Lysistrata by Fletcher Flora Page A

and the long line behind him also got into motion jerkily, the faggots giving off thick clouds of smoke that merged and swirled and hovered overhead. As he labored upward, his back bent and his thin legs wavering, Draces grumbled incessantly and cursed the smoke of the faggots that got into his eyes and stung them cruelly and caused the tears to stream down his sunken cheeks into his beard.
    When the line of the attackers came upon the crest and moved toward the gates of the Acropolis, Draces and Cadmus came suddenly to a halt, the old men behind them piling upon one another and getting into a tangle of arms and legs and faggots and long poles. There was an uproar of cursing and complaining and shrill demands to move ahead, but Draces and Cadmus stood rooted, staring incredulously.
    “What’s this?” said Draces. “Have these rash women actually come outside the walls to meet us?”
    “Obviously they have,” said Cadmus, “and I am bound to say that they look quite fierce and determined, to say the least. Furthermore, that is clearly Nausica among them giving orders. What do you think is in the pots, Draces? If I am not mistaken, it is boiling water.”
    “It is certainly water, and I would say, from the steam rising from the pots, that it has been boiling recently, if not at this moment.”
    “Surely they wouldn’t throw it on us. That is far too depraved to be considered.”
    “If you had been present when these shameless women fell upon us with sticks in the darkness, you would not consider anything too depraved for them to do. Cadmus, I tell you that your wife Nausica is a monster who justifies all the vilifications of Euripides. Previously, I was always inclined to think he exaggerated in the matter of the duplicity of women, but now I realize that he was far too conservative.”
    Nausica, while Cadmus and Draces held up the attackers, had arranged the defenders before the gates to suit her, and now she turned and recognized Cadmus for the first time. She was clearly amazed to see him in such circumstances, and for a moment she could not speak at all, though she had intended to speak at once in defiance of the old men with their faggots.
    “Is that you, Cadmus?” she called finally. “Is it a fact that you have not yet been sufficiently beaten and have come here like a simpleton to be beaten again? Very well. It is not necessary to wait any longer, for I have my stick here and will gladly accommodate you in this respect, although in no other. You, too, Draces. Do you wish another beating? I see you have put on your chiton again, and I must say that you look much more presentable than when I chased you naked among the shrines.”
    “Do you hear the woman taunt me, Cadmus?” Draces said furiously. “As her husband, do you intend to stand here like a coward and tolerate such absolute insolence?”
    “As to that,” said Cadmus, “I am moving forward as fast as you are, Draces, which is not at all. I suggest that you demonstrate some of the courage you accuse me of lacking.”
    “Cadmus, your irresponsibility is simply beyond belief. This ferocious woman is admittedly your wife, and it is your duty to see that she does not cause trouble for honest folk who wish only to be left alone.”
    “Well, she may be my wife, which I can’t deny, but you are the one she is insulting at present. Don’t expect me to defend you on every occasion, Draces. It won’t do. You are obligated to do a few things for yourself.”
    “Curse me, Cadmus, I tell you frankly that I have always considered you a questionable fellow, but you have turned out to be far baser than I ever dreamed! As your leader, I demand to know what you propose to do.”
    “I propose to let you lead, as a matter of fact, since you are so insistent upon being a leader.”
    “Oh, I see that I can depend upon no one, and must do everything in this perilous business for myself. Stand aside, please, and give me room.”
    More than willing for once to