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For a long time before we were born, when our
father had newly espoused our mother, an unlucky variance that fell out between their parents caused him to take
a journey to Thespiae, with an intention to sacrifice to the
God of Love; and he carried my mother also to the feast
(for that it properly belonged to her as well to make the
feast as to perform the sacrifice), besides several of his
familiar acquaintance that accompanied him from his
house. Now being arrived at Thespiae, he met with
Daphnaeus, the son of Archidamus, who was in love with
Lysandra, the daughter of Simon, and who was, above all
her suitors, chiefly the most welcome and acceptable to her.
There he also found Soclarus, the son of Aristion, who was
come from Tithorea; together with Protogenes of Tarsus
and Zeuxippus the Lacedaemonian, by whom he had been
several times kindly entertained; and he said that most of
the chief men among the Boeotians were there also. Thus
they staved for two or three days in the city, entertaining
each other with learned discourses, one while in the common wrestling-places, sometimes in the theatres, still keeping company together. After that, avoiding the troublesome contest of the harpers and musicians,—it being
found out that all had been settled beforehand by favor and
intrigue,—the greatest part brake company, as if they
had been discamping out of an enemy's country, retired to
Helicon, and took up their lodgings among the Muses.
Thither the next morning came to them Anthemion and
Pisias, persons of eminent nobility, and both allied to
Baccho, surnamed the Fair, and in some way at difference
one with another, by reason of the affection which they
[p. 256]
severally bore to him. For there was at Thespiae, Ismenodora, of an illustrious family, and wealthy withal;
and indeed in all other respects discreet and modest; and
moreover she had continued a widow no little time, without
spot or stain to her reputation, though both young and
beautiful.
Now it happened that while this brisk widow was endeavoring to make up a match between Baccho, who was
the son of her intimate friend, and a certain just blooming
virgin nearly allied to herself, by often talking with the
young gentleman and much frequenting his company, she
began to feel some sparks of kindness kindled for him in
her own breast. Afterwards hearing him highly commended by others, and speaking many things in his praise
herself, and finding him beloved by a great number of persons of the best rank, by degrees she fell desperately in
love with the youth ; nevertheless with a resolution to do
nothing unbeseeming her birth and quality, but after
public wedlock to acknowledge him as her husband. But
as the match seemed impracticable by reason of the distance
of their years, so the mother of the young man suspected
the nobility and grandeur of her house not to be correspondent to her son's condition, which rendered him incapable
of such a preferment. Moreover, his companions that
were wont to go a hunting with him, weighing the difference between his and the age of Ismenodora, filled his
head with several scruples, and scaring him with continual
frumps and scoffs, more effectually hindered the match
than they who labored industriously and seriously to prevent it. And the young man himself felt ashamed at his
age to be married to a widow. At last, however, shaking
off all others, he applies himself to Pisias and Anthemion
for their advice in a matter of so great concernment. The
elder of these two, Anthemion, was his cousin, and Pisias
the most earnest of his lovers. The latter therefore withstood
[p. 257]
the match with all his might, and upbraided Anthemion, as one that went about to betray the young man to
Ismenodora. On the other side, Anthemion told Pisias,
that he did not well to do as he did, having the reputation
of a worthy honest man, to imitate those lewd lovers, and
endeavor to deprive his friend of a noble house, a rich
wife, and other great conveniences, that he might have the
pleasure to see him frequently naked in the wrestling-places, fresh and smooth, and a stranger to female sports.
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