It's only natural； to be sure； for sober； we're all fools。 Take my
advice； my fellow…countrymen； our envoys should always be drunk。 We go
to Sparta； we enter the city sober； why； we must be picking a
quarrel directly。 We don't understand what they say to us； we
imagine a lot they don't say at all； and we report home all wrong； all
topsy…urvy。 But； look you； to…day it's quite different； we're
enchanted whatever happens； instead of Clitagora； they might sing us
Telamon； and we should clap our hands just the same。 A perjury or
two into the bargain； why！ What does that matter to merry companions
in their cups？ （The two CHORUSES return。） But here they are back
again！ Will you begone； you loafing scoundrels。
（The CHORUSES retire again。）
ATHENIAN
Ah ha！ here's the company coming out already。
（Two choruses； one Laconian and one Athenian； enter； dancing to
the music of flutes； they are followed by the women under the
leadership of LYSISTRATA。）
A LACONIAN
My dear； sweet friend； come； take your flute in hand； I would fain
dance and sing my best in honour of the Athenians and our noble
selves。
ATHENIAN
Yes； take your flute； in the gods'name。 What a delight to see
him dance！
LACONIAN （dancing and singing）
Oh！ Mnemosyne！ inspire these men； inspire my muse who knows our
exploits and those of the Athenians。 With what a god…like ardour did
they swoop down at Artemisium on the ships of the Medes！ What a
glorious victory was that！ For the soldiers of Leonidas； they were
like fierce boars whetting their tusks。 The sweat ran down their
faces； and drenched all their limbs； for verily the Persians were as
many as the sands of the seashore。 Oh！ Artemis； huntress queen；
whose arrows pierce the denizens of the woods； virgin goddess； be thou
favourable to the peace we here conclude； through thee may our
hearts be long united！ May this treaty draw close for ever the bonds
of a happy friendship！ No more wiles and stratagems！ Aid us； oh！ aid
us； maiden huntress！
MAGISTRATE
All is for the best； and now； Laconians； take your wives away home
with you； and you； Athenians； yours。 May husband live happily with
wife； and wife with husband。 Dance； dance； to celebrate our bliss； and
let us be heedful to avoid like mistakes for the future。
CHORUS OF ATHENIANS （singing）
Appear； appear； dancers； and the Graces with you！ Let us invoke；
one and all； Artemis； and her heavenly brother； gracious Apollo；
patron of the dance； and Dionysus； whose eye darts flame； as he
steps forward surrounded by the Maenad maids； and Zeus； who wields the
flashing lightning； and his august； thrice…blessed spouse； the Queen
of Heaven！ These let us invoke； and all the other gods； calling all
the inhabitants of the skies to witness the noble Peace now
concluded under the fond auspices of Aphrodite。 Io Paean！ Io Paean！
dance； leap； as in honour of a victory won。 Euoi！ Euoi！ Euai！ Euai！
MAGISTRATE
And you； our Laconian guests； sing us a new and inspiring strain！
LACONIAN （singing）
Leave once more； oh！ leave once more the noble height of Taygetus；
oh！ Muse of Lacedaemon； and join us in singing the praises of Apollo
of Amyclae； and Athene of the Brazen House； and the gallant twin
sons of Tyndareus； who practise arms on the banks of the Eurotas
river。 Haste； haste hither with nimble…footed pace； let us sing
Sparta； the city that delights in choruses divinely sweet and graceful
dances； when our maidens bound lightly by the river side； like
frolicsome fillies； beating the ground with rapid steps and shaking
their long locks in the wind； as Bacchantes wave their wands in the
wild revels of the Wine…god。 At their head； oh！ chaste and beauteous
goddess； daughter of Leto； Artemis； do thou lead the song and dance。
With a fillet binding thy waving tresses； appear in thy loveliness；
leap like a fawn； strike thy divine hands together to animate the
dance； and aid us to renown the valiant goddess of battles； great
Athene of the Brazen House！
（All depart； singing and dancing。）
THE END
。
