Aristophanes, Ecclesiazusae
Eugene O'Neill, Jr., Ed.

Young Girl
Resuming her songs.
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, [925] 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
[930] 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 me. See, here he is.

Young Girl
He's not thinking of you in the least.

First Old Woman
[935] 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 [940] 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 [945] 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.

Young Man
Ah! ye gods, if I were to find the sweet child alone! the wine has fired my lust.

Young Girl
Reappearing in her window.
I have tricked that cursed old wretch; she has left her window, [950] thinking I would stay at home. Ah! here is the lover we were talking of.