3–1
MOTHER
You took yourself too seriously, my dear. You shouldn’t have let it bother you. But tell me what happened next.
PHILINNA
The others all praised me, but Diphilus stretched himself on his back and went on staring at the ceiling, till I tired and stopped.
MOTHER
But is it true that you kissed Lamprias, and that you went over and embraced him? Why don’t you answer? Such conduct was past forgiving.
PHILINNA
I wanted to annoy him in return.
MOTHER
Then afterwards you wouldn’t sleep with him, but sang songs, while he cried? Don’t you understand, daughter, that we’re penniless? Do you forget how much he has given us, and how we’d have had to pass the last winter, if Aphrodite hadn’t sent him to us?
5
PHILINNA
What of it? Does that mean I’ve to put up with such insults from him?
MOTHER
Be angry by all means, my daughter, but don’t insult him back. Lovers insulted love no longer, but speak severely to themselves. You’ve always been hard on the fellow. Remember the proverb, and take care that we don’t strain the rope to breaking point.
MELITTA
Bacchis, do you know any old woman of the kind called Thessalians? i.e. witches, cf. p. 359. There are said to be a lot of them around. They use incantations and can make a woman to be loved, no matter how much she is hated before. My blessings on you, if you can bring one of them to me. I would gladly give up these dresses and all this gold, if I could only see Charinus returning to me, and hating Simiche as he now hates me.
