Perde 3
[Textpart 4]
for so far as I see, he is certainly now putting some device in execution, in saying that he is redeeming your son from captivity; that is by no means satisfactory to me.
585
TYNDARUS
I know that you don’t wish that to be done; still I shall effect it, if the Gods assist me. I shall bring him back here, and he will restore me to my father, in Elis. For that purpose have I sent Tyndarus hence to my father.
ARISTOPHONTES
Why, you yourself are he;
nor is there any slave in Elis of that name, except yourself.
590
TYNDARUS
Do you persist in reproaching me with being a slave—a thing that has befallen me through the fortune of war?
ARISTOPHONTES
Really, now, I cannot contain myself.
TYNDARUS
Ha! don’t you hear him? Why don’t you take to flight? He’ll be pelting us just now with stones there, unless you order him to be seized.
ARISTOPHONTES
I’m distracted.
TYNDARUS
His eyes strike fire; there’s need of a rope, Hegio.
Don’t you see how his body is spotted all over with livid spots? Black bileBlack bile: A superabundance of the bile was supposed to be productive of melancholy madness. The word melancholy is from the Greek μελαγχολιὰ, black bile. is disordering the man.
595
ARISTOPHONTES
And, by my faith, if this old gentleman is wise, black pitchBlack pitch: He alludes to a frightful punishment inflicted upon malefactors by the Romans. They were either smeared over with burning pitch, or were first covered with pitch, which was then set fire to. This punishment is supposed to have been often inflicted upon the early Christians. Juvenal alludes to it in his First Satire, l. 155: Pone Tigellinum, taedâ lucebis in illâ, Quâ stantes ardent, qui fixo gutture fumant. Describe Tigellinus [an infamous minister of Nero], and you shall give a light by those torches, in which those stand and burn who send forth smoke with a stake driven into their throat. will be disordering you with the executioner, and giving a light to your head.
TYNDARUS
He’s now talking in his fit of delirium; sprites are in possession of the man.
HEGIO
By my troth, suppose I order him to be seized?
TYNDARUS
You would be acting more wisely.Part of line 599 in the Latin.
ARISTOPHONTES
I’m vexed that I haven’t a stone, to knock out the brains of that whip-scoundrel, who’s driving me to madness by his taunts.
600
TYNDARUS
Don’t you hear that he’s looking for a stone?
ARISTOPHONTES
I wish to speak with you alone, separately, Hegio.
HEGIO
Speak from where you are, if you want anything; though at a distance, I shall hear you.
TYNDARUS
Yes, for, by my faith, if you approach nearer, he’ll be taking your nose off with his teeth.
ARISTOPHONTES
By heavens, Hegio, don’t you believe that I am mad, or that I ever was so, or that I have the malady which that fellow avers. But if you fear anything from me, order me to be bound; I wish it, so long as that fellow is bound as well.
605
