2–3
TRYPHENA
Did you have a good look at her all over? Or did you only see her face, and the parts of her body immediately visible, and just as much as you should of a woman who’s forty-five if she’s a day?
CHARMIDES
But she swears she’ll be twenty-two next March.
10
TRYPHENA
But which will you believe—her solemn oaths or your own eyes? Take a close and careful look at her temples, the only place where her hair is her own. The rest of it is a thick wig. But along her temples the grey hairs show pretty well all over, whenever the dye she uses loses its effect. But why do that? Insist on seeing her unclothed.
CHARMIDES
Her favours to me have never extended so far.
TRYPHENA
That’s only to be expected. She knew you’d be revolted by her white spots, A skin disease. and she’s mottled like a leopard all the way from her neck down to her knees. Were you crying at being refused by a woman like that? Perhaps too she was cruel and proud to you?
CHARMIDES
Yes, Tryphena, even though I always give her so much; and now that I’ve found it difficult to give her the thousand drachmas that she’s asking because I’m dependent on a stingy father, she’s let Moschion in, and locked me out. I wanted to get even for that by annoying her, and so I asked you to accompany me.
TRYPHENA
By our Lady Aphrodite, I wouldn’t have come if I’d been warned that that was why my company was wanted—to annoy another woman, and Philematium, the Coffin, at that! No, I’ll be off, for this is already the third time that the cock’s crowed.
5
