Lysistrata

by Aristophanes, Douglass Parker (Translator), Judith Fletcher (Afterword)

Overview

This rollicking new translation of Aristophanes' comic masterpiece is rendered in blank verse for dialogue and in lyric meters and free verse for the songs. Appended commentary essays-on ancient warfare, classical Greek rationalism, Athenian women, Athenian democracy and the Athenian festivals-offer lively and informative discussions not only of Aristophanes, but of the broader fifth-century social, political, and cultural context as well.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780451531247
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/07/2009
Series:	Signet Classics
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	4.10(w) x 6.70(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Aristophanes was the most celebrated comic playwright in fifth-century BCE Athens.

Aaron Poochigian has published four books of poetry and several translations, including Aristophanes: Four Plays (2021) and Stung with Love: Poems and Fragments by Sappho (2009). He lives in New York City.

Read an Excerpt

Aristophanes’ Lysistrata
CHARACTERS

SPEAKING CHARACTERS
Lysistrata, an Athenian woman Rod, Myrrhine’s husband
Calonice, an Athenian wife Spartan Herald
Myrrhine, an Athenian wife Spartan Ambassador
Lampito, a Spartan woman Athenian Ambassador
Magistrate, an Athenian bureaucrat Athenian, friend of the
Old Women, three helpers of Lysistrata Ambassador

MUTE CHARACTERS
Athenian Wives Nurse with Rod
Foreign Wives Baby with Rod
Policewoman with Wives Reconciliation, a naked girl
Slaves with Magistrate Spartan Husbands
Police with Magistrate Athenian Husbands
Athenian Old Women Doorkeeper

CHORUS
Old War-Veterans, twelve Old Wives, twelve


SCENE I
Lysistrata
If I’d invited them to drink some wine
or talk about the kids or go out dancing,
you’d hear the sound of high heels everywhere.
But now there’s not a single wife in sight.
Well, here’s my next-door neighbor, anyway.      5
Hi, Calonice.º
Calonice
Hi to you, Lysistrata.
Hey, why the dirty looks? Cheer up, kiddo.
Don’t frown, you’ll wrinkle up your pretty face.
Lysistrata
I’m angry, Calonice, deeply hurt,
in fact offended by the wives, by us,                 10
because, according to our husbands we’re
the best at clever schemes—
Calonice
And that’s the truth.
Lysistrata
—but when I tell them all to meet me here,
to scheme about the most important things,
they’re sleeping in and don’t show up.
Calonice
They’ll show.                                                     15
It’s not so easy getting out this early.
We’ve got to do our husbands little favors,
we’ve got to get the servants out of bed,
we’ve got to wash and feed and burp the kids.
Lysistrata
But they’ve got more important things to do      20
than those!
Calonice
OK, Lysistrata, suppose
you tell me why we’re meeting here. The deal.
Is it a big one?
Lysistrata
Very big.
Calonice
Not hard as well?
Lysistrata
It’s very hard.

Table of Contents

ContentsPreface 1
Map of Ancient Greece and Environs 3
Introduction 5
Aristophanes and Old Comedy 5
Lysistrata, and the Events of 411 10
Production 15
General Bibliography 17
Suggestions for Further Reading 18
Theater of Dionysos 19
Lysistrata 21

Editorial Reviews

"Advanced students and scholars of Greek literature and of the Peloponnesian Wars will find this new text edition indispensable."—Religious Studies Review

"An outstanding commentary, written in a very accessible style."—William Hansen, Indiana University

"An excellent book (in both contents and layout) and a much needed one....Henderson has rendered a signal service in increasing understanding of this comic masterpiece....The accompanying commentary is thorough and enlightening, covering everything from probable staging to metrical analysis."—Choice

From the Publisher

These are highly recommended wherever there is an interest in classical drama.

Kliatt Paperback Review