Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The Worlds Best Poetry. Volume IX. Tragedy: Humor. 1904. | | Humorous Poems: I. Woman | Womens Chorus | Aristophanes (c. 448c. 388 B.C.) |
| From the Greek by William Collins |
| 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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