Perde 1
[Textpart 1]
Love is full of treachery.
SILENIUM
He’s taking his spoils of me, then.
GYMNASIUM
Be of good courage, you’ll get the better of this malady.
SILENIUM
I trust it will be so, if the physician comes that can administer the medicine to this malady.
GYMNASIUM
He will come.
75
SILENIUM
A hard expression is that to one in love, He will come, unless he does come. But by my own fault and foolishness, am I, wretched creature, more afflicted, because for him alone have I longed for myself, with whom to pass my life.
75
A PROCURESS
That is more suitable to a married woman, my dear Silenium, to love but one, and with him to pass her life, to whom she has once been married;
but, indeed, a Courtesan is most like a flourishing city; she cannot alone increase her fortunes without a multitude of men.
80
SILENIUM
I want you to give heed to this matter; the thing on account of which you have been sent for to me, I’ll disclose. Now, my mother, because I don’t wish myself to be called a Courtesan, complied with my desire; in that matter she indulged myself who have been obedient to her;
to allow me to live with him alone whom I so ardently loved.
85
A PROCURESS
I’ faith, she acted foolishly. But look, have you ever kept company with any man?
SILENIUM
With no one, indeed, except Alcesimarchus; nor has any other person whatever committed an infringement on my chastity.
A PROCURESS
Prithee, by what means did this man gain your good graces?
SILENIUM
At the festival of Bacchus
my mother took me to see the procession. While I was returning home, from a secret look-out he secretly traced me even to the door; after that, he insinuated himself into the friendship of my mother and myself as well, by endearments, presents, and gifts.
90
A PROCURESS
I should like a man of that sort to be offered me. How I’d work him.
SILENIUM
What need is there of words? Through intercourse, I on the other hand began to love him, and he myself.
A PROCURESS
O my dear Silenium—!
95
SILENIUM
What’s the matter?
95
A PROCURESS
You ought to pretend to be in love; for if you fall in love at once, you’ll be much better consulting the interests of him whom you love than your own.
