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

THE ‘THEATRE

Youth: What if some man, a friend or fellowcitizen, should come and set me free ?

Old Woman : A man, forsooth? No man is liable beyond a bushel now!

Youth: But can’t I swear off?

Old Woman: Nay ! no tricks allowed now!

Youth; Vl pretend to be a merchant !

Old Woman: You may, but to your cost !

Youth: What—must I come?

Old Woman: You must—follow me to my house.

Youth : Is it a stern necessity ?

Old Woman: Yes, quite Diomedean.

Youth : Then strew the couch with dittany, and break off and place four well-crushed branches of the vine beneath; bind the fillets on your head ; set the oil beside, and at the entrance the watervessel [trappings, etc., of a bier].

Old Woman: Now, of course you'll buy me a garland yet!

Youth: A waxen garland, so by Zeus, I will! You'll fall to pieces, I think, within !

Girl [coming from her house]: Where are you dragging him ?

Old Woman: \’m taking my husband home.

Girl: Not wisely then: for he is not of the age for sleeping with you, such a young thing as that ! You are fitter to be his mother rather than his wite! If thus you carry out this law you'll soon have an (Edipus in every house.

Old Woman : You nasty spiteful girl, you said that out of sheer envy, but I’ll be revenged ! [Exit.]

Youth : Now, by Zeus the preserver, my sweetest darling, you have done me a great service in having frightened off that’ old hag, for which this night V’ll make you what return I can.

4. ALEXIS

Alexis came from Thurii in Lower Italy, lived about 392-288, and, according to Suidas, left 245 comedies.

The first of these which interests us is Agonis

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