Sexual life in ancient Greece : with thirty-two full-page plates, стр. 331

THE HELLENISTIC PERIOD

him a gentle nod o’ the head and say ‘ Simztha would see him’, and so bring him hither. Thus bidden, she went her ways and brought him that was so sleek and gay to my dwelling. And no sooner was I ware of the light fall o’s foot across my threshold —List, good moon, where I learnt my loving—than I went cold as ice my body over, and the sweat dripped like dewdrops from my brow; aye, and for speaking I could not so much as the whimper of a child that calls on’s mother in his sleep; for my fair flesh was gone all stiff and stark like a puppet’s. Lust, good Moon, where I learnt my loving. When he beheld me, heartless man! he fixed his gaze on the ground, sat him upon the bed, and sitting thus spake: “Why, Simetha, when thou bad’st me hither to this thy roof, marry, thou didst no further outrun my own coming than I once outran the pretty young Philinus.’ Lust, good Moon, where I learnt my loving. ‘For I had come of myself, by sweet Love I had, of myself the very first hour of the night, with comrades twain or more, some of Dionysus’ own apples in my pocket, and about my brow the holy aspen sprig of Heracles with gay purple ribbons wound in and out.’ List, good Moon, where I learnt ny loving. ‘ And, had ye received me so, it had been joy ; for I have a name as well for beauty of shape as speed of foot with all the bachelry o’ the town, and I had been content so I had only kissed thy pretty lips. But and if ye had sent me packing with bolt and bar, then I warrant ye axes and torches had come against you.’ List, good Moon, where I learnt my loving. ‘But, seeing thou hadst sent for me, I vowed my thanks to the Cyprian first—but after the Cyprian ’tis thou, in calling me to this roof, sweet maid, didst snatch the brand from a burning that was all but done; for i’ faith, Cupid’s flare oft will outblaze the God 0’ Lipara himself ’—List, good Moon, where I learnt my loving —‘and with the dire frenzy of him bride is driven from groom ere his marriage-bed be cold, much

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