Satyricon, vol 5, Crotona Affairs | Page 5

Priapus, I thee invoke, Temper our arms to dare!
When she had made an end of this incantation she ordered me to spit
three times, and three times to drop stones into my bosom, each stone
she wrapped up in purple after she had muttered charms over it; then,
directing her hands to my privates, she commenced to try out my
virility. Quicker than thought the nerves responded to the summons,
filling the crone's hand with an enormous erection! Skipping for joy,
"Look, Chrysis, look," she cried out, "see what a hare I've started, for
someone else to course!" (This done, the old lady handed me over to
Chrysis, who was greatly delighted at the recovery of her mistress's
treasure; she hastily conducted me straight to the latter, introducing me
into a lovely nook that nature had furnished with everything which
could delight the eye.)
Shorn of its top, the swaying pine here casts a summer shade And
quivering cypress, and the stately plane And berry-laden laurel. A
brook's wimpling waters strayed Lashed into foam, but dancing on
again And rolling pebbles in their chattering flow. 'Twas Love's own
nook, As forest nightingale and urban Procne undertook To bear true

witness; hovering, the gleaming grass above And tender violets;
wooing with song, their stolen love.
Fanning herself with a branch of flowering myrtle, she lay, stretched
out with her marble neck resting upon a golden cushion. When she
caught sight of me she blushed faintly; she recalled yesterday's affront,
I suppose. At her invitation, I sat down by her side, as soon as the
others had gone; whereupon she put the branch of myrtle over my face
and emboldened, as if a wall had been raised between us, "Well, Mr.
Paralytic," she teased, "have you brought all of yourself along today?"
"Why ask me," I replied, "why not try me instead?" and throwing
myself bodily into her arms, I revelled in her kisses with no witchcraft
to stop me.

CHAPTER THE
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SECOND.
The loveliness of her form drew, me to her and summoned me to love.
Our lips were pressed together in a torrent of smacking kisses, our
groping hands had discovered every trick of excitation, and our bodies,
clasped in a mutual embrace, had fused our souls into one, (and then, in
the very midst of these ravishing preliminaries my nerves again played
me false and I was unable to last until the instant of supreme bliss.)
Lashed to fury by these inexcusable affronts, the lady at last ran to
avenge herself and, calling her house servants, she gave orders for me
to be hoisted upon their shoulders and flogged; then, still unsatisfied
with the drastic punishment she had inflicted upon me, she called all
the spinning women and scrubbing wenches in the house and ordered
them to spit upon me. I covered my face with my hands but I uttered no
complaint as I well knew what I deserved and, overwhelmed with
blows and spittle, I was driven from the house. Proselenos was kicked
out too, Chrysis was beaten, and all the slaves grumbled among
themselves and wondered what had upset their mistress's good humor. I
took heart after having given some thought to my misfortunes and,
artfully concealing the marks of the blows for fear that Eumolpus
would make merry over my mishaps or, worse yet, that Giton might be
saddened by my disgrace, I did the only thing I could do to save my
self-respect, I pretended that I was sick and went to bed. There, I turned

the full fury of my resentment against that recreant which had been the
sole cause of all the evil accidents which had befallen me.
Three times I grasped the two-edged blade The recreant to cut away;
Three times by Fear my hand was stayed And palsied Terror said me
nay That which I might have done before 'Twas now impossible to do;
For, cold with Fear, the wretch withdrew Into a thousand-wrinkled
mare, And shrank in shame before my gaze Nor would his head
uncover more. But though the scamp in terror skulked, With words I
flayed him as he sulked.
Raising myself upon my elbow I rebuked the shirker in some such
terms as these: "What have you to say for yourself, you disgrace to
gods and men," I demanded, "for your name must never be mentioned
among refined people. Did I deserve to be lifted up to heaven and then
dragged down to hell by you? Was it right for you to slander my
flourishing and vigorous years and land me in the shadows and
lassitude of decrepit old age? Give me some sign, however faint, I beg
of you, that you have returned to life!" I vented my anger in words such
as