YOUNG GIRL. Alas! alas! what is to become of me? There is no lover! I am left here alone; my mother has gone out and the rest care little for me. Oh! my dear nurse, I adjure you to call Orthagoras, and may heaven bless you. FIRST OLD WOMAN. Ah! poor child, desire is consuming you like an Ionian woman; I think you are no stranger to the wanton arts of the Lesbian women, but you shall not rob me of my pleasures; you will not be able to reduce or filch the time that first belongs to me, for your own gain. Sing as much as you please, peep out like a cat lying in wait, but none shall pass through your door without first having been to see me. YOUNG GIRL. If anyone enter your house, 'twill be to carry out your corpse. FIRST OLD WOMAN. That's new to me. YOUNG GIRL. What! you rotten wretch, can anything be new to an old hag like you? FIRST OLD WOMAN. My old age will not harm you. YOUNG GIRL. Ah! shame on your painted cheeks! FIRST OLD WOMAN. Why do you speak to me at all? YOUNG GIRL. And why do you place yourself at the window? FIRST OLD WOMAN. I am singing to myself about my lover, Epigenes. YOUNG GIRL. Can you have any other lover than that old fop Geres? FIRST OLD WOMAN. Epigenes will show you that himself, for he is coming to me. See, here he is. YOUNG GIRL. He's not thinking of you in the least, you old witch. FIRST OLD WOMAN. Aye, but he is, you little pest. YOUNG GIRL. Let's see what he will do. I will leave my window. FIRST OLD WOMAN. And I likewise. You will see I am not far wrong. A YOUNG MAN. Ah! could I but sleep with the young girl without first satisfying the old flat-nose! 'Tis intolerable for a free-born man. FIRST OLD WOMAN. Willy nilly, you must first gratify my desire. There shall be no nonsense about that, for my authority is the law and the law must be obeyed in a democracy. But come, let me hide, to see what he's going to do. YOUNG MAN. Ah! ye gods, if I were to find the sweet child alone! for the wine has fired my lust. YOUNG GIRL. I have tricked that cursed old wretch; she has left her window, thinking I would stay at home. FIRST OLD WOMAN. Ah! here is the lover we were talking of. This way, my love, this way, come here and haste to rest the whole night in my arms. I worship your lovely curly hair; I am consumed with ardent desire. Oh! Eros, in thy mercy, compel him to my bed.