Aristophane; Traduction Nouvelle, Tome Second

“[Y]ou [man] are fool enough, it seems, to dare to war with [woman=] me, when for your faithful ally you might win me easily.””

— Aristophanes

“What matters that I was born a woman, if I can cure your misfortunes? I pay my share of tolls and taxes, by giving men to the State. But you, you miserable greybeards, you contribute nothing to the public charges; on the contrary, you have wasted the treasure of our forefathers, as it was called, the treasure amassed in the days of the Persian Wars. You pay nothing at all in return; and into the bargain you endanger our lives and liberties by your mistakes. Have you one word to say for yourselves?... Ah! don't irritate me, you there, or I'll lay my slipper across your jaws; and it's pretty heavy.””

— Aristophanes

“There is no beast, no rush of fire, like woman so untamed. She calmly goes her way where even panthers would be shamed.””

— Aristophanes

“Magistrate: May I die a thousand deaths ere I obey one who wears a veil!Lysistrata: If that's all that troubles you, here take my veil, wrap it round your head, and hold your tounge. Then take this basket; put on a girdle, card wool, munch beans. The War shall be women's business.””

— Aristophanes

“Magistrate: What do you propose to do then, pray?Lysistrata: You ask me that! Why, we propose to administer the treasury ourselvesMagistrate: You do?Lysistrata: What is there in that a surprise to you? Do we not administer the budget of household expenses?Magistrate: But that is not the same thing.Lysistrata: How so – not the same thing?Magistrate: It is the treasury supplies the expenses of the War.Lysistrata: That's our first principle – no War!””

— Aristophanes

“Calonice: My dear Lysistrata, just what is this matter you've summoned us women to consider.What's up? Something big?Lysistrata: Very big.Calonice: (interested) Is it stout too?Lysistrata: (smiling) Yes, indeed -- both big and stout.Calonice: What? And the women still haven't come?Lysistrata: It's not what you suppose; they'd come soon enough for that.””

— Aristophanes

“Chorus of old men: How true the saying: 'Tis impossible to live with the baggages, impossible to live without 'em.””

— Aristophanes

“Lysistrata: To seize the treasury; no more money, no more war.””

— Aristophanes

“MAGISTRATEDon't men grow old?LYSISTRATANot like women. When a man comes homeThough he's grey as grief he can always get a girl.There's no second spring for a woman. None.She can't recall it, nobody wants her, howeverShe squanders her time on the promise of oracles,It's no use...””

— Aristophanes