... "has nullo perdere possum
Nec prohibere modo, simul ac vaga luna decorum
Protulit os, quin ossa legant, herbasque nocentes."
Hor. S. i. 8, 20.
"And when Love speaks, the voice of all the gods
Make heaven drowsy with the harmony.
Never durst poet touch a pen to write,
Until his ink were temper'd with love's sighs;
Ο! then his lines would ravish savage ears,
And plant in tyrants mild humanity."—Love's Labour Lost.
[43] Venue and Cupid were supposed to be irritated against those who shewed insensibility to their influence:—
"Ingratam Veneri pone superbiam."
Hor. Od. iii. 10. 9.
[44] αὐτουργὸς γὰρ ὁ ἔρως καὶ αὑτοσχέδιος σοφιστῆς, a passage parallel to one in B. i., αὐτοδίδακτος γὰρ ἐστίν ὁ θεὸς.
BOOK VI.
When at length, I had sufficiently eased Melitta's pains, I said to her, "How do you mean to provide for my escape and to perform your promises as to Leucippe?"—"Be in no anxiety respecting her," was the reply, "look upon her as already restored to your embrace; but put on my clothes and conceal your face in my robe; Melantho will conduct you to the door, there you will find a young man who has orders from me to guide you to the house where Clinias and Satyrus await you, and whither Leucippe will shortly come." While giving me these directions, she dressed me so as to resemble her in appearance; then kissing me, she said, "You look handsomer than ever in this attire, and remind me of a picture of Achilles[1] which I once saw. Fare you well, dearest, preserve this dress as a memorial of me, and leave me your own, that I may sometimes put it on and fancy myself in your embrace;" she then gave me a hundred gold pieces, and called Melantho, a trusty servant, who was watching at the door, told her what to do, and ordered her to return, as soon as she had let me out. Thus disguised I slipped out of the room, the keeper, upon receiving a sign from Melantho, taking me for his mistress and making way; passing through an unfrequented part of the house I reached a back door, where I was received by the person whom Melitta had appointed to be there; he was a freedman who had accompanied us on our voyage from Alexandria, and with whom I had already been intimate.
Upon her return, Melantho found the keeper preparing to secure the room for the night, she desired him to open the door, and going in, informed her mistress of my escape; Melitta called in the keeper, who seeing the right bird flown and another in his place,[2] was struck dumb with astonishment: "I did not employ this artifice," said she, "from believing you unwilling to favour Clitopho's escape, but because I wished to give you the means of clearing yourself from blame in the opinion of Thersander. Here are ten gold pieces; if you choose to remain here, you are to regard them as a present from Clitopho, if you prefer getting out of the way they will help you on your journey." "Mistress," replied the keeper, whose name was Pasio, "I am ready to follow your suggestion." It was agreed, that the man should go away and remain in concealment until Thersander's anger had subsided, and he and his wife were again upon good terms. Upon leaving the house, my usual ill fortune overtook me; and interwove a new incident in the drama of my life. Whom should I encounter but Thersander! who persuaded by his friend not to sleep away from his wife, was returning home.