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THE OBJECT<br />
Hail <strong>Bilitis</strong>, Mnasidika hail. --Sit down. How is your husband? --Much too well.<br />
Do not tell him that you have seen me. He'd kill me if he knew that I was here. --<br />
You need not fear.<br />
--And there is your room? and there your bed? I beg your pardon. I am curious. --<br />
You know Myrrhina's bed, however. --So little. --They say it's pretty. --And<br />
lascivious; oh, my dear! but I must keep quiet.<br />
--What do you wish <strong>of</strong> me? --That you lend me. . . --Speak. --1 dare not name the<br />
object. --We have none. --Truly? --Mnasidika is a virgin. --Well, where can one be<br />
bought? --At Drako, the harness--maker's.<br />
--Tell me, too, who sells you your embroidery thread? Mine breaks if you even<br />
look at it. --1 make my own, but Naïs sells good thread. --At what price? --Three<br />
oboli. --That's dear. And the object? --Two drachmae. --Farewell.<br />
EVENING BY THE FIRE<br />
The winter is severe, Mnasidika. Everything is cold outside our bed. Arise,<br />
however; come with me, for I have built a great fire <strong>of</strong> dead logs and split<br />
kindling wood.<br />
We will crouch down and warm ourselves, quite nude, our hair hung down our<br />
backs, and drink milk out <strong>of</strong> the self-same cup and munch on honeyed cakes.<br />
How sonorous and gay the fire is! Are you not too near? Your skin is getting red.<br />
Let me kiss it wherever the fire has made it hot.<br />
I'll warm the iron amidst the burning brands and dress your hair right here. And<br />
with a burnt-out coal I'll write your name upon the wall.<br />
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