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Mimes of the Courtesans, by Lucian [1928], at sacred-texts.com
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LEAINA, a player of the cithara |
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CLONARION, a young man |
CLONARION
I have heard a queer thing said about you, Leaina. People say Megilla, the wealthy lady from Lesbos, is in love with you, as if she were a man, and that she--I can't explain how------but------. I have heard it said that the two of you couple up just like------
LEAINA (Abashed silence)
CLONARION
What's the matter? You are blushing. Is it true then?
LEAINA
It is true, Clonarion. I am ashamed. It is so strange------
CLONARION
By the great Adrasteia, you must tell me about it! What does that woman require of you? Exactly what do you do when you get into bed together?
LEAINA (Abashed silence)
CLONARION
Now I am sure you don't love me. If you did, you would not think of hiding such things from me.
LEAINA
I do love you, Clonarion. I love you more than anybody else. But this is such a strange matter. I am so ashamed. That woman is so terribly like a male.
CLONARION
I don't understand. Do you mean to say she is one of those man-like females of Lesbos who will not suffer in their beds the company of men, but prefer to find pleasure, instead, with other women, as if they themselves were men?
LEAINA
She is somewhat like that.
CLONARION (With enthusiasm)
In that case, Leaina, tell me everything, please! How did she seduce you, in the first place? And how was it that you let Megilla have her way with you? And what came after? Tell me everything, please!
LEAINA
You see, Megilla and Demonassa, the Corinthian, sweating and very hot, pulled off her false hair--I had never suspected her of wearing a wig. And I saw her
head was smooth-shaven as that of a young athlete. I was quite scared to see this. But Megilla spoke up and said to me:
"Tell me, O Leaina, have you ever seen a better looking young man?"
"But I see no young man here, Megilla!" I told her.
"Now, now! Don't you effeminate me!" she reproved. "You must understand my name is Megillos. Demonassa is my wife."
Her words seemed so funny to me, Clonarion. I started to giggle. And I said:
"Can it be, Megillos, that you are a man and lived among us under the disguise of a woman, just like Achilles, who stayed among the girls hidden by his purple robe? And is it true that you possess a man's organs, and that you do to Demonassa what any husband does to his wife?"
"That Leaina," she replied, "is not entirely so. You will soon see how we shall couple up in a fashion that is much more voluptuous."
"In that case," I said, "you are not a hermaphrodite. They, I have been told, have both a man's and woman's organs."
"No," she said, "I am quite like a man."
"Ismenodora, the Boietian flute player, has told me about a Theban woman who was changed into a man. A certain good soothsayer by the name of Teiresias------
Did any accident like that happen to you by chance?"
"No, Leaina," she said. "I was born with a body entirely like that of all women, but I have the tastes and desires of a man."
"And do those desires of yours suffice you?" I asked, smiling.
"Let me have my own way with you, Leaina, if you don't believe me," she answered, "and you will soon see that I have nothing to envy men for. I have something that resembles a man's estate. Come on, let me do what I want to do and you will soon understand."
She pleaded so hard that I let her have her way. And you must understand that she made me a gift of a splendid necklace and several tunics of the finest linen. Then I embraced her and held her in my arms, as if she wire a man. And she kissed me all over the body, and she set out to do what she had promised, panting excitedly from the great pleasure and desire that possessed her.
CLONARION
But exactly how did she manage it? What did she do? Tell me, Leaina! Tell me especially that!
LEAINA
Please, don't ask me for details. These are shameful things. By the Mistress of Heaven, I will never, never, tell you that!
