Book 1
1
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?
1
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.
1
That nasty thing Gorgona, who pretends to be my friend, has got her claws into him and stolen him from me behind my back.
1
So now he won’t be visiting you any more, but has taken Gorgona to be his mistress.
1
Yes, Thais, and it’s hurt me very much.
1
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.
2
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.
2
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.
2
You’ll have your harvest too, dearie; you’ll find someone else; let him go to the devil.
