Perde 1
[Textpart 2]
But you shall drink in a moment.
PROCURESS
’Tis long a-coming.
PHAEDROMUS
Here’s for you, jolly old dame.
PROCURESS
Health to you, gentleman dear as my very eyes.
PALINURUS
Come, toss this off quickly into your abyss; scour out your sink right speedily.
PHAEDROMUS
Hold your tongue; I won’t have her ill spoken to.
PALINURUS
In preference, then, I’ll do her ill.
PROCURESS
Venus, of this little, this very little will I give to thee Will I give to thee: As a libation. It was the custom to pour out wine or other liquors, as libations in honor of the Gods, either upon an altar, on the ground, into the sea, or on a table, according to the circumstances of the case.—sore against my will; for all the lovers, in their cups, to propitiate thee, expend their wine upon thee: not such windfalls often fall to me.
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PALINURUS
Do look at that, please, how greedily the filthy hag swills down the pure wine into herself with distended gullet.
PALINURUS
How is it? Do you like it?
PALINURUS
And I, too, should like to goad with a spur as well.
PHAEDROMUS
Don’t you—do hold your tongue.
PALINURUS
I’ll hold my tongue; (the old woman drinks) but see, the rainbow’s drinking The rainbow’s drinking: This is said in allusion to an absurd belief which prevailed among the ancients, that the rainbow drank up water from be surface of the earth.; I’ faith, I do believe it will rain to-day.
PHAEDROMUS
Troth now, I’m quite undone; what first to say to her I know not.
PALINURUS
Why, the same thing that you said to me.
PHAEDROMUS
What’s that?
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PALINURUS
Say that you’re quite undone.
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PHAEDROMUS
May the Gods confound you.
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