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

THE ‘THEATRE

I cry to thee, grant that she may come to my bed. I have said enough to prove my anguish, and do thou, my dearest, I beseech thee, descend and give me welcome! Through thee I suffer! O my beloved decked with golden light, child of Aphrodite, the Muses’ bee, the nursling of the Graces, Beauty’s face, open to me, embrace me! Sore pangs I undergo for thee !

Old Woman : Hallo there ! why are you knocking ? Are you seeking me ?

Youth: Not exactly !

Old Woman: And yet you knocked furiously against my door!

Youth : May I die if I did !

Old Woman: Then why that lighted torch? What seek you here?

Youth: An Anaphlystian citizen.

Old Woman: What’s his name ?

Youth: No, not Sebinus, whom you perhaps expect !

Old Woman: By Aphrodite [grabs him by the arm], whether you like it or not.

Youth: Ah, but we’re not now bringing cases over sixty years old—they’ve been adjourned till later! We're taking now those under twenty years.

Old Woman: Ah, but that was under the old régime, my duckie ; ow you must take us first !

Youth: Aye, to take or pass at choice, so runs the Petian law !*

Old Woman : You didn’t, did you, dine by Peetian law?

Youth: Don’t understand you; I must knock at this door.

Old Woman: Aye, but you must first knock at my little door !

Youth: O we don’t want a musty boltingsieve now !

Old Woman : I know I’m loved ; but you wonder, don’t you, to see me out of doors; come, kiss me —do !

1 That is, after the manner of the law of draughts.

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