"Walk up smartly, Charitimides, Smicythus, and Draces, and do not fail in any point of your part; let us first demand our fee and then vote for all that may perchance be useful for our partisans.... Ah! what am I saying? I meant to say, for our fellow-citizens."
The Chorus' statement relates to the fact that the men of the government are corrupt, voting for the people who pay them to pursue their cause rather than voting for the people and the welfare of the city.
"It is hard to correct your peevish humour; you fear those who love you and throw yourselves at the feet of those who betray you."
Praxagora is making a statement about the men of the city. How they have become people who act in great irony, as they throw themselves at the feet of those who betray them. Her saying this relates to the idea that the men have corrupted not only the government, but the city as well.
"Let us therefore hand Athens over to them without endless discussions, without bothering ourselves about what they will do; let us simply hand them over the power, remembering that they are mothers and will therefore spare the blood of our soldiers; besides, who will know better than a mother how to forward provisions to the front? Woman is adept at getting money for herself and will not easily let herself be deceived; she understands deceit too well herself. I omit a thousand other advantages. Take my advice and you will live in perfect happiness."
Praxagora is practicing her oration before the other woman. Her speech is to convince the men of the government to give control of the city over to the women, that they will know exactly what to do with the power and authority and money of the city. And, by so doing, they will turn Athens into a city worth living in once more.
