Lystrata
Páginas: 5 (1115 palabras)
Publicado: 15 de diciembre de 2012
Lysistrata By Aristophanes Performed 411 BCE
CLEONICE Look! Here are some arrivals-and there are more behind. Ah! ha! now what countrywomen may they be?
LYSISTRATA They are from Anagyra.
CLEONICE Yes! upon my word, 'tis a levy en masse of all the female population of Anagyra! (MYRRHINE enters, followed by other women.)
MYRRHINE Are we late, Lysistrata? Tell us, pray; what, not aword?
LYSISTRATA I cannot say much for you, Myrrhine! you have not bestirred yourself overmuch for an affair of such urgency.
MYRRHINE I could not find my girdle in the dark. However, if the matter is so pressing, here we are; so speak.
CLEONICE No, let's wait a moment more, till the women of Boeotia arrive and those from the Peloponnese.
LYSISTRATA Yes, that is best.... (LAMPITOenters) Good day, Lampito, dear friend from Lacedaemon. How well and handsome you look! why, you could strangle a bull surely!
LAMPITO Yes, indeed, I really think I could. It's because I do gymnastics and practice the bottom-kicking dance. But who has called together this council of women, pray?
LYSISTRATA I have.
LAMPITO Well then, tell us what you want of us.
LYSISTRATA Don't youfeel sad and sorry because the fathers of your children are far away from you with the army?
CLEONICE Mine has been the last five months in Thrace-looking after Eucrates.
MYRRHINE It's seven long months since mine left for Pylos.
LAMPITO As for mine, if he ever does return from service, he's no sooner home than he takes down his shield again and flies back to the wars.
LYSISTRATA Andnot so much as the shadow of a lover! Since the day the Milesians betrayed us, I have never once seen an eight-inch gadget 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?
CLEONICE Yes verily, by all the goddesses, I swear I will, though I have to put my gown in pawn, and drink the money the same day.MYRRHINE And so will I, though I must be split in two like a flat-fish, and have half myself removed.
LAMPITO And I too; why to secure peace, I would climb to the top of Mount Taygetus.
LYSISTRATA 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...
CLEONICE Refrain from what? tell us, tell us!LYSISTRATA But will you do it?
MYRRHINE We will, we will, though we should die of it.
LYSISTRATA We must refrain from the male altogether.... Nay, why do you turn your backs on me? Come, will you do it-yes or no?
CLEONICE I will not do it, let the war go on.
MYRRHINE Nor will I; let the war go on.
LYSISTRATA (to MYRRHINE) And you say this, my pretty flat-fish, who declared just nowthey might split you in two?
CLEONICE 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, Lysistrata
LYSISTRATA (to MYRRHINE) And you?
MYRRHINE Yes, I agree with the others; I too would sooner go through the fire.
LYSISTRATA Oh, vicious sex! the poets have done well to make tragedies upon us! But you, my dear,you from hardy Sparta, if you join me, all may yet be well; help me, second me, I beg you.
LAMPITO 'Tis a hard thing, by the two goddesses it is! for a woman to sleep alone without ever a strong male in her bed. But there, peace must come first.
LYSISTRATA Oh, my darling, my dearest, best friend, you are the only one deserving the name of woman!
CLEONICE But if-which the godsforbid-we do refrain altogether from what you say, should we get peace any sooner?
LYSISTRATA We need only sit indoors with painted cheeks, and meet our mates lightly clad in transparent gowns. That will be the time to refuse, and they will hasten to make peace, I am convinced of that!
LAMPITO Yes, just as Menelaus, when he saw Helen's naked bosom, threw away his sword, they say.
CLEONICE ...
CLEONICE Look! Here are some arrivals-and there are more behind. Ah! ha! now what countrywomen may they be?
LYSISTRATA They are from Anagyra.
CLEONICE Yes! upon my word, 'tis a levy en masse of all the female population of Anagyra! (MYRRHINE enters, followed by other women.)
MYRRHINE Are we late, Lysistrata? Tell us, pray; what, not aword?
LYSISTRATA I cannot say much for you, Myrrhine! you have not bestirred yourself overmuch for an affair of such urgency.
MYRRHINE I could not find my girdle in the dark. However, if the matter is so pressing, here we are; so speak.
CLEONICE No, let's wait a moment more, till the women of Boeotia arrive and those from the Peloponnese.
LYSISTRATA Yes, that is best.... (LAMPITOenters) Good day, Lampito, dear friend from Lacedaemon. How well and handsome you look! why, you could strangle a bull surely!
LAMPITO Yes, indeed, I really think I could. It's because I do gymnastics and practice the bottom-kicking dance. But who has called together this council of women, pray?
LYSISTRATA I have.
LAMPITO Well then, tell us what you want of us.
LYSISTRATA Don't youfeel sad and sorry because the fathers of your children are far away from you with the army?
CLEONICE Mine has been the last five months in Thrace-looking after Eucrates.
MYRRHINE It's seven long months since mine left for Pylos.
LAMPITO As for mine, if he ever does return from service, he's no sooner home than he takes down his shield again and flies back to the wars.
LYSISTRATA Andnot so much as the shadow of a lover! Since the day the Milesians betrayed us, I have never once seen an eight-inch gadget 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?
CLEONICE Yes verily, by all the goddesses, I swear I will, though I have to put my gown in pawn, and drink the money the same day.MYRRHINE And so will I, though I must be split in two like a flat-fish, and have half myself removed.
LAMPITO And I too; why to secure peace, I would climb to the top of Mount Taygetus.
LYSISTRATA 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...
CLEONICE Refrain from what? tell us, tell us!LYSISTRATA But will you do it?
MYRRHINE We will, we will, though we should die of it.
LYSISTRATA We must refrain from the male altogether.... Nay, why do you turn your backs on me? Come, will you do it-yes or no?
CLEONICE I will not do it, let the war go on.
MYRRHINE Nor will I; let the war go on.
LYSISTRATA (to MYRRHINE) And you say this, my pretty flat-fish, who declared just nowthey might split you in two?
CLEONICE 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, Lysistrata
LYSISTRATA (to MYRRHINE) And you?
MYRRHINE Yes, I agree with the others; I too would sooner go through the fire.
LYSISTRATA Oh, vicious sex! the poets have done well to make tragedies upon us! But you, my dear,you from hardy Sparta, if you join me, all may yet be well; help me, second me, I beg you.
LAMPITO 'Tis a hard thing, by the two goddesses it is! for a woman to sleep alone without ever a strong male in her bed. But there, peace must come first.
LYSISTRATA Oh, my darling, my dearest, best friend, you are the only one deserving the name of woman!
CLEONICE But if-which the godsforbid-we do refrain altogether from what you say, should we get peace any sooner?
LYSISTRATA We need only sit indoors with painted cheeks, and meet our mates lightly clad in transparent gowns. That will be the time to refuse, and they will hasten to make peace, I am convinced of that!
LAMPITO Yes, just as Menelaus, when he saw Helen's naked bosom, threw away his sword, they say.
CLEONICE ...
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