LYSISTRATA

And you?

MYRRHINE

O please give me the fire instead.

LYSISTRATA

Lewd to the least drop in the tiniest vein, Our s.e.x is fitly food for Tragic Poets, Our whole life's but a pile of kisses and babies.

But, hardy Spartan, if you join with me All may be righted yet. O help me, help me.

LAMPITO

It's a sair, sair thing to ask of us, by the Twa, A la.s.s to sleep her lane and never fill Love's lack except wi' makeshifts.... But let it be.

Peace maun be thought of first.

LYSISTRATA

My friend, my friend!

The only one amid this herd of weaklings.

CALONICE

But if--which heaven forbid--we should refrain As you would have us, how is Peace induced?

LYSISTRATA

By the two G.o.ddesses, now can't you see All we have to do is idly sit indoors With smooth roses powdered on our cheeks, Our bodies burning naked through the folds Of shining Amorgos' silk, and meet the men With our dear Venus-plats plucked trim and neat.

Their stirring love will rise up furiously, They'll beg our arms to open. That's our time!

We'll disregard their knocking, beat them off-- And they will soon be rabid for a Peace.

I'm sure of it.

LAMPITO

Just as Menelaus, they say, Seeing the bosom of his naked Helen Flang down the sword.

CALONICE

But we'll be tearful fools If our husbands take us at our word and leave us.

LYSISTRATA

There's only left then, in Pherecrates' phrase, _To flay a skinned dog_--flay more our flayed desires.

CALONICE

Bah, proverbs will never warm a celibate.

But what avail will your scheme be if the men Drag us for all our kicking on to the couch?

LYSISTRATA

Cling to the doorposts.

CALONICE

But if they should force us?

LYSISTRATA

Yield then, but with a sluggish, cold indifference.

There is no joy to them in sullen mating.

Besides we have other ways to madden them; They cannot stand up long, and they've no delight Unless we fit their aim with merry succour.

CALONICE

Well if you must have it so, we'll all agree.

LAMPITO

For us I ha' no doubt. We can persuade Our men to strike a fair an' decent Peace, But how will ye pitch out the battle-frenzy O' the Athenian populace?

LYSISTRATA

I promise you We'll wither up that curse.

LAMPITO

I don't believe it.

Not while they own ane trireme oared an' rigged, Or a' those stacks an' stacks an' stacks O' siller.

LYSISTRATA

I've thought the whole thing out till there's no flaw.

We shall surprise the Acropolis today: That is the duty set the older dames.

While we sit here talking, they are to go And under pretence of sacrificing, seize it.

LAMPITO

Certie, that's fine; all's working for the best.

LYSISTRATA

Now quickly, Lampito, let us tie ourselves To this high purpose as tightly as the hemp of words Can knot together.

LAMPITO

Set out the terms in detail And we'll a' swear to them.