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

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to warm her lonely couch; no one can ever laugh in Mandris’s face because of his wife. But this is not the kind of talk that Gyllis wants. Threissa, wipe that pitcher and pour out three measures of unmixed wine, and drop in water, and give her a bumper.

Thr.: ‘There, Gyllis, drink.

Gy.: Giveitme. I didn’t come with the intention of persuading you to go astray, but to tell you about the festival.

Met.: And for this reason, Gyllis, you have enjoyed a drink.

Gy.: May you always have plenty of it in your press, my dear. It’s sweet, by Demeter; Gyllis has never drunk sweeter wine than Metriche’s. Well, good luck to you, my dear. ‘Take care of yourself. I hope my girls Myrtale and Sime will remain young, as long as Gyllis has breath in her body.

In this case the procuress certainly had no luck ; with unmistakable clearness she is sent home by Metriche, who is, however, good-natured enough to offer her a parting drink; for she knows the weak side of women of that kind, whose fondness for wine is again and again made prominent by authors and in comedy especially formed a motive that was always applauded.

If the woman was too timid, the pander (of whichever sex) put his or her own home at her disposal or procured a third neutral love-nest (brothel).

The frequent mention of these amorous shelters in ancient authors and the numerous expressions for them, prove how widespread such arrangements were, and how often they were called into requisition, for the offer and demand for them are always in direct correlation.

A friend might also lend his own home to the furtherance of illegal amours; we are made

* Called pa(c)rpudcta (diminutive ja(a)rpvAdc).

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