Perde 4
[Textpart 8]
I’ll give them.
CHRYSALUS
Well, now, filthy fellow is there anything owing to you?
Why are you plaguing him? Why are you frightening him about death? Both I and he wish you every ill luck. If you have a sword, still we have a spit at home; with which, in fact, if you provoke me,
885
I’ll make you more full of holes than a rat’s skinA rat’s skin: Soricina naenia, than a rat’s ditty, literally. This was, no doubt, a proverbial saying, and speaking elliptically, was, perhaps, intended to apply to the squeaking of a rat when his body was pierced with holes while held fast in the trap. There is, however, great obscurity in the passage, and Commentators are very much divided as to its meaning. when caught in a trap. I’ faith, for my part, some time since I found out what suspicion it was that tormented you; namely, that he was with that wife of yours.
890
CLEOMACHUS
Yes; and so he is.
CHRYSALUS
So may Jupiter, Juno, Ceres, Minerva, Hope, Latona, Ops, Virtue, Venus, Castor, Pollux, Mars, Mercury, Hercules,
SummanusSummanus: It is not accurately known who the Deity Summanus was. Ovid, in his Fasti, B. 6, l. 731, speaks in uncertainty of him. He is, however, generally thought to have been the same with Pluto, who was so called as being Summus Manum, the Chief of the Spirits. Varro says that his worship was introduced by Tatius the Sabine, the Sun, Saturn, and all the Deities, prosper me, he neither reclines with her, nor walks, nor kisses, nor does that which is wont to be reported.
895
NICOBULUS
How he does swear! He’s saving me, however, by his perjury.
CLEOMACHUS
Where then, at this moment, is Mnesilochus?
CHRYSALUS
His father has sent him into the country.
And she has gone hence to the citadel, to see the temple of Minerva. The door’s open now; go in, and see if he’s there.
900
CLEOMACHUS
I’ll be off to the Forum next.
CHRYSALUS
Or rather, by my troth, to very perdition.
CLEOMACHUS
Am I to demand this gold to-day?
CHRYSALUS
Demand it, and go hang yourself; don’t you suppose, you worthless fellow, that we shall be entreating of you. (Exit CLEOMACHUS.)
He’s taken himself off. Permit me, master, I entreat you by the immortal Gods, to go in-doors here to your son.
905
NICOBULUS
But why go in there?
CHRYSALUS
That with many words I may rebuke him, since after this fashion he has been going on this way.
NICOBULUS
Well, I beg you will do so, Chrysalus; and I entreat you not to spare him in your talking to him.
CHRYSALUS
And do you instruct even myself? Isn’t it sufficient, if this day he shall hear from me more harsh things than ever Clinias heardClinias heard: He is alluding to a scene in some play, then well known, which is now lost. In it, Demetrius was probably severe upon Clinias. The Delphin editor thinks that this must have been a proverb. from Demetrius?
910
