Mime VI: A Private Chat

KORITTO

Sit down, Metro—Arise and set a chayre for the lady! Must I bid thee myself do all thy devoyrs, and thou woldest do naught of thine own self? La! thou’rt a stone in the house, not a slave-girl: but an thou takest thy measure of wheat, each crumb thou tellest, and an ne’er so litell driblet escape, the walls burst with thy day-long playnts and lamentaciouns. So thou dost wipe it and render it clean now, thou thief, when need is? I counsell thee render oblacioun to this lady: els had I given thee taste of my handes.

METRO

Deare Koritto thou’rt galled by the same yoke as I. I too day and night long yap like a dog gnashing at these bestiall wenches. But for my errand—

KORITTO

Get ye gone, ye slightfull ones ; naught but ears and tongues, and the rest of ye idlenes—

METRO

Prithee, lie not, Koritto deare ? Who did stitch thee the scarlet baubon ?

KORITTO

Where hast seen it, Metro?

METRO

Nossis, Erinna’s childe, had it two daies agone. La! a fayre gift.

KORITTO

Nossis ! Whence gat she it ?

METRO

Wilt bewray an I tell thee ?

KORITTO

By these sweet eyne, Metro deare, none shall hear from Koritto’s mouth aught thou saiest.

METRO

Eubule, wife of Bitas, gave it her and bade her that none discover it.

KORITTO

Oh womankind, this woman shall one day fordo me. I granted her prayers, and gave it her, Metro, ere I used it myself: and she seized it like trove, and gives it to whom she ought not. ‘To such an one, dere, bid I long farewell, and let her quest henceforward other friend in my room. To Nossis, wife of Medokes—I speke beyond due limit and may Adrasteia hearken not—though I had a thousand yet wolde I not lend one that were rotten.

METRO

Prithee, Koritto, let not ire sit anon on thy nostrils an thou hear word of no fayre import. Gentle woman sholde suffer all things. "Tis I that fault herein for speking o’ermuch: I sholde cut out my tongue. But—to my main intendiment—who did stitch it? Say, an thou love me. Why these mowes at me? Hast neer seen Metro before? What mene these bashings? I adjure thee, Koritto, false me not, but say who stitched it.

KORITTO

La! why adjure? ’Twas Kerdon.

METRO

Which Kerdon? Tell me. There are two Kerdons, one of grey eyne, neighbour of Myrtaline daughter of Kylaithis: but yon note stitch plectre for lyre. The other has habitaunce forby the tenement of Hermodorus as one quitteth the Broad Way: of mark once but now eld hath him. Him had Kylaithis, who is now at peace. May her kin memorize her.

KORITTO

Tis neither of these, Metro. This one haileth from Chios or Erythrae, I wot not which: bald and short : a very Prexinos motest say : fig to fig notest so compare : but whenas he prateth thou’lt ken him to be Kerdon not Prexinos. At home he werketh bartering by stealth, for every door now shuddereth at the tax-gatherers. ‘ But what werkes is he werker ?’ Athenes own handes woldest deme to see, not Kerdons. I—for he came with twain of them, Metro —at first glaunce were mine eyne extent: e’en straighter than the livelihed—none listeth—: nay moe—as soft as sleep, and the thonglets no thongs but wool: kinder cobbler to feminitee notest find, quest how thou wilt.

METRO

How gattest not the other ?

KORITTO

All things tryed I: all persuasiouns trayned : kissing, stroking his bald pate, flagons of mead, fond names, albut surrendring mine own bodie.

METRO

But an he asked, e’en this sholdest have given.

KORITTO

Aye—but all things in tyde. Eubule wife of Bitas was grinding before us. For day and night long doth she weare our stone into scrapings, enaunter she pay a grote to set her own.

METRO

And how found he his way hither to thee, deare Koritto? Eke herein false me not.

KORITTO

Artemis, wife of Kandas the tanner, sent him hither, shewing the house.

METRO

Artemis will aye find some new device drinking deep down in bawdy bottles. But sin notest salve the twain, algates sholdest have found who bid the other.

KORITTO

I besought but he swore he nould say : Tho he was charmed with her and she with him, Metro.

METRO

Thy tale speedeth me: now hie I to Artemis to know what man Kerdon be. Fare thee well, Koritto : one hungereth and I must move off.

KORITTO

Shut the door—ho you there, chick-girl—and tell an the hens be safe, and toss darnel to them. For indeed the bird-thieves spoyle e’en an one rear abosom.