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390 BC
THE ECCLESIAZUSAE
by Aristophanes
anonymous translator
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
PRAXAGORA
BLEPYRUS； husband of Praxagora
WOMEN
A MAN
CHREMES
A CITIZEN
HERALD
A GIRL
A YOUNG MAN
THREE OLD WOMEN
A SERVANT MAID to PRAXAGORA
CHORUS OF WOMEN
ECCLESIAZUSAE
（SCENE：…The Orchestra represents a public square in Athens； in the
background are two houses with an alley between them。）
PRAXAGORA
（swinging the lantern； which is to be a signal for the other
women； in high tragic style）
Oh！ Thou shining light of my earthenware lamp； from this high spot
shalt thou look abroad。 Oh！ lamp； I will tell thee thine origin and
thy future； 'tis the rapid whirl of the potter's wheel that has lent
thee thy shape； and thy wick counterfeits the glory of the sun；
mayst thou send the agreed signal flashing afar！ In thee alone do we
confide； and thou art worthy； for thou art near us when we practise
the various postures in which Aphrodite delights upon our couches； and
none dreams even in the midst of her sports of seeking to avoid
thine eye that watches us。 Thou alone shinest into the secret recesses
of our thighs and dost singe the hair that groweth there； and with thy
flame dost light the actions of our loves。 If we open some cellar
stored with fruits and wine； thou art our companion； and never dost
thou betray or reveal to a neighbour the secrets thou hast learned
about us。 Therefore thou shalt know likewise the whole of the plot
that I have planned with my friends； the women； at the festival of the
Scirophoria。
（She pauses and looks about her。）
I see none of those I was expecting； though dawn approaches； the
Assembly is about to gather and we must take our seats in spite of
Phyromachus； who forsooth would say； 〃It is meet the women sit apart
and hidden from the eyes of the men。〃 Why； have they not been able
then to procure the false beards that they must wear； or to steal
their husbands' cloaks？ Ah！ I see a light approaching； let us draw
somewhat aside； for fear it should be a man。
（She hides in the alley。 From the right a woman enters； followed
almost immediately by others。 All are carrying staffs； men's
sandals； and cloaks over their arms。）
FIRST WOMAN
Let us start； it is high time； as we left our dwellings； the
cock was crowing for the second time。
PRAXAGORA （to herself）
And I have spent the whole night waiting for you。 （She emerges
from the alley。） But come； let us call our neighbour by scratching
at her door； and gently too； so that her husband may hear nothing。
SECOND WOMAN
（coming out of her house； she is dressed like a man； with a staff
in her hand）
I was putting on my shoes； when I heard you scratching； for I
was not asleep； so there！ Oh！ my dear； my husband （he is a Salaminian）
never left me an instant's peace； but was at me； for ever at me； all
night long； so that it was only just now that I was able to filch
his cloak。
PRAXAGORA
I see Clinarete coming too； along with Sostrate and their
next…door neighbour Philaenete。 （To the women that are just
arriving； in a loud voice） Hurry yourselves then； for Glyce has
sworn that the last comer shall forfeit three measures of wine and a
choenix of pease。
SECOND WOMAN
Don't you see Melistice； the wife of Smicythion； hurrying hither
in her big shoes？ I think she is the only one of us all who has had no
trouble in getting rid of her husband。
FIRST WOMAN
And can't you see Geusistrate； the tavern…keeper's wife； with a
lamp in her hand？
PRAXAGORA
And the wives of Philodoretus and Chaeretades； and a great many
others； all the useful people in the city； in fact。
THIRD WOMAN
Oh！ my dear； I have had such trouble in getting away！ My husband
ate such a surfeit of sprats last evening that he was coughing and
choking the whole night long。
PRAXAGORA
Take your seats； and； since you are all gathered here at last； let
us see if what we decided on at the feast of the Scirophoria has
been duly done。
FIRST WOMAN
Yes。 Firstly； as agreed； I have let the hair under my armpits grow
thicker than a bush； furthermore； whilst my husband was at the
Assembly； I rubbed myself from head to foot with oil and then stood
the whole day long in the sun。
SECOND WOMAN
So did I。 I began by throwing away my razor； so that I might get
quite hairy； and no longer resemble a woman。
PRAXAGORA
Have you the beards that we had all to get ourselves for the
Assembly？
FIRST WOMAN
Yea； by Hecate！ Is this not a fine one？
SECOND WOMAN
Aye； much finer even than the one Epicrates has。
PRAXAGORA （to the other women）
And you？
FIRST WOMAN
Yes； yes； look； they all nod assent。
PRAXAGORA
I see that you have got all the rest too； Spartan shoes； staffs
and men's cloaks； as it was arranged。
FIRST WOMAN
I have brought Lamias' club； which I stole from him while he
slept。
PRAXAGORA
What； the club that makes him fart with its weight？
SECOND WOMAN
By Zeus the Deliverer； if he had the skin of Argus； he would
know better than any other how to shepherd the popular herd。
PRAXAGORA
But come； let us finish what has yet to be done； while the stars
are still shining； the Assembly； at which we mean to be present；
will open at dawn。
FIRST WOMAN
Good； you must take up your place at the foot of the platform
and facing the Prytanes。
SECOND WOMAN
I have brought this with me to card during the Assembly。
（She shows some wool。）
PRAXAGORA
During the Assembly； wretched woman？
SECOND WOMAN
Surely； by Artemis！ shall I hear any less well if I am doing a bit
of carding？ My little ones are all but naked。
PRAXAGORA
Think of her wanting to card！ whereas we must not let anyone see
the smallest part of our bodies。 'Twould be a fine thing if one of us；
in the midst of the discussion； rushed on to the speaker's platform
and； flinging her cloak aside； showed her Phormisius。 If； on the other
hand； we are the first to take our seats closely muffled in our
cloaks； none will know us。 Let us fix these beards on our chins； so
that they spread all over our bosoms。 How can we fail then to be
mistaken for men？ Agyrrhius has deceived everyone； thanks to the beard
of Pronomus； yet he was no better than a woman； and you see how he now
holds the first position in the city。 Thus； I adjure you by this day
that is about to dawn； let us dare to copy him and let us be clever
enough to possess ourselves of the management of affairs。 Let us
save the ship of state； which just at present none seems ab