Book 14
1
So, Myrtale, you shut the door in my face now that I’ve Beggared myself because of you, though, when I brought all those gifts, I was your darling, your man, your lord, your all! But now that I’ve been drained completely dry, and you have found your Bithynian merchant to love you, I’m shut out and stand before your doors in tears, while he enjoys your kisses at night, spending the whole night alone with you, and you say you’re about to have his child.
1
That’s what riles me most of all, Dorio—the way you keep saying you’ve been generous to me and have Beggared yourself for me. Just start from the beginning and reckon up all the gifts you’ve brought me.
2
An excellent idea, Myrtale; let’s do that. First, a pair of shoes from Sicyon worth two drachmas. Put down two drachmas.
2
But you spent two nights with me.
2
Then, when I came from Syria, a vase of Phoenician perfume, also costing two drachmas, I swear it by Poseidon.
2
But, when you had to sail, I gave you that little waistcoat to wear while rowing. Epiurus, the officer of the fo’c’sle, had left it here by mistake, when he spent a night with me.
2
Epiurus recognised it in Samos the other day, and got it back, though, by heaven, we had quite a fight over it. Then I brought you onions from Cyprus, five fish from the Nile, i. e. κορακῖνος, which abounded in the Nile, and is perhaps Tilapia nilotica. and four perches, on our return from the Bosporus. Oh yes, and a basket with eight ship’s loaves, and a jar of dried figs from Caria, and another time a pair of gilded sandals from Patara, you ungrateful creature! And I remember the time I brought you that great cheese from Gythium. A port in Laconia.
2
All this comes to perhaps five drachmas, Dorio.
