Mime I: The Bawd or Matchmaker

METRICHE

Threissa, list, a rap at the door: go see an any of ours be here from the estate.

THREISSA

Who knocketh ?

GYLLIS

mas! I;

THREISSA

Who art thou? Art afrayd to come nearer ?

GYLLIS

See there: I have come nearer.

THREISSA

Who art thou ?

GYLLIS

Gyllis, mother of Philaenis. Take news to Metriché within that I am here.

METRICHE (hearing a woman's voice)

Admit her. Who is it ?

GYLLIS

Gyllis, nurse Gyllis.

METRICHE

To your wheel, wench. What fate, Gyllis, beguyled you to come to us? Why camest angel-wise? “Tis now, I ween, five months since any beheld you, even in fancy, come to this door, the Fates be witness.

GYLLIS

I live afar off, childe, and in the alleys the mud is knee-deep ; and I can no more than a fly; for eld weigheth upon me, and the Shadow standeth by me.

METRICHE

Frolick and belie not Father Time: for thous not past it yet, Gyllis.

GYLLIS

Jest on: ’tis the way with you merrie wives.

METRICHE

Let not this irk thee.

GYLLIS

Well, childe, how long art thou a widow, in lonelihed wearying thy sole bedde? Since Mandris fared to Egypt tis ten months ne a jot sent thee. He hath forgotten thee and quaffed anew. There is the goddes house. No being nor creacioun but what is in Egypt: wealth, grounds of disport, power, climate fayr, fame, exhibiciouns, sages, gold, children, the demesne of the Brethren Gods, right noble the king, the Museum, wine, all boons man mote crave, women, ’a Hell-Maids name, more than sky vaunteth of stars, and in countenance as what [goddesses] of yore came unto Paris for deeming of their beautie, pray they hear not my prating. [With] what intendiment then warmest thy seat? [Eld] will steal on thee and ash devour thy bloom. Spy elsewhither, and for two or three days make change of your mind, and be chearfull [once more] toward another. Ships ride [not] safely on one anchor. An He come, <thence> shall none raise us again, deere. [So runs the world.] The wild winter [shakes down the leaves, and none of us conneth [what will be]: for [life] is unstable to the [generaciouns] of man. But say an any be hard by.

METRICHE

None.

GYLLIS

Hear then the newes whereof I wolde come here messenger. Gryllos, son of Mataline, woman of Pataikios, victor of five prizes, as boy at Pytho, twice at Corinth over downy youth, while twice at Pisa in boxing he overwent his rival men, of fair wealth, moving no mote from ground, seal untouched to Cytherea—he at the Descent of Misé set eyne on thee, and his harte was stung with passion, and his entrayles swollen: night and day long he quitteth not my house, childe, but weepeth over me, calling me fond names, and of yearning perdy dyeth. But childe Metriche, prithee, this one errour grant to the goddes: devote thyself to her,’ lest eld espy thee ere thou wot. Twain ends shalt thou win: thou shalt have joyaunce and gifts beyond thy fancy. Think on’t, be of my persuasioun. ’A Fates name thy friend am I.

METRICHE

Gyllis, white hair blunteth wit: for, by Mandris return and Demeter deare, had other woman spoken so, I had not heard her out, but made her as lame as her lays, and hate the threshold of my door. But thou, deare, come thou never again to my house with sike tale: tell girls what semeth old women; but let Metriché, childe of Pytheas, warm her seat ; for none scoffeth at Mandris. But, ‘tis said, ‘tis not words whereof Gyllis hath need: so Threissa, scour out the chalice and pour in three noggins of neat wine.

GYLLIS

That is well.

METRICHE

There, Gyllis, drink. here only.

GYLLIS

Give it me: I came not here to persuade thee [to spill liquor] but for holy rites’ sake, wherefore my—

METRICHE

Gyllis, let yon mucky man [drub] his own.

GYLLIS

La! childe, [I am past that]. Good ’a Demeter’s name, Metriché : better wine than this Gyllis ne’er drank. But fare thee well, childe, and hold thyself in gard; but may my Myrtale and Simé remain young while Gyllis hath breath in nostrils.