ATHENIAN. Ah! that's the ticket! Well, to begin with, give us Echinus, the Maliac gulf adjoining, and the two legs of Megara.[464] LACONIAN. Oh! surely, surely not all that, my dear sir. LYSISTRATA. Come to terms; never make a difficulty of two legs more or less! ATHENIAN. Well, I'm ready now to off coat and cultivate my land. LACONIAN. And I too, to dung it to start with. LYSISTRATA. That's just what you shall do, once peace is signed. So, if you really want to make it, go consult your allies about the matter. ATHENIAN. What allies, I should like to know? Why, we are _all_ on the stand; not one but is mad to be fucking. What we all want, is to be abed with our wives; how should our allies fail to second our project? LACONIAN. And ours the same, for certain sure! ATHENIANS. The Carystians first and foremost, by the gods! LYSISTRATA. Well said, indeed! Now be off to purify yourselves for entering the Acropolis, where the women invite you to supper; we will empty our provision baskets to do you honour. At table, you will exchange oaths and pledges; then each man will go home with his wife. ATHENIAN. Come along then, and as quick as may be. LACONIAN. Lead on; I'm your man. ATHENIAN. Quick, quick's the word, say I. CHORUS OF WOMEN. Embroidered stuffs, and dainty tunics, and flowing gowns, and golden ornaments, everything I have, I offer them you with all my heart; take them all for your children, for your girls, against they are chosen "basket-bearers" to the goddess. I invite you every one to enter, come in and choose whatever you will; there is nothing so well fastened, you cannot break the seals, and carry away the contents. Look about you everywhere ... you won't find a blessed thing, unless you have sharper eyes than mine.[465] And if any of you lacks corn to feed his slaves and his young and numerous family, why, I have a few grains of wheat at home; let him take what I have to give, a big twelve-pound loaf included. So let my poorer neighbours all come with bags and wallets; my man, Manes, shall give them corn; but I warn them not to come near my door, or--beware the dog![465] A MARKET-LOUNGER. I say, you, open the door! A SLAVE. Go your way, I tell you. Why, bless me, they're sitting down now; I shall have to singe 'em with my torch to make 'em stir! What an impudent lot of fellows! MARKET-LOUNGER. I don't mean to budge. SLAVE. Well, as you _must_ stop, and I don't want to offend you--but you'll see some queer sights. MARKET-LOUNGER. Well and good, I've no objection. SLAVE. No, no, you must be off--or I'll tear your hair out, I will; be off, I say, and don't annoy the Laconian Envoys; they're just coming out from the banquet-hall.