Reader

MOTHER

Did you take leave of your senses at the party last night, Philinna? What came over you? Diphilus came to me early this morning in tears, and told me how you’d treated him. He said you were drunk, got up and danced in the middle of the company, though he tried to stop you, then kissed his friend, Lamprias, and, when he showed that he was annoyed with you, left him, went over to Lamprias, and threw your arms round his neck. He choked with rage, he said, at such goings on. But even later on, I imagine, you wouldn’t sleep with him, but left him weeping, and lay down by yourself on the nearby pallet, singing songs, and annoying him.

PHILINNA

Of course, he didn’t tell you what he did, mother, or you wouldn’t take the part of one who behaved so outrageously. He left me and prattled with Thais, Lamprias’ girl, for Lamprias himself had not yet arrived. After he had seen that I was angry, and I’d shown him how I disapproved of his behaviour, he laid hold of the tip of Thais’ ear, bent her neck, and kissed her so hard, that she could scarcely get her lips free. I cried, but he laughed, and whispered a lot into her ear—all of it directed against me, no doubt—and Thais kept looking at me, and smiling. But after they’d seen Lamprias coming, and had at last decided they’d had enough of kissing each other, I went in spite of it all and lay

by his side, so that he wouldn’t have something more to cast up to me afterwards. Thais jumped up and was the first to dance, with her dress pulled up high, as if she was the only one with a pretty pair of ankles; when she’d finished, Lamprias kept quiet and said nothing, but Diphilus praised her to the skies for her fine dancing and her outfit, for the skill of her feet in keeping time with the lyre, and for her pretty ankles, and so on

ad infinitum

, as if he were praising the Sosandra of Calamis,

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rather than Thais, whose appearance you know, as she goes to the baths with us. And how she started to mock me the next moment! “Anyone”, said she, “who isn’t ashamed of having skinny legs will get up and dance too.” What could I say, mother? I got up and danced. What else was I to do? Sit still, and prove the truth of the taunt, by allowing Thais to be queen of the party?

MOTHERYou took yourself too seriously, my dear. You shouldn’t have let it bother you. But tell me what happened next. PHILINNAThe others all praised me, but Diphilus stretched himself on his back and went on staring at the ceiling, till I tired and stopped. MOTHERBut is it true that you kissed Lamprias, and that you went over and embraced him? Why don’t you answer? Such conduct was past forgiving. PHILINNAI wanted to annoy him in return. MOTHERThen afterwards you wouldn’t sleep with him, but sang songs, while he cried? Don’t you understand, daughter, that we’re penniless? Do you forget how much he has given us, and how we’d have had to pass the last winter, if Aphrodite hadn’t sent him to us? PHILINNAWhat of it? Does that mean I’ve to put up with such insults from him? MOTHERBe angry by all means, my daughter, but don’t insult him back. Lovers insulted love no longer, but speak severely to themselves. You’ve always been hard on the fellow. Remember the proverb, and take care that we don’t strain the rope to breaking point.