Sexual life in ancient Greece : with thirty-two full-page plates

ATTIC COMEDY

of the historical premises of the individual comedies and their connection, from which the following passages are taken :—

(a) Acharnians (performed 425 B.C.)

We find a Phallus-song in 262 ff. :—

Proceed, O Phales, companion of Bacchus, fellowreveller, roaming by night, friend of love and lechery ; in the sixth year I address you, having come with delight to my township, having made for myself a peace, and being freed from troubles and battles and Lamachi.

(2) cclesiazuse (performed 389 or 392 B.C.)

Lines 877 ff. A grotesque scene of the amecebean (alternately answering) singing match of old and young prostitutes, the only one existing in any literature.

Old Woman: Why in the world are the men not come? It has been time this long while; for I am standing idle, decked out with grease-paint and clad in a saffron-coloured robe, humming an amorous tune to myself and sportively playing meanwhile, in order that I may catch one of them as he passes by. Ye Muses, come hither to my lips, ready with some soft Ionian ditty |

Girl: This once then, you ugly old woman, you've forestalled me, and peeped out first : thinking to steal my grapes as I was not here; aye, and singing to attract a lover! Well, go on singing, and I'll sing against you, for this, even though it would be tiresome to the audience, has yet something amusing in it and a comic flavour.

[An ugly old man goes across the stage.|

Old Woman : Here, talk to this thing, and vanish : but do you, my little darling of a flute-player, take your instrument and play a tune that’s worthy of you and worthy of me. (Singing) ‘If anyone wants to experience bliss he should sleep with me, for knowledge is not in young women but in the ripe ones. Would she be as faithful and true, and constant and loving as 1? No, she would fly

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