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H2 THE LYSISTRATA
artist. Neither the men nor the women are
tied up and peppered with the small shot of
his wit ; they are allowed to betray themselves.
The art consists in selecting from the mass of
their opinions and sentiments what is most
significant, and making the magistrate, who
speaks for the party, deliver himself of judicious
commonplaces. The chorus of wiseacres, the
bar-parlour politicians, whom chance or misfortune
has led to favour one side rather than
the other, are less cautious without being less
platitudinous. Their talk is all of " inevitable
war " and " stripping for the fray," vindi-
cating rights," " tyranny " and " traitors,"
" spoliation," " innovation," and " striking
good blows for the cause " ; at least it was
twenty-three hundred years ago.
Men Chorus.
This is not a time for slumber ;
now let all be bold and free,
Strip to meet the great occasion,
vindicate our rights with me.
I can smell a deep, surprising
Tide of Revolution rising,
Odour as of folk devising
Hippias's tyranny.
And I feel a dire misgiving,
Lest some false Laconians, meeting
in the house of Cleisthenes,