Perde 3
[Textpart 4]
Why really, Hegio, rather let him be bound that wishes it.
ARISTOPHONTES
Now hold your tongue! I’ll make you, you false Philocrates, to be found out this day to be a real Tyndarus.
Why are you making signsWhy are you making signs: Abnutas. The verb abnuto means, to nod to a person that he may desist. Tyndarus thinks that by this time Aristophontes must surely understand the plan that has been devised for the escape of Philocrates; and, as he is about to step aside to speak with Hegio, he makes a sign, requesting him to stop short in his contradiction of what he has asserted. at me?
TYNDARUS
I, making signs at you? (To HEGIO.) What would he do, if you were at a greater distance off?
HEGIO
What do you say? What if I approach this madman?
TYNDARUS
Nonsense; you’ll be made a fool of; he’ll be prating stuff, to you, neither the feet nor the head of which will ever be visible.
The dress onlyThe dress only: By ornamenta he means the dress of Tragedy. The dresses of Comedy were essentially different from those of Tragedy. He means to say, the man is mad; if he had only the Tragic garb on, you might take him for Ajax Telamon in his frenzy. On being refused the arms of Achilles, Ajax became mad, and slaughtered a flock of sheep fancying that they were Ulysses and the sons of Atreus. is wanting; in seeing this man, you behold Ajax himself.
615
HEGIO
I don’t care; still I’ll approach him.
TYNDARUS
Now am I utterly undone; now between the sacrifice and the stoneThe sacrifice and the stone: We learn from Livy, that in the most ancient times the animal for sacrifice was killed by being struck with a stone; to stand between the victim and the stone, would consequently imply, to be in a position of extreme danger. do I stand, nor know I what to do.
HEGIO
I lend you my attention, Aristophontes, if there is anything that you would wish with me.
ARISTOPHONTES
From me you shall hear that truth, which now you think to be false, Hegio.
But I wish, in the first place, to clear myself from this with you—that madness does not possess me, and that I have no malady, except that I am in captivity; and, so may the King of Gods and of men make me to regain my native land, that fellow there is no more Philocrates than either I or you.
620
HEGIO
Come, then, tell me who he is?
ARISTOPHONTES
He whom I’ve told you all along from the beginning.
If you shall find him any other than that person, I show no cause why I shouldn’t suffer the loss with you both of my parents and of my liberty for ever.
625
HEGIO
What say you to this?
TYNDARUS
That I am your slave, and you my master.
HEGIO
I didn’t ask that—were you a free man?
ARISTOPHONTES
But he really wasn’t; he is deceiving you.
