§488τἀκ δεξιᾶς, μὴ ξυμφορὰ γενήσεται τὸ πρᾶγμα.
to the right, lest the business turn out to be a disaster.
§489ἀλλʼ ἐγκονῶμεν· τοῦ τόπου γὰρ ἐγγύς ἐσμεν ἤδη, §490ὅθενπερ εἰς ἐκκλησίαν ὡρμώμεθʼ ἡνίκʼ ᾖμεν· §491τὴν δʼ οἰκίαν ἔξεσθʼ ὁρᾶν, ὅθενπερ ἡ στρατηγὸς §492ἔσθʼ ἡ τὸ πρᾶγμʼ εὑροῦσʼ ὃ νῦν ἔδοξε τοῖς πολίταις.
But let us make haste; for we are already near the place whence we set out for the assembly when we went; and it is possible to see the house, whence our general comes, she who devised the scheme which has now been approved by the citizens.
§493ὥστʼ εἰκὸς ἡμᾶς μὴ βραδύνειν ἔστʼ ἐπαναμενούσας §494πώγωνας ἐξηρτημένας, §495μὴ καὶ τις †ὄψεθʼ ἡμᾶσ† χἠμῶν ἴσως κατείπῃ.
Therefore it is reasonable that we do not delay, waiting here with beards hung on, lest someone see us and perhaps denounce us.
§496ἀλλʼ εἶα δεῦρʼ ἐπὶ σκιᾶς §497ἐλθοῦσα πρὸς τὸ τειχίον §498παραβλέπουσα θατέρῳ §499πάλιν μετασκεύαζε σαυτὴν αὖθις ἥπερ ἦσθα, §500καὶ μὴ βράδυνʼ· ὡς τήνδε καὶ δὴ τὴν στρατηγὸν ἡμῶν §501χωροῦσαν ἐξ ἐκκλησίας ὁρῶμεν.
But come here into the shade, going towards the wall, looking askance with one eye, and change yourself back again to what you were before, and do not delay; for indeed we see this general of ours approaching from the assembly.
ἀλλʼ ἐπείγου §502ἅπασα καὶ μίσει σάκον πρὸς τοῖν γνάθοιν ἔχουσα· §503χαὖται γὰρ ἥκουσιν πάλαι τὸ σχῆμα τοῦτʼ ἔχουσαι.
But make haste, everyone, and hate having the beard on your jaws; for these women also have arrived long ago having this attire.
These matters, O women, have turned out happily for us, the things which we planned.
§506ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστα πρίν τινʼ ἀνθρώπων ἰδεῖν, §507ῥιπτεῖτε χλαίνας, ἐμβὰς ἐκποδὼν ἴτω, §508χάλα συναπτοὺς ἡνίας Λακωνικάς, §509βακτηρίας ἄφεσθε.
But as quickly as possible, before any of human beings sees us, throw off your cloaks, let Laconian shoes go out of the way, loosen the bound Laconian laces, let go of your staffs.
καὶ μέντοι σὺ μὲν §510ταύτας κατευτρέπιζʼ, ἐγὼ δὲ βούλομαι §511εἴσω παρερπύσασα πρὶν τὸν ἄνδρα με §512ἰδεῖν, καταθέσθαι θοἰμάτιον αὐτοῦ πάλιν §513ὅθενπερ ἔλαβον τἄλλα θʼ ἁξηνεγκάμην.
And indeed, you set these things in order, while I wish to creep inside before my husband sees me, and put his cloak back again where I took it from, and the other things which I carried out.
§514κεῖται καὶ δὴ πάνθʼ ἅπερ εἶπας, σὸν δʼ ἔργον τἄλλα διδάσκειν, §515ὅ τί σοι δρῶσαι ξύμφορον ἡμεῖς δόξομεν ὀρθῶς ὑπακούειν.
Indeed everything lies as you said, and your task is to teach the rest, what we should do to seem to obey you rightly.
§516οὐδεμιᾷ γὰρ δεινοτέρᾳ σου ξυμμείξασʼ οἶδα γυναικί.
For I know I have met no woman cleverer than you.
Wait then, so that in this rule which I have just been voted into, I may use you all as counselors.
καὶ γὰρ ἐκεῖ μοι §519ἐν τῷ θορύβῳ καὶ τοῖς δεινοῖς ἀνδρειόταται γεγένησθε.
For indeed there in the confusion and dangers you proved to be most brave.
§520αὕτη πόθεν ἥκεις Πραξαγόρα;
You, where do you come from, Praxagora?
§521bὅ τί μοι τοῦτʼ ἔστιν;
What is that to me?
ὡς εὐηθικῶς.
How silly!
§522οὔτοι παρὰ τοῦ μοιχοῦ γε φήσεις.
Surely you won't say you come from a lover.
§524bπῶς;
How?
§524cεἰ τῆς κεφαλῆς ὄζω μύρου.
If my head smells of perfume.
§525τί δʼ;
What?
οὐχὶ βινεῖται γυνὴ κἄνευ μύρου;
Does a woman not shag even without perfume?
§526οὐ δῆτα τάλαν ἔγωγε.
Not I indeed, poor me.
How then at dawn did you go away in silence, taking my cloak?
A woman, a companion and friend of mine, by night sent for me as she was in labor.
And then was it not possible for you to go after telling me?
And not care for the woman in labor, she being in such a state, husband?
§531bεἰποῦσάν γέ μοι.
At least after telling me!
§532ἀλλʼ ἔστιν ἐνταῦθά τι κακόν.
But there is some mischief in this.
§532bμὰ τὼ θεὼ
By the two goddesses, no!
But I went just as I was; and she begged me, the one who sent for me to come by all means.
§535εἶτʼ οὐ τὸ σαυτῆς ἱμάτιον ἐχρῆν σʼ ἔχειν;
Then should you not have worn your own cloak?
§536ἀλλʼ ἔμʼ ἀποδύσασʼ ἐπιβαλοῦσα τοὔγκυκλον §537ᾤχου καταλιποῦσʼ ὡσπερεὶ προκείμενον, §538μόνον οὐ στεφανώσασʼ οὐδʼ ἐπιθεῖσα λήκυθον.
But stripping me, and throwing your mantle over me, you went off leaving me like a corpse laid out, all but crowning me and putting an oil flask on me.
§539ψῦχος γὰρ ἦν, ἐγὼ δὲ λεπτὴ κἀσθενής· §540ἔπειθʼ ἵνʼ ἀλεαίνοιμι, τοῦτʼ ἠμπεσχόμην· §541σὲ δʼ ἐν ἀλέᾳ κατακείμενον καὶ στρώμασιν §542κατέλιπον ὦνερ.
For it was cold, and I am thin and weak; then, that I might be warm, I put this on; but you I left lying in warmth and blankets, husband.
And the Laconian shoes, why did they go with you, and the staff?
§544ἵνα θοἰμάτιον σώσαιμι, μεθυπεδησάμην §545μιμουμένη σε καὶ κτυποῦσα τοῖν ποδοῖν §546καὶ τοὺς λίθους παίουσα τῇ βακτηρίᾳ.
That I might save your cloak, I changed shoes, mimicking you and stamping with my feet, and striking the stones with the staff.
Do you know then that you have lost a sixth of a bushel of wheat, which I ought to have received from the assembly?
§549μὴ φροντίσῃς· ἄρρεν γὰρ ἔτεκε παιδίον.
Do not worry; for she gave birth to a male child.
§550ἡκκλησία;
The assembly?
§550bμὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ἐφʼ ἣν ἐγᾠχόμην.
By Zeus, no, but the woman to whom I went.
§551ἀτὰρ γεγένηται;
But did it take place?
§551bναὶ μὰ Δίʼ.
Yes, by Zeus.
οὐκ ᾔδησθά με §552φράσαντά σοι χθές;
Didn't you know that I told you yesterday?
§552bἄρτι γʼ ἀναμιμνῄσκομαι.
Just now indeed I remember.
§553οὐδʼ ἄρα τὰ δόξαντʼ οἶσθα;
So you do not know what was decided?
§553bμὰ Δί ἐγὼ μὲν οὔ.
By Zeus, not I.
§554κάθησο τοίνυν σηπίας μασωμένη.
Sit down then chewing cuttlefish.
§555ὑμῖν δέ φασι παραδεδόσθαι τὴν πόλιν.
They say the city has been handed over to you women.
§556τί δρᾶν;
To do what?
ὑφαίνειν;
To weave?
§556bοὐ μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ἄρχειν.
No, by Zeus, but to rule.
§556cτίνων;
Whom?
§557ἁπαξαπάντων τῶν κατὰ πόλιν πραγμάτων.
All the affairs of the city, absolutely all of them.
By Aphrodite, then the city will be happy henceforth.
§559bκατὰ τί;
In what way?
§559cπολλῶν οὕνεκα.
For many reasons.
§560οὐ γὰρ ἔτι τοῖς τολμῶσιν αὐτὴν αἰσχρὰ δρᾶν §561ἔσται τὸ λοιπόν, οὐδαμοῦ δὲ μαρτυρεῖν, §562οὐ συκοφαντεῖν— §562bμηδαμῶς πρὸς τῶν θεῶν §563τουτὶ ποιήσῃς μηδʼ ἀφέλῃ μου τὸν βίον.
For those who dare to do shameful things to it will no longer have the opportunity henceforth, nor will there be false witnessing anywhere, nor informing— By the gods, by no means do this, nor take away my livelihood!
§564ὦ δαιμόνιʼ ἀνδρῶν τὴν γυναῖκʼ ἔα λέγειν.
O wondrous man, let your wife speak.
§565μὴ λωποδυτῆσαι, μὴ φθονεῖν τοῖς πλησίον,
nor highway robbery, nor envying one's neighbors,