Perde 5
[Textpart 7]
What is it you say?
1025
THRASO
Why any the less so, than Hercules served Omphale.Hercules served Omphale: He alludes to the story of Omphale, Queen of Lydia, and Hercules. Being violently in love with her, the hero laid aside his club and boar’s skin, and in the habit of a woman plied the spindle and distaff with her maids. See a curious story of Omphale, Hercules, and Faunus, in the Fasti of Ovid, B. ii. l. 305. As to the reappearance of Thraso here, Colman has the following remarks: Thraso, says Donatus, is brought back again in order to be admitted to some share in the good graces of Thais, that he may not be made unhappy at the end of the Play; but surely it is an essential part of the poetical justice of Comedy to expose coxcombs to ridicule and to punish them, though without any shocking severity, for their follies.
GNATHO
The precedent pleases me. (Aside.) I only wish I may see your head stroked down with a slipper;With a slipper: He doubtless alludes to the treatment of Hercules by Omphale; and, according to Lucian , there was a story that Omphale used to beat him with her slipper or sandal. On that article of dress, see the Notes to the Trinummus of Plautus, 1. 252. but her door makes a noise.
THRASO
Confusion! Why, what mischiefsthis? I never saw this person before; why, I wonder, is he rushing out in such a hurry?
[Textpart 8]
O fellow-townsmen, is there any one alive more fortunate than me this day? Not any one, upon my faith: for clearly in me have the Gods manifested all their power, on whom, thus suddenly, so many blessings are bestowed.
1030
PARMENO
Why is he thus overjoyed?
CHAEREA
O my dear Parmeno, the contriver, the beginner, the perfecter of all my delights, do you know what are my transports?
Are you aware that my Pamphila has been discovered to be a citizen?
1035
PARMENO
I have heard so.
1035
CHAEREA
Do you know that she is betrothed to me?
1035
PARMENO
So may the Gods bless me, happily done.
GNATHO
Do you hear what he says?
CHAEREA
And then, besides, I am delighted that my brother’s mistress is secured to him; the family is united. Thais has committed herself to the patronage of my father;To the patronage of my father: It was the custom at Athens for strangers, such as Thais was, to put themselves under the protection (in clientelam) of some wealthy citizen, who, as their patron, was bound to protect them against injury. An exactly parallel case to the present is found in the Miles Gloriosus of Plautus, 1. 799, where the wealthy Periplecomenus says, Habeo, eccillam, meam clientam, meretricem adolescentulam. Why, look, I have one, a dependent of mine, a courtesan, a very young woman. she has put herself under our care and protection.
PARMENO
Thais, then, is wholly your brother’s.
PARMENO
Then this is another reason for us to rejoice, that the Captain will be beaten out of doors.
1040
CHAEREA
Wherever my brother is, do you take care that he hears this as soon as possible.
PARMENO
I’ll go look for him at home.
THRASO
Do you at all doubt, Gnatho, but that I am now ruined everlastingly?
GNATHO
Without doubt, I do think so.
