Perde 5
[Textpart 6]
Geta, I have this day come to the conclusion that you are a man of very great worth, for I look upon him as an undoubtedly good servant
DEMEA
who has a care for his master; as I have found to be your case, Geta; and for that reason, if any opportunity should offer, I would gladly do you a service. (Aside.) I am practicing the affable, and it succeeds very well.
895
GETA
You are kind, sir, to think so.
DEMEA
Getting on by degrees—I’ll first make the lower classes my own.
[Textpart 7]
They really are killing me while too intent on performing the nuptials with all ceremony; the whole day is being wasted in their preparations.
900
DEMEA
Aeschinus! how goes it?
AESCHINUS
Ha, my father! are you here ?
DEMEA
Your father, indeed, both by affection and by nature; as I love you more than my very eyes; but why don’t you
AESCHINUS
So I wish to do; but I am waiting for the music-girl The music-girl: Tibicinae, or music-girls, attended at marriage ceremonials. See the Aulularia of Plautus, where Megadorus hires the music-girls on his intended marriage with the daughter of Euclio. and people to sing the nuptial song.
905
DEMEA
Come now, are you willing to listen to an old fellow like me?
DEMEA
Let those things alone, the nuptial song, the crowds, the torches,The crowds, the torches: See the Casina of Plautus, Act IV., Scenes 3 and 4, for some account of the marriage ceremonial. The torches, music-girls, processions, and hymeneal song, generally accompanied a wedding, but from the present passage we may conclude that they were not considered absolutely necessary. and the music-girls, and order the stone wall in the gardenStone wall in the garden: The maceria, or garden-wall of loose stones, is also mentioned in the Truculentus of Plautus, 1. 301. here to be pulled down
with all dispatch, and bring her over that way; make but one house of the two; bring the mother and all the domestics over to our house.
910
AESCHINUS
With all my heart, kindest father.
DEMEA
Well done! now I am called kind. My brother’s house will become a thoroughfare; he will be bringing home a multitude, incurring expense in many ways: what matters it to me?
I, as the kind Demea, shall get into favor. Now then, bid that BabylonianBid that Babylonian: This passage has much puzzled the Commentators; but it seems most probable that it is said aside, and that in consequence of his profuseness he calls his brother a Babylonian, (just as we call a wealthy man a nabob,) and says, Well, let him, with all my heart, be paying twenty mine (between £70 and £80) for a music-girl. pay down his twenty minae. (To SYRUS.) Syrus, do you delay to go and do it ?
915
DEMEA
Pull down the wall: and you, Geta, go and bring them across.
GETA
May the Gods bless you, Demea, as I see you so sincere a well-wisher to our family.
