Perde 3
[Textpart 1]
Beloved fellow-citizens, fellow-countrymen, inhabitants, neighbours, and all strangers, do make way for me to escape! Make all the streets clear! Never have I at any time, until this day, come to BacchantsTo Bacchants: The Bacchants, or frantic female worshippers of Bacchus, with their rites, have been alluded to in a Note at the commencement of the Bacchides., in a Bacchanalian den, to cook; so sadly have they mauled wretched me and my scullions with their sticks.
LYCONIDES
I’m aching all over, and am utterly done for; that old fellow has so made a bruising schoolA bruising school: Literally, a Gymnasium. The Gymnasium was the place where vigorous exercise was taken; so Congrio means to say that Euclio has been taking exercise in basting his back. of me; and in such a fashion has he turned us all out of the house, myself and them, laden with sticks. Nowhere, in all the world, have I ever seen wood dealt out more plentifully. Alackaday! by my faith, to my misery, I’m done for; the Bacchanalian den is opening, here he comes. He’s following us. I know the thing I’ll do: that the master himselfThe master himself: By magister he probably means Euclio, whom he styles the master of the Gymnasium, whose duty it was to train the pupils in the various exercises. He says that his master has taught him a trick, namely, how to defend himself. which in the next Scene he threatens to do. has taught me.
410
[Textpart 2]
Come back! Where are you running to, now? Hold you!
415
LYCONIDES
Why are you crying out, you stupid?
415
EUCLIO
Because this instant I shall give your name to the Triumvirs To the Triumvirs: Trisviros. Though the scene is in Greece he refers to the Triumviri capitales, who were Roman magistrates. They took cognizance of capital crimes, and they apprehended criminals. In conjunction with the Aediles, they had to preserve the public peace, to prevent unlawful assemblies, and to enforce the payment of fines due to the state. They had also the care of the public prisons, and to them was entrusted the punishment of criminals. They had authority to inflict summary punishment upon the slaves and the lower orders, though, probably, not upon those who enjoyed the rights of Roman citizens..
EUCLIO
Because you’ve got a knife.
LYCONIDES
’Tis the proper thing for a cook.
EUCLIO
Why did you threaten me?
LYCONIDES
I think that it was badly managed, that I didn’t pierce your side with it.
EUCLIO
There’s not a person that’s living this day a greater rascal than you,
nor one to whom designedly I would with greater pleasure cause a mischief.
420
LYCONIDES
I’ faith, thoughI’ faith, though: In Hildyard’s edition this and the next line are given to Euclio; but they seem much more likely to belong to Congrio, as we do not find that any person has beat Euclio with sticks, whereas Congrio has already complained of the rough usage he has experienced. you should hold your noise, really that’s quite clear; the thing itself is its own witness. As it is, I’m made softer by far with your sticks than any ballet-dancer. But what right have you to touch us, you beggarman? What’s the matter?
EUCLIO
Do you even ask me? Is it that I’ve done less than I ought to have done? Only let me—
LYCONIDES
Now, by my faith, at your great peril, if this head should feel it!
425
EUCLIO
Troth, I don’t know what may happen What may happen: Euclio is laughing at his ifs, which commence the saving-clause of all cowards. He does not care what Congrio will do but he knows that he has already made his head to feel it. hereafter; your head feels it just now! But what business, pray, had you in my house, in my absence, unless I had ordered you? I want to know that.
LYCONIDES
Hold your noise, then; because we came to cook for the wedding.
EUCLIO
Why the plague do you trouble yourself
whether I eat meat raw or cooked, unless you are my tutorYou are my tutor: One of the duties of the paedagogus, or tutor of boys, would be to see that they did not eat unwholesome food..
430
LYCONIDES
I want to know if you will allow or not allow us to cook the dinner here?
