Book 13
44
He also mentions the following sayings of Gnathænium, who was the grand-daughter of Gnath$ena:— It happen'd once that a very aged satrap, Full ninety years of age, had come to Athens, And on the feast of Saturn he beheld Gnathænium with Gnathæna going out From a fair temple sacred to Aphrodite, And noticing her form and grace of motion, He just inquired How much she ask'd a night? Gnathæna, looking on his purple robe, And princely bodyguard, said, "A thousand drachmæ." He, as if smitten with a mortal wound, Said, "I perceive, because of all these soldiers, You look upon me as a captured enemy; But take five mince, and agree with me, And let them get a bed prepared for us." She, as the satrap seem'd a witty man, Received his terms, and said, "Give what you like, O father, for I know most certainly, You'll give my daughter twice as much at night." There was at Athens once a handsome smith, When she, Gnathænium, had almost abandon'd Her trade, and would no longer common be, Moved by the love of the actor Andronicus; (But at this moment he was gone away, After she'd brought him a male child;) this smith Then long besought the fair Gnathænium To fix her price; and though she long refused, By long entreaty and liberality, At last he won her over to consent. But being but a rude and ill-bred clown, He, one day sitting with some friends of his In a leather-cutter's shop, began to talk About Gnathænium to divert their leisure, Narrating all their fond love passages. But after this, when Andronicus came From Corinth back again, and heard the news, He bitterly reproach'd her, and at supper He said, with just complaint, unto Gnathænium, That she had never granted him such liberties As this flogg'd slave had had allow'd to him. And then they say Gnathænium thus replied: That she was her own mistress, and the smith Was so begrimed with soot and dirt that she Had no more than she could help to do with him. One day they say Gnathænium, at supper, Would not kiss Andronicus when he wish'd, Though she had done so every day before; But she was angry that he gave her nothing. Said he, on this, "Gnathena, don't you see How haughtily your daughter's treating me?" And she, indignant, said, "You wretched girl, Take him and kiss him if he wishes it." But she replied, "Why should I kiss him, mother, Who does no good to any one in the house, But seeks to have his Argos all for nothing " Once, on a day of festival, Gnathænium Went down to the Piræus to a lover, Who was a foreign merchant, riding cheaply On a poor mule, and having after her Three donkeys, three maidservants, and one nurse. Then, at a narrow spot in the road, they met One of those knavish wrestlers, men who sell Their battles, always taking care to lose them; And as he could not pass by easily, Being crowded up, he cried—"You wretched man, You donkey-driver, if you get not quickly Out of my way, I will upset these women, And all the donkeys and the mule to boot." But quick Gnathænium said, "My friend, I pray you, Don't be so valiant now, when you have never Done any feat of spirit or strength before."
