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io8 THE LYSISTRATA
Aristophanes and Shakespeare, and perhaps
Flaubert, have alone revealed his essential
nullity, because they alone have looked for
something essential beneath the accidental.
Nothing could be simpler than the character
of Polonius ; nothing could be more subtle.
A rap here, a stab there, and the soul of a
minister is exposed. We have come to see,
we scarcely know how, that, if he ever had
one, he has lost it. Some idea of the simplicity
and subtlety of the Aristophanic method may
be gathered from the following scene, but to
illustrate the extravagance and beauty of the
form, or the profundity of the conception, no
quotation can suffice. Lysistrata has un-
folded her famous scheme for stopping the
war : there is to be a sympathetic strike ; the
women of all the combatant states, principals
and allies, are to withhold their services until
the war has been stopped :
LYSISTRATA [ending a speech]. Then shall the people
revere us and honour us,
givers of Joy, and givers of Peace.
MAGISTRATE. Tell us the mode and the means of your
doing it.
LYS. First we will stop the disorderly crew,
Soldiers in arms promenading and marketing.
STRATYLLIS [leader of the chorus of women\. Yea, by
LYS.
divine 'tis Aphrodite, true.
Now in the market you see them like Corybants,
jangling about with their armour of mail.