goddess divine, Ilithyia, patroness of women in labour,
stay, stay the birth, till I have reached a spot less
hallowed
than
Athene's Mount!
Aristophanes
Yes, if need be.
SECOND WOMAN. Unhappy woman that I am! Alas for my flax! I've left it at
home unstript!
LYSISTRATA. So, here's another trying to escape to go home and strip her
flax forsooth!
SECOND WOMAN. Oh! I swear by the goddess of light, the instant I have put
it in condition I will come straight back.
LYSISTRATA. You shall do nothing of the kind! If once you began, others
would want to follow suit.
THIRD WOMAN. Oh!
goddess divine, Ilithyia, patroness of women in labour,
stay, stay the birth, till I have reached a spot less
hallowed
than
Athene's Mount!
LYSISTRATA. What mean you by these silly tales?
THIRD WOMAN. I am going to have a child--now, this minute.
LYSISTRATA. But you were not pregnant yesterday!
THIRD WOMAN. Well, I am to-day. Oh! let me go in search of the midwife,
Lysistrata, quick, quick!
LYSISTRATA. What is this fable you are telling me? Ah! what have you got
there so hard?
