Tryphena and Charmides
TRYPHENA
Who ever heard of a fellow who takes out a girl, pays her five drachmas, and then turns his back on her in bed, weeping and groaning? I don’t think you enjoyed the wine, or really wanted to dine alone with me. You were crying all through dinner; I noticed it. And now you keep on whimpering like a baby. Why, Charmides? Don’t keep it from me, so that I can have this further pleasure
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out of the sleepless night I’ve spent with you.
Who ever heard of a fellow who takes out a girl, pays her five drachmas, and then turns his back on her in bed, weeping and groaning? I don’t think you enjoyed the wine, or really wanted to dine alone with me. You were crying all through dinner; I noticed it. And now you keep on whimpering like a baby. Why, Charmides? Don’t keep it from me, so that I can have this further pleasure
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out of the sleepless night I’ve spent with you.
CHARMIDES
I’m dying of love, Tryphena. It’s too terrible for me to bear any longer.
I’m dying of love, Tryphena. It’s too terrible for me to bear any longer.
TRYPHENA
Obviously I’m not the one you love, or you wouldn’t show such little interest in me, and keep pushing me away when I tried to hug you, or have ended by placing your cloak as a barrier between us, for fear of my touching you. But for all that tell me who she is. Perhaps I can help you in your love, for I know how to be of service in such matters.
Obviously I’m not the one you love, or you wouldn’t show such little interest in me, and keep pushing me away when I tried to hug you, or have ended by placing your cloak as a barrier between us, for fear of my touching you. But for all that tell me who she is. Perhaps I can help you in your love, for I know how to be of service in such matters.
CHARMIDES
You are very well acquainted with each other; she’s a well-known member of your profession.
You are very well acquainted with each other; she’s a well-known member of your profession.
TRYPHENA
Tell me her name, Charmides.
Tell me her name, Charmides.
CHARMIDES
Philematium, Tryphena.
Philematium, Tryphena.
TRYPHENA
Which one? There are two. Do you mean the one from the Piraeus, who lost her virginity only the other day, and is loved by Damylus, the son of one of this year’s Generals, or the other one, the one they call the “Trap”?
Which one? There are two. Do you mean the one from the Piraeus, who lost her virginity only the other day, and is loved by Damylus, the son of one of this year’s Generals, or the other one, the one they call the “Trap”?
CHARMIDES
That’s the one. I’m a poor victim that’s fallen right into her trap.
That’s the one. I’m a poor victim that’s fallen right into her trap.
TRYPHENA
Then you were crying for her?
Then you were crying for her?
CHARMIDES
Indeed I was.
Indeed I was.
TRYPHENA
Have you loved for long, or was your initiation recent?
Have you loved for long, or was your initiation recent?
CHARMIDES
Far from recent; it’s almost seven whole months since the Dionysia, and the time when I first saw her.
Far from recent; it’s almost seven whole months since the Dionysia, and the time when I first saw her.
TRYPHENA
Did you have a good look at her all over? Or did you only see her face, and the parts of her body immediately visible, and just as much as you should of a woman who’s forty-five if she’s a day?
Did you have a good look at her all over? Or did you only see her face, and the parts of her body immediately visible, and just as much as you should of a woman who’s forty-five if she’s a day?
CHARMIDES
But she swears she’ll be twenty-two next March.
But she swears she’ll be twenty-two next March.
TRYPHENA
But which will you believe—her solemn oaths or your own eyes? Take a close and careful look at her temples, the only place where her hair is her own. The rest of it is a thick wig. But along her temples the grey hairs show pretty well all over, whenever the dye she uses loses its effect. But why do that? Insist on seeing her unclothed.
But which will you believe—her solemn oaths or your own eyes? Take a close and careful look at her temples, the only place where her hair is her own. The rest of it is a thick wig. But along her temples the grey hairs show pretty well all over, whenever the dye she uses loses its effect. But why do that? Insist on seeing her unclothed.
CHARMIDES
Her favours to me have never extended so far.
Her favours to me have never extended so far.
TRYPHENA
That’s only to be expected. She knew you’d be revolted by her white spots,
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and she’s mottled like a leopard all the way from her neck down to her knees. Were you crying at being refused by a woman like that? Perhaps too she was cruel and proud to you?
That’s only to be expected. She knew you’d be revolted by her white spots,
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and she’s mottled like a leopard all the way from her neck down to her knees. Were you crying at being refused by a woman like that? Perhaps too she was cruel and proud to you?
CHARMIDES
Yes, Tryphena, even though I always give her so much; and now that I’ve found it difficult to give her the thousand drachmas that she’s asking because I’m dependent on a stingy father, she’s let Moschion in, and locked me out. I wanted to get even for that by annoying her, and so I asked
you to accompany me.
Yes, Tryphena, even though I always give her so much; and now that I’ve found it difficult to give her the thousand drachmas that she’s asking because I’m dependent on a stingy father, she’s let Moschion in, and locked me out. I wanted to get even for that by annoying her, and so I asked
you to accompany me.
TRYPHENA
By our Lady Aphrodite, I wouldn’t have come if I’d been warned that that was why my company was wanted—to annoy another woman, and Philematium, the Coffin, at that! No, I’ll be off, for this is already the third time that the cock’s crowed.
By our Lady Aphrodite, I wouldn’t have come if I’d been warned that that was why my company was wanted—to annoy another woman, and Philematium, the Coffin, at that! No, I’ll be off, for this is already the third time that the cock’s crowed.
CHARMIDES
Don’t you be in such a hurry, Tryphena. If it’s true what you tell me about her wig, her dyed hair, and the white spots besides, I won’t be able to look at Philematium again.
Don’t you be in such a hurry, Tryphena. If it’s true what you tell me about her wig, her dyed hair, and the white spots besides, I won’t be able to look at Philematium again.
TRYPHENA
Ask your mother, if they’ve ever been at the baths together. Her age you can find out from your grandfather, if he’s still living.
Ask your mother, if they’ve ever been at the baths together. Her age you can find out from your grandfather, if he’s still living.
CHARMIDES
Well, since she’s like that, let’s remove the barrier this instant, snuggle up closer, kiss, and really enjoy each other’s company. To the devil with Philematium!
Well, since she’s like that, let’s remove the barrier this instant, snuggle up closer, kiss, and really enjoy each other’s company. To the devil with Philematium!
Dialogi meretricii. Lucian of Samosata. Matthew Donald Macleod (Translator). Medford, MA. Perseus 5.0.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.