Perde 5
[Textpart 4]
If he persists in saying to me what he likes, he’ll be hearing things that he don’t like. Am I meddling with these matters or interesting myself? Can you not endure your troubles with a patient mind? For as to what I say, whether it is true or false what I have heard, can soon be known. A certain man of Attica, a long time ago, A long time ago: The story begins with Olim, just in the same way that with us nursery tales commence with There was, a long time ago. his ship being wrecked, was cast ashore at Andros, and this woman together with him, who was then a little girl; he, in his destitution, by chance first made application
920
CRITO
to the father of Chrysis—
925
SIMO
He’s beginning his tale.
925
CHREM.
Let him alone.
925
CRITO
Really, is he to be interrupting me in this way?
CRITO
He who received him was a relation of mine. There I heard from him that he was a native of Attica. He died there.
CRITO
The name, in such a hurry!
CHREMES
Hah! I shall die!
CRITO
I’faith, I really think it was Phania; this I know for certain,
he said that he was a citizen of Rhamnus. A citizen of Rhamnus: Rhamnus was a maritime town of Attica, near which many of the more wealthy Athenians had country-seats. It was famous for the Temple of Nemesis there, the Goddess of Vengeance, who was thence called Rhamnusia. In this Temple was her statue, carved by Phidias out of the marble which the Persians brought to Greece for the purpose of making a statue of Victory out of it, and which was thus appropriately devoted to the Goddess of Retribution. The statue wore a crown, and had wings, and, holding a spear of ash in the right hand, it was seated on a stag.
930
CRITO
Many other persons in Andros have heard the same, Chremes.
930
CHREMES
I trust it may turn out as I hope. (To CRITO.) Come now, tell me, what did he then say about her? Did he say she was his own daughter?
CRITO
His brother’s daughter.
CHREMES
She certainly is mine.
