Perde 3
[Textpart 6]
Those who have display according to their circumstances and splendour according to their meansAccording to their means: Shakspeare expresses the same idea in Hamlet, Act I, Sc. 3: Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not expressed in fancy. , remember themselves, from whence they are sprung; neither by myself, Megadorus, nor by any poor man, are better circumstances enjoyed than appearances warrant.
MEGADORUS
Surely they are; and may the Gods, I hope, make them so to be, and more and more may they prosper that which you now possess.
545
EUCLIO
That expression don’t please me, which you now possess. He knows that I’ve got this, as well as I do myself: the old woman has discovered it to him.
MEGADORUS
Why do you separate yourself thus alone, apart from the Senate Apart from the Senate: As the Senate consults about the common interests, so are they discussing their common sentiments. Megadorus therefore, on hearing him talking to himself, asks him why he is withdrawing himself from the discussions of the Senate.?
EUCLIO
Troth, I was considering whether I should accuse you deservedly.
550
MEGADORUS
What’s the matter?
550
EUCLIO
Do you ask me what’s the matter? You who have filled every corner in my house, for wretched me, with thieves? You who have introduced into my dwelling five hundred cooks, with six hands a-piece, of the race of GeryonOf the race of Geryon: Geryon was a King of Spain, slain by Hercures. He was fabled to have had three heads and three bodies, consequently six hands.,
whom were Argus to watch, who was eyes all over, that Juno once set as a spy upon Jupiter, he never could watch them; a music-girl besides, who could alone drink up for me the Corinthian fountain of PireneFountain of Pirene: Pirene, the daughter of Acheloüs, on Conchreas her son by Neptune being slain by Diana, pined away, and was changed into a fountain, which was in the Arx Corinthiacus, or Citadel of Corinth, and retained her name., if it were flowing with wine?
555
And then as to provisions—
560
MEGADORUS
Troth, there’s enough for a procurer For a procurer: Who might be presumed to have a voracious and ungovernable appetite, and probably a large household to satisfy. Some editions however, have legioni, which would almost appear to be a preferable reading almost enough for a whole legion. even. I sent as much as a lamb.
560
EUCLIO
Than which lamb, I, indeed, know right well that there is nowhere a more curiousA more curious: Magis curiosam. It is suggested in Schmieder’s Notes to Plautus, that Euclio intends to call the lamb inquisitive or curious, curiosam, because he had found it, when he entered his house to drive out Congrio and his scullions, scraping and smelling about in every direction, as in a strange place it was natural for it to do, but which the old man thought to be done in quest of his treasure. On this, Megadorus, who has not heard, or else has misunderstood, the last syllable for nem, instead of sam, asks him what sort of a lamb a curio (the nominative of curionem) lamb is; on which Euclio catches him up, and says he calls a curio lamb such a one as he has sent him, all skin and bone, and lean with cura, care. Curionem is by many preferred as the reading in the 517th line to curiosam, and perhaps it is the best. Be it as it may, the wit seems far-fetched; and not improbably the word curio may have had some meaning which is now lost, other than its usual signification of the master or head of a curia, or ward. beast existing.
MEGADORUS
I wish to know of you why is this lamb curious?
EUCLIO
Because it’s all skin and bone, so lean is it with care;
why, even when alive, by the light of the sun you may look at its entrails; it’s just as transparent as a Punic lanternA Punic lantern: The horn exported from Carthage, for the purpose of making lanterns, was more pellucid than any other..
565
MEGADORUS
I bought it to be killed.
EUCLIO
Then it’s best that you likewise should bargain for Should bargain for: Loces. Should hire the conductores, or libitinarii, who contracted to perform funerals. He seems to hint that the lamb is so meagre that it is not worth eating. If that is not his meaning, the wit intended to be conveyed by the passage is imperceptible. it to be carried out for burial; for I believe it’s dead by this time.
MEGADORUS
Euclio, I wish this day to have a drinking with you.
EUCLIO
By my troth, I really must not drink.
570
MEGADORUS
But I’ll order one cask of old wine to be brought from my house.
570
EUCLIO
I’ faith, I won’t have it; for I’ve determined to drink water.
