So saying he entered upon the skilled profession of a pander. His whole heart was in his work; he knew his business well and was master of every stratagem for the undoing of chastity. No amount of vigilance could protect the marriage-bed from his attack; no bars could shut him out. He would have haled even Danaë from her refuge in the brazen tower. He would represent his patron as dying of love. Was the lady stubborn, he would win her by his patience; was she greedy, by a gift; flighty, he would corrupt her with a jest. None could arrest the attention of a maidservant with so neat a touch as he, none twitch aside a dress so lightly and whisper his shameful message in her ear. Never was any so skilled to choose a scene for the criminal meeting, or so clever at avoiding the wrath of the cuckold husband should the plot be discovered. One thought of Lais of Corinth, to whom the enamoured youth of that city brought wealth from its twin seas, who, when her grey hair could no longer go crowned with roses, when the emulous crowd of her admirers ceased nightly to haunt her doors and but few were left to knock thereat, when before the mirror’s verdict age shrank back in horror from itself, yet stood, still faithful to her calling, and as a pander dressed others for the part, haunting still the brothel she had loved so well and so long, and still pandering to the tastes old age forbade her. * * * * * Page 146 Hinc honor Eutropio; cumque omnibus unica virtus esset in eunuchis thalamos servare pudicos, solus adulteriis crevit. nec verbera tergo 100 cessavere tamen, quotiens decepta libido irati caluisset eri, frustraque rogantem iactantemque suos tot iam per lustra labores dotalem genero nutritoremque puellae tradidit. Eous rector consulque futurus 105 pectebat dominae crines et saepe lavanti nudus in argento lympham gestabat alumnae. et cum se rapido fessam proiecerat aestu, patricius roseis pavonum ventilat alis. Iamque aevo laxata cutis, sulcisque genarum 110 corruerat passa facies rugosior uva: flava minus presso finduntur vomere rura, nec vento sic vela tremunt. miserabile turpes exedere caput tineae; deserta patebant intervalla comae: qualis sitientibus arvis 115 arida ieiunae seges interlucet aristae vel qualis gelidis pluma labente pruinis arboris inmoritur trunco brumalis hirundo. scilicet ut trabeis iniuria cresceret olim, has in fronte notas, hoc dedecus addidit oris 120 luxuriae Fortuna suae: cum pallida nudis ossibus horrorem dominis praeberet imago decolor et macies occursu laederet omnes, * * * * * Page 147