by Lucian from Loeb Hayes and Nimis

2400 years ago in Athens

Glycersa and Thais

Γλυκέρα

εκεῖνον τὸν Ἀκαρνᾶνα στρατιώτην, Θαΐ,

that Accarnanian soldier , Thais,

ὅς πάλαι μὲν εῖχε ̔εταίρον Ἀβρότονον,

who in-the-old-days was-keeping the mistress Abrotonum,

impf.

μετὰ ταῦτα δὲ ηράσθην εμοῦ,

and afterwards i was-enamored of-him

ao. pass.

̔ο σῦν ευπάρυφον εν χλαμύδι,

he with the fine military cloak with-purple-border,

οῖσθα τόν, ὴ επιλέλησαι τὸν άνθρωπον ;

you-have-known him or have-you-forgotten the man ?

perf. perf.

Θαίς

ούκ, αλλὰ οῖδα, ῶ Γλυκέριον,

no, Glycera, , but I know .

καὶ συνέπιε ἡμῶν μεθα πέρυσιν εν τοῖς Ἁλώοις.

he drank with us last year at the harvest celebrations.

ao.

τί δὲ τοῦτο; εῴκεις γάρ τι διηγεῖσθαι περὶ τοῦ .

but what of it ? you had looked as though you-have-something-to-tell me about him.

pl. perf. perf. inf.

Γλυκέρα

αυτὸν ἡ παμπόνηρος Γοργόνα ,

that nasty thing Gorgona,

δοκοῦσα εῖναι φίλη , απέσπασε απο εμοῦ ὑπελθοῦσα.

appearing to-be my friend, she-took-him from me by-fawning

Θαίς

καὶ νῦν μὲν εκεῖνος ου πρόσεστι σοί ,

so now that-one won’t be visiting you any more,

πεποίηται δὲ Γοργόναν ἑταίραν ;

having-made Gorgona his mistress.

perf.

Γλυκέρα

ναί, ῶ Θαΐ, καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα ου μετρίως ἥψατο μοῦ .

yes, Thais, and this matter without measure overtook me

ao.

Θαίς

πονηρὸν μέν ῶ Γλυκέριον, ουκ αδόκητον δέ,

it was a-dirty-trick, dearie, and not unexpected :

αλλα ειωθὸς γίγνεσθαι ὑπο ἡμῶν ἑταιρῶν.

but has-been-customary towards us mistresses

perf.

ούκουν χρὴ ανιᾶσθαι άγαν ούτε μέμφεσθαι Γοργόνῃ :

so-not necessary to-grieve much and-don’t blame Gorgona ;

πρότερον γὰρ Ἀβρότονον ουδὲ εμέμψατο σὲ επι τῷ,

and earlier on, Abrotonum didn’t blame you over him ;

καίτοι ῆτε φίλαι .

and yet yʼall have-been friends.

ατὰρ εκεῖνο θαυμάξω,

but-yet that i-wonder ,

τί καὶ οὗτος στρατιώτης επῄνεσε τῆς ,

what this soldier-man found of her,

εκτὸς εί εστι μὴ παντάπασι τυφλός,

unless he-is totally blind

ὃς ουχ ἑωράκει μὲν έχουσα αραιὰς τρίχας

and hadn’t noticed that she·having thin hair

καὶ απηγμένας επὶ πολὺ μετώπου :

and having-been-receding much of-forehead ;

τῆς χείλη δὲ πελιδνά

her lips are livid

καὶ νεκρικὰ

and what a long nose !

καὶ τράχηλος λεπτός

and neck scraggly

καὶ επίσημοι εν αυτῷ αἱ φλέβες

with veins all standing out,

καὶ μειδιᾷ πάνυ επαγωγόν.

smiles very attractively

Γλυκέρα

οίει γάρ, ῶ Θαΐ, τὸν Ακαρνᾶνα τῷ κάλλει ᾑρῆσθαι;

why, Thais, the Acarnanian has fallen for her beauty ?

ουκ οῖσθα ὡς τῆς μήτηρ ἡ Χρυσάριόν εστι φαρμακίς ,

Don’t you know that her mother, Chrysarium, is a witch

επισταμένη τινας Θετταλάς ῳδάς

who knows some Thessalian spells,

καὶ κατάγουσα τὴν σελήνην ;

and can-bring-down the moon ?

subj.

φασὶ δὲ αυτὴν καὶ πέτεσθαι νυκτός :

they claim that she even flies of night.

εκείνη εξέμηνε τὸν άνθρωπον εγχέασα πιεῖν τῶν φαρμάκων ,

She’s the one who’s sent the fellow out of his senses

by-having-poured him a drink of her brew,

ao.

καὶ νῦν τρυγῶσι τόν.

and now they’re making a fine harvest out of him.

Θαίς

καὶ σύ, ῶ Γλυκέριον, άλλον τρυγήσεις,

You dearie will-have-another-harvest too, ;

τοῦτον δὲ χαίρειν έα.

and with-him , rejoice