Dialogues of the Courtesans (1.1-1.2)

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?

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.

That nasty thing Gorgona, who pretends to be my friend, has got her claws into him and stolen him from me behind my back.

So now he won’t be visiting you any more, but has taken Gorgona to be his mistress.

Yes, Thais, and it’s hurt me very much.

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.

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.

You’ll have your harvest too, dearie; you’ll find someone else; let him go to the devil.