LYSISTRATA
What should the oath be, then?
CALONICE
Let’s get a stallion, a white one, and then offer up its guts!
LYSISTRATA
Why a white horse?
CALONICE
“Then how will we make our oath?
LYSISTRATA
I’ll tell you, by god, if you want to hear.
Put a large dark bowl down on the ground,
then sacrifice a jug of Thasian wine,
and swear we’ll never pour in water.
LAMPITO
Now, if you ask me, that’s a super oath!
LYSISTRATA
Someone get the bowl and a jug of wine.
[The Scythian girl goes back in the house and returns with a bowl
and a jug of wine. Calonice takes the bowl]
CALONICE
Look, dear ladies, at this splendid bowl. 220 [200]
Just touching this gives instant pleasure.
LYSISTRATA
Put it down. Now join me and place your hands
on our sacrificial victim.
[The women gather around the bowl and lay their hands on the
wine jug. Lysistrata starts the ritual prayer]
O you,
Goddess of Persuasion and the bowl
which we so love, accept this sacrifice,
a women’s offering, and be kind to us.
[Lysistrata opens the wine jug and lets the wine pour out into the bowl]
CALONICE
Such healthy blood spurts out so beautifully!
LAMPITO
By Castor, that’s a mighty pleasant smell.
MYRRHINE
Ladies, let me be the first to swear the oath.
CALONICE
No, by Aphrodite, no—not unless 230
your lot is drawn.
LYSISTRATA [holds up a bowl full of wine]
Grab the brim, Lampito,
you and all the others. Someone repeat [210]
for all the rest of you the words I say—
that way you’ll pledge your firm allegiance:
No man, no husband and no lover . . .
CALONICE [taking the oath]
No man, no husband and no lover . . .
LYSISTRATA
. . . will get near me with a stiff prick. . . Come on,
say it!
CALONICE
. . . will get near me with a stiff prick.
O Lysistrata, my knees are getting weak!
LYSISTRATA
At home I’ll live completely without sex . . . 240
CALONICE
At home I’ll live completely without sex . . .
LYSISTRATA
. . . wearing saffron silks, with lots of make up . . .
CALONICE
. . . wearing saffron silks, with lots of make up . . . [220]
LYSISTRATA
. . . to make my man as horny as I can.
CALONICE
. . . to make my man as horny as I can.
LYSISTRATA
If against my will he takes me by force . . .
CALONICE
If against my will he takes me by force . . .
LYSISTRATA
. . . I’ll be a lousy lay, not move a limb.
CALONICE
. . . I’ll be a lousy lay, not move a limb.
LYSISTRATA
I’ll not raise my slippers up towards the roof . . . 250
CALONICE
I’ll not raise my slippers up towards the roof . . . [230]
LYSISTRATA
. . . nor crouch down like a lioness on all fours.
CALONICE
. . . nor crouch down like a lioness on all fours.
LYSISTRATA
If I do all this, then I may drink this wine.
CALONICE
If I do all this, then I may drink this wine.
LYSISTRATA
If I fail, may this glass fill with water.
CALONICE
If I fail, may this glass fill with water.
LYSISTRATA
Do all you women swear this oath?
ALL
We do.
LYSISTRATA
All right. I’ll make the offering.
[Lysistrata drinks some of the wine in the bowl]
