Perde 2
[Textpart 1]
I do believe that Love was the first to invent torture among mankind. This conjecture do I form from myself at home, not to go seek it out of doors;
ALCESIMARCHUS
I, who surpass all men, exceed them in the pangs of my feelings. I’m tossed, tormented, agitated, goaded, whirled on the wheel of love in my misery, I’m deprived of sensation, carried one way, carried another way, I’m torn and rent asunder; such clouded faculties of mind have I,
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where I am, there I am not; where I am not, there my thoughts are; to such a degree have I now all kinds of feelings in me; what I like, then all at once I like not the same; so much does love trifle with me changing my mind,
drive me, pursue, desire, and seize for itself, retain, trepan, and promise; what it gives, it gives not; it deludes me; what this moment it has persuaded me, it now dissuades me from; what it has dissuaded me from, it now points out to me that same.
After the manner of the sea is it experienced by me; so much does it distract my enamoured feelings; and only in that, in my misery, I do not sink utterly, is there any evil removed from me thus ruined;
in such a way has my father detained me these six days running in the country, at his house there; nor has it been allowed me in the meantime to visit my mistress. Isn’t this dreadful to relate?
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MELAENIS
Are you joking for this reason, because you’ve got another wife engaged, a rich lady of Lemnos? Have her then! We are neither of a family so great as you are, nor is our wealth so substantial as yours; but still
I have no fears that any one will impeach our oath; you then, if you shall feel any pain, will know for what reason you do feel pain.
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ALCESIMARCHUS
May the Gods confound me—
MELAENIS
Whatever you wish for, I desire it may befall you.
ALCESIMARCHUS
If ever I’ll marry that wife which my father has engaged for me.
MELAENIS
And me, if ever I give you my daughter for a wife.
ALCESIMARCHUS
Will you allow me to be forsworn?
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MELAENIS
Yes, and a little more easily than myself and my affairs to go to ruin, and my daughter to be trifled with. Begone! go seek where there is confidence enough in your oaths; here now, with us, Alcesimarchus, you’ve renounced your title Renounced your title: Confregisti tesseram. Literally, you have broken your tally, or ticket. These were pieces of wood cut in half, and fitting each other. They were exchanged by friends, and denoted their readiness, on the presenting thereof, to entertain each other with hospitality. She means that Alcesimarchus has broken his word, and has lost his right to be considered as a friend. See the Pœnulus, l. 1047. to our friendship.
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ALCESIMARCHUS
Make trial of me but once.
MELAENIS
I have made that trial full oft; which I lament has been so made.
ALCESIMARCHUS
Give her back to me.
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MELAENIS
Under new circumstances I’ll use an old proverb: What I have given, I wish I had not given; what’s left, that I shall not give.
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ALCESIMARCHUS
Won’t you restore her again to me?
MELAENIS
Answer yourself for me.
