THE ECCLESIAZUSÆ
A monologue from the
play by Aristophanes
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NOTE: This monologue is reprinted
from Aristophanes: The Eleven Comedies. Trans. Anonymous.
London: The Athenian Society, 1922. |
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PRAXAGORA: [Disguised as a man.] My country
is as dear to me as it is to you, and I groan, I am grieved at
all that is happening in it. Scarcely one in ten of those who
rule it is honest, and all the others are bad. If you appoint
fresh chiefs, they will do still worse. It is hard to correct
your peevish humour; you fear those who love you and throw yourselves
at the feet of those who betray you. There was a time when we
had no assemblies, and then we all thought Agyrrhius a dishonest
man; now they are established, he who gets money thinks everything
is as it should be, and he who does not, declares all who sell
their votes to be worthy of death. When we were discussing the
alliance, it seemed as though it were all over with Athens if
it fell through. No sooner was it made than we were vexed and
angry, and the orator who had caused its adoption was compelled
to seek safety in flight. You vote yourselves salaries out of
the public funds and care only for your own personal interests;
hence the state limps along like Æsimus. But if you hearken
to me, you will be saved. I assert that the direction of affairs
must be handed over to the women, for 'tis they who have charge
and look after our households. They are worth more than you are,
as I shall prove. First of all they wash all their wool in warm
water, according to the ancient practice; you will never see
them changing their method. Ah! if Athens only acted thus, if
it did not take delight in ceaseless innovations, would not its
happiness be assured? Then the women sit down to cook, as they
always did; they carry things on their head as was their wont;
they keep the Thesmophoria, as they have ever done; they knead
their cakes just as they used to; they make their husbands angry
as they have always done; they receive their lovers in their
houses as was their constant custom; they buy dainties as they
always did; they love unmixed wine as well as ever; they delight
in being loved just as much as they always have. Let us therefore
hand Athens over to them without endless discussions, without
bothering ourselves about what they will do; let us simply hand
them over the power, remembering that they are mothers and will
therefore spare the blood of our soldiers; besides, who will
know better than a mother how to forward provisions to the front?
Woman is adept at getting money for herself and will not easily
let herself be deceived; she understands deceit too well herself.
I omit a thousand other advantages. Take my advice and you will
live in perfect happiness.
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MONOLOGUES BY ARISTOPHANES |
