Perde 5
MENEDEMUS
Bacchis followed directly.
905
MENEDEMUS
When they had gone into the room, they shut the door.
CHREMES
Well—did Clinia see all this going on?
MENEDEMUS
How shouldn’t he? He was with me.
CHREMES
Bacchis is my son’s mistress, Menedemus I’m undone.
CHREMES
I have hardly substance to suffice for ten days.Substance to suffice for ten days: Familia here means property, as producing sustenance. Colman, however, has translated the passage: Mine is scarce a ten-days’ family.
MENEDEMUS
What! are you alarmed at it, because he is paying attention to his friend?
910
CHREMES
His she-friend rather.His she-friend rather: Menedemus speaks of amico, a male friend, which Chremes plays upon by saying amicae, which literally meant a she-friend, and was the usual name by which decent people called a mistress.
MENEDEMUS
If he really is paying it.
CHREMES
Is it a matter of doubt to you? Do you suppose that there is any person of so accommodating and tame a spirit as to suffer his own mistress, himself looking on, to—
MENEDEMUS
Why not? That I may be imposed upon the more easily.
CHREMES
Do you laugh at me? You have good reason. How angry I now am with myself! How many things gave proof, whereby, had I not been a stone, I might have been fully sensible of this? What was it I saw? Alas! wretch that I am! But assuredly they shall not escape my vengeance if I live; for this instant—
915
MENEDEMUS
Can you not contain yourself? Have you no respect for yourself?
