Perde 4
[Textpart 4]
I had almost fallen unawares into a comical misfortune.
DAVUS
Who’s that, speaking? (Pretending to look about.) O Chremes, you have come in good time. Do listen to this.
CHREMES
I have heard it all already.
DAVUS
Prithee, did you hear it? Here’s villainy for you! she (pointing at MYSIS.) ought to be carried off She ought to be carried off: He says this implying that Mysis, who is a slave, ought to be put to the torture to confess the truth; as it was the usual method at Athens to force a confession from slaves by that method. We find in the Hecyra, Bacchis readily offering her slaves to be put to the torture, and in the Adelphi the same custom is alluded to in the Scene between Micio, Hegio and Geta. hence to the torture forthwith. (To MYSIS, pointing at CHREMES.) This is Chremes himself; don’t suppose that you are trifling with Davus only.
785
MYSIS
Wretched me! upon my faith I have told no untruth, my worthy old gentleman.
CHREMES
I know the whole affair. Is Simo within?
MYSIS
Don’t touch me, villain. (Moving away.) On my word, if I don’t tell Glycerium all this—
DAVUS
How now, simpleton, don’t you know what has been done?
DAVUS
This is the bride’s father. It couldn’t any other way have been managed that he should know the things that we wanted him to know.
MYSIS
You should have told me that before.
DAVUS
Do you suppose that it makes little difference whether you do things according to impulse,
as nature prompts, or from premeditation?
795
[Textpart 5]
It was said that Chrysis used to live in this street, who preferred to gain wealth here dishonorably to living honestly as a poor woman in her own country: by her death that property has descended to me by law. Descended to me by law: On the supposition that Chrysis died without a will, Crito as her next of kin would be entitled to her effects.
CRITO
But I see some persons of whom to make inquiry. (Accosting them.) Good-morrow to you.
800
MYSIS
Prithee, whom do I see? Isn’t this Crito, the kinsman of Chrysis? It is he.
800
CRITO
O Mysis, greetings to you.
MYSIS
Welcome to you, Crito.
CRITO
Is Chrysis then—? Is Chrysis then —?: This is an instance of Aposiopesis; Crito, much affected, is unwilling to name the death of Chrysis. It was deemed of ill omen to mention death, and numerous Euphemisms or circumlocutions were employed in order to avid the necessity of doing so. Alas!
