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Pound together garlic and laserpitium juice； add to this mixture
some Laconian spurge； and rub it well into the eyelids at night。
That's what I should have answered； had I been there。
CHREMES
After him that clever rascal Evaeon began to speak； he was
naked； so far as we all could see； but he declared he had a cloak；
he propounded the most popular； the most democratic； doctrines。 〃You
see；〃 he said； 〃I have the greatest need of sixteen drachmae； the cost
of a new cloak； my health demands it； nevertheless I wish first to
care for that of my fellow…citizens and of my country。 If the
fullers were to supply tunics to the indigent at the approach of
winter； none would be exposed to pleurisy。 Let him who has neither
beds nor coverlets go to sleep at the tanners' after taking a bath；
and if they shut the door in winter； let them be condemned to give him
three goat…skins。〃
BLEPYRUS
By Dionysus； a fine； a very fine notion！ Not a soul will vote
against his proposal； especially if he adds that the flour…sellers
must supply the poor with three measures of corn； or else suffer the
severest penalties of the law； this is the only way Nausicydes can
be of any use to us。
CHREMES
Then we saw a handsome young man rush into the tribune； be was all
pink and white like young Nicias； and he began to say that the
direction of matters should be entrusted to the women； this the
crowd of shoemakers began applauding with all their might； while the
country…folk assailed him with groans。
BLEPYRUS
And； indeed； they did well。
CHREMES
But they were outnumbered； and the orator shouted louder than
they； saying much good of the women and much ill of you。
BLEPYRUS （eagerly）
And what did he say？
CHREMES
First he said you were a rogue。。。
BLEPYRUS
And you？
CHREMES
Wait a minute！。。。and a thief。。。
BLEPYRUS
I alone？
CHREMES
And an informer。
BLEPYRUS
I alone？
CHREMES
Why； no； by the gods！ this whole crowd here。
（He points to the audience。）
BLEPYRUS
And who avers the contrary？
CHREMES
He maintained that women were both clever and thrifty； that they
never divulged the Mysteries of Demeter； while you and I go about
babbling incessantly about whatever happens at the Senate。
BLEPYRUS
By Hermes； he was not lying！
CHREMES
Then he added that the women lend each other clothes； trinkets
of gold and silver； drinking…cups； and not before witnesses too； but
all by themselves； and that they return everything with exactitude
without ever cheating each other； whereas； according to him； we are
ever ready to deny the loans we have effected。
BLEPYRUS
Yes； by Posidon； and in spite of witnesses。
CHREMES
Again； he said that women were not informers； nor did they bring
lawsuits； nor hatch conspiracies； in short； he praised the women in
every possible manner。
BLEPYRUS
And what was decided？
CHREMES
To confide the direction of affairs to them； it's the one and only
innovation that has not yet been tried at Athens。
BLEPYRUS
And it was voted？
CHREMES
Yes。
BLEPYRUS
And everything that used to be the men's concern has been given
over to the women？
CHREMES
You express it exactly。
BLEPYRUS
Thus it will be my wife who will go to the courts now in my stead？
CHREMES
And it will be she who will keep your children in your place。
BLEPYRUS
I shall no longer have to tire myself out with work from
daybreak onwards？
CHREMES
No； 'twill be the women's business； and you can stay at home and
amuse yourself with farting the whole day through。
BLEPYRUS
Well； what I fear for us fellows now is； that； holding the reins
of government； they will forcibly compel us。。。
CHREMES
To do what？
BLEPYRUS
。。。to lay them。
CHREMES
And if we are not able？
BLEPYRUS
They will give us no dinner。
CHREMES
Well then； do your duty； dinner and love…making form a double
enjoyment。
BLEPYRUS
Ah！ but I hate compulsion。
CHREMES
But if it is for the public good； let us resign ourselves。 It's an
old saying that our absurdest and maddest decrees always somehow
turn out for our good。 May it be so in this case； oh gods； oh
venerable Pallas！ But I must be off； so； good…bye to you！
（Exit。）
BLEPYRUS
Good…bye； Chremes。
（He goes back into his house。）
CHORUS （returning from the Assembly； still dressed like men；
singing）
March along； go forward。 Is there some man following us？ Turn
round； examine everywhere and keep a good look…out； be on your guard
against every trick； for they might spy on us from behind。 Let us make
as much noise as possible as we tramp。 It would be a disgrace for
all of us if we allowed ourselves to be caught in this deed by the
men。 Come； wrap yourselves up well； and search both right and left； so
that no mischance may happen to us。 Let us hasten our steps； here we
are close to the meeting…place whence we started for the Assembly； and
here is the house of our leader； the author of this bold scheme； which
is now decreed by all the citizens。 Let us not lose a moment in taking
off our false beards； for we might be recognized and denounced。 Let us
stand under the shadow of this wall； let us glance round sharply
with our eye to beware of surprises； while we quickly resume our
ordinary dress。 Ah！ here is our leader； returning from the Assembly。
Hasten to relieve your chins of these flowing manes。 Look at your
comrades yonder； they have already made themselves women again some
while ago。
（They remove the beards as PRAXAGORA and the other women enter
from the right through the Orchestra。）
PRAXAGORA
Friends； success has crowned our plans。 But off with these
cloaks and these boots quick； before any man sees you； unbuckle the
Laconian straps and get rid of your staffs； （to the LEADER） and you
help them with their toilet。 As for myself； I am going to slip quietly
into the house and replace my husband's cloak and other gear where I
took them from； before he can suspect anything。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
There！ it's done according to your bidding。 Now tell us how we can
be of service to you； so that we may show you our obedience； for we
have never seen a cleverer woman than you。
PRAXAGORA
Wait！ I only wish to use the power given me in accordance with
your wishes； for； in the market…place； in the midst of the shouts
and danger； I appreciated your indomitable courage。
（Just as she is about to enter the house BLEPYRUS appears in the
doorway。）
BLEPYRUS
Eh； Praxagora！ where are you coming from？
PRAXAGORA
How does that concern you； dear？
BLEPYRUS
Why； greatly！ what a silly question！
PRAXAGORA
You don't think I have come from a lover's？
BLEPYRUS
No； perhaps not from only one。
PRAXAGORA
You can make yourself sure of that。
BLEPYRUS
And how？
PRAXAGORA
You can see whether my hair smells of perfume。
BLEPYRUS
What？ cannot a woman possibly be laid without perfume； eh！
PRAXAGORA
The gods forfend； as far as I am concerned。
BLEPYRUS
Why did you go off at early dawn with my cloak？
PRAXAGORA
Acompanion； a friend who was in labour； had sent to fetch me。
BLEPYRUS
Could you not have told me？
PRAXAGORA
Oh； my dear； would you have me caring nothing for a poor woman
in that plight？
BLEPYRUS
A word would have been enough。 There's something behind all this。
PRAXAGORA
No； I call the goddesses to witness！ I went running off； the
poor woman who summoned me begged me to come； whatever might betide。
BLEPYRUS
And why did y