The Comedies of Aristophanes (Hickie 1853)/Ecclesiazusae





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: A companion, 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 you not take your mantle? Instead of that, you carry of mine, you throw your dress upon the bed and you leave me as the dead are left, bar the chaplets and perfumes.

PRAXAGORA: It was cold, and I am frail and delicate;  I took your cloak for greater warmth, leaving you thoroughly warm yourself beneath your coverlets.

BLEPYRUS: And my shoes and staff, those too went off with you?

PRAXAGORA: I was afraid they might rob me of the cloak, and so, to look like a man, I put on your shoes and walked with a heavy tread and struck the stones with your staff.

BLEPYRUS: D'you know you have made us lose a sextary of wheat, which I should have bought with the triobolus of the Assembly?

PRAXAGORA: Be comforted, for she had a boy.

BLEPYRUS: Who? the Assembly?

PRAXAGORA: No, no, the woman I helped. But has the Assembly taken place then?

BLEPYRUS: Did I not tell you of it yesterday?

PRAXAGORA: True;  I remember now.

BLEPYRUS: And don't you know the decrees that have been voted?

PRAXAGORA: No indeed.

BLEPYRUS: Go to! you can live on lobster from now on, for they say the government is handed over to you.

PRAXAGORA: To do what--to spin?

BLEPYRUS: No, that you may rule. ..

PRAXAGORA: What?

BLEPYRUS:. . . over all public business.

PRAXAGORA as she exclaims this CHREMES reappears: Oh! by Aphrodite how happy Athens will be!

BLEPYRUS: Why so?

PRAXAGORA: For a thousand reasons. None will dare now to do shameless deeds, give false testimony or lay informations.

BLEPYRUS: Stop! in the name of the gods! Do you want me to die of hunger?

CHREMES: Good sir, let your wife speak.

PRAXAGORA: There will be no more thieves, nor envious people, no more rags nor misery, no more abuse and no more prosecutions and law-suits.

CHREMES: By Posidon! that's grand, if it's true!

PRAXAGORA: I shall prove it and you shall be my witness and even he

pointing to BLEPYRUS

will have no objections to raise.

CHORUS singing: You have served your friends, but now it behooves you to apply your ability and your care to the welfare of the people. Devote the fecundity of your mind to the public weal; adorn the citizens' lives with a thousand enjoyments and teach them to seize every favorable opportunity. Devise some ingenious method to secure the much-needed salvation of Athens; but let neither your acts nor your words recall anything of the past, for 'tis only innovations that please.

LEADER OF THE CHORUS: But do not fail to put your plans into execution immediately;  it's quick action that pleases the audience.

PRAXAGORA: I believe my ideas are good, but what I fear is that the public will cling to old customs and refuse to accept my reforms.

CHREMES: Have no fear about that. Love of novelty and disdain for traditions, these are the dominating principles among us.

PRAXAGORA to the audience: Let none contradict nor interrupt me until I have explained my plan. I want all to have a share of everything and all property to be in common; there will no longer be either rich or poor;  no longer shall we seen one man harvesting vast tracts of land, while another has not ground enough to be buried in, nor one man surround himself with a whole army of slaves, while another has not a single attendant;  I intend that there shall only be one and the same condition of life for all.

BLEPYRUS: But how do you mean for all?

PRAXAGORA impatiently: You'll eat dung before I do!

BLEPYRUS: Won't the dung be common too?

PRAXAGORA: No, no, but you interrupted me too soon. This is what I was going to say; I shall begin by making land, money, everything that is private property, common to all. Then we shall live on this common wealth, which we shall take care to administer with wise thrift.

BLEPYRUS: And how about the man who has no land, but only gold and silver coins, that cannot be seen?

PRAXAGORA: He must bring them to the common stock, and if he fails he will be a perjured man.

BLEPYRUS: That won't worry him much, for has he not gained them by perjury?

PRAXAGORA: But his riches will no longer be of any use to him.

BLEPYRUS: Why?

PRAXAGORA: The poor will no longer be obliged to work;  each will have all that he needs, bread, salt fish, cakes, tunics, wine, chaplets and chick-pease;  of what advantage will it be to him not to contribute his share to the common wealth? What do you think of it?

BLEPYRUS: But is it not the biggest robbers that have all these things?

CHREMES: Yes, formerly, under the old order of things;  but now that all goods are in common, what will he gain by not bringing his wealth into the general stock?

BLEPYRUS: If someone saw a pretty wench and wished to lay her, he would take some of his reserve store to make her a present and stay the night with her;  this would not prevent him claiming his share of the common property.

PRAXAGORA: But he can sleep with her for nothing;  I intend that women shall belong to all men in common, and each shall beget children by any man that wishes to have her.

BLEPYRUS: But all will go to the prettiest woman and try to lay her.

PRAXAGORA: The ugliest and the most flat-nosed will be side by side with the most charming, and to win the latter's favours, a man will first have to get into the former.

BLEPYRUS: But what about us oldsters? If we have to lay the old women first, how can we keep our tools from failing before we get into the Promised Land?

PRAXAGORA: They will make no resistance. Never fear; they will make no resistance.

BLEPYRUS: Resistance to what?

PRAXAGORA: To the pleasure of the thing. This is the way that matters will be ordered for you.

BLEPYRUS: It's very well conceived for you women, for every wench's hold will be filled;  but what about the men? The women will run away from the ugly ones and chase the good-looking.

PRAXAGORA: The ugly will follow the handsomest into the public places after supper and see to it that the law, which forbids the women to sleep with the big, handsome men before having satisfied the ugly shrimps, is complied with.

BLEPYRUS: Thus ugly Lysicrates' nose will be as proud as the handsomest face?

PRAXAGORA: Yes, by Apollo! this is a truly popular decree, and what a set-back it will be for one of those elegants with their fingers loaded with rings, when a man with heavy shoes says to him, "Give way to me and wait till I have done; you will pass in before me."

BLEPYRUS: But if we live in this fashion, how will each one know his children?

PRAXAGORA: The youngest will look upon the oldest as their fathers.

BLEPYRUS: Ah! how heartily they will strangle all the old men, since even now, when each one knows his father, they make no bones about strangling him! then, my word! won't they just scorn and crap upon the old folks!

PRAXAGORA: But those around will prevent it. Hitherto, when anyone saw an old man beaten, he would not meddle, because it did not concern him; but now each will fear the sufferer may be his own father and such violence will be stopped.

BLEPYRUS: What you say is not so silly after all;  but it would be highly unpleasant were Epicurus and Leucolophas to come up and call me father.

CHREMES: But it would be far worse, were. ..

BLEPYRUS: Were what?

CHREMES:. . . Aristyllus to embrace you and style you his father.

BLEPYRUS: He'll regret it if he does!

CHREMES: For you would smell vilely of mint if he kissed you. But he was born before the decree was carried, so that you have not to fear his kiss.

BLEPYRUS: It would be awful. But who will till the soil?

PRAXAGORA: The slaves. Your only cares will be to scent yourself, and to go and dine, when the shadow of the gnomon is ten feet long on the dial.

BLEPYRUS: But how shall we obtain clothing? Tell me that!

PRAXAGORA: You will first wear out those you have, and then we women will weave you others.

BLEPYRUS: Now another point:  if the magistrates condemn a citizen to the payment of a fine, how is he going to do it? Out of the public funds? That would not be right surely.

PRAXAGORA: But there will be no more lawsuits.

BLEPYRUS: This rule will ruin you.

CHREMES: I think so too.

PRAXAGORA: Besides, my dear, why should there be lawsuits?

BLEPYRUS: Oh! for a thousand reasons, on my faith! Firstly, because a debtor denies his obligation.

PRAXAGORA: But where will the lender get the money to lend, if all is in common? unless he steals it out of the treasury? and he could not hide that!

CHREMES: Well thought out, by Demeter!

BLEPYRUS: But tell me this:  here are some men who are returning from a feast and are drunk and they strike some passer-by;  how are they going to pay the fine? Ah! you are puzzled now!

PRAXAGORA: They will have to take it out of their pittance;  and being thus punished through their belly, they will not care to begin again.

BLEPYRUS: There will be no more thieves then, eh?

PRAXAGORA: Why steal, if you have a share of everything?

BLEPYRUS: People will not be robbed any more by night?

CHREMES: Not if you sleep at home.

PRAXAGORA: Even if you sleep outdoors there will be no more danger, for all will have the means of living. Besides, if anyone wanted to steal your cloak, you would give it to him yourself. Why not? You will only have to go to the common store and be given a better one.

BLEPYRUS: There will be no more playing at dice?

PRAXAGORA: What object will there be in playing?

BLEPYRUS: But what kind of life is it you propose to set up?

PRAXAGORA: The life in common. Athens will become nothing more than a single house, in which everything will belong to everyone; so that everybody will be able to go from one house to the other at pleasure.

BLEPYRUS: And where will the meals be served?

PRAXAGORA: The law-courts and the porticoes will be turned into dining-halls.

BLEPYRUS: And what will the speaker's platform be used for?

PRAXAGORA: I shall place the bowls and the ewers there;  and young children will sing the glory of the brave from there, also the infamy of cowards, who out of very shame will no longer dare to come to the public meals.

BLEPYRUS: Well thought out, by Apollo! And what will you do with the urns?

PRAXAGORA: I shall have them taken to the market-place, and standing close to the statue of Harmodius, I shall draw a lot for each citizen, which by its letter will show the place where he must go to dine. Thus, those for whom I have drawn an R will go to the royal portico; if it's a T, they will go to the portico of Theseus;  if it's an F, to that of the flour-market.

BLEPYRUS: To cram himself there like a capon?

PRAXAGORA: No, to dine there.

BLEPYRUS: And the citizen whom the lot has not give a letter showing where he is to dine will be driven off by everyone?

PRAXAGORA with great solemnity: But that will not occur. Each man will have plenty; he will not leave the feast until he is well-drunk, and then with a chaplet on his head and a torch in his hand;  and then the women running to meet you in the crossroads will say, "This way, come to our house, you will find a beautiful young girl there."--"And I," another will call from her balcony, "have one so pretty and white as milk;  but before touching her, you must sleep with me." And the ugly men, watching closely after the handsome fellows will say, "Hi! friend, where are you running to? Go in, but you must do nothing;  it's the ugly and the flat-nosed to whom the law gives the right to make love first;  amuse yourself on the porch while you wait, in handling your fig-leaves and playing with yourself." Well, tell me, does that picture suit you?

BLEPYRUS AND CHREMES: Marvellously well.

PRAXAGORA: I must now go to the market-place to receive the property that is going to be placed in common and to choose a woman with a loud voice as my herald. I have all the cares of the state on my shoulders, since the power has been entrusted to me. I must likewise go to busy myself about establishing the common meals, and you will attend your first banquet to-day.

BLEPYRUS: Are we going to banquet?

PRAXAGORA: Why, undoubtedly! Furthermore, I propose abolishing the whores.

BLEPYRUS: And what for?

PRAXAGORA: It's clear enough why;  so that, instead of them, we may have the first-fruits of the young men. It is not meet that tricked-out slaves should rob free-born women of their pleasures. Let the courtesans be free to sleep with the slaves.

BLEPYRUS: I will march at your side, so that I may be seen and that everyone may say, "Look at the Dictator's husband!"

He follows PRAXAGORA into their house.

CHREMES: As for me, I shall arrange my belongings and take inventory of them, in order that I may take them to the market-place.

He departs.

There is an interlude of dancing by the CHORUS, after which CHREMES returns with his belongings and arranges them in a long line.

CHREMES: Come hither, my beautiful sieve, I have nothing more precious than you, come, all clotted with the flour of which I have poured so many sacks through you;  you shall act the part of Canephorus in the procession of my chattels. Where is the sunshade carrier? Ah! this stew-pot shall take his place. Great gods, how black it is! it could not be more so if Lysicrates had boiled the drugs in it with which he dyes his hair. Hither, my beautiful mirror. And you, my tripod, bear this urn for me; you shall be the water-bearer;  and you, cock, whose morning song has so often roused me in the middle of the night to send me hurrying to the Assembly, you shall be my flute-girl. Scaphephorus, do you take the large basin, place it in the honeycombs and twine the olive-branches over them, bring the tripods and the phial of perfume; as for the humble crowd of little poets, I will just leave them behind.

CITIZEN watching CHREMES from a distance: What folly to carry one's goods to the common store;  I have a little more sense than that. No, no, by Posidon, I want first to ponder and calculate over the thing at leisure. I shall not be fool enough to strip myself of the fruits of my toil and thrift, if it is not for a very good reason; let us see first which way things turn.

He walks over to CHREMES

Hi! friend, what means this display of goods? Are you moving or are you going to pawn your stuff?

CHREMES: Neither.

CITIZEN: Why then are you setting all these things out in line? Is it a procession that you are starting off the Hiero, the public crier?

CHREMES: No, but in accordance with the new law that has been decreed, I am going to carry all these things to the market-place to make a gift of them to the state.

CITIZEN: Oh! bah! you don't mean that.

CHREMES: Certainly.

CITIZEN: Oh! Zeus the Deliverer! you unfortunate man!

CHREMES: Why?

CITIZEN: Why? It's as clear as noonday.

CHREMES: Must the laws not be obeyed then?

CITIZEN: What laws, you poor fellow?

CHREMES: Those that have been decreed.

CITIZEN: Decreed! Are you mad, I ask you?

CHREMES: Am I mad?

CITIZEN: Oh! this is the height of folly!

CHREMES: Because I obey the law?

CITIZEN: Is that the duty of a smart man?

CHREMES: Absolutely.

CITIZEN: Say rather of a ninny.

CHREMES: Don't you propose taking what belongs to you to the common stock?

CITIZEN: I'll take good care I don't until I see what the majority are doing.

CHREMES: There's but one opinion, namely, to contribute every single thing one has.

CITIZEN: I am waiting to see it, before I believe that.

CHREMES: At least, so they say in every street.

CITIZEN sardonically: And they will go on saying so.

CHREMES: Everyone talks of contributing all he has.

CITIZEN in the same tone: And will go on talking of it.

CHREMES: You weary me with your doubts and dubitations.

CITIZEN in the same tone: Everybody else will doubt it.

CHREMES: The pest seize you!

CITIZEN in the same tone: It will take you.

Then seriously

What? give up your goods! Is there a man of sense who will do such a thing? Giving is not one of our customs. Receiving is another matter; it's the way of the gods themselves. Look at the position of their hands on their statues; when we ask a favour, they present their hands turned palm up so as not to give, but to receive.

CHREMES: Wretch, let me do what is right. Come, I'll make a bundle of all these things. Where is my strap?

CITIZEN: Are you really going to carry them in?

CHREMES: Undoubtedly, and there are my two tripods strung together already.

CITIZEN: What folly! Not to wait to see what the others do, and then. ..

CHREMES: Well, and then what?

CITIZEN:. . . wait and put it off again.

CHREMES: What for?

CITIZEN: That an earthquake may come or an ill-omened flash of lightning, that a black cat may run across the street and no one carry in anything more, you fool!

CHREMES: It would be a fine thing if I were to find no room left for placing all this.

CITIZEN: You are much more likely to lose your stuff. As for placing it, you can be at ease, for there will be room enough as long as a month hence.

CHREMES: Why?

CITIZEN: I know these people;  a decree is readily passed, but it is not so easily attended to.

CHREMES: All will contribute their property, my friend.

CITIZEN: But what if they don't?

CHREMES: But there is no doubt that they will.

CITIZEN insistently: But anyhow, what if they don't?

CHREMES: Do not worry;  they will.

CITIZEN: And what if they oppose it?

CHREMES: We shall compel them to do so.

CITIZEN: And what if they prove the stronger?

CHREMES: I shall leave my goods and go off.

CITIZEN: And what if they sell them for you?

CHREMES: The plague take you!

CITIZEN: And if it does?

CHREMES: It will be a good riddance.

CITIZEN in an incredulous tone: You are really bent on contributing, then?

CHREMES: 'Pon my soul, yes! Look, there are all my neighbours carrying in all they have.

CITIZEN sarcastically: Oh yes, it's Antisthenes;  he's the type that would contribute! He would just as soon spend the next month sitting on the can.

CHREMES: The pest seize you!

CITIZEN: Will Callimachus, the chorus-master, contribute anything?

CHREMES: Why, more than Callias!

CITIZEN: The man must want to spend all his money!

CHREMES: How you weary me!

CITIZEN: Ah! I weary you? But, wretch, see what comes of decrees of this kind. Don't you remember the one reducing the price of salt?

CHREMES: Why, certainly I do.

CITIZEN: And do you remember that about the copper coinage?

CHREMES: Ah! that cursed money did me enough harm. I had sold my grapes and had my mouth stuffed with pieces of copper; indeed I was going to the market to buy flour, and was in the act of holding out my bag wide open, when the herald started shouting, "Let none in the future accept pieces of copper;  those of silver are alone current."

CITIZEN: And quite lately, were we not all swearing that the impost of one-fortieth, which Euripides had conceived, would bring five hundred talents to the state, and everyone was vaunting Euripides to the skies? But when the thing was looked at closely, it was seen that this fine decree was mere moonshine and would produce nothing, and you would have willingly burnt this very same Euripides alive.

CHREMES: The cases are quite different, my good fellow. We were the rulers then, but now it's the women.

CITIZEN: Whom, by Posidon, I will never allow to piss on my nose.

CHREMES: I don't know what the devil you're chattering about. Slave, pick up that bundle.

HERALD a woman: Let all citizens come, let them hasten at our leader's bidding! It is the new law. The lot will teach each citizen where he is to dine; the tables are already laid and loaded with the most exquisite dishes;  the couches are covered with the softest cushions;  the wine and water are already being mixed in the ewers;  the slaves are standing in a row and waiting to pour scent over the guests;  the fish is being grilled, the hares are on the spit and the cakes are being kneaded, chaplets are being plaited and the fritters are frying;  the youngest women are watching the pea-soup in the saucepans, and in the midst of them all stands Smoeus, dressed as a knight, washing the crockery. And Geron has come, dressed in a grand tunic and finely shod; he is joking with another young fellow and has already divested himself of his heavy shoes and his cloak. The pantry man is waiting, so come and use your jaws.

Exit

CITIZEN: All right, I'll go. Why should I delay, since the state commands me?

CHREMES: And where are you going to, since you have not deposited your belongings?

CITIZEN: To the feast.

CITIZEN: But I am going to deposit them.

CHREMES: When?

CITIZEN: I am not the man to make delays.

CHREMES: How do you mean?

CITIZEN: There will be many less eager than I.

CHREMES: In the meantime you are going to dine.

CITIZEN: What else should I do? Every sensible man must give his help to the state.

CHREMES: But if admission is forbidden you?

CITIZEN: I shall duck my head and slip in.

CHREMES: And if the women have you beaten?

CITIZEN: I shall summon them.

CHREMES: And if they laugh in your face?

CITIZEN: I shall stand near the door. ..

CHREMES: And then?

CITIZEN:. . . and seize upon the dishes as they passes.

CHREMES: Then go there, but after me. Sicon and Parmeno, pick up all this baggage.

CITIZEN: Come, I will help you carry it.

CHREMES pushing him away: No, no, I should be afraid of your pretending to the leader that what I am depositing belonged to you.

Exit with his belongings.

CITIZEN: Let me see! let me think of some good trick by which I can keep my goods and yet take my share of the common feast.

He reflects for a moment.

Ha! that's a fine idea! Quick! I'll go and dine, ha! ha!

Exit laughing.

Interlude of dancing by the CHORUS.

The scene shifts to a different section of Athens and the two houses are now to be thought of as those of two prostitutes.

FIRST OLD WOMAN leaning out of the window of one house: How is this? no men are coming? And yet it must be fully time! Then it is for naught that I have painted myself with white lead, dressed myself in my beautiful yellow robe, and that I am here, frolicking and humming between my teeth to attract some passer-by! Oh, Muses, alight upon my lips, inspire me with some soft Ionian love-song!

YOUNG GIRL in the window of the other house: You putrid old thing, you have placed yourself at the window before me. You were expecting to strip my vines during my absence and to trap some man in your snares with your songs. If you sing, I shall follow suit; all this singing will weary the spectators, but is nevertheless very pleasant and very diverting.

FIRST OLD WOMAN thumbing her nose at the YOUNG GIRL: Ha! here is an old man; take him and lead him away.

To the flute-player

As for you, you young flute-player, let us hear some airs that are worthy of you and me.

She sings

Let him who wishes to taste pleasure come to my side. These young things know nothing about it; it's only the women of ripe age who understand the art of love, and no one could know how to fondle the lover who possessed me so well as myself;  the young girls are all flightiness.

YOUNG GIRL singing in her turn: Don't be jealous of the young girls;  voluptuousness resides in the pure outline of their beautiful limbs and blossoms on their rounded breasts;  but you, old woman, you who are tricked out and perfumed as if for your own funeral, are an object of love only for grim Death himself.

FIRST OLD WOMAN singing again: May your tongue be stopped;  may you be unable to find your couch when you want to be loved. And on your couch, when your lips seek a lover, may you embrace only a viper!

YOUNG GIRL singing again: Alas! alas! what is to become of me? There is no lover! I am left here alone; my mother has gone out.

Interrupting her song

There's no need to mention the rest.

Then singing again

Oh! my dear nurse, I adjure you to call Orthagoras, and may heaven bless you. Ah! poor child, desire is consuming you like an Ionian woman;

interrupting again

and yet you are no stranger to the wanton arts of the Lesbian women.

Resuming her song

But you shall not rob me of my pleasures; you will not be able to reduce or filch the time that first belongs to me.

FIRST OLD WOMAN: Sing as much as you please, peep out like a cat lying in wait, but none shall pass through your door without first having been to see me.

YOUNG GIRL: If anyone enter your house, it will be to carry out your corpse. And that will be something new for you, you rotten old thing!

FIRST OLD WOMAN: Can anything be new to an old woman? My old age will not harm you.

YOUNG GIRL: Ah! shame on your painted cheeks!

FIRST OLD WOMAN: Why do you speak to me at all?

YOUNG GIRL: And why do you place yourself at the window?

FIRST OLD WOMAN: I am singing to myself about my lover, Epigenes.

YOUNG GIRL: Can you have any other lover than that old fop Geres?

FIRST OLD WOMAN: Epigenes will show you that himself, for he is coming to see me. See, here he is.

YOUNG GIRL: He's not thinking of you in the least.

FIRST OLD WOMAN: Aye, but he is.

YOUNG GIRL: Old starveling! Let's see what he will do. I will leave my window.

FIRST OLD WOMAN: And I likewise. You will see I am much wiser than you.

A YOUNG MAN sings: Ah! could I but sleep with the young girl without first making love to the old flat-nose! It is intolerable for a free-born man.

FIRST OLD WOMAN singing to the same tune: Willy nilly, you must first gratify my desire. There shall be no nonsense about that, for my authority is the law and the law must be obeyed in a democracy.

Speaking

But come, let me hide, to see what he's going to do.

She retires.