Perde 1
[Textpart 1]
Why don’t you then give it a kiss?
PHAEDROMUS
Hold your tongue; let’s keep back the light and our noise.
95
[Textpart 2]
The savour of aged wine has reached my nostrils; the love of it has brought me in my eagerness hither in the dark; wherever it is, it’s near me. O capital, I’ve found it. (Stooping, and smelling at the bowl.) Hail to you, my soul, Joy of dear Bacchus;
PROCURESS
how enamoured am I of your old age. For in comparison with yours, the odour of all unguents were mere bilge-water; you are my myrrh, you my cinnamon, you my rose, you my saffron unguent and my cassia, you are my vine-palm Vine-palm: Bdellium was a gum of fragrant smell and bitter aste, which exuded from a tree that grew in Arabia. It is described by the Elder Pliny, in his Twelfth Book. scent. But, where you have been poured, there would I most earnestly hope to be buried.
100
PALINURUS
This old lady’s thirsty;
110
how limited is her thirst?
110
PHAEDROMUS
She’s a moderate person; she swallows eight gallons Eight gallons: Quadrantal. This was a measure which held forty-eight sextarii, of about a pint and a half each. only.
110
PALINURUS
I’ faith, according to your account, this year’s vintage is not enough for this old woman alone.
PROCURESS
But since as yet you, fragrance, alone have penetrated to my nostrils, so in its turn afford some delight to my throat. (Feels for the bowl on the ground, which PALINURUS draws away.) I find you not; where is your own dear self? I’m longing to touch you; do let me pour your liquids into me by sip-sipping. But in this direction it has gone, this way I’ll. follow it.
105
PALINURUS
It really had been more proper for her to be a dog; she has a good nose.
PROCURESS
Prithee, whose voice is it that I hear at a distance.
PHAEDROMUS
I think that this old hag should be accosted. I’ll approach her. (Aloud.) Come back, Procuress, and look back towards me.
PROCURESS
Who is it that gives his commands?
115
PHAEDROMUS
The all-powerful in wine, jolly Bacchus; he who, when you’re hawking, parched, and half asleep, brings you a draught and comes to quench your thirst.
PROCURESS
How far is he away from me?
PHAEDROMUS
See this light.
PROCURESS
Then, prithee, do quicken your pace towards me.
120
PHAEDROMUS
Health to you.
PROCURESS
How can I have health, who am parched with thirst?
