LXXXVIII THE LAST ESSAY
Mitchell S. (Mitchell Starrett) Buck translation
“WHAT wishest thou, old woman?—To console thee.—It is useless trouble.—They have told me that since thy parting thou goest from love to love without finding forgetfulness or peace. I have come to offer thee someone.
“Speak.—It is a young slave, born at Sardis. She has no equal in the world for she is at the same time man and woman, although her chest and her long hair and her clear voice produce the illusion.
“Her age?—Sixteen years.—Her form?—Large. She has known no one here except Psappha who loves her desperately and would buy her of me for twenty minæ. If thou wouldst hire her, she is thine.—And what will I do with her?
“Behold, for twenty two nights I have essayed in vain to escape my memories.... Done, I take this one more, but warn the poor little one that she be not frightened if I sob in her arms.”