Perde 3
[Textpart 2]
All right. Really, I am quite surprised at you, Chremes, up so early, after drinking so much yesterday.
SYRUS
Not too much, say you? Really, you’ve seen the old age of an eagle,Old age of an eagle: This was a proverbial expression, signifying a hale and vigorous old age. It has been suggested, too, that it alludes to the practice of some old men, who drink more than they eat. It was vulgarly said that eagles never die of old age, and that when, by reason of their beaks growing inward, they are unable to feed upon their prey, they live by sucking the blood. as the saying is.
520
SYRUS
A pleasant and agreeable woman this Courtesan.
CHREMES
Why, so she seemed to me, in fact.
SYRUS
And really of handsome appearance.
SYRUS
Not like those of former days,Not like those of former days: Syrus, by showing himself an admirer of the good old times, a laudator temporis acti, is wishful to flatter the vanity of Chremes, as it is a feeling common to old age, perhaps by no means an unamiable one, to think former times better than the present. Aged people feel grateful to those happy hours when their hopes were bright, and every thing was viewed from the sunny side of life. but as times are now, very passable:
nor do I in the least wonder that Clinia doats upon her. But he has a father—a certain covetous, miserable, and niggardly person—this neighbor of ours (pointing to the house). Do you know him ? Yet, as if he was not abounding in wealth, his son ran away through want. Are you aware that it is the fact, as I am saying?
525
CHREMES
How should I not be aware?
A fellow that deserves the mill.
530
CHREMES
That servant of the young gentleman, I mean.
530
SYRUS
Syrus! I was sadly afraid for you.
CHREMES
To suffer it to come to this!
CHREMES
Do you ask the question? He ought to have found some expedient, contrived some stratagem, by means of which there might have been something for the young man to give to his mistress,
and thus have saved this crabbed old fellow in spite of himself.
535
SYRUS
You are surely joking.
