AMPELIS
No, Chrysis, but in my opinion that’s the way great passions start, even though the men believe they’re being slighted. But if a man is confident he has you to himself, his desire for you somehow dwindles. That’s what I tell you after twenty whole years as a courtesan, whereas you, I think, are eighteen or even younger. If you like, I’ll tell you what happened to me not so very many years ago. Demophantus, the money-lender, who lives behind the Painted Stoa, was in love with me. He’s never given me more than five drachmas, but regarded himself as my master. His love was a superficial thing, my dear, that never made him groan or weep or appear at all hours at my doors, but he would merely sleep with me at not very frequent intervals.
5
