"They dip their wool in hot water according to the ancient plan, all of them without exception, and never make the slightest innovation. They sit and cook, as of old. They carry upon their heads, as of old. They conduct the Themophoriae, as of old. They wear out their husbands, as of old. They buy sweets, as of old. They take their wine neat, as of old." [Footnote: Aristophanes, Eccles. 215.]
And that this was also the kind of ideal approved by their lords and masters, and that any attempt to pass beyond it was resented, is amusingly illustrated in the following extract from the same poet, where Lysistrata explains the growing indignation of the women at the bad conduct of affairs by the men, and the way in which their attempts to interfere were resented. The comments of the "magistrate" typify, of course, the man's point of view.
"Think of our old moderation and gentleness, think how we
bore with your pranks, and were still,
All through the days of your former prognacity, all through
the war that is over and spent:
Not that (be sure) we approved of your policy; never our
griefs you allowed us to vent.
Well we perceived your mistakes and mismanagement. Often
at home on our housekeeping cares,
Often we heard of some foolish proposal you made for conducting
the public affairs.
Then would we question you mildly and pleasantly, inwardly
grieving, but outwardly gay;
'Husband, how goes it abroad?' we would ask of him; 'what
have ye done in Assembly to-day?'
'What would ye write on the side of the Treaty-stone?' Husband
says angrily, 'What's that to you?
You hold your tongue!' And I held it accordingly.
STRATYLLIS.
That is a thing which I never would do!
MAGISTRATE.
Ma'am, if you hadn't you'd soon have repented it.
LYSISTRATA.
Therefore I held it, and spake not a word.
Soon of another tremendous absurdity, wilder and worse
than the former we heard.
'Husband,' I say, with a tender solicitude, 'Why have you
passed such a foolish decree?'
Viciously, moodily, glaring askance at me, 'Stick to your
spinning, my mistress,' says he,
'Else you will speedily find it the worse for you! war is
the care and the business of men!'