Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IX. Tragedy: Humor. 1904. | | | | Humorous Poems: I. Woman | | Women’s Chorus | | Aristophanes (c. 448–c. 388 B.C.) |
| | From the Greek by William Collins |
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THEY ’RE always abusing the women, | |
| As a terrible plague to men: | |
| They say we ’re the root of all evil, | |
| And repeat it again and again; | |
| Of war, and quarrels, and bloodshed, | 5 |
| All mischief, be what it may! | |
| And pray, then, why do you marry us, | |
| If we ’re all the plagues you say? | |
| And why do you take such care of us, | |
| And keep us so safe at home, | 10 |
| And are never easy a moment | |
| If ever we chance to roam? | |
| When you ought to be thanking heaven | |
| That your Plague is out of the way, | |
| You all keep fussing and fretting— | 15 |
| “Where is my Plague to-day?” | |
| If a Plague peeps out of the window, | |
| Up go the eyes of men; | |
| If she hides, then they all keep staring | |
| Until she looks out again. | 20 | | |
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