will　not　come　to　my　rescue。　Let　me　see；　whom　could　I　best　send　to　him？
  Ha！　I　know　a　means　taken　from　Palamedes；　like　him；　I　will　write　my
  misfortune　on　some　oars；　which　I　will　cast　into　the　sea。　Where　might　I
  find　some　oars？　Hah！　what　if　I　took　these　statues　instead　of　oars；
  wrote　upon　them　and　then　threw　them　towards　this　side　and　that。　That's
  the　best　thing　to　do。　Besides；　like　oars　they　are　of　wood。
  （singing）
  Oh！　my　hands；　keep　up　your　courage；　for　my　safety　is　at　stake。
  Come；　my　beautiful　tablets；　receive　the　traces　of　my　stylus　and　be　the
  messengers　of　my　sorry　fate。　Oh！　oh！　this　R　looks　miserable　enough！
  Where　is　it　running　to　then？　Come；　off　with　you　in　all　directions；
  to　the　right　and　to　the　left；　and　hurry　yourselves；　for　there's　much
  need　indeed！
  （He　sits　down　to　wait　for　Euripides。　The　Chorus　turns　and　faces
  the　audience。）
  LEADER　OF　THE　CHORUS
  Let　us　address　ourselves　to　the　spectators　to　sing　our　praises；
  despite　the　fact　that　each　one　says　much　ill　of　women。　If　the　men
  are　to　be　believed；　we　are　a　plague　to　them；　through　us　come　all　their
  troubles；　quarrels；　disputes；　sedition；　griefs　and　wars。　But　if　we　are
  truly　such　a　pest；　why　marry　us？　Why　forbid　us　to　go　out　or　show
  ourselves　at　the　window？　You　want　to　keep　this　pest；　and　take　a
  thousand　cares　to　do　it。　If　your　wife　goes　out　and　you　meet　her　away
  from　the　house；　you　fly　into　a　fury。　Ought　you　not　rather　to　rejoice
  and　give　thanks　to　the　gods？　for　if　the　pest　has　disappeared；　you　will
  no　longer　find　it　at　home。　If　we　fall　asleep　at　friends'　houses　from
  the　fatigue　of　playing　and　sporting；　each　of　you　comes　prowling
  round　the　bed　to　contemplate　the　features　of　this　pest。　If　we　seat
  ourselves　at　the　window；　each　one　wants　to　see　the　pest；　and　if　we
  withdraw　through　modesty；　each　wants　all　the　more　to　see　the　pest
  perch　herself　there　again。　It　is　thus　clear　that　we　are　better　than
  you；　and　the　proof　of　this　is　easy。　Let　us　find　out　which　is　the　worse
  of　the　two　sexes。　We　say；　〃It's　you；〃　while　you　aver；　〃it's　we。〃'
  Come；　let　us　compare　them　in　detail；　each　individual　man　with　a　woman。
  Charminus　is　not　equal　to　Nausimache；　that's　certain。　Cleophon　is　in
  every　respect　inferior　to　Salabaccho。　It's　a　long　time　now　since　any
  of　you　has　dared　to　contest　the　prize　with　Aristomache；　the　heroine　of
  Marathon；　or　with　Stratonice。
  Among　the　last　year's　Senators；　who　have　just　yielded　their
  office　to　other　citizens；　is　there　one　who　equals　Eubule？　Not　even
  Anytus　would　say　that。　Therefore　we　maintain　that　men　are　greatly
  our　inferiors。　You　see　no　woman　who　has　robbed　the　state　of　fifty
  talents　rushing　about　the　city　in　a　magnificent　chariot；　our
  greatest　peculations　are　a　measure　of　corn；　which　we　steal　from　our
  husbands；　and　even　then　we　return　it　to　them　the　very　same　day。　But　we
  could　name　many　amongst　you　who　do　quite　as　much；　and　who　are；　even
  more　than　ourselves；　gluttons；　parasites；　cheats　and　kidnappers　of
  slaves。　We　know　how　to　keep　our　property　better　than　you。　We　still
  have　our　cylinders；　our　beams；　our　baskets　and　our　surshades；
  whereas　many　among　you　have　lost　the　wood　of　your　spears　as　well　as
  the　iron；　and　many　others　have　cast　away　their　bucklers　on　the
  battlefield。
  There　are　many　reproaches　we　have　the　right　to　bring　against
  men。　The　most　serious　is　this；　that　the　woman；　who　has　given　birth
  to　a　useful　citizen；　whether　taxiarch　or　strategus　should　receive　some
  distinction；　a　place　of　honour　should　be　reserved　for　her　at　the
  Stenia；　the　Scirophoria；　and　the　other　festivals　that　we　keep。　On
  the　other　hand；　she　of　whom　a　coward　was　born　or　a　worthless　man；　a
  bad　trierarch　or　an　unskilful　pilot；　should　sit　with　shaven　head；
  behind　her　sister　who　had　borne　a　brave　man。　Oh！　citizens！　is　it
  just　that　the　mother　of　Hyperbolus　should　sit　dressed　in　white　and
  with　loosened　tresses　beside　that　of　Lamachus　and　lend　out　money　on
  usury？　He；　who　may　have　made　a　deal　of　this　nature　with　her；　so　far
  from　paying　her　interest；　should　not　even　repay　the　capital；　saying；
  〃What；　pay　you　interest？　after　you　have　given　us　this　delightful　son？〃
  MNESILOCHUS
  I　have　contracted　quite　a　squint　by　looking　round　for　him；　and　yet
  Euripides　does　not　come。　Who　is　keeping　him？　No　doubt　he　is　ashamed　of
  his　cold　Palamedes。　What　will　attract　him？　Let　us　see！　By　which　of　his
  pieces　does　he　set　most　store？　Ah！　I'll　imitate　his　Helen；　his
  last…born。　I　just　happen　to　have　a　complete　woman's　outfit。
  SECOND　WOMAN
  What　are　you　ruminating　about　now？　Why　are　you　rolling　up　your
  eyes？　You'll　have　no　reason　to　be　proud　of　your　Helen；　if　you　don't
  keep　quiet　until　one　of　the　Magistrates　arrives。
  MNESILOCHUS　（as　Helen）
  〃These　shores　are　those　of　the　Nile　with　the　beautiful　nymphs；
  these　waters　take　the　place　of　heaven's　rain　and　fertilize　the　white
  earth；　that　produces　the　black　syrmea。〃
  SECOND　WOMAN
  By　bright　Hecate；　you're　a　cunning　varlet。
  MNESILOCHUS
  〃Glorious　Sparta　is　my　country　and　Tyndareus　is　my　father。〃
  SECOND　WOMAN
  He　your　father；　you　rascal！　Why；　it's　Phrynondas。
  MNESILOCHUS
  〃I　was　given　the　name　of　Helen。〃
  SECOND　WOMAN
  What！　you　are　again　becoming　a　woman；　before　we　have　punished
  you　for　having　pretended　it　the　first　time？
  MNESILOCHUS
  〃A　thousand　warriors　have　died　on　my　account　on　the　banks　of　the
  Scamander。〃
  SECOND　WOMAN
  Would　that　you　had　done　the　same！
  MNESILOCHUS
  〃And　here　I　am　upon　these　shores；　Menelaus；　my　unhappy　husband；
  does　not　yet　come。　Ah！　Why　do　I　still　live？〃
  SECOND　WOMAN
  Because　of　the　criminal　negligence　of　the　crows！
  MNESILOCHUS
  〃But　what　sweet　hope　is　this　that　sets　my　heart　a…throb？　Oh；　Zeus！
  grant　it　may　not　prove　a　lying　one！〃
  （EURIPIDES　enters。）
  EURIPIDES　（as　Menelaus）
  〃To　what　master　does　this　splendid　palace　belong？　Will　he
  welcome　strangers　who　have　been　tried　on　the　billows　of　the　sea　by
  storm　and　shipwreck？〃
  MNESILOCHUS
  〃This　is　the　palace　of　Proteus。〃
  SECOND　WOMAN
  Of　what　Proteus？　you　thrice　cursed　rascal！　how　he　lies！　By　the
  goddesses；　it's　ten　years　since　Proteas　died。
  EURIPIDES
  〃What　is　this　shore　whither　the　wind　has　driven　our　boat？〃
  MNESILOCHUS
  〃'Tis　Egypt。〃
  EURIPIDES
  〃Alas！　how　far　we　are　from　own　country！
  SECOND　WOMAN
  Don't　believe　that　cursed　fool。　This　is　Demeter's　Temple。
  EURIPIDES
  〃Is　Proteus　in　these　parts？〃
  SECOND　WOMAN
  Ah；　now；　stranger；　it　must　be　sea…sickness　that　makes　you　so
  distraught！　You　have　been　told　that　Proteas　is　dead；　and　yet　you　ask
  if　he　is　in　these　parts。
  EURIPIDES
  〃He　is　no　more！　Oh！　woe！　where　lie　his　ashes？〃
  MNESILOCHUS
  〃'Tis　on　his　tomb　you　see　me　sitting。〃
  SECOND　WOMAN
  You　call　an　altar　a　tomb！　Beware　of　the　rope！
  EURIPIDES
  〃And　why　remain　sitting　on　this　tomb；　wrapped　in　this　long　veil；
  oh；　stranger　lady？〃
  MNESILOCHUS
  〃They　want　to　force　me　to　marry　a　son　of　Proteus。〃
  SECOND　WOMAN
  Ah！　wretch；　why　tell　such　shameful　lies？　Stranger；　this　is　a
  rascal　who　has　slipped　in　amongst　us　women　to　rob　us　of　our　trinkets。
  MNESILOCHUS　（to　SECOND　WOMAN）
  〃Shout！　load　me　with　your　insults；　for　little　care　I。〃
  EURIPIDES
  〃Who　is　the　old　woman　who　reviles　you；　stranger　lady？
  MNESILOCHUS
  〃'Tis　Theonoe；　the　daughter　of　Proteus。〃
  SECOND　WOMAN
  I！　Why；　my　name's　Critylle；　the　daughter　of　Antitheus；　of　the　deme
  of　Gargettus；　as　for　you；　you　are　a　rogue。
  MNESILOCHUS
  〃Your　entreaties　are　vain。　Never　shall　I　wed　your　brother；　never
  shall　I　betray　the　faith　I　owe　my　husband；　Menelaus；　who　is　fighting
  before　Troy。〃
  EURIPIDES
  〃What　are　you　saying？　Turn　your　face　towards　me。〃
  MNESILOCHUS
  〃I　dare　not；　my　cheeks　show　the　marks　of　the　insults　I　have　been
  forced　to　suffer。〃
  EURIPIDES
  〃Oh！　great　gods！　I　cannot　speak；　for　very　emotion。。。。　Ah！　what
  do　I　see？　Who　are　you？〃
  MNESILOCHUS
  〃And　you；　what　is　your　name？　for　my　surprise　is　as　great　as
  yours。〃
  EURIPIDES
  〃Are　you　Grecian　or　born　in　this　country？〃
  MNESILOCHUS
  〃I　am　Grecian。　But　now　your　name；　what　is　it？〃
  EURIPIDES
  〃Oh　how　you　resemble　Helen！
  MNESILOCHUS
  〃And　you　Menelaus；　if　I　can　judge　by　these　pot…herbs。〃
  EURIPIDES
  〃You　are　not　mistaken；　'tis　none　other　than　that　unfortunate
  mortal　who　stands　before　you。〃
  MNESILOCHUS
  〃Ah！　how　you　have　delayed　coming　to　your　wife's　arms！　Press　me
  to　your　heart；　throw　your　arms　about　me；　for　I　wish　to　cover　you
  with　kisses。　Carry　me　away；　carry　me　away；　quick；　quick；　far；　very　far
  from　here。〃
  SECOND　WOMAN
  By　the　goddesses；　woe　to　him　who　would　carry　you　away！　I　should
  thrash　him　with　my　torch。
  EURIPIDES
  〃Do　you　propose　to　prevent　me　from　taking　my　wife；　the　daughter　of
  Tyndareus；　to　Sparta？〃
  S