Perde 5
[Textpart 2]
Wretch that I am, I’m undone! How the villain, the garnishing of a bierOf a bier: Capulus was another name of the lectica or feretrum, on which the corpse was carried to the funeral pile. In the case of rich people, the capuli were sometimes made of ivory, and covered with gold and purple., is kissing away.
DEMAENETUS
A breath, by my faith, somewhat sweeter than that of my wife.
PHILENIUM
Tell me, there’s a dear, does the breath of your wife smell bad?
DEMAENETUS
I’d prefer to drink bilge-water, if it were necessary, rather than kiss her.
ARTEMONA
Aye, pray, how say you? By my troth, to your own great detriment, you’ve surely said that against me. Never mind; only de you come home, I’ll let you know what danger there is in speaking abusively against a wife with a dowry.
PHILENIUM
By heavens, you are a wretch.
ARTEMONA
I’ faith, he’s deserving so to be.
ARGYRIPPUS
How say you, father?
Don’t you love my mother?
900
DEMAENETUS
Who—I? I love her just now, because she isn’t present.
900
ARGYRIPPUS
How, when she is present?
DEMAENETUS
Then, I wish she was dead.
A PARASITE
This fellow is fond of you, according to what he says.
ARTEMONA
On my word, he’s surely laying out all this at interest; for if, this day, he returns home, I’ll especially have my revenge in kissing him.
ARGYRIPPUS
Father, throw the dice; that afterwards I may have a throw.
You, Philenium, for myself, and death for my wife. (He throws.) ’Tis Venus’s castVenus’s, cast: Venereus jactus was the best throw on the set of four tali, or knuckle-bone dice, used by the ancients. It is supposed to have been a combination of the numbers, the sum of which was fourteen. When trying to throw the Venereus jactus, it was usual to mention the name of the mistress of the thrower; and Demaenetus throws in death to his wife, by way of supplement. From the next line, he appears to have been successful in his throw.. Lads, clap your hands, and give me some honeyed wine in my cup, in honor of my throw.
905
ARTEMONA
I can hold out no longer.
A PARASITE
If you haven’t learned the fulling tradeHaven’t learned the fulling trade: He intends a pun here upon the word durare, which meant either to endure, bear, or hold out; as also to full, harden, or thicken cloth, by the fuller’s art. Artemona says that she cannot durare in the first sense; on which the Parasite quibbles, and says, Because you have not learnt the fulling art. In the next line also a ploy upon words is intended, as invadi in oculos may mean either present yourself before his eyes or attack his eyes, and claw them out. No doubt the Parasite would have relished the fun, if she had taken his advice in the latter sense., it’s not to be wondered at; now it’s quite fitting for you to beset his eyes. (They make their appearance before the revellers.)
ARTEMONA
By heavens, I will live, and you this day have made that invocation to your own great misfortune.
