Sexual life in ancient Greece : with thirty-two full-page plates
THE ‘THEATRE
off to another—would fly, would fly, would fly, would fly ; and off to another would fly.’
Girl: Do not be envious of the young women. For pleasure is in their tender limbs, and blossoms on their bosoms; while you, old woman, have had your eyebrows polled and your face painted, and you look like a darling for—the embracement of death !
Old Woman: May your teeth drop out and the cords of your bedstead break, and when you wish to be caressed, I hope you will find him a snakea snake, a snake, a snake; I hope you will find him a snake!
Girl: O dear, what will become of me? my friend is not come, as for the rest, I think nothing of them. Mother is out, she has gone and deserted me, she has left me alone. Nurse, nurse, pity and comfort me; fetch me Orthagoras, I pray ; so may it always be happy and well with thee ; oh, I beseech thee, obey !
Old Woman: These, these are the prurient tricks of Ionian harlotry, and you seem to me a labda after the Lesbian fashion.
Girl: But you shall never steal away my darling, you shall not disturb nor filch my little hour !
Old Woman: Sing as much as you please, and peep out like a weasel! They will all come first to me!
Girl: What, to your funeral? A new joke, hey?
Old Woman: No! Not in the least new!
Girl: How could there be anything new im such an old crone ?
Old Woman: My age won't trouble you.
Girl: Then what will? Your rouge and white lead, perchance.
Old Woman: Why talk to me?
Girl: Why peep out?
Old Woman: 1? Vm only singing under my breath to my dear Epigenes.
Girl: 1 thought old Geres was your only friend.
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