Ah! by Aphrodite, behold thee! bloody head! rottenness! infection! sterile one! carcanet! clumsy one! good for nothing! evil sow! Do not try to escape me; come yet nearer. Behold this woman of the sailors, who knows not even how to fold her garment upon the shoulder and who puts on the fard so badly that the black of her brows runs over her cheek in floods of ink. Thou art Phœnician: lie with those of thy race. As for me, my father was Hellene: I have right over all those who wear the petasus. And even over the others if it pleases me so. Stop not in my street or I will send thee to Hades to make love with Karon and I will say very justly: “Let the earth cover thee lightly,” so that the dogs may dig thee out. CXXXI MELANCHOLY I shiver; the night is cool, and the forest all wet. Why hast thou led me here? is my great bed not softer than this moss strewn with stones? My flowery robe will be spotted with verdure; my hair will be tangled with twigs; my neck; look at my neck, already soiled with the damp earth. Formerly, I followed into the woods he who.... Ah! leave me for a time. I am sad, this evening. Leave me, without speaking, my hand over my eyes. In truth, canst thou not wait! are we beasts to take each other so! Leave me. Thou shalt not open my knees nor my lips. Even my eyes shall stay closed, lest they weep. CXXXII THE LITTLE PHANION Stranger, pause; see who is signing to thee: it is little Phanion of Kôs, she merits that thou shouldst choose her. See, her hair is curled like parsley, her skin is smooth as the down of a bird. She is small and brown. She speaks nicely. If thou wouldst follow her, she would not demand of thee all the money from thy voyage: no, only a drachma or a pair of slippers. Thou wilt find that she has a good bed, fresh figs, milk, wine, and, if it be cold, there will be a fire. CXXXIII INDICATIONS Passer-by who pauses, if thou wishest slender thighs and nervous loins, a firm throat, knees that clasp, go to Plango; she is my friend. If thou seekest a laughing girl, with exuberant breasts, delicately shaped, the croup plump and the loins hollowed, go to the corner of this street, where Spidhorodellis dwells. But if long tranquil hours in the arms of a courtesan, soft skin, the warmth of the body and the fragrance of the hair please thee, seek Milto; and thou wilt be content. Expect not too much from love; but profit from its experience. One may demand all from a woman when she is naked, when it is night, and when the hundred drachmæ are upon the hearth. CXXXIV THE MERCHANT OF WOMEN