The Dialogues of The Courtesans
Glycera and Thais
GLYCERA
Thais, do you know the Acarnanian soldier, who in the old days kept Abrotonum, and afterwards fell in love with me—the dandy, I mean, with the fine military cloak—or have you forgotten the fellow?
Thais, do you know the Acarnanian soldier, who in the old days kept Abrotonum, and afterwards fell in love with me—the dandy, I mean, with the fine military cloak—or have you forgotten the fellow?
THAIS
No, Glycera, dearie, I know him. He drank with us last year at the harvest celebrations. But what of it? You looked as though you had something to tell me about him.
No, Glycera, dearie, I know him. He drank with us last year at the harvest celebrations. But what of it? You looked as though you had something to tell me about him.
GLYCERA
That nasty thing Gorgona, who pretends to be my friend, has got her claws into him and stolen him from me behind my back.
That nasty thing Gorgona, who pretends to be my friend, has got her claws into him and stolen him from me behind my back.
THAIS
So now he won’t be visiting you any more, but has taken Gorgona to be his mistress.
So now he won’t be visiting you any more, but has taken Gorgona to be his mistress.
GLYCERA
Yes, Thais, and it’s hurt me very much.
Yes, Thais, and it’s hurt me very much.
THAIS
It was a dirty trick, dearie, but only to be expected; it’s a common practice of us girls. So you mustn’t take it too hard or blame Gorgona; for, earlier on, Abrotonum didn’t blame you over him; and yet you’d been friends.
It was a dirty trick, dearie, but only to be expected; it’s a common practice of us girls. So you mustn’t take it too hard or blame Gorgona; for, earlier on, Abrotonum didn’t blame you over him; and yet you’d been friends.
But I do wonder what this soldier man found in her, unless he’s absolutely blind and hadn’t noticed that her hair is thin on top and receding a long way in front; her lips are livid and her neck’s scraggy with the veins all standing out, and what a long nose she’s got! Her only good point is that she’s tall and has a good carriage and a very attractive smile.
But I do wonder what this soldier man found in her, unless he’s absolutely blind and hadn’t noticed that her hair is thin on top and receding a long way in front; her lips are livid and her neck’s scraggy with the veins all standing out, and what a long nose she’s got! Her only good point is that she’s tall and has a good carriage and a very attractive smile.
GLYCERA
Why, Thais, you don’t think the Acarnanian has fallen for her beauty? Don’t you know that her mother, Chrysarium, is a witch who knows Thessalian spells, and can bring the moon down? Why, they say she even flies of a night. She’s the one who’s sent the fellow out of his senses by giving him a drink of her brew, and now they’re making a fine harvest out of him.
Why, Thais, you don’t think the Acarnanian has fallen for her beauty? Don’t you know that her mother, Chrysarium, is a witch who knows Thessalian spells, and can bring the moon down? Why, they say she even flies of a night. She’s the one who’s sent the fellow out of his senses by giving him a drink of her brew, and now they’re making a fine harvest out of him.
THAIS
You’ll have your harvest too, dearie; you’ll find someone else; let him go to the devil.
You’ll have your harvest too, dearie; you’ll find someone else; let him go to the devil.
Dialogi meretricii. Lucian of Samosata. Matthew Donald Macleod (Translator). Medford, MA. Perseus 5.0.
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