MNESILOCHUS. This is why you, you wretch, offer your posterior with a good grace to lovers, not in words, but in actual fact.
EURIPIDES. But what prevents your going there?
AGATHON. I should run more risk than you would.
EURIPIDES. Why?
AGATHON. Why? I should look as if I were wanting to trespass on secret nightly pleasures of the women and to ravish their Aphrodite.[562]
MNESILOCHUS. Of wanting to ravish indeed! you mean wanting to be ravished--in the rearward mode. Ah! great gods! a fine excuse truly!
EURIPIDES. Well then, do you agree?
AGATHON. Don't count upon it.
EURIPIDES. Oh! I am unfortunate indeed! I am undone!
MNESILOCHUS. Euripides, my friend, my son-in-law, never despair.
[562] An allusion to the secret practices of mutual love which the women assembled for the Thesmophoria were credited by popular repute with indulging in.
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