Corinthiari.

To live a debauched and voluptuous life, like the Corinthians. Corinth of old, like Venice in modern times, was famed for entertaining multitudes of courtezans, and for the great homage that was paid to them. They served as decoys to attract to the city, the most wealthy of the inhabitants from all parts of Greece, to the great emolument of the artizans and traders, and improvement of the revenue of the state. Lais, one of the courtezans, was esteemed to be the most beautiful and accomplished woman of the age in which she lived. She drew visitors from the most distant countries, to whom she sold her favours at a very high price. Of Demosthenes, who wished to pass an evening with her, she required ten thousand drachmas. Astonished at the boldness and largeness of the demand, he quitted her, «not choosing», he said, «to buy repentance at so dear a rate».