γναφεὺς τροφεύς τε ταὐτὸν εἰχέτην τέλος.[[139]]

With less vividness Moschio’s nurse recalls the days of his infancy.

πρώην τοιοῦτον ὄντα Μοσχίων’ ἐγώ,

αὐτὸν ἐτιθηνούμην ἀγαπῶσα, νῦν δ’ ἐπεὶ

παιδίον ἐκείνου γέγονεν.[[140]]

Suidas suggests another duty in an anonymous passage: μειράκια, ταῖς τίτθαις ἀπομύττειν ... ἀποπέμψατε, and the same thing is referred to in the first book of the Republic: περιορᾷ καὶ οὐκ ἀπομύττει.[[141]] After the children were washed and dressed by the nurses, they were brought to their mothers who took them up and played with them.[[142]] This fondling of children is mentioned in Agamemnon:

πολέα δ’ ἐσχ’ ἐν ἀγκάλαις

νεοτρόφου τέκνου δίκαν.[[143]]

and in Orestes:

καὶ γὰρ μ’ ἔθρεψε σμικρὸν ὄντα, πολλὰ δὲ