Women, you hear how this
creature
still dares to speak of us
all.
all.
Aristophanes
Run and fetch coals and let's depilate her cunt in
proper style, to teach her not to speak ill of her sex.
MNESILOCHUS. Oh! no! have mercy, friends. Have we not the right to speak
frankly at this gathering? And because I have uttered what I thought
right in favour of Euripides, do you want to depilate me for my trouble?
THIRD WOMAN. What! we ought not to punish you, who alone have dared to
defend the man who has done us so much harm, whom it pleases to put all
the vile women that ever were upon the stage, who only shows us
Melanippes Phaedras? But of Penelope he has never said a word, because
she was reputed chaste and good.
MNESILOCHUS. I know the reason. 'Tis because not a single Penelope exists
among the women of to-day, but all without exception are Phaedras.
THIRD WOMAN.
Women, you hear how this creature still dares to speak of us
all.
MNESILOCHUS. And, 'faith, I have not said all that I know. Do you want
any more?
THIRD WOMAN. You cannot tell us any more; you have emptied your bag.
MNESILOCHUS. Why, I have not told the thousandth part of what we women
do. Have I said how we use the hollow handles of our brooms to draw up
wine unbeknown to our husbands.
THIRD WOMAN. The cursed jade!
MNESILOCHUS. And how we give meats to our lovers at the feast of the
Apaturia and then accuse the cat. . . .
proper style, to teach her not to speak ill of her sex.
MNESILOCHUS. Oh! no! have mercy, friends. Have we not the right to speak
frankly at this gathering? And because I have uttered what I thought
right in favour of Euripides, do you want to depilate me for my trouble?
THIRD WOMAN. What! we ought not to punish you, who alone have dared to
defend the man who has done us so much harm, whom it pleases to put all
the vile women that ever were upon the stage, who only shows us
Melanippes Phaedras? But of Penelope he has never said a word, because
she was reputed chaste and good.
MNESILOCHUS. I know the reason. 'Tis because not a single Penelope exists
among the women of to-day, but all without exception are Phaedras.
THIRD WOMAN.
Women, you hear how this creature still dares to speak of us
all.
MNESILOCHUS. And, 'faith, I have not said all that I know. Do you want
any more?
THIRD WOMAN. You cannot tell us any more; you have emptied your bag.
MNESILOCHUS. Why, I have not told the thousandth part of what we women
do. Have I said how we use the hollow handles of our brooms to draw up
wine unbeknown to our husbands.
THIRD WOMAN. The cursed jade!
MNESILOCHUS. And how we give meats to our lovers at the feast of the
Apaturia and then accuse the cat. . . .
