O Zeus, why have you settled women in the light of the sun,women, this counterfeit evil for mankind?If you wished to propagate the mortal race,this should not have come from women:instead men should deposit in your templesgold or iron or a weight of bronzeand buy offspring, each according to the price paid,and live in houses free from the female sex.But as it is, when we are about to take an evilinto our homes, we pay out our own wealth as dowry.The proof that a woman is a great evil is clear:her father who begot and reared herpays a dowry to get her out of his houseand be rid of the burden.The man who takes this pernicious creature into his homerejoices to deck her person with fine adornmentsand dresses up an evil idol, poor wretch,draining his house of wealth bit by bit.He is best off who has harmless nonentities as in-laws;I hate a clever woman—may there never be in my housea woman with more intelligence than befits a woman!For Cypris breeds more mischief in the clever ones:the woman without ability is saved from follyby the narrowness of her wits.A woman should not have access to servants:she should live with voiceless beasts that biteso that she could neither address anyonenor receive a reply from them.But as it is, the evil ones contrive evil in their chambers,and their servants carry it abroad.So you, vile woman, came here to brokera share in the inviolate bed of my father!I shall rinse out my ears with flowing waterto wash away such pollution.How could I be evil when I feel defiledmerely by hearing such things?Know this, woman: it is my piety that saves you.Had I not been caught off guard by an oath to the gods,I would never have refrained from telling my father....I hate you women, hate and hate and hate you,and never have enough of hating!Some say I always talk of this:yes, for eternal too is woman's wickedness.Either let someone teach them to be chaste,or let me trample on them forever!
This thread was moved to >>>/bant/23783082
