Lucian, Dialogues of the Hetaerae section 5
Lmaybank /
- Created on 2023-12-10 23:02:33
- Modified on 2024-06-05 15:03:30
- Translated by Laetitia Maybank
- Aligned by Lmaybank
Ἑλληνική Transliterate
English
ΚΛΩΝΑΡΙΟΝ
Καινὰ περὶ σοῦ ἀκούομεν , ὦ Λέαινα , τὴν Λεσβίαν Μέγιλλαν τὴν πλουσίαν ἐρᾶν σου ὥσπερ ἄνδρα καὶ συνεῖναι ὑμᾶς οὐκ οἶδ’ ὅ τι ποιούσας μετ ' ἀλλήλων . τί τοῦτο ; ἠρυθρίασας ; ἀλλ’ εἰπὲ εἰ ἀληθῆ ταῦτά ἐστιν .
ΛΕΑΙΝΑ
Ἀληθῆ , ὦ Κλωνάριον · αἰσχύνομαι δέ , ἀλλόκοτον γάρ τί ἐστι .
ΚΛΩΝΑΡΙΟΝ
Πρὸς τῆς κουροτρόφου τί τὸ πρᾶγμα , ἢ τί βούλεται ἡ γυνή ; τί δὲ καὶ πράττετε , ὅταν συνῆτε ; ὁρᾷς ; οὐ φιλεῖς με · οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἀπεκρύπτου τὰ τοιαῦτα .
ΛΕΑΙΝΑ
Φιλῶ μέν σε , εἰ καί τινα ἄλλην . ἡ γυνὴ δὲ δεινῶς ἀνδρική ἐστιν .
ΚΛΩΝΑΡΙΟΝ
Οὐ μανθάνω ὅ τι καὶ λέγεις , εἰ μή τις ἑταιρίστρια τυγχάνει οὖσα · τοιαύτας γὰρ ἐν Λέσβῳ λέγουσι γυναῖκας ἀρρενωπούς , [ * ] ὑπ ' ἀνδρῶν μὲν οὐκ ἐθελούσας αὐτὸ πάσχειν , γυναιξὶ δὲ αὐτὰς πλησιαζούσας ὥσπερ ἄνδρας .
ΛΕΑΙΝΑ
Τοιοῦτόν τι .
ΚΛΩΝΑΡΙΟΝ
Οὐκοῦν , ὦ Λέαινα , τοῦτο αὐτὸ καὶ διήγησαι , ὅπως μὲν ἐπείρα τὸ πρῶτον , ὅπως δὲ καὶ σὺ συνεπείσθης καὶ τὰ μετὰ ταῦτα .
ΛΕΑΙΝΑ
Πότον τινὰ συγκροτοῦσα αὐτή τε καὶ Δημώνασσα ἡ Κορινθία . πλουτοῦσα δὲ καὶ αὐτὴ καὶ ὁμότεχνος οὖσα τῇ Μεγίλλῃ , παρειλήφει κἀμὲ κιθαρίζειν αὐταῖς · ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐκιθάρισα καὶ ἀωρὶ ἦν καὶ ἔδει καθεύδειν , καὶ ἐμέθυον , Ἄγε δή , ἔφη , ὦ Λέαινα , ἡ Μέγιλλα , κοιμᾶσθαι γὰρ ἤδη καλόν , ἐνταῦθα κάθευδε μεθ ' ἡμῶν μέση ἀμφοτέρων .
ΚΛΩΝΑΡΙΟΝ
Ἐκάθευδες ; τὸ μετὰ ταῦτα τί ἐγένετο ;
ΛΕΑΙΝΑ
Ἐφίλουν με τὸ πρῶτον ὥσπερ οἱ ἄνδρες , οὐκ αὐτὸ μόνον προσαρμόζουσαι τὰ χείλη , ἀλλ’ ὑπανοίγουσαι τὸ στόμα , καὶ περιέβαλλον καὶ τοὺς μαστοὺς ἔθλιβον · ἡ Δημώνασσα δὲ καὶ ἔδακνε μεταξὺ καταφιλοῦσα · ἐγὼ δὲ οὐκ εἶχον εἰκάσαι ὅ τι τὸ πρᾶγμα εἴη . χρόνῳ δὲ ἡ Μέγιλλα ὑπόθερμος ἤδη οὖσα τὴν μὲν πηνήκην ἀφείλετο τῆς κεφαλῆς , ἐπέκειτο δὲ πάνυ ὁμοία καὶ προσφυής , καὶ ἐν χρῷ ὤφθη αὐτὴ καθάπερ οἱ σφόδρα ἀνδρώδεις τῶν ἀθλητῶν ἀποκεκαρμένη · καὶ ἐγὼ ἐταράχθην ἰδοῦσα . ἡ δέ , Ὦ Λέαινα , φησίν , ἑώρακας ἤδη οὕτω καλὸν νεανίσκον ; Ἀλλ ' οὐχ ὁρῶ , ἔφην , ἐνταῦθα νεανίσκον , ὦ Μέγιλλα .
Μή καταθήλυνέ με , ἔφη , Μέγιλλος γὰρ ἐγὼ λέγομαι καὶ γεγάμηκα πρόπαλαι ταύτην τὴν Δημώνασσαν , καὶ ἔστιν ἐμὴ γυνή . ἐγέλασα , ὦ Κλωνάριον , ἐπὶ τούτῳ καὶ ἔφην , Οὐκοῦν σύ , ὦ Μέγιλλε , ἀνήρ τις ὢν ἐλελήθεις ἡμᾶς , καθάπερ τὸν Ἀχιλλέα φασὶ κρυπτόμενον ἐν ταῖς παρθένοις , καὶ τὸ ἀνδρεῖον ἐκεῖνο ἔχεις καὶ ποιεῖς τὴν Δημώνασσαν ἅπερ οἱ ἄνδρες ;
Ἐκεῖνο μέν , ἔφη , ὦ Λέαινα , οὐκ ἔχω · δέομαι δὲ οὐδὲ πάνυ αὐτοῦ · ἴδιον δέ τινα τρόπον ἡδίω παρὰ πολὺ ὁμιλοῦντα ὄψει με . Ἀλλὰ μὴ Ἑρμαφρόδιτος εἶ , ἔφην , οἷοι πολλοὶ εἶναι λέγονται ἀμφότερα ἔχοντες ; ἔτι γὰρ ἠγνόουν , ὦ Κλωνάριον , τὸ πρᾶγμα . Οὔ , φησίν , ἀλλὰ τὸ πᾶν ἀνήρ εἰμι .
Ἤκουσα , ἔφην ἐγώ , τῆς Βοιωτίας αὐλητρίδος Ἰσμηνοδώρας διηγουμένης τὰ ἐφέστια παρ ' αὐτοῖς , ὡς γένοιτό τις ἐν Θήβαις ἐκ γυναικὸς ἀνήρ , ὁ δ’ αὐτὸς καὶ μάντις ἄριστος , οἶμαι , Τειρεσίας τοὔνομα . μὴ οὖν καὶ σὺ τοιοῦτόν τι πέπονθας ;
Οὔκουν , ὦ Λέαινα , ἔφη , ἀλλὰ ἐγεννήθην μὲν ὁμοία ταῖς ἄλλαις ὑμῖν , ἡ γνώμη δὲ καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία καὶ τἆλλα πάντα ἀνδρός ἐστί μοι . Καὶ ἱκανὴ γοῦν σοι , ἔφην , ἐπιθυμία ; Πάρεχε γοῦν , ὦ Λέαινα , εἰ ἀπιστεῖς , ἔφη , καὶ γνώσῃ οὐδὲν ἐνδέουσάν με τῶν ἀνδρῶν · ἔχω γάρ τι ἀντὶ τοῦ ἀνδρείου . ἀλλὰ πάρεχε , ὄψει γάρ .
παρέσχον , ὦ Κλωνάριον , ἱκετευούσης πολλὰ καὶ ὅρμον τινά μοι δούσης τῶν πολυτελῶν καὶ ὀθόνας τῶν λεπτῶν . εἶτ ' ἐγὼ μὲν ὥσπερ ἄνδρα περιελάμβανον , ἡ δὲ ἐποίει τε καὶ ἐφίλει καὶ ἤσθμαινε καὶ ἐδόκει μοι ἐς ὑπερβολὴν ἥδεσθαι .
ΚΛΩΝΑΡΙΟΝ
Τί ἐποίει , ὦ Λέαινα , ἢ τίνα τρόπον ; τοῦτο γὰρ μάλιστα εἰπέ .
ΛΕΑΙΝΑ
Μὴ ἀνάκρινε ἀκριβῶς , αἰσχρὰ γάρ · ὥστε μὰ τὴν οὐρανίαν οὐκ ἂν εἴποιμι .
Καινὰ περὶ σοῦ ἀκούομεν , ὦ Λέαινα , τὴν Λεσβίαν Μέγιλλαν τὴν πλουσίαν ἐρᾶν σου ὥσπερ ἄνδρα καὶ συνεῖναι ὑμᾶς οὐκ οἶδ’ ὅ τι ποιούσας μετ ' ἀλλήλων . τί τοῦτο ; ἠρυθρίασας ; ἀλλ’ εἰπὲ εἰ ἀληθῆ ταῦτά ἐστιν .
ΛΕΑΙΝΑ
Ἀληθῆ , ὦ Κλωνάριον · αἰσχύνομαι δέ , ἀλλόκοτον γάρ τί ἐστι .
ΚΛΩΝΑΡΙΟΝ
Πρὸς τῆς κουροτρόφου τί τὸ πρᾶγμα , ἢ τί βούλεται ἡ γυνή ; τί δὲ καὶ πράττετε , ὅταν συνῆτε ; ὁρᾷς ; οὐ φιλεῖς με · οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἀπεκρύπτου τὰ τοιαῦτα .
ΛΕΑΙΝΑ
Φιλῶ μέν σε , εἰ καί τινα ἄλλην . ἡ γυνὴ δὲ δεινῶς ἀνδρική ἐστιν .
ΚΛΩΝΑΡΙΟΝ
Οὐ μανθάνω ὅ τι καὶ λέγεις , εἰ μή τις ἑταιρίστρια τυγχάνει οὖσα · τοιαύτας γὰρ ἐν Λέσβῳ λέγουσι γυναῖκας ἀρρενωπούς , [ * ] ὑπ ' ἀνδρῶν μὲν οὐκ ἐθελούσας αὐτὸ πάσχειν , γυναιξὶ δὲ αὐτὰς πλησιαζούσας ὥσπερ ἄνδρας .
ΛΕΑΙΝΑ
Τοιοῦτόν τι .
ΚΛΩΝΑΡΙΟΝ
Οὐκοῦν , ὦ Λέαινα , τοῦτο αὐτὸ καὶ διήγησαι , ὅπως μὲν ἐπείρα τὸ πρῶτον , ὅπως δὲ καὶ σὺ συνεπείσθης καὶ τὰ μετὰ ταῦτα .
ΛΕΑΙΝΑ
Πότον τινὰ συγκροτοῦσα αὐτή τε καὶ Δημώνασσα ἡ Κορινθία . πλουτοῦσα δὲ καὶ αὐτὴ καὶ ὁμότεχνος οὖσα τῇ Μεγίλλῃ , παρειλήφει κἀμὲ κιθαρίζειν αὐταῖς · ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐκιθάρισα καὶ ἀωρὶ ἦν καὶ ἔδει καθεύδειν , καὶ ἐμέθυον , Ἄγε δή , ἔφη , ὦ Λέαινα , ἡ Μέγιλλα , κοιμᾶσθαι γὰρ ἤδη καλόν , ἐνταῦθα κάθευδε μεθ ' ἡμῶν μέση ἀμφοτέρων .
ΚΛΩΝΑΡΙΟΝ
Ἐκάθευδες ; τὸ μετὰ ταῦτα τί ἐγένετο ;
ΛΕΑΙΝΑ
Ἐφίλουν με τὸ πρῶτον ὥσπερ οἱ ἄνδρες , οὐκ αὐτὸ μόνον προσαρμόζουσαι τὰ χείλη , ἀλλ’ ὑπανοίγουσαι τὸ στόμα , καὶ περιέβαλλον καὶ τοὺς μαστοὺς ἔθλιβον · ἡ Δημώνασσα δὲ καὶ ἔδακνε μεταξὺ καταφιλοῦσα · ἐγὼ δὲ οὐκ εἶχον εἰκάσαι ὅ τι τὸ πρᾶγμα εἴη . χρόνῳ δὲ ἡ Μέγιλλα ὑπόθερμος ἤδη οὖσα τὴν μὲν πηνήκην ἀφείλετο τῆς κεφαλῆς , ἐπέκειτο δὲ πάνυ ὁμοία καὶ προσφυής , καὶ ἐν χρῷ ὤφθη αὐτὴ καθάπερ οἱ σφόδρα ἀνδρώδεις τῶν ἀθλητῶν ἀποκεκαρμένη · καὶ ἐγὼ ἐταράχθην ἰδοῦσα . ἡ δέ , Ὦ Λέαινα , φησίν , ἑώρακας ἤδη οὕτω καλὸν νεανίσκον ; Ἀλλ ' οὐχ ὁρῶ , ἔφην , ἐνταῦθα νεανίσκον , ὦ Μέγιλλα .
Μή καταθήλυνέ με , ἔφη , Μέγιλλος γὰρ ἐγὼ λέγομαι καὶ γεγάμηκα πρόπαλαι ταύτην τὴν Δημώνασσαν , καὶ ἔστιν ἐμὴ γυνή . ἐγέλασα , ὦ Κλωνάριον , ἐπὶ τούτῳ καὶ ἔφην , Οὐκοῦν σύ , ὦ Μέγιλλε , ἀνήρ τις ὢν ἐλελήθεις ἡμᾶς , καθάπερ τὸν Ἀχιλλέα φασὶ κρυπτόμενον ἐν ταῖς παρθένοις , καὶ τὸ ἀνδρεῖον ἐκεῖνο ἔχεις καὶ ποιεῖς τὴν Δημώνασσαν ἅπερ οἱ ἄνδρες ;
Ἐκεῖνο μέν , ἔφη , ὦ Λέαινα , οὐκ ἔχω · δέομαι δὲ οὐδὲ πάνυ αὐτοῦ · ἴδιον δέ τινα τρόπον ἡδίω παρὰ πολὺ ὁμιλοῦντα ὄψει με . Ἀλλὰ μὴ Ἑρμαφρόδιτος εἶ , ἔφην , οἷοι πολλοὶ εἶναι λέγονται ἀμφότερα ἔχοντες ; ἔτι γὰρ ἠγνόουν , ὦ Κλωνάριον , τὸ πρᾶγμα . Οὔ , φησίν , ἀλλὰ τὸ πᾶν ἀνήρ εἰμι .
Ἤκουσα , ἔφην ἐγώ , τῆς Βοιωτίας αὐλητρίδος Ἰσμηνοδώρας διηγουμένης τὰ ἐφέστια παρ ' αὐτοῖς , ὡς γένοιτό τις ἐν Θήβαις ἐκ γυναικὸς ἀνήρ , ὁ δ’ αὐτὸς καὶ μάντις ἄριστος , οἶμαι , Τειρεσίας τοὔνομα . μὴ οὖν καὶ σὺ τοιοῦτόν τι πέπονθας ;
Οὔκουν , ὦ Λέαινα , ἔφη , ἀλλὰ ἐγεννήθην μὲν ὁμοία ταῖς ἄλλαις ὑμῖν , ἡ γνώμη δὲ καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία καὶ τἆλλα πάντα ἀνδρός ἐστί μοι . Καὶ ἱκανὴ γοῦν σοι , ἔφην , ἐπιθυμία ; Πάρεχε γοῦν , ὦ Λέαινα , εἰ ἀπιστεῖς , ἔφη , καὶ γνώσῃ οὐδὲν ἐνδέουσάν με τῶν ἀνδρῶν · ἔχω γάρ τι ἀντὶ τοῦ ἀνδρείου . ἀλλὰ πάρεχε , ὄψει γάρ .
παρέσχον , ὦ Κλωνάριον , ἱκετευούσης πολλὰ καὶ ὅρμον τινά μοι δούσης τῶν πολυτελῶν καὶ ὀθόνας τῶν λεπτῶν . εἶτ ' ἐγὼ μὲν ὥσπερ ἄνδρα περιελάμβανον , ἡ δὲ ἐποίει τε καὶ ἐφίλει καὶ ἤσθμαινε καὶ ἐδόκει μοι ἐς ὑπερβολὴν ἥδεσθαι .
ΚΛΩΝΑΡΙΟΝ
Τί ἐποίει , ὦ Λέαινα , ἢ τίνα τρόπον ; τοῦτο γὰρ μάλιστα εἰπέ .
ΛΕΑΙΝΑ
Μὴ ἀνάκρινε ἀκριβῶς , αἰσχρὰ γάρ · ὥστε μὰ τὴν οὐρανίαν οὐκ ἂν εἴποιμι .
CLONARION
We are hearing new things about you , O Leaina , that [ 0 ] Megilla , the rich Lesbian woman , loves you just like a man , and that [ 0 ] you are together , doing I don’t know what with each other . What is [ 0 ] this ? You blushed ? But tell me [ 0 ] if these things are true .
LEAINA
It is [ 0 ] the [ 0 ] truth , O Clonarion . But I’m ashamed for myself , since it is something strange .
CLONARION
In the name of the child-rearing goddess [ 0 ] , what is [ 0 ] the affair ? Or what does the woman want ? And what do you all do , being together ? Do you see ? You do not love me , for you would not keep these things hidden .
LEAINA
I love you , more than any other . But this woman is terribly manly .
CLONARION
And I don’t understand what you are saying , unless she happens to be some courtesan . For they say that there are [ 0 ] masculine women of this sort in Lesbos , not willing to have this [ 0 ] done to themselves by men , but themselves being intimate with women , just as men do [ 0 ] .
LEAINA
It is [ 0 ] something like [ 0 ] that .
CLONARION
Then , O Leaina , you also have to explain this yourself , how she kept trying , at first , and how you were persuaded , and the things after these things .
LEAINA
Both she herself , and Demonassa , the Corinthian woman , were [ 0 ] striking together some drinking party . And , herself being rich , and practising the same craft as [ 0 ] that Megilla , and she had undertaken me to play the cithara for them , and when I played the cithara at an untimely hour , and it was necessary to sleep , and they were drunk with wine [ 0 ] , Megilla said , " of course , O Leaina , come , for now it is [ 0 ] good to fall asleep by this time , sleep here , with us , between us both . "
CLONARION
Were you sleeping ? What thing became after these things ?
LEAINA
At first , they were kissing me like men , not this only , bringing their [ 0 ] lips , but opening the mouth , and they were embracing me [ 0 ] and they pressed my [ 0 ] breasts . And Demonassa was even biting me [ 0 ] between her [ 0 ] kissing . And I was not able to guess what the business was . And , with time , Megilla , being now somewhat hot , took off the wig from her [ 0 ] head , the wig which [ 0 ] was laying perfectly , like it was [ 0 ] even growing there [ 0 ] , and on her [ 0 ] skin , she herself saw , the hair [ 0 ] having been cut exactly like the most manly athletes . And I , having seen this [ 0 ] , I was [ 0 ] upset .
But she said , " O Leaina , have you seen up to now , such a beautiful young man . " " But I do not see , " I was saying , " a young man here , O Megilla . "
" Don’t make a woman out of me , " he said , " for I am called Megillos , and I married very long ago this Demonassa , and she is my wife . " I laughed at that , O Clonarion , and I said , " then you , O Megillos , being some man , you had escaped our notice , just as they say that [ 0 ] Achilles did [ 0 ] , hidden among the girls ? And do you have that male thing , and do you do to [ 0 ] Demonassa the things [ 0 ] which men do [ 0 ] ? "
She said , " O Leaina , this , I do not have . But I have no need of this , by all means . And you will see that I deal with myself in some manner , more pleasant , by far . " " But are you not a hermaphrodite , " I was saying , " such as they say that [ 0 ] there are many , bearing organs [ 0 ] of both sides ? " For still , I was ignorant , O Clonarion , of [ 0 ] the matter . " No , " she says , " but I am the entirety of [ 0 ] a man . "
" I have heard , " I was saying , " that [ 0 ] the Boeotian flute-girl , Ismenodora , was [ 0 ] explaining , at her [ 0 ] home , in their house , how someone in Thebes became a man out of a woman , and he was [ 0 ] also an excellent soothsayer , I think , by [ 0 ] the name Teiresias . So , have you , also , not experienced something such as this ? "
" Therefore , O Leaina , " she said , " but I was born like you other women , but there is to me the disposition , and the desires , and all other things , of a man . " And , I said , " at any rate , is [ 0 ] this [ 0 ] desire enough for you ? " She said , " for god’s sake , give it up , O Leaina , if you don’t believe me [ 0 ] , and you will discover that I , with respect to [ 0 ] nothing , am not falling short of men . For I have something instead , of the male part . But give it up , for you will see . "
I gave it up , O Clonarion , and she having pleaded many times , having given to me some necklace from the expensive ones and quality linens from among [ 0 ] the finest . Then , I embraced her [ 0 ] , just like a man , and she both went to work , and was kissing me and she was panting , and it was seeming to me that she was taking pleasure excessively .
CLONARION
What was she doing , O Leaina , or in what manner ? For , tell me [ 0 ] this , most of all .
LEAINA
Don’t question me [ 0 ] in detail , for the things [ 0 ] are [ 0 ] shameful . So , by the goddess [ 0 ] in heaven , I would not tell .
We are hearing new things about you , O Leaina , that [ 0 ] Megilla , the rich Lesbian woman , loves you just like a man , and that [ 0 ] you are together , doing I don’t know what with each other . What is [ 0 ] this ? You blushed ? But tell me [ 0 ] if these things are true .
LEAINA
It is [ 0 ] the [ 0 ] truth , O Clonarion . But I’m ashamed for myself , since it is something strange .
CLONARION
In the name of the child-rearing goddess [ 0 ] , what is [ 0 ] the affair ? Or what does the woman want ? And what do you all do , being together ? Do you see ? You do not love me , for you would not keep these things hidden .
LEAINA
I love you , more than any other . But this woman is terribly manly .
CLONARION
And I don’t understand what you are saying , unless she happens to be some courtesan . For they say that there are [ 0 ] masculine women of this sort in Lesbos , not willing to have this [ 0 ] done to themselves by men , but themselves being intimate with women , just as men do [ 0 ] .
LEAINA
It is [ 0 ] something like [ 0 ] that .
CLONARION
Then , O Leaina , you also have to explain this yourself , how she kept trying , at first , and how you were persuaded , and the things after these things .
LEAINA
Both she herself , and Demonassa , the Corinthian woman , were [ 0 ] striking together some drinking party . And , herself being rich , and practising the same craft as [ 0 ] that Megilla , and she had undertaken me to play the cithara for them , and when I played the cithara at an untimely hour , and it was necessary to sleep , and they were drunk with wine [ 0 ] , Megilla said , " of course , O Leaina , come , for now it is [ 0 ] good to fall asleep by this time , sleep here , with us , between us both . "
CLONARION
Were you sleeping ? What thing became after these things ?
LEAINA
At first , they were kissing me like men , not this only , bringing their [ 0 ] lips , but opening the mouth , and they were embracing me [ 0 ] and they pressed my [ 0 ] breasts . And Demonassa was even biting me [ 0 ] between her [ 0 ] kissing . And I was not able to guess what the business was . And , with time , Megilla , being now somewhat hot , took off the wig from her [ 0 ] head , the wig which [ 0 ] was laying perfectly , like it was [ 0 ] even growing there [ 0 ] , and on her [ 0 ] skin , she herself saw , the hair [ 0 ] having been cut exactly like the most manly athletes . And I , having seen this [ 0 ] , I was [ 0 ] upset .
But she said , " O Leaina , have you seen up to now , such a beautiful young man . " " But I do not see , " I was saying , " a young man here , O Megilla . "
" Don’t make a woman out of me , " he said , " for I am called Megillos , and I married very long ago this Demonassa , and she is my wife . " I laughed at that , O Clonarion , and I said , " then you , O Megillos , being some man , you had escaped our notice , just as they say that [ 0 ] Achilles did [ 0 ] , hidden among the girls ? And do you have that male thing , and do you do to [ 0 ] Demonassa the things [ 0 ] which men do [ 0 ] ? "
She said , " O Leaina , this , I do not have . But I have no need of this , by all means . And you will see that I deal with myself in some manner , more pleasant , by far . " " But are you not a hermaphrodite , " I was saying , " such as they say that [ 0 ] there are many , bearing organs [ 0 ] of both sides ? " For still , I was ignorant , O Clonarion , of [ 0 ] the matter . " No , " she says , " but I am the entirety of [ 0 ] a man . "
" I have heard , " I was saying , " that [ 0 ] the Boeotian flute-girl , Ismenodora , was [ 0 ] explaining , at her [ 0 ] home , in their house , how someone in Thebes became a man out of a woman , and he was [ 0 ] also an excellent soothsayer , I think , by [ 0 ] the name Teiresias . So , have you , also , not experienced something such as this ? "
" Therefore , O Leaina , " she said , " but I was born like you other women , but there is to me the disposition , and the desires , and all other things , of a man . " And , I said , " at any rate , is [ 0 ] this [ 0 ] desire enough for you ? " She said , " for god’s sake , give it up , O Leaina , if you don’t believe me [ 0 ] , and you will discover that I , with respect to [ 0 ] nothing , am not falling short of men . For I have something instead , of the male part . But give it up , for you will see . "
I gave it up , O Clonarion , and she having pleaded many times , having given to me some necklace from the expensive ones and quality linens from among [ 0 ] the finest . Then , I embraced her [ 0 ] , just like a man , and she both went to work , and was kissing me and she was panting , and it was seeming to me that she was taking pleasure excessively .
CLONARION
What was she doing , O Leaina , or in what manner ? For , tell me [ 0 ] this , most of all .
LEAINA
Don’t question me [ 0 ] in detail , for the things [ 0 ] are [ 0 ] shameful . So , by the goddess [ 0 ] in heaven , I would not tell .