Kitap 12
3
Lysias, the point is that she’s a courtesan. But how did you catch them sleeping together?
3
It was about five days ago; yes, by Jove, five it was, for it was the second of the month, and it’s the seventh today. My father, knowing that I’d long been in love with this paragon among women, had shut me in, with instructions to the porter that he wasn’t to open the door for me. But I, unable to stay away from her, told Dromo to bend down along the top of the courtyard wall at its lowest part, and let me mount his back. In that way I’d be able to climb up more easily. To cut my story short, I got over the wall, came here, and found the door carefully bolted, for it was midnight. I didn’t knock, but gently eased the door up off its hinges, as I’d done on earlier occasions, and, pushing it open, entered without making a sound. Everybody was asleep, and I felt my way along the wall till I was at the bed.
4
In Demeter’s name, what are you going to say? I’m on tenterhooks.
4
When I could make out the breath of more than one person, at first I thought Lyde was sleeping with her. But that wasn’t so, Pythias, for, when I touched her companion, it was a smooth-chinned, soft-skinned man, with his head shaved, and reeking of scent like a woman. If I’d had my sword with me, when I’d made this discovery, believe me, I wouldn’t have hesitated! Why are you laughing, Pythias? Do you see anything funny in what I say?
4
Was that what annoyed you, Lysias? It was Pythias here who was sleeping with me.
4
Don’t tell him, Joessa.
4
Why not? It was Pythias, darling. I asked her to sleep with me, because I was miserable without you.
5
Pythias the man with the shaved head? Has she grown all this hair in the five days since then?
5
She had her head shaved, because she was ill and her hairs were falling out. But now she’s wearing a wig. Show him, Pythias, show him I’m telling the truth. Convince him. Take a look at the young man, the lover of whom you were so jealous!
