Lysistrata   

I laugh at them. Neither threats nor flames shall force our doors;


they shall open only on the conditions I have named.


CLEONICE


Yes, yes, by Aphrodite; otherwise we should be called cowardly and


wretched women.


(She follows LYSISTRATA out.)





(The scene shifts to the entrance of the Acropolis. The CHORUS


OF OLD MEN slowly enters, carrying faggots and pots of fire.)





LEADER OF CHORUS OF OLD MEN


Go easy, Draces, go easy; why, your shoulder is all chafed by


these damned heavy olive stocks. But forward still, forward, man, as


needs must.


FIRST SEMI-CHORUS OF OLD MEN (singing)


What unlooked-for things do happen, to be sure, in a long life!


Ah! Strymodorus, who would ever have thought it? Here we have the


women, who used, for our misfortune, to eat our bread and live in


our houses, daring nowadays to lay hands on the holy image of the


goddess, to seize the Acropolis and draw bars and bolts to keep any


from entering!